Adding Axemen to Gauls

**itkotw** · 10-22-2004, 04:29

Hmm, I have been thinking about the disappearing axemen. I had a similar problem when I first tried to give the gauls axemen. The troops would disappear at long ranges. All I can say is check the descr_model_battle file, and make sure this line appears under the "warband_axe" section (I incorrectly called this the "warband axe german" section in my second post) -

model_sprite gauls, 60.0, data/sprites/germans_warband_axe_sprite.spr

This just tells the game to use the german axemen sprites for the gauls. This is needed because the game stops using 3d models at long ranges and switches to sprites (cheesy, but fast, 2d images)(I forgot to add the second sprite line when I first edited the axemen).

Now, lets talk about the unit cards and unit info screen. First thing we have to do is unpack some of the image files that the game uses. The game has a few compressed files which it uncompresses when the game starts up. So, what you have to do is download the Xpak program, which is discussed in this link - https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=37626 . After you follow the directions in the program, it will unpack the files and create a few new folders. The xpak program unpacks the files and creates the new folders within the /Data/packs folder, but you are going to leave most of the newly unpacked files and only copy the one or two that you need (this will seem a little clearer once you unpack the files).

After you unpack the files, you need to create a couple more folders. These new folders are needed because of the way the game organizes the factions image files. Create a new folder in the "Rome - Totalwar/Data/" folder, called "UI". Then, within the "UI" folder, create a folder called "UNIT_INFO". Now under the "UNIT_INFO" folder, create another folder called "Gauls". Next, you will have to make another folder in the "UI" folder, called "UNITS". Finally, make a new folder in the "UNITS" folder called "Gauls". To recap on the folders we have just created, they should look something like this - "Rome - Totalwar/Data/UI/UNIT_INFO/Gauls" and "Rome - Totalwar/Data/UI/UNITS/Gauls". The next step is to copy some of the unpacked images into these folders.

Now, look in the unpacked folder named "DATA/UI/UNIT_INFO/Germans/" (remember, this is not the normal "data" folder, but the newly unpacked one), technically the location is this - "Data/packs/DATA/UI/UNIT_INFO/Germans/". Find the file called "WARBAND_AXE_GERMAN_INFO.tga" and copy it to the folder you just created called "/Data/UI/UNIT_INFO/Gauls/". Now go into the unpacked folder called "/DATA/UI/UNITS/Germans/" (the technical location is "/Data/packs/DATA/UI/UNITS/Germans") and find the file called "#WARBAND_AXE_GERMAN.tga" and copy to the folder you just created called "Data/UI/UNITS/Gauls/".

That is all you have to do to get the unit cards and info screen to display the axemen picture. Who knows, there might be an easier way, hehe. I hope that helps, if you have any problems, post a reply. Good luck.

p.s. As I was writing this I had an idea and I tried to test an easy way to give the gaul axemen a different texture. While browsing the texture files I noticed that the gaul swordsman had an axe already in the texture file, so I figured hey why not tell the game to use the gaul swordsmen texture on the gaul axemen. It did not turn out perfect. Unfortunately, the axemen model's texture map needs a few extra pieces that the swordsmen texture file didn't have, namely some sort of art for the beard and that funky german braid/princess leia bun on the right side of their head. So the gaul axemen that are using the swordsmen texture have a black spot for a beard and a black spot on the right side of their head. I do not know which you will dislike more - gaul axemen with red pants or gaul axemen with green pants and black spots on their heads. But the green pants do make it easier to track how your troops are doing in a battle. In any case, when you decide to edit some textures, it might be easier to add a couple patches of color to the gaul swordsmen file , than copy the german axemen file and change the color of the pants and shield. If you want to see the swordsmen texture in action just go to the "descr_model_battle" file and find the "warband_axe" section and change this line -

texture gauls, data/models_unit/textures/unit_barb_warband_german_.tga

to this -

texture gauls, data/models_unit/textures/unit_barb_warband_gaul_.tga

**Jagger** · 10-22-2004, 07:21

First things first....many thanks! I now have unit cards and info screen depictions of my Gaulish axemen!

Your directions were great. I didn't have any problems except when the extraction process was occuring. I wasn't sure when the process was complete, so I terminated the extraction too soon. The extracted files were empty. When I realized that eight files needed unpacking, I waited until the process was complete. And everything was there.

Also I didn't have the one line for the Gaulish sprites in the model_data file either. I won't be able to test that solution until I have another battle between the Gauls and the Germans. But I bet that solved the problem.

One last question.... Do I need a special paint program to work with DDS files? I only have MSPaint available.

Next time you are in New Orleans, I owe you a good beer.

**Jagger** · 10-22-2004, 07:25

I just tried to open the DDS texture file for the axemen. Apparantly MSpaint does not support the format.

**Jagger** · 10-22-2004, 14:09

I did some research this morning on DDS files. Apparantly only photoshop and paintshop pro opens DDS files and some plugins are required.

I may download the free trial version of paintshop this weekend and see what I can do.

**The samnite** · 10-22-2004, 16:01

Hey Jagger,

if Photoshop or PSP aren't options for you, you can get a program called DXTBMP from this site http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/.

It allows you to open DDS files, save them in a different format, and passes them on to different editors (MSPAINT included). One bad thing, you have to import the alpha channel separately (you can edit that too). It's an extra step than the commercial programs, but it works fine. I'm using it in conjuction with GIMP, while a bit buggy, is pretty good alround. Hope this helps.