Sucess with mdding the demo!

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Notepad-is not the answer, use a hex editor. I have got the gauls working in the tutorial but not convincingly, i will work a bit harder, and get back to you asap ~:)

[Steppe Merc]

YAY! ~:smoking: ~:santa: :jumping: :medievalcheers: :party: :gossip:
Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you! :bow:
Hmm... what's a hex editor?

[CBR]

Oh nice :jumping:


CBR

[Crazed Rabbit]

Keep up the good work! This is good news indeed. ~:)

Crazed Rabbit

[frogbeastegg]

Hurrah! I have a long list of things needing modding to reduce the Amphibian Annoyance Factor (AAF).

-Green arows (die!)
-Bad voice acting (disable it, or replace it if we have a few decent actors in our midst, or even just swap it with the speech from MTW and STW)
-The stupid things your units say when taking orders (just SHUT UP! Either shut up or get decent voice actors!)
-The nasty interface (especially the camera controls, I want my old setup back and editing the in-game options didn't work)
-The missing information in the interface (on fatigue especially)
-The puny unit sizes (units of 60 men as big units!? :cries:)
-The advisor (get rid of him!)

[Steppe Merc]

I deffinetly agree with Froggy in that the units need to be doubled... Or tripled! ~:eek: Or dare I say it... QUADRUPLED!!! Of course I have no idea about the amout of unit limits... but a 60 size unit is just puny.

[afrit]

YAY! ~:smoking: ~:santa: :jumping: :medievalcheers: :party: :gossip:
Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you! :bow:
Hmm... what's a hex editor?

hex stands for hexadecimal notation, which is a convenient way to represent numbers in computer programming. A hex editor allows you to edit the bytes in a file directly as numbers. Notepad only edits the text representation of the bytes.

@BKB,
what hex editors do you recommend? Long time ago I dabbled in some reverse engineering of Mac software [even wrote my own hex editor!], but I am totally clueless on PC tools for that.


Afrit

[crazyviking03]

They are playing as Romans over at the TWC, so it shouldn't be long now.


:knight:

[Steppe Merc]

Why did they waste time playing as the Romans? ~:p

[Alrowan]

Hurrah! I have a long list of things needing modding to reduce the Amphibian Annoyance Factor (AAF).

-Green arows (die!)
-Bad voice acting (disable it, or replace it if we have a few decent actors in our midst, or even just swap it with the speech from MTW and STW)
-The stupid things your units say when taking orders (just SHUT UP! Either shut up or get decent voice actors!)
-The nasty interface (especially the camera controls, I want my old setup back and editing the in-game options didn't work)
-The missing information in the interface (on fatigue especially)
-The puny unit sizes (units of 60 men as big units!? :cries:)
-The advisor (get rid of him!)

most of these can be simply edited in the perferences.txt

i removed green arrows, increased unit size. and there are more you can simply do in this list.

[Steppe Merc]

I see the unit number starts at 80. I wonder how much each number increases the unit size in game? I'm now trying out 120, will report (unless someone beats me to it).

[Steppe Merc]

Odd. I changed it to 120, and the unit sizes are the same. ~:confused: Has anyone else succeeded in this?

[Puzz3D]

I got the infantry unit sizes in the battle of Trebia up to 120 men by editing dpack_0.pak with a hex editor, but they wouldn't go over that, and I did change the unit size in preferences.txt to 200. You can turn off the flags and green arrows in preferences.txt and that works to improve the sense of immersion. However, the infantry running speed seems very fast which makes it difficult to control all of your units, and it looks unrealisticly fast at times against the terrain and scale of the men which detracts from the sense or realism as well. They certainly did a very nice job on the graphics and the armies look good when forming up and marching, but there is a gamey aspect to the fighting once they engage. I played with almost all units increased by 20 men and that did slowdown the fighting, but I still could only control about 1/2 my units. The rest were on their own.

[Aelwyn]

I agree, don't like the camera movement much. For some reason the screen seems kinda blocked to me, like I don't have good control and can't see everything. I suppose thats because I'm so used to the old setup though. Hmm...I'll have to find a hex editor again, as I got a new comp. and don't have many programs on it yet.

Overall not too bad though. I like the background pics when the demo is installing though.

hmm...whats 'Classic Control' and 'Classic UI' in the preferences.txt file?

[Steppe Merc]

I tried using xci32 that I got from a link in CBR. All I got was a bunch of gobbly gook.

[Puzz3D]

XVI32 works. It's freeware that you can get here: XVI (http://http://www.chmaas.handshake.de/delphi/freeware/xvi32/xvi32.htm#download) (Isn't that neat. The program name is a roman numeral.) Search for Trebia. You get about 12 Trebias in the middle of the file, but the one you want is the next one after that down near the end of the file. Scroll down a little beyond that and you'll see the units in the Trebia scenario specified by name with upgrades and unit size for each. You can overtype or insert text characters in right side panel using the insert key as a toggle. Best to save a copy of your original dpack_0.pak before starting.

You see a lot of goobly gook because ascii characters are only defined for the numbers 0 - 127, but each byte can hold numbers between 0 and 255.

[Aelwyn]

I tried to change the Gauls to the playable faction in the tutorial, and no luck. When I try to play, the unit screen where it shows the armies beforehand is completely blank. And when I quit I get some error that starts off saying something like C:\Romans\blah where there is no Romans folder in my C drive. Says the Julii aren't specified in the header or something...

Edit: Well I got the screen to appear at least. Tried to play as the Senate, but I don't think the tutorial is really changeable too much. The only thing we can probably change around is the Trebia battle, as I successfully played as the Romans. Maybe we could even change the map, add units, etc. For now I'm gonna take a break. ~:)

[Aelwyn]

I modded the elephants to have valour/experience 5, as they are normally 0. Rediculous. I pulled back every other unit, and beat the Romans with just those 2 units. Over 900 kills. Just crazy. Oh, well I guess I also doubled the unit size...but still thats crazy. 28 Elephants killed over 900 men. ~:eek:

[oblivious maximus]

If you havent found it, click ESC/GAME OPTIONS and you can revert your camera to original TW style by clicking the golden arrow.

[frogbeastegg]

most of these can be simply edited in the perferences.txt

i removed green arrows, increased unit size. and there are more you can simply do in this list.
Anyone want to outline how to fix much of my list in step by step, idiot level instructions? My modding experience is limited and I've never worked with anything like RTW's setup.

[Leet Eriksson]

I have an XVI32 hex editor and for the life of me i can't understand anything on it, except the last portion ~:dizzy: ok i'm with froggy in this one i don't know how to mod, so if anyone can help i'll appreciate it ~:)

[CBR]

Anyone want to outline how to fix much of my list in step by step, idiot level instructions? My modding experience is limited and I've never worked with anything like RTW's setup.


In the main demo folder you find the txt file called preferences.txt. Look for DISABLE_ARROW_MARKERS and change FALSE to TRUE


CBR

[frogbeastegg]

In the main demo folder you find the txt file called preferences.txt. Look for DISABLE_ARROW_MARKERS and change FALSE to TRUE


CBR
That's the kind of moron proof info I was looking for, thanks. ~:) Quite painless to do.

Now, how to alter unit sizes? "A moron's guide to editing unit sizes".

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Mmm. Seems like you can't do all that much after all. I tried to add a Gallic contingent to Trebia and although they appeared on the faction unit section it would not take me to the battle. It says I didn't position them on the battlefield, but I did. I think it might read from a hidden hardcoded file.

Also, when I tried to make the Senate playable in the Tutorial, it crashed while loading the battle. And the Gauls don't seem to want to fight at all - you can only move them.

[Leet Eriksson]

got rid of the arrows, but how do i play the Roman faction in Trebia?

[Steppe Merc]

Can I have an idiot friendly how to increase unit sizes (a lot)?

[Aelwyn]

Ok I'm wondering about the starting positions. The units have an X and Y near their description (like x86 y72 or something like that) but there's also another position description that looks more like the MTW one. It seems to be more for position on the map (ex. 806.82, -176.40) or something like that. But for the tutorial, there seems to be 4 of these second position descriptions which doesn't make sense since there's only 3 armies. And the last two have '-' signs after the second number, like the one above. There are a few that are similar (which could be the senate and the gauls) and one thats kinda further away which is probably julii, but I don't know what the other is for.

Basically I'm looking to play as the gauls in the trebia battle...its gotta be possible. ~:rolleyes:

When I try to mod unit sizes, I can up to a point. If theres 60 men in a unit, you can change it to 98 I think, and not 99 for the reason that if you add a 3rd digit to the unit size (thus moving things one space in the hex code) it doesn't seem to work, at least for me. I tried changing the spearmen from trebia to 120 men from 60, but it doesn't work.

Oh and I said 98 because when you change a unit like that, it seems to add 1 man for some reason, so it'd end up being 99. maybe this is the unit commander. ~:confused:

[Aelwyn]

got rid of the arrows, but how do i play the Roman faction in Trebia?

This one is easy enough. Just open the dpack_0.pak in a hex editor, and do a search for the word 'playable'. Once you find the one referring to the Trebia battle it currently looks like:

Trebia playable carthage end nonplayable romans_julii end

Swap the two factions. MAKE A BACKUP OF THE FILE FIRST. Of course you know that. ~;) I find it easiest to insert the names correctly by clicking on the first letter of the faction and typing in the other faction exactly as it appears, then deleting the faction that was just there. I do it that way cause it seems to be necessary for the spacing to be correct, much like the tabs in the MTW files.

Hope that helps.

[Steppe Merc]

Aelwyn, where can you find the part about the unit sizes? I'm looking, trying to figure out what the heck all this stuff means, but I'm very confused.

[Aelwyn]

Its in the dpack_0.pak file. You have to open it with a hex editor. Do a search for things like Carthage, playable, trebia, etc. You'll find a lot that don't apply to the demo (or do but not what you're looking for). The parts that you want to change are about 3/4 of the way down.

I just tried adding a unit of gauls to the trebia battle, and it didn't work. On the faction selection screen I saw that the unit was added but all I saw was a 'unit placeholder' outline, and when I tried to start the battle it took me back to the main menu. Not sure why, maybe because they're gauls, and the gauls aren't in the battle header, I dunno. But I added the unit info exactly as it appeared in the tutorial part, and even put in a location for them on the battlefield very near another carthaginian unit, exactly as it appeared in the file, just slightly moved over. No luck. I'll wait till others figure it out because I'm at my modding experience limit. ~:doh:

[Leet Eriksson]

thanks a load aelwyn ~:) i can now test my roman skills against the carthaginians.

[Steppe Merc]

Could we somehow insert another square so it doesn't mess up?

[Steppe Merc]

Yeah I think I might have figured out how to make the unit sizes from 2 digits to 3 digits. You do edit, insert string then press in the space bar to to add in another blank block. I have yet to test it, so it might not work. Wish me luck!

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Some guy over at TWC has added Sacred Band Infantry and has shown a pic! After testing I can confirm they appear on the unit screen, but as of yet I can't seem to get the battle to work! I think there are more Carthage units possible to add also!

[Steppe Merc]

BKB have you tried uping the unit size? I tried it on the tutorial, but not luck... Oh wait, I didn't change the unit size on the prefences... Could that be it? ~:confused:

[Sinner]

For those trying to use Gauls, etc, if you look further down in the file after the unit selection, from hex address C81050h onwards, you'll see additional references to Carthage and the Jullii Romans - these also might require editing to get the other factions to work properly.

[ShadesPanther]

I think yo can only add in faction specific units except probably mercenaries.

someone add iberian infantry please ~:p

[Steppe Merc]

Grrr. I tried and double all the units sizes, and I did, and it showed up on the prebattle screen. It froze, and I managed to get out of it, but it exited out. And when I checked to see what I did wrong, everything I changed had been undone. ~:confused:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I've check it out, and Iberian Infantry, Long Shield and Round Shield Cavalry are all present and appear at the unit screen but when I tried to load the battle it crashes!

[Steppe Merc]

Odd. After futher checking it seems that were I changed it it was original. However, there seems to be a similar section later on.... Could it be there are two parts that denote unit size?

[Aelwyn]

Some guy over at TWC has added Sacred Band Infantry and has shown a pic! After testing I can confirm they appear on the unit screen, but as of yet I can't seem to get the battle to work! I think there are more Carthage units possible to add also!


Yeah I'm sure there are more available units, much like in the MTW demo. The problem is finding them and how to add them.

[Steppe Merc]

I'm so confused. In the sections that I thought that the units had to be in twice (one higher up, and one later on), the unit sizes don't match what was origannaly denoted, and theres some Sacred Band infantry scattered in there, as well as Carthigianian Medium cavalry. ~:dizzy:

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

My first bit of modding (ever):

screwed around with the preferences.txt, and found out how to get back the old command scheme! The left-click to move setup! Just go to "Classic UI" or something like that and change "FALSE" to "TRUE".

I liked the old way. Made it less like a generic RTS and I've grown to like it. Plus I am way too used to the MTW/STW way. I just can't figure out how to change the length of the units - when I hold down the left button I get a select box, and not a unit formation adjustment-thing. ~:confused:

I hope someone figures out how to change the unit sizes.

Oh well.

~:cheers:

[Lucius Lucullus]

that hexeditor gives me a headache :shrug:

I´ll give it another try tomorrow, when I dont have any lectures to attend to :saint:

[Kraellin]

umm, guys, why dont you just write a .pak packer/unpacker. would make this a whole lot easier. most likely, and i havent looked at the file structure yet, the .pak is just a packed (zipped) and compressed file. i'm guessing the entire thing could be opened fairly simply, edited, and then put back togehter.

also, in some games, (though usually not the demo), the packed files like this can also be bypassed by a 'user folder'. i havent unzipped the demo yet to look, but is there a 'user folder' somewhere in there?

K.

[Aelwyn]

I thought about that, as doom 3 has pak files, and people could unpack them with winrar. I tried with no success. Also searched for .pak unpackers. There were some, but they were associated with other games, and didn't work. But if you can build one it'd be nice.

[Steppe Merc]

I have no idea about any sort of computer toolsl to do those kind of things. It would be a heck of a lot easier though. Right now I'm so confused... haven't been able to change unit sizes at all. ~:mecry:

[Sinner]

I've tried a variety of tools as well & I'm beginning to suspect that CA have either created their own pak format or they're using an obscure version that is different from that used by the likes of Quake, etc.

[JeromeGrasdyke]

I got the infantry unit sizes in the battle of Trebia up to 120 men by editing dpack_0.pak with a hex editor, but they wouldn't go over that, and I did change the unit size in preferences.txt to 200.

Note that the demo code doesn't support unit sizes above 250 men in total, so if you hack the .pak files to go above that it may crash the game in odd places, although the .pak parser may still accept the new values.

[Sinner]

A useful tip to modders: as well as opening the file with your hex editor, also open it with notepad, which gives you a far greater feel for the general layout of the battle script.

I suspect that it shouldn't be too difficult to add extra units rather than just swap one for another, it's just that in a hex editor it's difficult to picture the overall structure of the file and thus important info gets left out leading to CTDs & the game refusing to play.

I think there are still limits though: I tried to swap the Roman's light cavalry for heavy and arcani for velites, getting a CTD with an error about missing graphics for both units, so I would guess that we only have a subset of available units rather than the full complement.

[PaolinoPaperino]

Some guys on this site has done some nice patches.
U can play as roman..etc..

http://www.rome1.de/cms/

[Beirut]

On behalf of all of us who are just too plain dumb to understand the intricacies of game modding...

Thanks for what you're doing. We're all looking forward to the fun you will provide us. ~:grouphug: ~:cheers:

[Papewaio]

Hail the Great Modders!

Hail the Great Geniuses Programmers who make TW moddable... it really adds variety to a very good base... a bit like having your favourite pizza with your favourite beverage...




I like Pizza... but I hate Pepsi so no Pizza Hut...

[ShadesPanther]

It's very well done. A few annoyances but they will be gone.
I don't really like having to unlock other factions. I want to be carthage first ~:mecry:
But The Romans are still quite good ~;)

[Steppe Merc]

Jerome, I tried doubling the units, and it still CTDed. Sinner, I tried opening up with the notepad, but it wouldn't open. ~:confused:

[Sinner]

One thought, what version of Windows do you have, Steppe Merc?

There are filesize limits for Notepad using 98SE or older as I recall. I'm using XP & had no problems using Notepad with either the dpack_0.pak or the far larger dpack_1.pak file.

Worst case, I'll copy the structure to the fourm later tonight once I get home from work.

[Steppe Merc]

I have XP. And it works. For some reason, I had to open notepad and open it from the open file. Thanks for the help. :bow: