Help with modding

[Recoil]

Hey there, I'm not sure where this thread belongs so I posted it here, but by all means the mods can move it into another forum if there's one it belongs in. Anyways, down to business.

I want to try my own hand at modding and was wondering how to-

1-change faction names
2-change faction starting cities
3-change units available to a faction (giving them other factions units i suppose, dont know how to make my own)

Also, is it possible to take away factions? I know you probably all think I'm mad but in the event that I might want to have a few less factions I'd appreciate knowing where and how to sort this out. I realise that this is probably too complicated to reply in a single post, so if anyone has a website that can walk me through this or knows this in detail PM me it or write it up here, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks a million

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Faction names are in the ".../Rome - Total War/EB/Data/text/expanded_bi.txt", but you have to change a couple dozen references.

Starting cities are in the ".../Rome - Total War/EB/Data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/descr_strat.txt". Be careful though, it is very easy to mess up when changing starting cities.

To allow units to another faction you have to change multiple files, namely the ".../Rome - Total War/EB/Data/descr_model_battle.txt" to make sure they have a skin assigned to the model, the ".../Rome - Total War/EB/Data/export_descr_unit.txt" to make sure that the new faction is included on the recruitment line for that faction, and the ".../Rome - Total War/EB/Data/export_descr_buildings.txt" to assign recruitment for the unit (easiest just to copy the recruitment lines for the old faction and edit them appropriately). You may also have to copy the UI files to a different folder, for the full effect.

[bovi]

Additionally, you may find loads of useful tips and tutorials in the Scriptorium, another forum on these boards.

[king hannibal]

I've sort of been looking at a website but there's better place on TWC in turners of modding tutorials but there help you out with other questions more to do with MTW2 though anyway good lock with the modding

http://www.twmodsquad.com/index.php?cat=1

[overweightninja]

Starting cities are in the ".../Rome - Total War/EB/Data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/descr_strat.txt". Be careful though, it is very easy to mess up when changing starting cities.

Just to expand on this, the CAMPAIGN_SCRIPT.txt (in same folder) is just as important when fiddling with settlement ownership as the descr_strat (pay particular attention to building/army spawns and the unit size traits section at the start, and work your changes around these if needed).
Hope that helps.