Hallo everyone,
during a debate here: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=90447 I was inspired to try to develop a micromod - my very first attempt at modding - which will represent the booty gained after a victorious battle from capturing the enemy camp and scavenging the bodies....and VOILA:
Features: After a battle where more than 1000 enemy soldiers took part and more than 30% of them were killed the general of the victorious army will gain trait "Enemy Camp Captured" giving him +1 Influence and +1 Morale for all troops on battlefield. Of course only temporarily, as this trait is canceled at the beginning of the next turn by an anti-trait. The "Enemy Camp Captured" trait serves as a trigger for a script giving 2000 mnai to general´s faction at the end of turn - the booty itself.
So far it works fine, if I start a new campaign (if not, all traits get totally messed up - therefore it is not savegame compatible unfortunately).
However, I am ashamed to admit this, I do not know how to upload my micromod on the Internet and advise on this will be most welcomed. In the meantime I will do more testing and I am ready to send it via e-mail to all interested (just send me a PM).
[I]EDIT:
Thank you for your advise, Bovi - now everyone can download my micromod here: (EDIT: link removed - was not working)
Just unpack the file into your ...\EB\Data directory and confirm overwrite of the four files. DO NOT FORGET TO BACKUP YOUR ORIGINAL FILES FIRST. Many thanks to CA and to the even more creative EB Team.
I would also welcome suggestions on further improvement and balancing, namely how big the reward should be and whether the reward should be different for each faction (some historical evidence on how the booty was divided between the soldiers, their leader and "the state" will be needed) and whether the trait/reward gain should be randomized.
I would be honoured if other people take interest in my micromod.
V.T. Marvin
A philosopher incidentally passing by: "Oh, just another dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants..." :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:
EDIT Augus 31, 2007
- Sorry for previous troubles (not-functional download link, code containing "reinforcements CTD bug").
- I have developed a new release - download here: (link removed - new release see just below)
- Now the code is based on friendly army size and battle odds, thus preventing "reinforcements CTD bug" from occuring.
- Now the "CaptureEnemyCamp" has two levels, defeating large enemy army yields 800 mnai cash, defeating very large army should yield 3000 mnai
- NOTE - the micromod is optimized for HUGE unit setting, if you use any other, it could be impossible to gain the trait and the reward!!!
- NOTE - in case you have a relly BIG army, you could gain the reward even form victories over very small enemy forces
- NOTE - most probably it would work as intended only for the attacker, because if you defeat an enemy army which attacked you and gain the trait, it will be immediately nullified by an anti-trait which is ativated at the "CharacterTurnStart"
- NOTE - the mod is not thoroughly tested yet, because of many "life issues" of mine. I have so far played for about 1 hour, withou any CTD or weird occurences, but unfortunately I have not been able to gain the trait itself :-(((
EDIT September 7, 2007
- I have developed new release - download here: http://uploaded.to/?id=4vdvf2
- It now works both when attacking and defending
- Minor bugs discovered and repaired
- It is well tested and no problems were discovered as yet
- I will probably continue in further developing and tweaking this (not sooner than I finish my current campaign) but the micromod can already be considered as complete.
EDIT November 12, 2007
New version for EB 1.0 released featuring major improvements - it now works for all unit scales and some other tweaks. More info in readme.
Installation
1.- backup the following files:
…\EB\Data\export_descr_character_traits.txt
…\EB\Data\export_descr_VnVs_enums.txt
…\EB\Data\text\export_VnVs.txt
…\EB\Data\scripts\show_me\EBBS_SCRIPT.txt
2.- unpack the archive into …\EB\Data directory
3.- overwrite confirmation should appear whether you wish to overwrite abovementioned files – answer “YES”
4.- Start new campaign - It is NOT savegame comatible
08-28-2007, 10:03
bovi
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
You have two options, given that your change is so minor. The easiest way is to post the snippets of code here and tell people which files they should be added to.
The other way, which is easier for those who want to try out your changes and sort of mandatory if you should expand your mod to affect lots of files later, is to pack the files you've changed into a zip, rar or whatever archive. You can use 7-zip for this, which is free. Then upload this archive at any hosting service, Rapidshare and Axifile are two popular choices. It will give you a link when it's uploaded. Post the link in this thread.
Obviously I haven't tested it, but I must warn you that if you have used the NumEnemiesInBattle variable, your code will crash if the enemy has reinforcements. This was the cause of the infamous reinforcement CTD that held up 0.8 for so long. Use NumFriendsInBattle combined with battle odds instead. I would also suggest expanding to have several levels of the trait, depending on the size of the battle and possibly stacking up the levels as the general fights more than one battle in the turn.
08-28-2007, 12:56
Pius Curus
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
@Marvin
It is great idea:2thumbsup: Where can I download it to try?
08-28-2007, 15:01
V.T. Marvin
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pius Curus
@Marvin
It is great idea:2thumbsup: Where can I download it to try?
Do heed bovi's warnings. You don't want to drag the Reinforcement CTD bug back into our camp again after the long arduous history we have with it. :furious3: :smash:
Sorry, that link does not work. When you click it, it asks which file you want to upload. Please try again :2thumbsup:.
08-29-2007, 04:49
Dooz
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
Wow, this is super awesome Marvin! Maybe the amount gained should be lessened though, 2000 seems a bit much. Maybe 1000? Is there any way to make it even more dynamic? The amount gained dependent on the actual size of the opposing army and so on? Either way though, this is a great idea and it's cool that you actually did it. I assumed it wasn't possible since it hadn't been done yet. :2thumbsup:
08-29-2007, 05:30
Patriote
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
Give us a new link that works this time or show us the codes you modded in a spiller so that we can see your great job and try working on it :2thumbsup: if you agree of course :yes:
08-29-2007, 09:49
V.T. Marvin
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
Hi every one,
sorry that the link does not work - apparetly it works for me only because I have uploaded this.
I will gladly share my code with anybody. Actually I have always preferred to enjoy the game rather than to try to "improve it" myself and get it totally messed up.
The code is really very simple:
- at the end of ...\EB\data\export_descr_VnVs_enums.txt file I added following lines:
NOTE that out of my unawareness I have indeed did drag the Reinforcement CTD bug back into our camp again after the long arduous history EB Team had with it. Sorry about that brothers, I will redeem:shame: :sweatdrop:
- and finally at the beginnig of ...\EB\data\scripts\show_me\EBBS_SCRIPT.txt file I added following lines:
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType seleucid
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money seleucid, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType carthage
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money carthage, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType parthia
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money parthia, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType gauls
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money gauls, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType germans
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money germans, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType britons
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money britons, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType greek_cities
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money greek_cities, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType macedon
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money macedon, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType pontus
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money pontus, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType armenia
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money armenia, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType dacia
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money dacia, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType scythia
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money scythia, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType spain
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money spain, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType thrace
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money thrace, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType numidia
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money numidia, 1000
end_monitor
monitor_event CharacterTurnEnd FactionType saba
and Trait EnemyCampCaptured > 0
console_command add_money saba, 1000
end_monitor
Actually it is very simple but it is extremely hard for me to have it done properly. Therefore I encourage everyone to build further upon it as he/she pleases. I will be honoured if this idea would be brought to life eventually and that I have contributed a little bit to it.
So far my very first attempt in modding was not very successfull (that bloody Reinforcements CTD bug! :hmg:) and I am even unable to upload it on the Internet properly!!! :wall: So I certainly will not mind if somebody else will finish the job.
Nonetheless I have really enjoyed the time I have spent with my micromod and I will try to finish it too, but it will take some time as it is so much to learn.
I will definitively like to have it dynamic, so that the reward will be commeasurate to the size of the vanquished army, but now I wonder how to do that when the "NumEnemiesInBattle" variable is out of question. Simply putting "NumFriendsInBattle" combined with "battle odds" will not be very good because than the result will depend on how easy or hard the battle was but in history you certainly could have an easy victory AND abudant spoils. I wonder...:inquisitive:
Best regards,
LONG LIVE EUROPA BARBARORUM!
08-29-2007, 10:35
bovi
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
You could use the same technique as for BattlePoints. Having a huge force of poor units or a smaller one of elite units against you would yield similar spoils, I think, so the combination of number of friends and odds isn't all that bad.
08-30-2007, 09:28
Pius Curus
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
Impossible to download it:(
08-30-2007, 10:56
Gugus
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
Hi
I think this micromode is a good idea. I'm willing to try it as soon as you remove the reinforcement CTD threat. I also have a suggestion, that, if it is possible, you could connect the trait or amount of spoils with a presence of an enemy general. If the enemy army is lead by a family member then probably he is some sort of a noble person and is much richer then the rest of the soldiers, so the spoils usually should be bigger. Also maybe you can connect it with killing this enemy general. It is just a suggestion and because I'm not a moder i have no idea if it's possible at all.
Regards
G
08-30-2007, 17:53
bovi
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
I've applied the changes and uploaded it (but not tested it), you can get it here. Unpack to <RTW>/EB/data.
Marvin, perhaps you should try Rapidshare the next time you try to post a file, it may be easier to get the correct link :thumbsup:
08-31-2007, 07:51
V.T. Marvin
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
Spoils of Victory - new release!
Hi, everyone!
I have completed a new release - see edit in the first post, download here: http://uploaded.to/?id=k98o7l (hope it works now) Features:
- it is based on the size of FRIENDLY army and battle odds, rather than on solely on the number of enemy troops in order to avoid the "reinforcements CTS bug"
- it has two levels, basically rewarding victory over large anemy army with 800 mnai and victory over very large enemy army with 3000 mnai
- it would work as intended only for HUGE unit setting, if you use any other you might not be able to get the trait and the reward. To adapt the mod to your needs, you could change the value "NumFriendsInBattle" in the triggers VA01a through VA18b at he end of "export_descr_character_traits.txt" file
- due to extremely limited time I have it is not thoroughly tested yet. I dare to post it only because in the following days or even weeks I will not be able to play the game at all. If you install the micromod, please consider yourself a game-tester and let me know how it works.
- Here is a summary of conditions which should activate the mod:
NOTE - If you have and army bigger tan 5850 troops, you should gain the trait and the reward on EVERY victory, no matter how small the defeated enemy army is!!!
Credits: Thanks to Mirmorix for the original idea! I am much grateful to bovi for his advise which make it possible to me to overcome at least a part of my inexperience. :bow:
P.S. to bovi - Thank you for you enduring interest in this micromod and that you have done it yourself. I am looking forward to play your version of it.:2thumbsup:
08-31-2007, 16:30
bovi
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
Quote:
Originally Posted by V.T. Marvin
P.S. to bovi - Thank you for you enduring interest in this micromod and that you have done it yourself. I am looking forward to play your version of it.:2thumbsup:
Actually I have an ulterior motive. Since I was thinking about the feature myself earlier, I was thinking to snatch this up when it was good and ripe to use in EB, probably with some tweak or other. It's not quite there yet though, but please continue the work on it :2thumbsup:. I'll help when I'm able, but probably won't be doing the work myself. Consider yourself cheap, underpaid child labor :clown:. Of course, if you do not want us to use your work we won't.
08-31-2007, 17:30
glouch
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
is it savegame compatible now that it's edited and everything? :)
09-03-2007, 08:31
V.T. Marvin
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
QUOTE - Originally posted by bovi:
"Actually I have an ulterior motive. Since I was thinking about the feature myself earlier, I was thinking to snatch this up when it was good and ripe to use in EB, probably with some tweak or other. It's not quite there yet though, but please continue the work on it . I'll help when I'm able, but probably won't be doing the work myself. Consider yourself cheap, underpaid child labor . Of course, if you do not want us to use your work we won't."
REPLY - If my micromod be included into official EB I will be greatly honoured. I will work on that further so please follow-up my work and take it whenever you decided that it is good enough. :yes:
-------------------------------------
QUOTE - Originally posted by glouch
"Is it savegame compatible now that it's edited and everything? :)"
REPLY - Unfortunately not. You have to start a new campaign, otherwise the trait system get totally messed up. (Example - One of my generals, very lively in fact, got a trait "Slain by Sabaeans - He is dead" when I continued my older campaign. BTW, he handled his "death" with dignity and despite being "zombie" he continued to win battles - probably his scary appearance added to the fear he spread among the enemies :clown: )
-----------------------------------
QUOTE - Originally posted by Gugus
"I also have a suggestion, that, if it is possible, you could connect the trait or amount of spoils with a presence of an enemy general. If the enemy army is lead by a family member then probably he is some sort of a noble person and is much richer then the rest of the soldiers, so the spoils usually should be bigger. Also maybe you can connect it with killing this enemy general. It is just a suggestion and because I'm not a moder i have no idea if it's possible at all."
REPLY - Good idea! I think that there is an event called "EnemyGeneralFallen" or so, which might serve as a trigger. I will look into that an try to incorporate this.
---------------------------------------
TO ALL WHO HAS DARED TO TRY MY MICROMOD How is it working? Is download O.K.? Any problems with installation? Any strange occurences during gameplay, like CTDs, trait "Enemy Camp Captured" never appearing or never disappearing? Any suggestions on how big the reward should be?
:feedback: :feedback: :feedback:
09-05-2007, 05:37
Gaias
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
I don't have EB installed on this computer, so I cannot reports any bugs. But I can give you some ideas that I thought up that would pertain to what you are trying to accomplish with this modification mini.
I would require some number crunching, but you could base the rewards on the average upkeep cost of, say 500 soldiers for each faction. That way you could create a three or four tiered level of reward to create a more dynamic system. This could represent the supplies that are acquired from the camp (be it foodstuff, ammo, weapons, etc), compensation of wages for soldiers, and personal wealth gained.
I would suggest to you that to be rid of the influence bonus and add it to the morale bonus instead. See how it is never going to last beyond a turn, it not really going to have any, if at all, affect within the game. Seeing how that monetary wealth would make you more amiable in the eyes of you soldiers, they would be more encouraged to fight bravely no?
Maybe you could add in some traits that would effect on how much more or less 'loot' you gain. Say you outnumber the enemy 3 to 1 and only kill 40 percent of their strength, not alot of bodies to go around for looting. This could earn the general the trait of 'Scavenger', which would give a minus to morale, due to the lack of loot. If the opposite were true, you would gain the the trait 'Benefactor'. Which gives a positive to morale, due to the abundance of loot.
You could have more permanent traits like 'Open Handed', that had the effect netted you less money per camp but a higher morale bonus. Or 'Miser' that would have the opposite affect as previously mentioned.
09-07-2007, 09:05
madmatg
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
VT i will be trying your mod out as soon as i die in my current KH campaign(shouldnt be long as the computer decided everyone should betray their alliances with me and now the entire civilized world is coming at a Hellas that is ill-prepared for them)
Features:
- it now works both when attacking and defending
- minor bugs discovered and repaired
- it is well tested and no problems were discovered as yet
NOTE:
- it would work as intended only for HUGE unit setting, if you use any other setting, you could change the value "NumFriendsInBattle" in the triggers at the end of "export_descr_character_traits.txt" file
- it is not savegame compatible and you should start a new campaign therefore ( BTW - it is precisely the very reason, why I will not be developing further improvements to this for some time now, because I have a fine campaign underway and want to finish it first :laugh4: :embarassed: )
HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY IT - give me feedback anyway:feedback:
-------------------------------- P.S. to Gaias - Thanks for your suggestions - I like them a lot, especially the idea of 'Open Handed' or 'Miser' generals. After I finish my current campaign I will develop a new version of the micromod which will, besides other things, certainly incorporate this concept.
I will only stick with the temporary Influence bonus - I know it is useless but I like it for role-playing and also because I love those cute little the laurel wreaths :clown:
09-07-2007, 12:26
bovi
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
You should use the UnitSize traits to make sets of triggers for each size setting.
09-07-2007, 21:33
madmatg
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
ok its up and running i will be trying it out tonight or tomorrow, cant wait!
09-10-2007, 01:15
MerlinusCDXX
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
this sounds awesome :idea2: please let me know when it's compatible with unit sizes besides huge (my comp can't handle any bigger than large :embarassed: )
09-10-2007, 06:24
bovi
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
If you want to run with large, simply halve all the requirements for men numbers in the triggers he's made.
09-21-2007, 04:51
madmatg
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
will this mod be included in the next build of the game? i really enjoy it as it adds a little satisfaction to those slaughters that do happen :)
09-21-2007, 09:19
bovi
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
No, not unless it is worked further. I'm waiting for the right moment to snatch it up :beam:. Also, there would have to be a discussion inside the team of the balancing of it, once we deem the framework to be sufficient. I'm going to help with getting it there though :2thumbsup:.
Another suggestion is to affect the logistics traits such that a starving army would become only rationing when they capture the enemy camp of a decently-sized enemy army.
09-21-2007, 10:20
madmatg
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
isnt there some way to make the amount of money based on the size of the army, like they do for cities, where the amount of money you take everytime is different from city to city, would that be possible as an equation for each army?
09-21-2007, 15:02
V.T. Marvin
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
Quote:
Originally Posted by bovi
No, not unless it is worked further. I'm waiting for the right moment to snatch it up :beam:. Also, there would have to be a discussion inside the team of the balancing of it, once we deem the framework to be sufficient. I'm going to help with getting it there though :2thumbsup:.
Hallo friends!
Thanks for being so interested in my mod. As I have said earlier, I am going to improve it further but I have extremely few time for EB these days - too much work. You know, most bureaucracies are like :Zzzz: during summertime and like :tredmil: after the holiday period.
So I have a crucial quetion now. How much time I have left? :hourglass: Bovi, could you please indicate a timeframe in which I should submit a more elaborate version of this micromod in order to allow you to snatch it and tweak it and possibly even incorporate into next official release?
And when aproximately is the new release to be expected?
09-21-2007, 19:34
bovi
Re: Spoils of Victory - a micromod
Quote:
Originally Posted by V.T. Marvin
So I have a crucial quetion now. How much time I have left? :hourglass: Bovi, could you please indicate a timeframe in which I should submit a more elaborate version of this micromod in order to allow you to snatch it and tweak it and possibly even incorporate into next official release?
And when aproximately is the new release to be expected?
Sneaky, sneaky :wink:... Let's just say it's no rush; whenever you get it done will be sufficient. It will then go into the next public build unless it's too close to the submission deadline, whether that is the one coming up now, the next one or the one after that.
