modding

[jimmy]

i have asked i know but replys yet so here goes. i tried modding SSF[sudden strike forever]. i found it very time consuming and because of a bug [when group allocating]also the various commands had to be learned and there actions etc. as anyone modded SSF and MTW and is MTW more user [idiot] friendly.i found that by writing everything down then learning the scripts i could mod of a fashion. can you print [for personal use] a beginners guide to modding MTW. i was able to download a beginners guide plus hints tips pics and info on all the various commands and effects they had on the game in SS and ask various people for help etc. i am just wondering how the two games compare to each other. and just looking for advice. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Brother Derfel]

Well i am an idiot and I have managed to do some simple modding of MTW, so it is not too dificult. Plus the fact that if you ever get stuck, there is always someone willing to help you out on these forums. If it has been done before, someone will know how to do it.

Unfotunatly there is no simple guide to modding, although if you seach through the stickyed threads in the dungeon, plenty of useful and helpful information can be learnt. Plus certain pioneering and helpefull modders such as Duke John are starting to write guides in their expert areas, so as i said before, if you can't figure something out, someone will be able to.

Hope that helps a bit,

Brother D

[jimmy]

Cheers mate in SS there was a frequently asked questions sticky were you could print of and read. plus there were loads of modders who did tutorials on simple mods/missons then once you grasped the concept went in to greater detail on actions various scripts so the tutorials had a good learning curve. start get the basics right move on to more complicated scripts. also telling you how to make maps unit/building limits etc. the best thing it was all avaliable to print off as from my experience you can learn more and quicker and it is easier when down on paper than peering at the screen. and when the kids/wife are giving you grief you can just put it down and read it later. which means your not tying up the computer. so you can try things then if its not right contact the people who know to help you out.

[Brother Derfel]

http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=SF;f=26

This forum contains all of the FAQ's and the current 'How To' guides at the .ORG for modding.

I know it may look a bit daunting to trawl through, but it is worth it in many cases as you can learn alot from each thread.

This is the actual FAQ thread:
http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin....t=10127 (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=26;t=10127)

This is a good place to start, it could probably do witha bit of a tydying up to make it more easily acesible, but if you persevere you will probably find wat you are looking for.

[komninos]

Hi,

I don't know much about the SSF but I 've been modding the MTW for some time now. One thing I have found is that it has many areas with many specialties ... and that's the problem with guids and FAQs.
Most (me included) started by modding units / making new ones. Personaly I slpent a lot of time trying to build on the Exel file given from CA for unit production. I enhanced it and changed many values in it till I liked the result.

Then moved to the startpos file that controls the campaigns. There things got more hairy.

Any way there is a number of things you can mod ... fined what you think is best for you and focus on it.
1. New Units,
2. Campaign maps (this one leads to new mods)
3. Unit graphics
4. New maps for campaigns
5. R&D (programmer - new utilities)
6. Ingame graphics / Music
7. Hystorical reserch (Not glorius but Very Very Very important ... let me stress that VERY VERY VERY important)

To puild a simple addon you need one of them ... to build a mod you need some and for a big mod (total conversion) all of them. Since for the last one all are needed and then some usaly these are done by a group not one person.

Look in the Dungeon and simply find what you like to do ... there are a lot of unit/campaign builders ... very fue unit graphics designers and they are most needed

[jimmy]

can you transfer buildings units from say STW to MTW my thoughts were on trying to create the unifaction of the mongol tribes. then go on to asia/europe playing as the mongol faction. another idea was to do away with the trade aspect like in the mongol expansion pack. but no doubt you would have to alter the gold levels for each provinceto maintain create armys. and are there maps based on these historical events what i mean is depicating who ruled which ares at ghenghis khan time. in the campaign map and when the mongols were just warring tribes as you will be already be aware ghenghis attacked both east and west so the buildings would have to reflect this. it was only after his death that concerted attacks were made on europe under his sons. this also could be reflected in the campaigns also i assume you can alter weapons range. and as a mongol composite bow had roughly twice the range as english long bow can you alter game stats to reflect this.cheers