Modding the demo

[Mailman653]

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=227956
Instructions

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=227982
Unpacker

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=227839
Detailed How-to

Mind you this is an Unofficial unpacker, but people on that website have made lots of advances including playing as the Americans, increasing unit sizes, adding new traits to units, even swapping the demo nations and adding France or Austria.

I figured this info would be useful for us Org's. Special thanks to Quadalpha for posting the intial link over at the demo discussion thread.

So lets get going guys, lets see what we can come up with now. The TWcenter folks are having their fun modding the demo, lets have ours.

[Aemilius Paulus]

Wow. Heck, people can technically and theoretically make a fully playable game out of a demo, could they not?? How legal is this anyway?

I burst into laughter when I saw the thread title.

[Megas Methuselah]

Wow, that is so cool.

[pevergreen]

I was looking for an unpacker. ^_^

[Megas Methuselah]

I always thought the land battle could use 5 more Line infantry on each side or something...

[Mailman653]

Not quite working yet, the units spawn with no textures eventhough the overhead flag is correct. I tried editing the battle script file next but no change to the textures, even made things worse because I couldn't click on my units.
I think there is a possiblity that the *some* textures aren't with the demo, it would make sense if they are not meant to be playable. Oh, and here is a screen to make your jaw drop:


The load times seem faster now, at least for me the opening video sequence doesn't stutter anymore and the game as a whole loooks like it is loading faster.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

The platoon fire drill is brutal.

[Mailman653]

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...87#post4506787
Unpacks all the files except one, I'm unpacking things right now, I hope to find the textures and have a little fun.

Update:I found the textures, just about everyone has white coats, US and English alike, it left me wondering what and where the game determines what color a faction wears. For instance the muscians wear blue coats in the game yet the texture has them wearing white. I also took a look at the sound files, if the demo is any indication, one of the US voice actors is also one of the British voice actors which would solve the question of why the Americans sound English in some videos.

[pevergreen]

It just won't work for me.

[Mailman653]

Not quite sure what to say, I installed the Python 3.X, then I d/l the unpacker and put it in the right directory, clicked on it and off it went doing its thing.

[pevergreen]

Yeah, i think its because i tried to run the emp_unpacker.py before i properly installed python.

Or maybe because I'm on vista. Im asking for help over at the TWC.

[Mailman653]

I've stopped playing with the files but the textures really got me thinking as to how and where the game determines who wears what. For instance in that screen shot of Mexico they are clearly wearing some yellow/orange uniforms, yet in the actual textures there isnt a Mexican soldier texture. Everyone has white coats with different color facings and turnbacks.

I would love to see some of the uniforms get re-done, like giving the Brits artillery blue coats instead of red coats, and seeing some of the American uniforms tweaked.

[lenin96]

Have a look at this thread at TWC, someone had a 1400 man unit!

[pevergreen]

Not impressive. I've seen a guy have a 9001 unit of Grenadiers. Literally.

Of course the frame rate was something like 3 frames per minute, but even so.

[lenin96]

Not impressive. I've seen a guy have a 9001 unit of Grenadiers. Literally.

Of course the frame rate was something like 3 frames per minute, but even so.

Really? Can you post a link, because it would be great see that!

[pevergreen]

from TWC.

[lenin96]

Thats big (big understatement).

[Abokasee]

Theres already Ancillaries, and to a degree slavery is in, but not in the Mass Cotton farm form, but more of the Cotton House:

--[[ Ancillary_African_Servant_02_Trigger ]]--

events.BuildingCompleted[#events.BuildingCompleted+1] =
function (context)
if conditions.CharacterType("minister", context) and conditions.CharacterMinisterialPosition("governor_america", context) and conditions.CharacterBuildingConstructed("large_cotton_plantation", context) then
if conditions.DateInRange(1700, 1900, context) then
effect.ancillary("Ancillary_African_Servant", 8, context)
end
return true
end
return false
end

I can confirm the return of turncoats:

--[[ Ancillary_Army_Ottoman_Turncoat_2_Trigger ]]--

events.CharacterCompletedBattle[#events.CharacterCompletedBattle+1] =
function (context)
if conditions.CharacterType("General", context) and not conditions.CharacterFactionName("ottomans", context) and conditions.CharacterFoughtCulture("middle_east", context) and conditions.CharacterWonBattle(context) and conditions.BattleResult("major_victory", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_1", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_3", context) then
if conditions.DateInRange(1700, 1900, context) then
effect.ancillary("Ancillary_Army_Ottoman_Turncoat", 17, context)
end
return true
end
return false
end

Another interesting Ancillary, seems there will be cultural ones as well including ones for unlockable/unplayable factions (well we can mod the demo... why not the main game?)

--[[ Ancillary_Assassin_Thug_Trigger ]]--

events.CharacterTurnEnd[#events.CharacterTurnEnd+1] =
function (context)
if conditions.CharacterType("assassin", context) and conditions.CharacterCultureType("indian", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_1", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_3", context) then
if conditions.DateInRange(1700, 1900, context) then
effect.ancillary("Ancillary_Assassin_Thug", 2, context)
end
return true
end
return false
end

--[[ Ancillary_Blood_Brother_2_Trigger ]]--

events.CharacterCompletedBattle[#events.CharacterCompletedBattle+1] =
function (context)
if conditions.CharacterType("General", context) and not conditions.CharacterCultureType("tribal", context) and conditions.CharacterFoughtCulture("tribal", context) and conditions.CharacterInTheatre(1, context) and conditions.CharacterTurnsInEnemyLands(context) >= 1 and conditions.CharacterWonBattle(context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_1", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_3", context) then
if conditions.DateInRange(1700, 1900, context) then
effect.ancillary("Ancillary_Blood_Brother", 8, context)
end
return true
end
return false
end

Theres Dueling Ancillaries

--[[ Ancillary_Duelling_Hidalgo_Fop_2_Trigger ]]--

events.DuelFought[#events.DuelFought+1] =
function (context)
if conditions.CharacterWonDuel(context) and conditions.CharacterDuelWeapon("duelling_sword", context) and conditions.CharacterFactionName("spain", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_1", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_3", context) then
if conditions.DateInRange(1700, 1900, context) then
effect.ancillary("Ancillary_Duelling_Hidalgo_Fop", 17, context)
end
return true
end
return false
end

--[[ Ancillary_Duelling_Minx_Trigger ]]--

events.CharacterTurnEnd[#events.CharacterTurnEnd+1] =
function (context)
if (conditions.CharacterType("rake", context) or conditions.CharacterType("gentleman", context)) and conditions.CharacterCultureType("european", context) and (conditions.CharacterTrait("C_Gent_Duelling_Sword", context) >= 2 or conditions.CharacterTrait("C_Gent_Duelling_Pistol", context) >= 4) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_1", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_3", context) then
if conditions.DateInRange(1700, 1900, context) then
effect.ancillary("Ancillary_Duelling_Minx", 8, context)
end
return true
end
return false
end

--[[ Ancillary_Duelling_Pistols_2_Trigger ]]--

events.DuelFought[#events.DuelFought+1] =
function (context)
if conditions.CharacterWonDuel(context) and conditions.CharacterDuelWeapon("duelling_pistols", context) and not conditions.CharacterFactionName("britain", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_1", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_3", context) then
if conditions.DateInRange(1700, 1900, context) then
effect.ancillary("Ancillary_Duelling_Pistols", 17, context)
end
return true
end
return false
end

--[[ Ancillary_Duelling_Pistols_Manton_2_Trigger ]]--

events.DuelFought[#events.DuelFought+1] =
function (context)
if conditions.CharacterWonDuel(context) and conditions.CharacterDuelWeapon("duelling_pistols", context) and conditions.CharacterFactionName("britain", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_1", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_3", context) then
if conditions.DateInRange(1700, 1900, context) then
effect.ancillary("Ancillary_Duelling_Pistols_Manton", 5, context)
end
return true
end
return false
end

Theres more Captive Ancillaries

--[[ Ancillary_European_Captive_Ferang_Trigger ]]--

events.CharacterCompletedBattle[#events.CharacterCompletedBattle+1] =
function (context)
if (conditions.CharacterType("General", context) or conditions.CharacterType("admiral", context)) and conditions.CharacterCultureType("indian", context) and conditions.CharacterFoughtCulture("european", context) or (conditions.CharacterInTheatre(836795134, context) or conditions.CharacterInTheatre(-1133129049, context)) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_1", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_3", context) then
if conditions.DateInRange(1700, 1900, context) then
effect.ancillary("Ancillary_European_Captive_Ferang", 8, context)
end
return true
end
return false
end

This is probably the most intersting trigger:

--[[ Ancillary_Government_Vampire_Hunter_Trigger ]]--

events.CharacterTurnEnd[#events.CharacterTurnEnd+1] =
function (context)
if conditions.CharacterType("minister", context) and conditions.IsFactionLeader(context) and conditions.CharacterFactionName("austria", context) and conditions.FactionLeadersTrait("C_Personal_Piety", context) >= 1 and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_1", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_3", context) then
if conditions.DateInRange(1700, 1900, context) then
effect.ancillary("Ancillary_Government_Vampire_Hunter", 8, context)
end
return true
end
return false
end

Till I saw this one:

--[[ Ancillary_Grizzly_Adams_Trigger ]]--

events.CharacterCompletedBattle[#events.CharacterCompletedBattle+1] =
function (context)
if conditions.CharacterType("General", context) and not conditions.CharacterCultureType("tribal", context) and conditions.CharacterWonBattle(context) and conditions.CharacterInTheatre(1, context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_1", context) and not conditions.CampaignName("episodic_3", context) then
if conditions.DateInRange(1700, 1900, context) then
effect.ancillary("Ancillary_Grizzly_Adams", 8, context)
end
return true
end
return false
end

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Has anyone tried to take away the scripting in the battle of Brandywine? The naval battle has a template for an "unscripted" scenario, and I was wondering if something similar could be done for the land battle...

[Mailman653]

Has anyone tried to take away the scripting in the battle of Brandywine? The naval battle has a template for an "unscripted" scenario, and I was wondering if something similar could be done for the land battle...

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=228100
Looks like it's been done, I'm gonna give it a try myself.

[pevergreen]

It has been done.

Check TWC, all the modding progress is being done there. (edit: thats what not refreshing gets me)

[Mailman653]

Great news! "new map"

It's actually the battle tutorial map, heres how,

Open up the brandywine.xml and change the following:

<battle_map_definition>
<name>BattleTerrain/presets/battle_tutorial/</name>
</battle_map_definition>

Change brandy wine to battle_tutorial. Thats it. The only problem is having to guess the unit placement, as it is the Brits spawn behind the town while the US are spread out across the valley.


I'm going to try to replace the unit placement #'s with the ones from the tutorial, maybe that will help. Oh, I also made it rain, but it's hardly noticble in the screen shot.

[Judge]

Rain = wet gunpowder = mellee

[Mailman653]

I zipped up the Brandywine-tutorial map for everyone to enjoy, it has the default US and England factions with their Brandywine units, the only change is the map.

Update: There are some placement issues so I removed the download. As the English you spawn behind the town and can deploy almost anywhere but the Americans spawn partly in front of the town and in the valley below. As the Americans you fix this problem by just moving all your units in front of the town and the English will spawn behind it.

Update1:I've given up for now, I've copy and pasted the positions of the English units from the tutorial to the Americans but there are so many units that most of the army spawns in the valley below. I tried tweaking the #'s for everyone else but now I'm just crashing my game.

[Mailman653]

Rain = wet gunpowder = mellee

The Spanish did at one point but I think it was a last ditch effort because after I repelled their charge what was left of their army routed.

Update:Alright, this is the file AS IS, I've provided some instructions on how to compensate for the bugged locations, if anyone else wants to try to give them proper spawn locations, go right ahead.

Backup your files, this will overwrite your orginal brandywine.xml and script!

[lenin96]

Has anyone seen this before?

I saw it at TWC.

[pevergreen]

Look about 10 posts above yours.

[lenin96]

Damm I forgot.

[Monsieur Alphonse]

Has anyone seen this before?

I saw it at TWC.

That is already old news. There is a screenshot of 10,000 men in one unit and someone even tried 15,000 bit that made the game too laggy.

And there is more! Some guy modded the demo so he had more then twenty units he could control. He had only twenty unit cards but he had more then twenty units.

[Meneldil]

Haha, some of these ancillaries are quite cool