ITEM files

[Lord Adherbal]

has anyone managed to add a new building model (item file) to the game ?

I first tried replacing a wall with a new model (editing dbb_walls_roman.txt in the descr_building_battle folder), but when I added it to a map using the editor RTW crashed to desktop (no error message). I then tried it with a renamed original item file (extracted from the pack files), but that crashed the game too. So the problem doesn't seem to be corrupted item files.

Anyone else had more luck ?

[eadingas]

Nope, no luck so far.
My guess is - because all other guesses were wrong - it may have something to do with the .BPI files. But I have no idea what they do.

[Lord Adherbal]

yes, I noticed the script files (in descr_building_battle folder) always point to a "physical_info" file, which has a .cas extension. For example:



roman_ruins
{
stat_cat indestructable
localised_name none ;ruin?
level
{
min_health 0
battle_stats
item roman_ruins
physical_info roman_ruins_info.CAS
}
}


problem is, these files dont seem to exist. There are files with a .bpi extension with the same filename tho, but no .cas :(

[eadingas]

It probably gets parsed somewhere along the way from bpi to info.cas. Perhaps bpi is just a cas packed in some way?

[Lord Adherbal]

perhaps, but even when I copy an RTW item file and corresponding bpi file and rename them both the game crashes when I try to place it in a map.

[eadingas]

Did you try it only with walls? Because walls also have the killing_zone file that is needed...

[Lord Adherbal]

no I tried with walls, and the roman_ruins building.

I just tried changing the "hayfield_new" model, because I noticed it has no "physical_info" nor a corresponding bpi file. But the game still crashes, so it doesnt seem related to the bpi files.

I'm running out of ideas here :(

[Vercingetorix]

You may have to add new .items to the .pak for the game to read them. I haven't worked on them for nearly two months and was unsucessfull in adding a new building. It's something I've been meaning to get back to but the demand seems low so it has a somewhat low priotiy for me.

[Duke John]

The demand may be low but it will be desperately wanted by all the conversion mods and in that way alot of players will see/enjoy the effect of being able to mod ITEM files.

[eadingas]

Huh? Low demand?? Every mod needs one!
Everybody's only focused on units these days...

[hoggy]

agreed, it's something we would all like to do eventually when the units are sorted. it definitely gets my vote. hmm, big japanese city walls....