Tips for an up and comming modder

**Lusimania** · 05-06-2009, 00:35

Hi my name is Lusimania and i would like to make an impact in the World of Rome Total War, but first i have to understand how to mod lol. So i would be very thankful you people on this board will help me to make a good mod.

The following is the things i have a basic understanding of

-EDU (export_descr_unit)
- -show_err
-mod switch

These are the things i have no clue about

-Modeling
-Skinning
-Scripting
-Put a unit in the game*
-Change symbols for a faction
-Making a unit playable in a game
-How to make a complete mod
-What to download

I would greatly appriciate it if you guys helped. I have read most of the basic tutorial guides but i still do not know where to start on the mod.

-Thank you

**Makanyane** · 05-06-2009, 08:04

What programs do you have available?

Modelling requires 3dsMax which is very expensive to buy (maybe cheaper if you're a student)

Skinning / changing faction symbols needs a 2d graphics program. Photoshop is good but relatively expensive. GIMP is available free but is a bit harder to learn.

Scripting / changing availability of existing units / changing names of factions etc. just needs basic text editor like Notepad.

Also do you have an idea yet what sort of mod you want to make? The best idea is to start by making only small changes btw....

**KingTheoden1** · 05-06-2009, 19:55

3dsmax is idd expensive , but can also be downloaded by torrents , wich is illegal , but free .. I never did it , and i don't promote it , i jsut say that if you rzally want to model with no cash , you could always do that (although i suggest you don't do it !!)

As for GIMP , it can do practically the same as Photoshop ;)

**Lusimania** · 05-06-2009, 20:52

Im planning to try to make a mod called "Civilization-Total War".
I want it to have 8 new factions at the height of their empire.
I also want it to have new units which i cant seem to do.

The programs i have are
-The Pac Extractor and the other tools that come with it
-Notepad
-and gimp

*Note i tried to add a unit today with the show err script but when i try to load the new unit in battle it ctds or crashes to desktop.

**Dol Guldur** · 05-07-2009, 12:01

Expect the first 6-12 months to be mainly learning, though you can start to build your mod too. An 8-faction mod is probably 1-2 years of work but it depends on how many cultures and how deeply converted you go. Being on your own and a beginner, you do no want to take on too much.

**Makanyane** · 05-07-2009, 19:43

Originally Posted by Lusimania

*Note i tried to add a unit today with the show err script but when i try to load the new unit in battle it ctds or crashes to desktop.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=51750 is good tutorial for adding new units

unless you've made a new .cas model and it doesn't work, the most common cause of CTD when attempting to add new unit is leaving the .dds bit on the end of the texture name in descr_model_battle.txt

although the texture file needs to be called blah_blah.tga.dds
you only need to put blah_blah.tga in the DMB file

check that first - if its not that then post here in quotes the sections of the text files you changed.

**Lusimania** · 05-07-2009, 20:28

Makanyane thanks for the link but thats the exact guide i used lol ill try to post the text files on here.

and finally does anyone have a link on all the things thats in the mod helper folder.

**Lusimania** · 05-07-2009, 20:31

type greek_takmen_elite
skeleton fs_slow_spearman, fs_slow_swordsman
indiv_range 40
texture greek_cities, data/models_unit/textures/takmen_elite_greek.tga
model_flexi data/models_unit/takmen_elite_high.cas, 15
model_flexi data/models_unit/takmen_elite_med.cas, 30
model_flexi data/models_unit/takmen_elite_low.cas, 40
model_flexi data/models_unit/takmen_elite_lowest.cas, max
model_sprite greek_cities, 60.0, data/sprites/takmen_elite_sprite.spr
model_tri 400, 0.5f, 0.5f, 0.5f

**KingTheoden1** · 05-08-2009, 17:48

This is also a great tutorial ~ Actually the first one i ever used :

EDIT : I just see the site has a time out .. It was a tutorial made by Subrosa on the rtw.heavengames site .. Then take a look at some other tuto's :

Aradan's EDU guide

And a DMB guide

**Lusimania** · 05-08-2009, 21:23

wow thats a great guide thank you soo much

**SubRosa** · 05-08-2009, 21:38

I would go back and double-check your spelling in not only the new entries you made, but for the new model and texture files themselves. Modding errors are often the cause of a simple missing character somewhere. Because of that I copy and paste the names of things from one file to another, especially the long ones.