Europa Barbarorum

[khelvan]

Greetings!

You have found the workplace for the development of our community mod, Europa Barbarorum. This RTW mod is intended to shape the world, units, and gameplay to be as realistic as possible.

This thread will be used to facilitate the technical aspects of creating the mod, from assigning tasks to status reports. If you are looking for our ongoing discussion regarding historical research, you can find it here:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=33417

Current status:

We have released v0.1 for internal alpha testing.

Cheers,

-khel

[khelvan]

Please allow me to kick off this party!

I am relatively new to the modding scene, having done only a bit of code work on Battlefield 1942, but I find I have a real passion for it, and for the numbers behind the game system. My primary focus has been on building and unit balance, the population growth and economic systems, and the battle system. I also have many references on the classical Romans, and to a smaller extent the Greeks, so I have been delving into that quite a bit.

I have a strong background in project management and so I would like to offer my services to assist us in coming to a common understanding of our goals, keep us all working toward those goals, and keep the community informed of our status.

From my experience playing with the code so far, I see the following areas which need leadership:

-campaign map/province/city changes
-faction name changes/new faction implementation
-unit changes/new unit implementation
-battle system changes
-naval battle changes
-economic/population model changes

Basically, while it makes sense to break up work based on different factions, for instance, someone is going to have to be in charge of bringing it all together, since these changes impact the same files.

In addition, we should think about how to go about creating and releasing the mod. I think everyone would agree that it makes sense to move in steps. I suggest that the first step should be to make changes to existing units and factions, and to make the best of what we were given, since work can be done on new factions and units while this is happening, and that work will be much more time consuming.

So, there is a lot to be done. I suggest we all post our skills and interests, pick some members for the positions of responsibility, and provide our suggestions on what portions you would like to see worked on first, so we can set some priorities.

As I said above, I volunteer to keep an eye on the goals, tasks, and status of the project. I can also continue my work on the population growth/economic side of things. I have some free time to spread around, if others have no interest in some of the other things I have been working on. Though I think it makes sense to spread the work out, so we can get things done in a timely matter.

I look forward to working with you all!

Cheers,

-khel

[Vercingetorix]

Pyscho V asked me a few days ago If I would be willing to help and join up with you guys. I readily agreed :)

I can help in the following department: unit changes/new unit implementation.

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Pyscho V asked me a few days ago If I would be willing to help and join up with you guys. I readily agreed :)

I can help in the following department: unit changes/new unit implementation.

Welcome, Vercingetorix!!! I'm honoured by the fact that you want to join our project.

As for what I'll do:

-3d unit changes (skinning and modelling - beware, I'm slow at it).
-Coordinating info about unit changes, specific to the units needing alteration.
-Coordinating Historical info (in the other thread).

[Steppe Merc]

Well, I'm horrible at the modding, very slow and I get distracted easily. Mabye we can make a list of units that:
a. Are fine as they are (Romans)
b. Ok, but need a few touches. (I think the Greeks, right?)
c. Very sad, but salvagable if need be. These need to be totally reskinned (aka all shirtless barbarians, the pajama Parthians, etc)
d. These units must be taken out, and everyone must forget that they ever existed (Screaming women, breast cup Amazons, etc.)
e. New units that should be added.

[khelvan]

Sounds good, Steppe Merc. The first step, in my opinion, is to get people in charge of particular areas of the mod. For instance, someone in charge of unit implementation and balance (Amyar?). Once that person is in place he or she could get moving on the steps we want to take with units (for instance, getting the current factions in order) and laying out the changes necessary.

[Stefan the Berserker]

I tried to create a new Unit by adding this to export_descr_unit.txt:

type greek hoplite elite
dictionary greek_hoplite_elite ; Armoured Hoplites
category infantry
class spearmen
voice_type Heavy_1
soldier barb_warguard, 40, 0, 1.3
officer barb_standard
attributes sea_faring, hide_forest, can_sap, hardy
formation 1, 1, 2, 2, 5, square, phalanx
stat_health 1, 0
stat_pri 9, 7, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, spear, 25 ,1
stat_pri_attr spear
stat_sec 7, 3, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, sword, 25 ,1
stat_sec_attr no
stat_pri_armour 11, 6, 5, metal
stat_sec_armour 0, 0, flesh
stat_heat 4
stat_ground 2, 0, 0, 0
stat_mental 8, normal, highly_trained
stat_charge_dist 30
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 1, 640, 210, 70, 100, 640
ownership germans

The Game started normally and I could even select the "Hoplite" for germanics in skirmish. When the Skirmish started they appeared, as wished with the Warguards-Model... they marched and change formation without any problem, but if they attack the game screws up...

[khelvan]

First, did you add a "new" unit or did you merely edit the unit that already exists with the same name?

Sorry, I should be more clear - did you add an entirely new entry into the text file, and you copied the greek names and all? Or did you just edit the existing entry so that the call for greek elite hoplites gives you units that look like warbands?

Because if you added a "new" unit with the same type and dictionary call I am surprised your game didn't CTD upon loading.

Also, add -show_err to the command line, load up the game, then exit once you get to the main menu. This should bring up an error message to let you know that there is a problem somewhere. Unfortunately you don't get the message if you let it crash, you have to exit yourself.

[Steppe Merc]

Umm, I suck at skinning and stuff.... but I can make suggestions, and I would gladly play test. I'm ok when it comes to unit stats, but when it comes to skinning...

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Umm, I suck at skinning and stuff.... but I can make suggestions, and I would gladly play test. I'm ok when it comes to unit stats, but when it comes to skinning...

OK. No problem. Testing and gameplay balance then.

The list has been changed to incorporate khelvan's suggestions:

-campaign map/province/city changes:

khelvan
Oleander Ardens???
...
...
...

-faction name changes/new faction implementation:

...
...
...
...
...

-unit changes/new unit implementation/3d and 2d graphics:

Vercingetorix
PSYCHO V
Aymar de Bois Mauri
Stefan the Berserker???
reconspy???

-battle system changes:

Steppe Merc
Aymar de Bois Mauri
...
...
...

-naval battle changes:

Colovion
...
...
...
...

-economic/population model changes:

khelvan
Oleander Ardens
...
...
...

-Coordination of the EB Historical thread:

Teutonic Knight
Aymar de Bois Mauri
...
...
...

-Gameplay testing and debugging:

Colovion
Ranika
Steppe Merc
Hagbard la Suede???
...

More imput people, please...



Updated 3:25 - 10/17/04

[Colovion]

Put me down for the Gameplay/Debugging. I don't know the first thing about actually doing the mods though - so the most I can do (right now) is just give input on the things being discussed.

Oh and Naval changes? Perhaps just tweaking the AI a bit regarding Naval warfare - other than that what would this one be all about? Tweaking when boats become available? What were you thinking on these lines? or have you and foresight where that section will go?

[Ranika]

I'd like to help, but not sure exactly what I'd do. I do know a lot of the indigenous names of Celtic cities in Gaul and Britain, and Hibernia (though, Tara is correct anyway). I know a lot of bits and pieces of things in the barbarian cultures, a good deal in the Celts, but there's already a lot of help for that, and only a few things bout the Germans. As far as technical aspects of the game go, I can't do much outside of stat editting. I could potentially skin, but I lack photoshop right now, so won't commit to that

If there is anyway I can help, sign me up for whatever, and I'll do what I can.

[Silver Rusher]

I'll help with new factions, I am playing an RP based around this time and there are loads of factions which were not in Rome Total War.

[khelvan]

This should help in determining which factions go where for the first step:

http://home20.inet.tele.dk/creativ/map.jpg

I have given Cirta, Lepae Magna, and Carthago Nova to the Carthaginians. This map looks slightly off, but is useful because it seems to have all the provinces listed.

[reconspy]

Yes, I'm with the "unit changes" crew.

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Yes, I'm with the "unit changes" crew.

Done...

[Kaiser of Arabia]

Er... sign me up for the guys that watch the mod with interest.


Good luck guys.
-Capo

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Er... sign me up for the guys that watch the mod with interest.


Good luck guys.
-Capo

Thanks, Capo...