Editing/modding Total War - in-game cinematics

[iksander]

Hi there,

I am currently a student studying Multimedia at a University in Australia.

I have a project in mind for my end of year exhibition but am still attempting to find a means to go about completing it.

The project:
I wish to create a re-enactment of one of Alexander the Great's campaigns and wish to do this using some form of 3d software.

This is where my question comes in - is it possible, using MTW, to create a map/terrain, populate it and script the AI to perform certain actions/movements?

What I am after is some form of in-game cinematic that I can record in some way that provides a re-enactment of an entire battle involving cavalry and infantry, across various terrain and surfaces, including water (most likely a river battle).

Additionally, is it possible to extract the current unit models and skins and alter them, as well as the animations? If so, can 3d studio max, or similar application (Maya, lightwave) be used?

I have never played this game so I thought I'd ask if this type of thing was possible before purchasing it.

Many thanks to any that can either answer this question or offer a different game as a suggestion (I have been looking at Age of Mythology, C&C Generals but neither seem to offer the number of troops on the battle field that I require)

Also links to level editor/modding tutorials are much appreciated.

Cheers and thanks again,
Tim

PS: I assume this post would be more relevant in the Dungeon.

[KukriKhan]

Hi Tim/iksander, welcome to the Org http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

We'll copy your post to the Dungeon, soon. Quite a project you have in mind.

Find that post here:
http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin....1;&#top (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=5;t=9398;r=1;&#top)

[iksander]

Thanks for that mate.

Cheers.

[Shahed]

Welcome Iskander. When is your project due btw ? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[iksander]

I have roughly 12 more weeks to complete it.

All I really am looking to do is alter existing models within the game (skins, weapons), create my own level and place the two armies within it and have them carry out the battle.

I am not looking to create a playable or extensive mod so I am hoping what I intend to do is achievable within my time constraints.

The hard part is the historical research of the actual battle and locating geographical maps of the area.

Anyways, should be quite fun (I hope) but if anyone is interested in aiding me in the process I would be most appreciative, and of course will give you credit for your input.

At the end of this semester of uni we hold an exhibition and people from the multimedia industry are invited to come and have a looksee at the students final year work, so hopefully I'll have something reasonable to show off.

But yeah, if anyone has any free time and is interested, let me know. Many hands make light work, and I'm all for that.

Tim

[iksander]

cromwell - Yeah I have used Fraps before but didnt realise it could be used for this game, so thanks for that.

arseclown - I go to Monash University in Berwick, Victoria, Australia.

LeBob - excuse my ignorance: who is Duke John? The whole water issue is a bit of a problem. How many units can be on the field at once - is this merely a perfomance issue rather than an in-game restriction?

NagatsukaShumi - thanks for that, I'll look into it.

Thanks for all ya help so far guys, can you offer any tutorials on modelling/animating, etc. Or should I look through the forums?

PS: if this post is in the Entrance Hall, how will people from the Dungeon know it has been added to?

[The Witch-King]

Hmmm, you could find someone to reenact the battle online with or something. You could discuss the moves of each side and basically play a predetermined battle, using valor upgrades to make sure the proper side wins http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif. I hope I'm making sense now http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif.

[Kraellin]

the game has no scripting language for end-user use. models and skins can be extracted and there shld be extensive help on that in the dungeon forum. so, it's entirely possible to mock up some nice napoleonic units and insert them in the game.

the hard part of what you're asking would be the scripting. if you're going to exactly re-create an entire battle and get the results you're looking for, you would most likely have to run many battles due to the random factors of the battles and save each battle. you could then play back and extract what you needed from screen saves, or if someone's found an avi type save program, and then play editing director and piece together what you wanted in something like a .gif animation or macromedia flash animation. with the latter, you could also add sound. it's a bit of a daunting task, but could be done.

you've also got one other problem with the mtw engine, i think. it used to be possible to create crossable and uncrossable water in the earlier engine, but i believe they removed the crossable part in mtw. by crossable here, i dont mean by bridge; i mean by crossing through it. i've no idea why the company did this, but i believe i remember playing with maps and going 'well crap; why'd they do that?'. so, if you're planning on having fords or battles within a river itself, i dont believe it will work. i'd have to check again to be sure.

at any rate, good luck on your project.

K.

[LiamStack]

I have just graduated with a degree in Multimedia. I can help if you like?

Liam

[KukriKhan]

iksander and LiamStack, you both have posting privileges in the Dungeon now, so directly posting there may garner more info/assistance.

[iksander]

Thanks for the info Kraellin.

It looks like I may have to just lay out the troops on a map and get another person to control the other team.

The crossing water part really isnt too good because nearly all Alexanders battle were fought near on or rivers.

I think I may look to Age of Mythology to carry out this project as editing seems to be a lot nicer (can directly grab .3ds files of the models and edit them in max).

I thank you all for ya suggestions.