File fiddling

[Jaywalker-Jack]

Just wondered does anyone know how Id go about switching a few skins around. Nothing major, just switching one existing skin for a particular model to another.
I prefer some Aedui skins vs the Arverni ones, and vice versa, so for example Id like to play as the Arverni but have the Aedui Luce Epos skin. Im guessing this is straight-forward enough?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

That would be in the descr_model_battle.txt. I'm not sure to what extent you can edit that file before it makes your savegames uncompatible, though a mild amount of editting will do that.

[Watchman]

It's easy and safe enough to merely swap textures if you know what you're doing. I would recommend "commenting out" the original line(s) with a ; in the beginning though, so that the changes are easy to reverse if necessary for some reason. Eg. what it looks like if you switch the Gallic factional textures:

type				celtic_cavalry_leuceepos_equitesgallovrum
skeleton			fs_hc_javelinman_big, fs_hc_spearman_big
indiv_range			40
;texture				gauls, eb/data/models_unit/textures/celtic/ebceltic_cavalry_leuce_epos_psycho_gauls.tga
;texture				scythia, eb/data/models_unit/textures/celtic/ebceltic_cavalry_leuce_epos_psycho_scythia.tga
texture				gauls, eb/data/models_unit/textures/celtic/ebceltic_cavalry_leuce_epos_psycho_scythia.tga
texture				scythia, eb/data/models_unit/textures/celtic/ebceltic_cavalry_leuce_epos_psycho_gauls.tga
...

...and backing up the whole file is of course recommended on general principles.

[Jaywalker-Jack]

Thanks lads, that's a big help. One other thing - suppose I wanted to use the skin of one unit for another unit of the same type? For example the Galatian Tindanotae skin for Gaesatae. Can this be done without mauling the code too much?

[Watchman]

Sure. Same procedure.

[Jaywalker-Jack]

Good stuff, cheers.

[Megas Pyrrhos]

Also, I have a somewhat related question. What files are needed to be added to and/or modified in order to add a new ethnicity trait, i.e. "Heterogenes Indos" or something? I've done this in the past, but using XP and not Vista. I know that I need to keep the ethnicity trait I add in the character_traits file in the same order throughout the file...but the game keeps crashing. I've added lines and such in the character_traits file, the vnvs file, and the vnvs_enum file...any others I need? If not, then I had a typing error somewhere in the character_traits file...

Any help or insight appreciated.

[TWFanatic]

Be forewarned: once you start modding like this, you can't stop. It's far more addictive than crack. One day you're curiously swapping skins around, and the next thing you know you are spending more time modding than actually playing!

[Megas Pyrrhos]

I totally concur. It all started on a bright sunny day, where I stayed indoors and made little tweaks to the export_desc_building file, messing with stats, or in the units file. Next, it's fiddling with more complex things such as traits.....

Anyways... Otherwise, I need to laboriously scan my changes again .

[Megas Pyrrhos]

Bump. And I've just finished redoing my modifications again. Checked them over again several times. I still get a CTD when I try to start up a new campaign. It may be a Vista problem, with messing with files and everything. Below is what I added to the character_traits file (all in sequential order as well, as the file demands it). I called it the "HeterogenesIndos" trait. I may of made a typo or something like that, but I just can't find it if there is...more eyes upon what I did would help... I also included one set of the triggers already present directly above and directly below what I added in, to give hopefully some form of reference to where exactly I added the text in.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

;------------------------------------------
;Trait: HeterogenesIndos
; o HeterogenesIndos (1): This man is a true son of Baktria, he is a descendant of Hellenic and Indian families and has lived all his life in and around Baktria, or in parts of Hellenic India under Baktrian influence. He is less prone to be antagonistic towards either Hellenes or other Eastern peoples, and he is more likely to be accepting of outsiders. He may take after his mother's or father's side of the family when it comes to his personality, but he is more likely to be able to benefit from his relationships with both sides, though also more likely to be hated by either group for his racial mixture.

Trait HeterogenesIndos
Characters family
NoGoingBackLevel 1
AntiTraits HellenBaktria, MakedonBaktria, Indos, Persikos, Sogdios, HeterogenesBaktria

Level Heterogenes_Indos
Description Heterogenes_Indos_desc
EffectsDescription Heterogenes_Indos_effects_desc
Threshold 1

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesBaktria_OfferedForMarriage_BaseTraits_Disloyal
WhenToTest OfferedForMarriage

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesBaktria > 0
and Trait Loyalty < 3

Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 65
Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 35

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_OfferedForMarriage
WhenToTest OfferedForMarriage

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined < 1

Affects HeterogenesIndos 1 Chance 36

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_OfferedForMarriage_EthnoDetermined
WhenToTest OfferedForMarriage

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined < 1
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0

Affects EthnoDetermined 1 Chance 100
Affects FearsEasterners 1 Chance 35
Affects FearsGreeks 1 Chance 35
Affects FearsEasterners 1 Chance 10
Affects FearsGreeks 1 Chance 10
Affects SpyMaster 2 Chance 55

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_OfferedForMarriage_BaseTraits_optimist
WhenToTest OfferedForMarriage

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait Temperament > 3

Affects Xenophilia 1 Chance 65

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_OfferedForMarriage_BaseTraits_energy
WhenToTest OfferedForMarriage

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait NaturalEnergy > 3

Affects GoodAmbusher 2 Chance 65
Affects SpyMaster 2 Chance 55

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_OfferedForMarriage_BaseTraits_sharp
WhenToTest OfferedForMarriage

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait NaturalIntelligence > 3

Affects BaktrianHydreiasTechnites 2 Chance 85
Affects BaktrianHydreiasTechnites 2 Chance 25
Affects SpyMaster 2 Chance 55

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_OfferedForMarriage_BaseTraits_uncharismatic
WhenToTest OfferedForMarriage

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait NaturalCharisma < 3

Affects Outsider 1 Chance 75

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_OfferedForMarriage_BaseTraits_Disloyal
WhenToTest OfferedForMarriage

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait Loyalty < 3

Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 65
Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 35

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_Sogdios_OfferedForMarriage
WhenToTest OfferedForMarriage

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined < 1

Affects Sogdios 1 Chance 100
Affects FearsEasterners 2 Chance 100

;------------------------------------------

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesBaktria_CharacterComesOfAge_BaseTraits_Disloyal
WhenToTest CharacterComesOfAge

Condition Trait HeterogenesBaktria > 0
and Trait Loyalty < 3

Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 65
Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 35

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_CharacterComesOfAge_Father
WhenToTest CharacterComesOfAge

Condition FatherTrait HeterogenesIndos > 0

Affects HeterogenesIndos 1 Chance 100
Affects EthnoDetermined 1 Chance 100

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_CharacterComesOfAge_EthnoDetermined
WhenToTest CharacterComesOfAge

Condition Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0

Affects EthnoDetermined 1 Chance 100
Affects FearsEasterners 1 Chance 35
Affects FearsGreeks 1 Chance 35
Affects FearsEasterners 1 Chance 10
Affects FearsGreeks 1 Chance 10
Affects SpyMaster 2 Chance 55

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_CharacterComesOfAge_BaseTraits_optimist
WhenToTest CharacterComesOfAge

Condition Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait Temperament > 3

Affects Xenophilia 1 Chance 65

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_CharacterComesOfAge_BaseTraits_energy
WhenToTest CharacterComesOfAge

Condition Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait NaturalEnergy > 3

Affects GoodAmbusher 2 Chance 65
Affects SpyMaster 2 Chance 55

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_CharacterComesOfAge_BaseTraits_sharp
WhenToTest CharacterComesOfAge

Condition Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait NaturalIntelligence > 3

Affects BaktrianHydreiasTechnites 2 Chance 85
Affects BaktrianHydreiasTechnites 2 Chance 25
Affects SpyMaster 2 Chance 55

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_CharacterComesOfAge_BaseTraits_Disloyal
WhenToTest CharacterComesOfAge

Condition Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait Loyalty < 3

Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 65
Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 35

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_Sogdios_CharacterComesOfAge_Father
WhenToTest CharacterComesOfAge

Condition FatherTrait Sogdios > 0

Affects Sogdios 1 Chance 100
Affects EthnoDetermined 1 Chance 100
Affects FearsEasterners 2 Chance 100

;------------------------------------------

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesBaktria_OfferedForAdoption_BaseTraits_Disloyal
WhenToTest OfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesBaktria > 0
and Trait Loyalty < 3

Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 65
Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 35

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_OfferedForAdoption
WhenToTest OfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined < 1

Affects HeterogenesIndos 1 Chance 36

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_OfferedForAdoption_EthnoDetermined
WhenToTest OfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined < 1
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0

Affects EthnoDetermined 1 Chance 100
Affects FearsEasterners 1 Chance 35
Affects FearsGreeks 1 Chance 35
Affects FearsEasterners 1 Chance 10
Affects FearsGreeks 1 Chance 10
Affects SpyMaster 2 Chance 55

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_OfferedForAdoption_BaseTraits_optimist
WhenToTest OfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait Temperament > 3

Affects Xenophilia 1 Chance 65

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_OfferedForAdoption_BaseTraits_energy
WhenToTest OfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait NaturalEnergy > 3

Affects GoodAmbusher 2 Chance 65
Affects SpyMaster 2 Chance 55

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_OfferedForAdoption_BaseTraits_sharp
WhenToTest OfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait NaturalIntelligence > 3

Affects BaktrianHydreiasTechnites 2 Chance 85
Affects BaktrianHydreiasTechnites 2 Chance 25
Affects SpyMaster 2 Chance 55

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_OfferedForAdoption_BaseTraits_Disloyal
WhenToTest OfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait Loyalty < 3

Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 65
Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 35

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_Sogdios_OfferedForAdoption
WhenToTest OfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined < 1

Affects Sogdios 1 Chance 100
Affects FearsEasterners 2 Chance 100

;------------------------------------------

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesBaktria_LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption_BaseTraits_Disloyal
WhenToTest LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesBaktria > 0
and Trait Loyalty < 3

Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 65
Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 35

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption
WhenToTest LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined < 1

Affects HeterogenesIndos 1 Chance 36

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption_EthnoDetermined
WhenToTest LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined < 1
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0

Affects EthnoDetermined 1 Chance 100
Affects FearsEasterners 1 Chance 35
Affects FearsGreeks 1 Chance 35
Affects FearsEasterners 1 Chance 10
Affects FearsGreeks 1 Chance 10
Affects SpyMaster 2 Chance 55

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption_BaseTraits_optimist
WhenToTest LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait Temperament > 3

Affects Xenophilia 1 Chance 65

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption_BaseTraits_energy
WhenToTest LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait NaturalEnergy > 3

Affects GoodAmbusher 2 Chance 65
Affects SpyMaster 2 Chance 55

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption_BaseTraits_sharp
WhenToTest LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait NaturalIntelligence > 3

Affects BaktrianHydreiasTechnites 2 Chance 85
Affects BaktrianHydreiasTechnites 2 Chance 25
Affects SpyMaster 2 Chance 55

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption_BaseTraits_Disloyal
WhenToTest LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined > 0
and Trait HeterogenesIndos > 0
and Trait Loyalty < 3

Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 65
Affects Disloyal 1 Chance 35

;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_Sogdios_LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption
WhenToTest LesserGeneralOfferedForAdoption

Condition FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait EthnoDetermined < 1

Affects Sogdios 1 Chance 100
Affects FearsEasterners 2 Chance 100

;------------------------------------------

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

;Mod: EBMod762 - 10/16 : trigger to determine if too busy for Olympics
;------------------------------------------
Trigger Baktria_Eligible_for_Olympics_HellenBaktria
WhenToTest CharacterTurnEnd

Condition Trait EligibleForOlympics > 0
and FactionType romans_brutii
and Trait FormerBaktriaOlympicCompetitor < 1
and Trait BaktriaOlympicVictor < 1
and Trait Indos < 1
and Trait Sogdios < 1
and Trait Persikos < 1
and Trait HeterogenesBaktria < 1
and Trait HeterogenesIndos < 1

Affects BaktriaOlympicCompetitor 1 Chance 15

[bovi]

Comment out half of them. If it doesn't CTD, it's among those you commented, otherwise it's among the remaining. Then comment out all the proven good ones and half of the ones in the suspect group. Rinse and repeat.

[Tellos Athenaios]

I see...

Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesBaktria_LesserGeneralOfferedFor Adoption_BaseTraits_Disloyal

And just below...
[code]Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_LesserGeneralOff

[Megas Pyrrhos]

I see...

Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesBaktria_LesserGeneralOfferedFor Adoption_BaseTraits_Disloyal

And just below...
[code]Trigger Baktria_HeterogenesIndos_LesserGeneralOff

Uh...I'm not sure I follow Tellos. I included the triggers directly ABOVE and directly BELOW what I added...to show where exactly I put everything...I'm not sure I followed your line of thought on the correlation you pointed out...

Thanks for the suggestion bovi... I guess I'll do that if all else fails.

[Megas Pyrrhos]

I guess I'll write this off as a Vista problem....I commented out everything I added in, and it still has a CTD every time. That is, if "commenting something out" involves putting a semicolon (;) in front of everything I added. Actually, one time I all I did was add in this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

;------------------------------------------
;Trait: HeterogenesIndos
; o HeterogenesIndos (1): This man is a true son of Baktria, he is a descendant of Hellenic and Indian families and has lived all his life in and around Baktria, or in parts of Hellenic India under Baktrian influence. He is less prone to be antagonistic towards either Hellenes or other Eastern peoples, and he is more likely to be accepting of outsiders. He may take after his mother's or father's side of the family when it comes to his personality, but he is more likely to be able to benefit from his relationships with both sides, though also more likely to be hated by either group for his racial mixture.
;
;Trait HeterogenesIndos
; Characters family
; NoGoingBackLevel 1
; AntiTraits HellenBaktria, MakedonBaktria, Indos, Persikos, Sogdios, HeterogenesBaktria
;
; Level Heterogenes_Indos
; Description Heterogenes_Indos_desc
; EffectsDescription Heterogenes_Indos_effects_desc
; Threshold 1
;
;------------------------------------------

and it had a CTD from just that, though without all those semicolons.

Oh well. I bet this would work on my laptop with XP as its OS, lol.

[Jaywalker-Jack]

Somehow Im just not satisfied with changing the skins, I need the unit portraits to match. Can anyone advise? Can't seem to find the right file myself.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Unit portraits?

I presume you talk about the unit cards? Yes, well in that case having a peek inside the UI/UNITS and UI/UNITS_INFO folders should teach you everything you'd need to know.

[Jaywalker-Jack]

By the portraits I mean the little pictures in boxes used to select units on both the strat and battle maps. I know how to switch skins, but that little picture will still show the old design, which annoys me a little (nitpicky I know).
I will take a look at that alright, thanks.

Epeiros hellenistic med cavalry skin goes very well with Pontos methinks. Also, the Pahlava levy phalanx skin brightens up Pontic and Armenian armies.