Get tutorials on request

[Myrddraal]

I'm looking to expand the 'How To's' thread (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=41628) and make some other longer guides for the forum.

I wan't your oppinions for what I should do. This is mainly aimed for the better modders, as you will know what is and isn't possible, but what would you (when you first started modding) have liked to have seen in a guide that wasn't there.

Thx. :book:

[SwordsMaster]

Unit cards,
general appearance (buttons etc)


All I can think of right now...

[Bwian]

A list of which text files you need to change for new the various things that can be modded. Also a simpler version of the comment files at th start of the text files. That sort of thing

[khelvan]

How to make a unit available as both a faction unit and a mercenary, using only one unit slot.

[Duke John]

A basic guide to modding:
- how files relate to each other
- what kind of files there are and how they can be edited (dds, cas, tga, etc)
- how coding works
- how to mod; step by step!

Over time the most important modding skill I have gained is the feeling/insight you get. I'm fairly confident I can start modding other games because I now understand how files are setup and relate to each other. The moddable files are arranged logical and I think the most important bit for a new modder is to understand how that logic works.

[Myrddraal]

That would be a challange. Obviously, it would be a full guide. I'll see what I can do... Maybe you could give me some more info, like how would it be set out, step by step, or more like the 'Know the files' in the campaign guide.

I'll also do a unit card one in the How To's

By the way, don't expect me to churn them out by tomorrow. ~;) I'm not making any commitment, I may not begin for weeks, I just want ideas...

[Duke John]

Documentation of files
All the files listed together arranged according to directory structure plus a small explanation. An example:

\Data
descr_aerial_map_ground_types.txt
Contains tables arranged according to climates (not present ones can be added). The tables contain a list of summer/winter textures for the campaignmap.


\sounds

\terrain
No files.

\aerial_map


\indicators
region_borders_general.tga.dds
Not used.
region_borders_main_colour.tga.dds
Not used.
region_borders_primary.tga.dds
Used for the borderline between regions on the campaignmap. This is the broad part.
region_borders_secondary.tga.dds
Used for the borderline between regions on the campaignmap. This is the smaller part.


I'll help you out with this one.

File types

TXT - Text
Edit with Notepad. Notepad should already be installed together with Windows.

DDS - textures

CAS - model
Edited with 3DS Max version 6/7. The CAS editor made by Vercingetorix is also needed: link]

PAK - archive
Extracted and packed with the PAK extractor made by Vercingetorix: link


* All tools such as made by Vercingetorix are put together with guides in a single post. This way you only have to update 1 thread when a new version is released. Download links are only provided in that thread. I learned from the M:TW guides that it quickly becomes a mess if you put downlinks all over the place.



Shall we start with this? We each tackle a few directories and their files. Add a few filetypes and tools inbetween and we will have a very firm base to build upon. Afterall once this is done you only need to provide a link to filetypes and tools when writing a how to guide instead of explaining everything for the 10th time.

[Myrddraal]

Sure, this should work. I guess that the world folder will be the easiest, simply copy the stuff from the campaign guides.

Problem is though, nobody's knowledge is perfect, especially not mine (I don't have 3ds max, I haven't done any modelling for the game). You may be getting quite a few PM asking if some files are used...

Which folders would you like me to start on...

[Duke John]

Data\

:wink:

Just start with whatever you like. If this community is really a community then people should help us out on the unknown files. If you come across one you don't know about then just add "..."

I will take start with terrain and UI.

I think it would be an excellent start since I have troubles myself remembering all the files; what they do and where they are located. It would be a great time-saver... except for the ones who write it :grin:

And since you are so busy with guides, ask Tosa wether he could give moderatorship over the guides forum too.

[Myrddraal]

Data\. That ones gonna make me sweat. I'll see what I can do. I may quickly do the world one as well.

[Duke John]

Could you post in this thread and use my format? Unless you have suggestions for a clearer format.
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?p=680202#post680202

[Ailill]

Hey guys,
Just wanted to let you know that I'd be more than willing to help you out in this catalouging pursuit. Khelvan had asked me to do some work and my first thought was that there should really be a list of what each file we can modify is actually for! So let me know where you would like me to start working and checking this stuff and I'd love to help out.

[Ailill]

Also I notice you guys are trying out flash trees to display the information. Have you guys thought about maybe making it into XML? It's simialar in that you can hit plusses and minusses to expand and contract various subsections and what have you and the advantage is that it wont go beyond a few kb in size because its more or less just text.

[Sundjata Keita]

If you go to flashkit.com (http://www.flashkit.com) and search for tree there are loads of flash movies and xml things that do what you want and also loads of styles.

[SwordsMaster]

Another good suggestion would be texturing.... That has more to do with Photoshop than general ignorance, but still....

Question: If I want to make a long sleeved model, do I just repaint the texture itself, or does the actual model need to be modified too?

[Myrddraal]

Was that a genuine question or an example question. If it wasn't:

You can just re-paint the texture, I did this to produce the Aiel Warrior for the Wheel of Time mod.