Tools: Unit and Building Editors: Caligula & Hadrian

[GodsPetMonkey]

one time, i made my enums for a unit, and saved and quit. the next time i opened my data, and the enums were not there when i oppenend them. did i do something wrong, or is this supposed to happen?

Remember the 'enums' files are saved separately from the unit data, what’s more there are 2 files dealt with in the 'enums' section, export_descr_units_enums.txt and export_units.txt (in the text folder). Both are important, export_units being the key file, and export_descr_units_enums.txt being the linking file.

To save time, export_descr_units_enums.txt is generated from the export_units.txt file that is currently open, as well as any changes residing in memory, make sure you save export_units as well as generate the enums when done.

[ThIrD-EyE]

hmm, from what i can tell no one else has posted about this problem, so here i go.

ok, when i modify the army upkeep, weapons upgrade, and armor upgrade cost to all units (infantry, cavalry, ships etc) it modifies how many units are in 1 cohort or whatever its called. right now in modified export_descr_unit file, every unit type has only 20-22 in each cohort, even less units in others.

i used the batch process to modify each type by = 5 for the 3 options i listed above. just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if it can be fixed. i looked at my backup and the modied files and i cant find a difference in thme other than the upkeep and upgrades for every single unit.

i just wanted to make it so i wouldnt have to worry about money and be able to conquer the whole map without using the money cheat or a trainer.

[GodsPetMonkey]

hmm, from what i can tell no one else has posted about this problem, so here i go.

ok, when i modify the army upkeep, weapons upgrade, and armor upgrade cost to all units (infantry, cavalry, ships etc) it modifies how many units are in 1 cohort or whatever its called. right now in modified export_descr_unit file, every unit type has only 20-22 in each cohort, even less units in others.

i used the batch process to modify each type by = 5 for the 3 options i listed above. just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if it can be fixed. i looked at my backup and the modied files and i cant find a difference in thme other than the upkeep and upgrades for every single unit.

i just wanted to make it so i wouldnt have to worry about money and be able to conquer the whole map without using the money cheat or a trainer.

Well I can't recreate the problem, but I guess its because you have your unit size set to small in the game options. Up the unit size there, start a new campaign and you should be right.

If that doesn't do it, email me your export_descr_unit.txt and I'll have a look.

[ThIrD-EyE]

Well I can't recreate the problem, but I guess its because you have your unit size set to small in the game options. Up the unit size there, start a new campaign and you should be right.

If that doesn't do it, email me your export_descr_unit.txt and I'll have a look.

ah, thanks that did the trick. i must have set it to small or lowest to make the game faster on this computer. i dont play on the battle map because the computer is not the best in the world but its all i have until i get my main computer fixed(the video card fried because the fan died), ill be buying a geforce 6800gt in about a month.

[swirly_the_toilet_fish]

I'm a new member and I seen the tools Hadrian and Caligula and were immediately drawn to them. I do have a question regarding the units though, can a unit be created based on the Triarii sprite? If it cannot through caligula or just psuedocode in the text files, is there any other way or is it because these units are often a reward for missions?



"If I were a man I could do so much - travel the stars, learn to play the harp, conquer a foreign country and become a frustrated cartoonist."

[GodsPetMonkey]

I'm a new member and I seen the tools Hadrian and Caligula and were immediately drawn to them. I do have a question regarding the units though, can a unit be created based on the Triarii sprite? If it cannot through caligula or just psuedocode in the text files, is there any other way or is it because these units are often a reward for missions?



"If I were a man I could do so much - travel the stars, learn to play the harp, conquer a foreign country and become a frustrated cartoonist."

Sorry about the delay!

Anyway, it all depends on what your trying to achieve.... if you want to recycle the Triarii models for a brand new unit, just use the soldier 'roman_triarii'.
The Triarii can be trained like any other unit, just in vanilla its hard by the time you can train them, your almost at the reforms.

[qvcatullus]

First time trying to use Caligula and first time posting, so feel free to correct me if the question is dumb or in the wrong place.

I thought my idea was simple enough -- I was going to take the already existing unit, the Bastarnae, which can be built by Thrace, and edit them so that the Macedonians could hire them (I thought they needed at least one auxiliary sword unit, and I couldn't get them from the Merc pool). I changed the ownership id so that it says ownable by both Thrace and Macedon. That didn't work -- I still couldn't build them. So I edited the buildings file so that both Macedonian and Thracian barracks could build them, and that fixed that part of the problem. Now Macedon can build them.

Now the problem -- When I build them with Macedon, they use the portrait that I normally see on peasants. When I try to fight a battle with them, they are strange and ghosted out. I assume this must be a problem loading the models -- the model already used for them must be tagged for the Thracians because of the colors or something. I don't understand much about how the unit text file works -- the model information says something about Greek_Thracoan or some such. What options do I have here? Can I convince Macedon to load this thracian model, or something? Do I need to create a new unit, and call them Macedonian Bastarnae, and give them a Macedonian model? I don't see how to change the model in Caligula. It gives me a pull-down menu when I click on it, but the only choice in the menu is the one already selected.

Any help I could get would be great.

[Nero]

I have a suggestion for Hadrian. Don Guldur discovered that the building descriptions can be made faction-specific instead of culture-specific. Could this be implemented into the editor, so that it automatically generates the faction-specific stuff out of the old descriptions if nescessary, and lets you edit those?

I've done some research on this too:

This thing works perfectly for all factions. You need to use the same names as in export_descr_buildings.txt - except the julii name must be 'romans_julii', not without the underscore or the 'romans_' prefix.

When every faction in a culture group has its faction-specific descriptions, the culture-specific descriptions can be deleted from the files without causing any CTDs.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...3&postcount=62

[GodsPetMonkey]

You should be able to add them manually (hence the A button... this is why it has existed for so long, but I doubt anyone has used it).

When I finally get arround to working on these again, I'll look into adding a radio button to choose between factions and cultures.

[Southern Hunter]

Remember the 'enums' files are saved separately from the unit data, what’s more there are 2 files dealt with in the 'enums' section, export_descr_units_enums.txt and export_units.txt (in the text folder). Both are important, export_units being the key file, and export_descr_units_enums.txt being the linking file.

To save time, export_descr_units_enums.txt is generated from the export_units.txt file that is currently open, as well as any changes residing in memory, make sure you save export_units as well as generate the enums when done.

I am at a loss of how to get changes to the names / descriptions of a unit to stick :P

Can you go through the button presses I need to make?

For example, I open up a description from my text directory and it calls a unit a 'warband'. I change that to 'red warband' for example. How do I save that and the enums file so it sticks?

Thanks,

Hunter

[GodsPetMonkey]

I am at a loss of how to get changes to the names / descriptions of a unit to stick :P

Can you go through the button presses I need to make?

For example, I open up a description from my text directory and it calls a unit a 'warband'. I change that to 'red warband' for example. How do I save that and the enums file so it sticks?

Thanks,

Hunter

Are you just trying to rename the existing warband? If so, all you want to do is edit export_units.txt (this file contains all the unit names and descriptions as they appear in the game). You don't need to deal with the enums, as they already exist, so just open export_units.txt, select the unit you want to change (IIRC all the warbands use the same dictionary entry, so any of them will do) and edit away.

If you created a new unit that uses a new dictionary (or gave an existing unit a new dictionary entry), then you will need to edit both export_units.txt and the enums file.
This is alot easier then it looks (and a feature I have personally found a great time saver), just select the unit like normal, make sure the dictionary entry on the 'Unit Details' tab is set to what you want (eg. red_warband), then go to the '[Enums]' tab, open export_units.txt, and hit 'Generate Names'. This will automatically create the dictionary entries for you, edit them as you see fit, then save your export_units.txt ('Save Descr'). Thats the dictionary entries taken care of, now you just need to link it all together (thats the purpose of the enums file). Again, real easy, press 'Build Enums' and the enum file will be generated, automatically, from the export_units.txt file currently open!
Ok, that was the indepth guide, in summary....

Select unit
Open Descr (export_units.txt)
Generate Names
Edit dictionary/description entries
Save Descr
Build Enums

You don't need to put anything in the dictionary entries, but it will be hard to tell if it worked if you don't. For testing I normally just put the name in (first dictionary entry), takes me 10-15 seconds to do a unit. I love it when buttons do all the work for you

[Southern Hunter]

Thanks. I will try that this weekend. Not enough time to mod :P

[Ciaran]

I can´t download them, the links on the first page gives me an 404 error, is there any other source where to get these very nice and handy tools?

[Southern Hunter]

If you created a new unit that uses a new dictionary (or gave an existing unit a new dictionary entry), then you will need to edit both export_units.txt and the enums file.

This is alot easier then it looks (and a feature I have personally found a great time saver), just select the unit like normal, make sure the dictionary entry on the 'Unit Details' tab is set to what you want (eg. red_warband), then go to the '[Enums]' tab, open export_units.txt, and hit 'Generate Names'. This will automatically create the dictionary entries for you, edit them as you see fit, then save your export_units.txt ('Save Descr'). Thats the dictionary entries taken care of, now you just need to link it all together (thats the purpose of the enums file). Again, real easy, press 'Build Enums' and the enum file will be generated, automatically, from the export_units.txt file currently open!
Ok, that was the indepth guide, in summary....

Select unit
Open Descr (export_units.txt)
Generate Names
Edit dictionary/description entries
Save Descr
Build Enums

You don't need to put anything in the dictionary entries, but it will be hard to tell if it worked if you don't. For testing I normally just put the name in (first dictionary entry), takes me 10-15 seconds to do a unit. I love it when buttons do all the work for you

I have created a new unit using the new unit button

How do you do this "Edit dictionary/description entries"? Tried many combinations but I just don't get it :P

Maybe I should figure out how to do this manually first?

Hunter

[Suraknar]

First time trying to use Caligula and first time posting, so feel free to correct me if the question is dumb or in the wrong place.

I thought my idea was simple enough -- I was going to take the already existing unit, the Bastarnae, which can be built by Thrace, and edit them so that the Macedonians could hire them (I thought they needed at least one auxiliary sword unit, and I couldn't get them from the Merc pool). I changed the ownership id so that it says ownable by both Thrace and Macedon. That didn't work -- I still couldn't build them. So I edited the buildings file so that both Macedonian and Thracian barracks could build them, and that fixed that part of the problem. Now Macedon can build them.

Now the problem -- When I build them with Macedon, they use the portrait that I normally see on peasants. When I try to fight a battle with them, they are strange and ghosted out. I assume this must be a problem loading the models -- the model already used for them must be tagged for the Thracians because of the colors or something. I don't understand much about how the unit text file works -- the model information says something about Greek_Thracoan or some such. What options do I have here? Can I convince Macedon to load this thracian model, or something? Do I need to create a new unit, and call them Macedonian Bastarnae, and give them a Macedonian model? I don't see how to change the model in Caligula. It gives me a pull-down menu when I click on it, but the only choice in the menu is the one already selected.

Any help I could get would be great.

I have used extensivelly these tools to switch units around amongst factions as well as modify them.

In order to make all of the unit cards (portraits) properly work you will need to do some unpacking of files and place the right units under the right faction folder.

The "Ghosted" issue, well, I have not noticed any ghosting of models, but after a certain distance from your unit these do change to Spirtes from 3D models...however, the tools do not make this link when you take a unit and give it to another faction, so they simply vanish at certain distances and reapear as 3D models when you come closer.

Had Asked GPM if something could be done to have the toold make the Text Changes for the spites automatically, but I do not know if that has been done, I am downloading the latest version now.

So for now follow this please:

Hmm, I have been thinking about the disappearing axemen. I had a similar problem when I first tried to give the gauls axemen. The troops would disappear at long ranges. All I can say is check the descr_model_battle file, and make sure this line appears under the "warband_axe" section (I incorrectly called this the "warband axe german" section in my second post) -

model_sprite gauls, 60.0, data/sprites/germans_warband_axe_sprite.spr

This just tells the game to use the german axemen sprites for the gauls. This is needed because the game stops using 3d models at long ranges and switches to sprites (cheesy, but fast, 2d images)(I forgot to add the second sprite line when I first edited the axemen).


Now, lets talk about the unit cards and unit info screen. First thing we have to do is unpack some of the image files that the game uses. The game has a few compressed files which it uncompresses when the game starts up. So, what you have to do is download the Xpak program, which is discussed in this link - https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=37626 . After you follow the directions in the program, it will unpack the files and create a few new folders. The xpak program unpacks the files and creates the new folders within the /Data/packs folder, but you are going to leave most of the newly unpacked files and only copy the one or two that you need (this will seem a little clearer once you unpack the files).

After you unpack the files, you need to create a couple more folders. These new folders are needed because of the way the game organizes the factions image files. Create a new folder in the "Rome - Totalwar/Data/" folder, called "UI". Then, within the "UI" folder, create a folder called "UNIT_INFO". Now under the "UNIT_INFO" folder, create another folder called "Gauls". Next, you will have to make another folder in the "UI" folder, called "UNITS". Finally, make a new folder in the "UNITS" folder called "Gauls". To recap on the folders we have just created, they should look something like this - "Rome - Totalwar/Data/UI/UNIT_INFO/Gauls" and "Rome - Totalwar/Data/UI/UNITS/Gauls". The next step is to copy some of the unpacked images into these folders.

Now, look in the unpacked folder named "DATA/UI/UNIT_INFO/Germans/" (remember, this is not the normal "data" folder, but the newly unpacked one), technically the location is this - "Data/packs/DATA/UI/UNIT_INFO/Germans/". Find the file called "WARBAND_AXE_GERMAN_INFO.tga" and copy it to the folder you just created called "/Data/UI/UNIT_INFO/Gauls/". Now go into the unpacked folder called "/DATA/UI/UNITS/Germans/" (the technical location is "/Data/packs/DATA/UI/UNITS/Germans") and find the file called "#WARBAND_AXE_GERMAN.tga" and copy to the folder you just created called "Data/UI/UNITS/Gauls/".


That is all you have to do to get the unit cards and info screen to display the axemen picture. Who knows, there might be an easier way, hehe. I hope that helps, if you have any problems, post a reply. Good luck.

[Zarax]

Hello, are you planning to update the editors with BI features?

[GodsPetMonkey]

It's being worked on right now actually...

There doesn't seem to be that much to change (just a bunch of new attributes for the units, I have not looked at buildings yet) so it should not be to long before it's ready to go.

[Suraknar]

Hello GPM,

A small question,

Is it possible to have some units available to non-Roma Factions, after the Roman Marian Event?

How would I do that with Caligula?

Thanks

[GodsPetMonkey]

Hello GPM,

A small question,

Is it possible to have some units available to non-Roma Factions, after the Roman Marian Event?

How would I do that with Caligula?

Thanks

Yes it is, but it won't change the trigger for the marian_events (something to keep in mind).

However, such a condition is actually set in the buildings file (as illogical as it may seem) so you need to use Hadrian to do it rather then Caligula. To do it goto to the Capabilities tab in Hadrian (having selected the complex and building), select the unit in question, then enter "and marian_reforms" in the "Other Requirements" field (make sure not to delete anything else already in there). That should do it.

[Suraknar]

Many Thanks :)

[Suraknar]

Oki...

Time to correct myself :P

For those of you that use Caligula to give one factions units to another...and you notice that at certain distances these units dissapear during a battle..

This is because of the Sprites...

Caligula offers already the possibility to fix this.

So lets say you take the Levy Pikemen and you want to also make it buildable by Greek_Cities as well as Macedon and the Seleucid.

a- After doing so and saving etc, you will also need to click on the "Open Model Data" button that opens "descr_model_battle.txt"

b- click on the [Model Data] tab

c- Select "Greek_levy_pikeman" from the drop down

d- at the lower most box area you will see two lines for the path to the sprites, one ofr macedon and one for seleucid.

seleucid, 60.0, data/sprites/seleucid_greek_levy_pikeman_sprite.spr
macedon, 60.0, data/sprites/macedon_greek_levy_pikeman_sprite.spr

e- Select the macedon line, and in the emediate edit field bellow, replace the "macedon" by "greek_cities" (or the faction you giving this unit to. And press the "ADD" button. Now the Box should look like this:

seleucid, 60.0, data/sprites/seleucid_greek_levy_pikeman_sprite.spr
macedon, 60.0, data/sprites/macedon_greek_levy_pikeman_sprite.spr
greek_cities, 60.0, data/sprites/macedon_greek_levy_pikeman_sprite.spr

F- Save your changes, and your done.

And thus, your units will no longer dissapear in battle when you move your camera far away from them.

[GodsPetMonkey]

Thanks for that guide Suraknar! I am sure a few people will find it very useful.

Now onto some more good news, a new version of Caligula, now with BI support (so you can stop emailing and PMing... please!). This takes up to v0.6.0

Revision History -
0.6.0 - Added BI support. BI only options are marked [BI]. These may cause non-BI games to crash if enabled!
Several minor bug fixes
Many minor interface changes

[kyee7k]

i just bought bi and started to tweak some of my settings (number of soldiers, # of arrows in western archer, armor and shield strength, etc.) using caligula (hadrian doesn't seem to cause ctd), but everytime the game starts, it crashes to the desktop. what am i doing wrong?

[GodsPetMonkey]

i just bought bi and started to tweak some of my settings (number of soldiers, # of arrows in western archer, armor and shield strength, etc.) using caligula (hadrian doesn't seem to cause ctd), but everytime the game starts, it crashes to the desktop. what am i doing wrong?

The old limits still apply (like a max of 60 soldiers in a unit), so you may want to double check your values.

If you can't see the problem, send me the unit file (email is in the readme) and I'll have a look for you, I may have missed something.

[kyee7k]

The old limits still apply (like a max of 60 soldiers in a unit), so you may want to double check your values.

If you can't see the problem, send me the unit file (email is in the readme) and I'll have a look for you, I may have missed something.

what exactly can i edit for the troops, if not increase the number?
is it possible to change the multiplier?

[GodsPetMonkey]

what exactly can i edit for the troops, if not increase the number?
is it possible to change the multiplier?

You can change them to 60, just no higher.

The multiplier is set by the 'Unit Size' in game (under the video options). Sadly there is not much else you can do about the number of men on the battlefield.

[kyee7k]

You can change them to 60, just no higher.

The multiplier is set by the 'Unit Size' in game (under the video options). Sadly there is not much else you can do about the number of men on the battlefield.

thanks for the assistance.

[rahl_2k]

Hi there! before i post some questions, id like to comment that the tools u haf created looks great!

BUT!!!!!!

im having some difficulties. Im a newbie! pls bare with me!!

I seem to be unable to do any editing with the game using Handrian. It seems whenever I add units to a building or create new complexes, i start the game and it immedietly goes back to desktop.

For example, I created a complex of my own and did all the steps as stated in the guides. I saved the DESC under export_buildings.txt file, then build the EMUS over the export_desc_buildings_emus.txt file and finally saved everything under the export_desc_buildings.txt file (of course, i backed all of them up). I started the game to test and immedietly crashed back to the desktop after the first screen.

Another thing I tried was to add other units to a building. For example, Under Gov. House, I added roman archers and roman velites and saved it properly. The game starts out normally, and I was able to see that my gov. house was able to produce these 2 units in turn one so I added them to be recruited. When i go into round 2, the game crashes back to desktop!!

Ive tried these many times over and over again making sure the steps, spelling and all were precise but it just seem that I cannot make use of Handrian properly. My caligula works perfectly fine however. Im using the latest versions for both. please help thanks!

[Suraknar]

Another thing I tried was to add other units to a building. For example, Under Gov. House, I added roman archers and roman velites and saved it properly. The game starts out normally, and I was able to see that my gov. house was able to produce these 2 units in turn one so I added them to be recruited. When i go into round 2, the game crashes back to desktop!!

Hello,

Did you remove the velites and archers from the Archery Buildings? It maybe the cause of the crash.

Also you can start the game using the -show_err switch to have a chance to get a hint what went wrong.

Finally make sure not to use post marian units or at least remove the Conditional if you intend using these units prior to the marian event.

Hope this helps

[Tyler379]

Where can I download Hadrian? The link doesn't work, it comes up with a message 404 file not found. Could anyone give me a new link to download Hadrian please?