Tweaking the preferences.txt

[QuintusSertorius]

For reasons that are beyond me, the TrivialScript for preferences doesn't work. Not a big deal, since changing some terms in a text file aren't onerous.

Reason for this post is I'm wondering what some of the things do.

"Show Banners" is obvious. Same "Disable Arrow Markers". Both of which I've just toggled. Disabling arrow markers won't stop the move destinations showing up when I hold down space, will it?

What's "Disable Background FMV"? Will it make my game any faster to switch it off?

And "Unit Experience Upgrade Effect" - is that the annoying glow they get sometimes when they gain experience?

"Event Cutscenes"? What are they?

[Swordmaster]

For reasons that are beyond me, the TrivialScript for preferences doesn't work. Not a big deal, since changing some terms in a text file aren't onerous.

The script should work. Try reinstalling it (comes with a separate installer IIRC, so nothing to do with the main EB installation).

EDIT: Unit upgrade effect is indeed nothing more than the visual notification of said fact. The event cutscenes are the movie-style things that show up when you breach a wall or the general dies. Don't know about the FMV thing.

[QuintusSertorius]

Given the script works fine for launching the game, I'm not sure I want to mess with it.

Thanks for those.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Just to clarify a couple of points:
The Trivial Script doesn't come with a default preferences.txt file; neither does the EB mod -- the Game has to generate that one upon first load/first time preferences editing in-game. Therefore: you get that "File not found" error message upon the first load of the EB trivial script; however that should not prevent you from launching EB with it. (It would however make it a bit complicated to edit a *not-yet-exisisting* file with it, though.) So, just run EB 'vanilla' first and only then use the Trivial Script to do the common options stuff with it.

The Event Cutscenes; are well; just that: you have an event in some battle (e.g.: enemy general killed; walls breached) and the game automatically zooms in for a close-up of the action. That 'scene' is the 'cutscene' (obviously) and the event part is the fact that's an significant thing to happen in your battle.

Disable Arrow Markers won't prevent you from forcing the game to show the movement directions/alignment of your troops with the Ctrl + Backspace / Backspace hotkeys; the Unit Experience Upgrade Effect is indeed that distorting glow-in-the-dark weirdness.

[QuintusSertorius]

Appreciate that TA. Had some of my first battles without banners; much harder to tell what's going on when you don't get the flashing banner for routing troops.

[hoom]

"Disable Background FMV"

This turns off the animated video that plays in the background of the main menu before you load a campaign.
I think (honestly I can't remember right now ) EB already has only the static background so toggling that won't have any effect.

[Swordmaster]

Appreciate that TA. Had some of my first battles without banners; much harder to tell what's going on when you don't get the flashing banner for routing troops.

Yes, that was annoying for me, too, the first few battles. You'll get used to it, however. It's not realistic anyway to get this clear notification of when a certain unit started routing either. You'll have to pay close attention to notice, as had to do the general in the real world. Same goes with the distinction who's whose troops. Confusion and chaos are elements to be reckoned with in battles past and present.