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View Full Version : Hi from a new guy here, I've a few questions



The_Smiling_Knight
03-13-2004, 20:55
Greetz I've been playing Total War games since Shogun came out and am currently playing Hellenistic Total War v. 2.1 Beta. Great mod by the way.

I just wanted to ask a few questions if I may. First this though, I understand that any modding questions can usually be answered by looking through and reading posts already present in other areas of this board. I am doing just that. The thing that concerns me is the lack of a straight forward guide to modding. Now, I'm not complaining here at all. I think the info people have taken their time to post is great but it's difficult to find a starting point.

What I'm trying to do is create a mod based on George R.R. Martin's book series A Song of Ice and Fire.

It would entail creating a new campaign map completely (naming provinces etc). I can do this in photoshop easily enough. The map itself would come from the map in the books. That's easy enough, although it would be time consuming but I'm up for it. But how to use it in game (as in where you select time periods) is something I don't know how to do.

The other things I would have to do would be to use certain pictures I have for the generals, nobles, and kings themselves (i.e. when you right click to get a general's details). I've got the pictures I'd use so I could work with those I'm guessing.

I would need to create new titles as well, i.e. instead of Emissary I would use Maester. Or instead of Master of the King's Horse I would use Hand of the King, etc. etc.

Naming the factions is something I'd need as well. Example, instead of the English I would use House Stark, or House Greyjoy, etc.

Chaning the images on the battlemap flags would be necessary as well.

I'm not trying to change events or anything, just use a different campaign map with new names and provinces, change titles, change faction names, and maybe, maybe create some new units at a later date.

I understand this seems like I'm asking a lot but if someone could at least point me in the right direction to start, I'd greatly appreciate it.

A great place to start I think would be the campaign map. Like what dimensions or type of file it needs to be, that would keep me busy for some time I'd imagine.

Once I get the mod finished, if I do heh, I would give it to anyone who wants it of course.

Thanks very much for any assistance anyone can give me on this

Eastside Character
03-13-2004, 21:20
First welcome to the Org. Eddard Stark http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif
As for your mod, it looks like it would be an expansion type mod. Id maybe want to help you, but im busy with other modding projects now, not only tho. So i just wish you all the best with your mod and i suggest you do a lotta reading at the Repository or in the Alchemist Lab.
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-book2.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-book2.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-book2.gif

Regards,
EC

Lord Of Storms
03-13-2004, 21:31
Wow tall order there my friend, first Welcome to the Org. second this will entail alot of work as far as researching the info to get started on your Mod,
there is alot of great information here and yes,
we are in need of a Modding Guide but that is a big task,
one which I know 2 people are working to remedy although
I have not heard any news on that yet.
Now to get started if your are going to make a new campmap,
here is a good topic to start, the LMMMprogram for making new campmaps and the many associated Bifs, minimpas etc, that accompany it, see making a new campmap is not as simple as editing the existing map say in Photoshop, it is
a bit more complex then that, theres many files asociated with the graphic face map we see in game.
it is best to read the topics as it is very involved process.
LukMapMaker topic for making new campmaps (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=26;t=16147)
This topic details the trials and eror of those who tried to edit the lukmap (which is the underlying map that governs factions borders and info)
LukMap LBM editing topic (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=26;t=10133)

this topic will help create a basic mod txt file the foundation of a mod.
how to create a basic mod txtx file (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=26;t=13313)

then to aid in adding new factions to your mod this topic has some good info
adding a new faction to VI (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=26;t=10129)
OK this in itself is alot to take in, I will add more info on names tec. as I can, also you may message or e-mail me anytime with questions and I will be happy to help you if I can. Good luck...LOS http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif

katank
03-13-2004, 23:49
in the names directory IIRC, you can find the heroes.txt which you can edit for the royal line and kings' lines.

the titles for the chancellors etc. are in the startpos directory and the era text files. These list the titles for all factions and their localized names.

for example, I renamed some of them joker instead of chancellor just for kicks http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif but this should help you do more serious stuff like your mod.

The_Smiling_Knight
03-20-2004, 23:21
Hey I just wanted to thank you guys for all of the info you've shared. I've begun work (which is thus far mostly research from the books the expansion/mod would be based on) and will begin tooling around with the LMMMprogram today. Thank you again and I'll keep you guys updated. Of course, anything you guys want to add is more than welcome

SwordsMaster
03-21-2004, 01:06
Welcome to the org,Eddard.

I just wanted to say that this post could be a fine reference if the people post all the links to the references in modding specifying what is every link for,
say:
Link for creating new maps: blablabla

That kind of format.

And I dont know if someone did it already, but it would be fun having a mod on the Dungeons and Dragons map...I may do something about it in summer....

Enjoy, and HAPPY PADDY´S DAY, (i know im late but i forgot on thursday). http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif

The_Smiling_Knight
03-21-2004, 01:28
Yeah, it could be a great repository.

I've tried the title and name changes and they work fine. Obviously I can't do much with them other than test them until I have the whole .txt file created. Heh, it does no good to have a Septon in Ireland when he needs to be in, say, Winterfell, etc.

What I plan to start tonight is the map itself but I' a bit confused. I'm not sure if I can create it in photoshop and then convert it to what ever it needs to be or anything like that. Been reading a bit on here and I'm getting differing ideas depending on what map making program you use. I grabbed the LMM program and it looks sweet but it says you have to first create the map to the exact dimensions as the game map, hence my confusion. It's just not all that clear on what it means when it says that. Does it mean overall map size as in file size or does it just mean the length and width. Heh, dunno. Was gonna just try and draw the map in Paintshop Pro (which will be time consuming enough but then try to figure out what to do with it. All in good time I suppose.

katank
03-21-2004, 01:56
why don't you try and scan it if you have a book or something?

The size is probly the length and width.

good luck http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif

The_Smiling_Knight
03-21-2004, 02:27
I could do that, but my concern isn't really how to get it made. Whether I scan it or hand draw it in Photoshop 7 is no big deal. My concern is what do I do with it next? What file format do I save it in? Once the map is drawn do I open it with LMM and go from there? How do I actually make it a usable map?

So that's really what I'm trying to figure out, do I draw out the map in detail, save it as some file type, then open it with LMM? I have no idea. I've read what I could and most threads say that either people have created a map already or some such thing, but they never say what to do with it once you have the map you want to use. Heh, that's where I'm lost.