If you Want to Know How To Mod

[shand994]

For those of you who have not tried modding yet and have decided to give it a go. I suggest this, before you go asking questions about it and asking for advice. Check out all the stickies in the dungeon, have a look around all the different types of mods that are being done. That way you'll avoid asking questions that have been asked and answered a number of times. Youll also pick up on what can and cant be done in MTW. This will save the numerous different threads floating around asking the same questions and taking up space on the forums. Thanks

[KukriKhan]

Good advice forum m8s: the mod-squad in the Dungeon has done a ton of work and research. Well worth a browse to answer your questions and concerns.

Here's a link to an excellent place to start:
http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin....SF;f=26 (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=SF;f=26)

[PFJ_bejazuz]

After a working away imposed abstinence from having MTW on the go I'm eager to have a go at bulding some Historical Battles.

I've had a look in the dungeon (which won't let me post) & the link which looks like it'd give me the info to get stuck in
http://doragon2.web1000.com/Medieval/indexm.htm
is a dead un

anyone know of alternative URLs for this tutorial?

[Lord Of Storms]

Here is a link to Clan Doragons Medieval site (or 1 of them anyway) Link to Doragon (http://doragon.bravepages.com/Medieval/indexm.htm). You might also look on the front page here at the ORG lower right for Doragons web site portal link under the Clans heading they seem to have many useful sites and info. Cheers LOS

[PFJ_bejazuz]

You're a gentleman sirrah

**bows & flourishes hat in cavalier manner**

**jumps on palfrey**

**falls off other side**

[Gregoshi]

Someone is visiting our web site?

Gregoshi faints...

[|OCS|Virus]

sound advice, {from a less than sound man http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif LoL jkin'} lots of good stuff in the dungeon look around ussualy you will find what you need in there, but if you dont then post =D oh and a on that same note, the name of what you want to know isn't always in the title of the thread, so you kinda have to look in all of em' LoL

[Lord_Baltimore]

Hello,

I downloaded the Middle-Earth Total War mod, but I dont know what to do now. I.e., how do I install it so I may play it?

Thanks.

[LordKarolinger]

I think you are in the wrong thread. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif but you just have to open up the folder you downloaded and then take all the files in it that you downloaded and extract them to your medieval directory and hopefully it should play.(I don't know what I am saying http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/dizzy.gif)

[Akatura]

what programs do most Modders use to draw sprites?...

[theinquisitorofvirtues]

I am more than likely being a total newbie lamer but I have not managed to find anything on setting historical battles. I couldn't find anything in the mtw directory. Does anybody know of a direct link to a guide of some sort please?

As regards the Q&A debate in the dungeon *hopes somebody relevant reads this* hehe, I would expect that the same person or people would end up answering similar questions and therefore could submit answers they have retyped several times to the guide, which can then be sectioned and categorised in a similar way to a game manual on perhaps a seperate webpage away from the forum. The individual pages need only be a text file with cut and pasted stuff from here on them, and have an HTML listing them all.

Just a thought : )

[theinquisitorofvirtues]

HAHAHAHAHA
I spent about an hour last night looking for this, an hour or so tonight reading various message boards before I posted and newbie me just found the correct place in mtw directories.

sorry

*hides in shame*

fool, fool, fool, fool

for some reason in my insomniac'd state, it did not occur to me that batinit had its obvious meaning HAHAHAHA

[MILITARYMAN]

Hey i used to be a mod as a kid http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif
So i think i might make one m8 thanx for info http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[LordChance]

After having added and changed a few units...I read through the FAQ on adding fractions since it seemed like the next step in making the game larger...

However after reading 9 pages of answeres problems etc...I was none the wiser...has anyone posted an simple guide which the not to accoplished mod creator can use...

[LordChance]

Since a junior patron cant post in the dungeon and none answeres here I have tried myself to get the desired knowledge by searching for it...

Here is a list of the files I have found which seem to be needed to change to add another fraction...

If someone who has already done this might look over the list I would be very glad since I have not tested it yet but will during the day and tomorrow...

Files Needing Editing or adding
Campmap/names/DEFAULT_HEROES.txt
Campmap/GameEnd/ *.BIF
Campmap/parchments/glory/ *.BIF
Campmap/parchments/Prebatshields/ *.BIF
Campmap/shields/ *_lge.BIF
Campmap/shields/ *_lge_grey.BIF
Campmap/shields/ *_sml.BIF
Campmap/shields/colours/ *_LGE.BIF
Campmap/shields/colours/ *_SML.BIF
Campmap/startpos/EARLY.txt (DECLARE, SET ACTIVE, STARTING MONEY,
CULTURE, RELIGION, BEHAVIOUR, FACTION SHIELD, COLOURS, FACTION LANDS,
OFFICES, FACTION LEADER AND LOCATION, BULDINGS, UNITS, AGENTS)
Loc/ENG/CHANGES.txt (TITEL OF KING, at bottom add description)
Loc/ENG/EARLY_FACTION_SPECIFIC.txt
Loc/ENG/DEFAULT_REGION_SPECIFIC.txt
Loc/ENG/NAMES.txt
Loc/ENG/STARTPOS.txt
Loc/ENG/VARIABLES.txt
Loc/ENG/WARVOICE.txt
Sounds/GameEnd/ *_MAJOR.wav
Sounds/GameEnd/ *_Minor.wav
Textures/campmap/Castleflags/ *.BIF
Textures/campmap/PrebatShields/ *.BIF
CRUSADERS_UNIT_PROD11.txt

However does anyone know which you could skip and if I need to edit the defeault region and fraction txt files...

[ChaosDrake]

mh thats sounds intresting lord chance my girlfriend and me have tried to add a new faction but we got a error message that (uhm sorry for my bad english spelling) tells us that there are no faction available(we have used the instructions from eat cold steel in the other forum, where we cannot post and can ask whats wrong with it, damnit) and then the game crashes maybe we have forgotten something to do

can someone help us with a step by step instruction how to add a new faction? thank you

[Gregoshi]

There are usually several modder who help out with such questions in the Entrance Hall. They must be busy with real life or other activities.

I'm not a modder, but I'll do what I can. Have you seen/read this topic: Adding a new faction (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=26;t=10129)?

[ChaosDrake]

yes i have read it and i have do it like the people tell it but when i start the game then shows up a error message in the prod file it says faction not found mhh maybe its my own mistake while i have removed the golden horde and replaced it and put the Khazars in i have thought about it and i think its not possible to replace the golden horde while its an event or? and its hard for me to understand what the people mean hehe english its not my language i need easy words in english http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif im old its hard for an old man to understand lol

[Gregoshi]

Modding is a very hard thing to do ChaosDrake. One little character in the wrong place can cause big problems. Another thing that would help is to download the tools you need to make modding easier. I know there is the Gnome Editor and the Lukmap tool too.

As for your language, what is your native language? There may be a modder who also speaks your language and could help you out. You will soon be able to post to the Dungeon yourself. Then you can post specific questions about directions aren't clear to you and ask for instructions that are easier to understand.

[ChaosDrake]

im german but i dont want to post in german while its a good practice for me to learn english better http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

hehe and when i get troubled i ask my girlfriend that she translate it for me

[juststeve]

Before you jump into modding the game files, do yourself a favor and back up the original files. This way, if you make a mistake, you just replace the corrupted file with the originals and you're back in business.

Modding Windows games that use txt files is fun. Being able to fiddle around with the game has made MTW and Homeworld two of my alltime favorites.

[Rajput]

Thanks for the links, really helpful http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[A.Saturnus]

I must say I´m a bit disappointed. The things mentioned here don´t really help me to mod the Tavern http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

[shand994]

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/dizzy.gif

[Lord of the Cornish]

lo all, im not a complete novice at modding as i can mod most units to create new ones but what i am having a problem with is getting the cavelry to work, i can mod them in to a new unit, but what i am trying to do is to be able to get them to dismount in battle, i believe it can be done as i have seen the column in the gnome editor for crusade unit prod, but each time i have tried to do this i end up with a unit but i cant rigth click to get them to dismount during deployment or battle, any help would be greatly appreciated,
Lord of the Cornish.

[Michael the Great]

Cool.

[dunnichen]

Simple question: How can I change the appearance of units?

I don't dare to make a real Mod (now) or add new units, just make existing units look different. For example give the Irish kern naked legs instead of moonboots or Galloglass some armour or create Bavarian High Chivalric Knights with leather shorts riding on green elefants. Something like this.

I looked in the Dungeon and read the instructions from Wellington and Duke John etc., but I'm not sure wether they are right for me. Wellington said something about the impossibility to change appearance, but this was 2002 and new units now exist in abundance, if my eyes were not deluding me when I look to my installations of the wonderful NTW or HTW.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif

But I get the feeling that my simple plan isn't simple at all, at least for me. Is there an instruction for my little project? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[Gregoshi]

dunnichen, post this in the Dungeon - Alchemist lab forum, your question will get better exposure there. That being said, my gut reaction is that changing the look of units is not a simple thing - at least without the right tools.

[Duke John]

Could one of the EH Moderators move this thread to the Dungeon => Alchemist Hall? This thread is about modding, and I think it would be better to get everything together in one place instead of all over. And it will also remove another sticky http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-nice.gif

Thanks, Duke John

[Gregoshi]

Moved as requested.