PART 3: Actions

A variety of actions may be associated with any specific-unit. Six actions are generally standard (walk/run/idle/die/fight/charge) and are associated with most units. Other actions may also be specified for specific types of units.

For example -

- Bowmen also have a 'shoot' action, giving 7 performable actions.
- Arbalesters also have 'standing_shoot' and 'kneeling_shoot', giving 8 performable actions
- Arquebusiers also have 'standing_shoot', 'kneeling_shoot', 'standing_reload' and 'kneeling_reload' actions (but no 'charge' action!), giving 9 performable actions.

(Note: two actions are generally the same 'idle' and 'stand')

The main criteria to consider in all of the animation process for a figure is action. The current action of a figure in a specific-unit will serve to determine -

- which image to use for the figure in the generic-unit BIF's
- which image to use for the mount (if it's a cavalry figure)
- which weapon to use (if a figure has a choice of weapons)
- where/how the weapon is positioned on the figure
- where/how the shield is positioned on the figure


There are multiple text files within MTW pertaining to a units action. Each specific-unit MUST have it's own set of actions (with all that this implies) defined.

The primary files pertaining to a units actions are contained within the folder 'Textures\Men\ActionsPage'. This folder contains a text file for every specific-unit in the game (eg: Pikemen.txt, Peasants.txt etc). This text file basically contains -

1) a list of all the possible actions this specific-unit can perform, each action followed by:
2) 4 lines of parameters (1 per camera-angle), each line referencing the correct image to be used
in the generic-unit BIF's for this combinationof specific-unit/action/camera-angle

Each line in 2) also defines an x/y co-ordinate (which I refer to as the 'xy-origin'; more of this later!).

Other files/folders pertaining to a specific-units actions are also contained within the general folder 'Textures\Men\Items'. This 'Items' folder serves to define the positioning of shields/weapons on any specific-units figure-image, for the action being performed. More of this later!


(Note: there is another folder that also appears to define specific-units and actions, 'Textures\Men\ActionsDiddy' - ignore it - it is'nt used)


Note that some of the various actions, and hence the parameters/files associated with that action, may be very similar across several units (eg: 'stand' or 'walk' actions for Spearmen/Peasants/FeudalSergeants). Other actions will be very different (eg: 'fight' action for a Spearman/Billman/MedievalManatArms).

Therefore, whilst many of the parameters/files pertaining to action may be re-usable across some types of specific-unit, others will most certainly not be.