Probs putting new strat figures into the game

Hi, I am having a few probs putting new strat figures into a mod. I have tried repelacing an old general with a new figure. The vanilla greek general figure with a hussar type. The thing just goes CTD at the loading bar. The note pad looks fine and the figures are in the correct folders and so on, but nothing is coming up. What are the rules for putting new figures in, can there be only one set of generals per culture, can different spy, diplomat, assasins figures be introduced etc? What types of figures can be used as strat figures, i have tried to use a figure that is like the general only single armed, but no result coming my way. I've looked about for tutorials both here and over at the TWC, but there doen't seem to be anything.
Can you help a modder in distress? Any advice will be enormously apreciated, particularly a tutorial where i can get some idea where i am with this.


With thanks
Big Bear

Strat models use the same skeleton as in the models used for battles. So basically if your model works on the battlemap, it should work on the strategy map.

Also make sure that the name you gave for the model entry in descr_model_strat matches to the name in descr_character (and yes you can have models for each faction separately).

If you're using a new model and textures - I'd suggest to check what is going wrong first test your coding. (make copy of an old model and texture and rename them to use your new names)

if that works and using new model with same name doesn't you'll know problem is with model.... you can occasionally get in a mess with .cas files if they've been saved looking for a specific default texture, which isn't the one used in game - suspect there's other things you can do wrong with them too!

Hi, i'm a we bit mystified by the sm_general reference in both the relevant files. I cant seem to find them in the strat_models or battle models file. I'm not sure if this is a naming file or a model-cas file perhaps both.

Thanks
Big Bear

the strat model files ; descr_character.txt and descr_model_strat, work similarly to EDU (export_desc_unit.txt)and DMB (descr_model_battle.txt) for battle models

descr_character.txt is like EDU it specifies which model is used for each faction.
if a strat_model is used there, then it needs to have a 'type' entry in
descr_model_strat.txt
it's quite likely there are some redundant entries which aren't actually in use.

Hi, had a frustrating night trying to get the strat character to come up in the game map. I've used several figures that work fine when used as lesser generals in the custom battle, put them into the campaign the thing just CTD's at the loading bar. The texting looks fine in all the files, just can't get it going, it seems such a simple thing but clearly not.
It's a pity there isn't a tutorial on this some where, still these things are sent to try us and I'll have another bash tommorow.
Just one question, what works best? A simple or a more complex cas, does it matter, the game default cas I'm trying to replace (the greek_General) is quite complex and has a large cas number.

With thanks for the advice given
A grumpy going to his bed Big Bear