Adding amazon unit card?

[AyraWinla]

Hi; I know it is VERY basic modding, but I still managed to get stuck even by reading all the documentation around (Nice site, I lurked here for quite some time :))... I wanted to add the Amazon chariots to the Scythian, built in the same temple as the Scythian Noble Women. That worked: it can be built in the temple of love, 3rd level of the Scythian. The unit can also be used in custom battles.

The problem is that there is no unit card for it (The 2D card at the bottom of the screen), and it shows a blue peasant instead. I tried what I read in the help topics about the graphic parts, but it did not help any. Please note that the unit does work perfectly in battle; it is only the 2D card that shows a blue peasant instead. Here is the new relative content of the files:

descr_model_battle
type greek_amazons
skeleton fs_chariot_archer, fs_chariot_sword
indiv_range 40
texture scythia, data/models_unit/textures/greek_amazon_rebel.tga
texture slave, data/models_unit/textures/greek_amazon_rebel.tga
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_high.cas, 15
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_med.cas, 30
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_low.cas, 40
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_lowest.cas, max
model_sprite scythia, 60.0, data/sprites/slave_greek_amazons_sprite.spr
model_sprite slave, 60.0, data/sprites/slave_greek_amazons_sprite.spr
model_tri 400, 0.5f, 0.5f, 0.5f

Since the "greek_amazon" type does not match the description of the amazon in export_descr_unit (It is called amazon_chariots in that one), I also created a new entry as follow:

type amazon_chariots
skeleton fs_chariot_archer, fs_chariot_sword
indiv_range 40
texture scythia, data/models_unit/textures/greek_amazon_rebel.tga
texture slave, data/models_unit/textures/greek_amazon_rebel.tga
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_high.cas, 15
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_med.cas, 30
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_low.cas, 40
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_lowest.cas, max
model_sprite scythia, 60.0, data/sprites/slave_greek_amazons_sprite.spr
model_sprite slave, 60.0, data/sprites/slave_greek_amazons_sprite.spr
model_tri 400, 0.5f, 0.5f, 0.5f

In case it is relevant, here is the export_descr_unit entry:
type rebel amazon chariots
dictionary amazon_chariots ; Amazon Chariots
category cavalry
class missile
voice_type Female_1
soldier greek_amazons, 27, 9, 1
mount heavy chariot
mount_effect elephant -8, camel -4
attributes sea_faring, hide_forest, frighten_foot, cantabrian_circle
formation 8.5, 9, 15, 15, 2, square
stat_health 1, 2
stat_pri 14, 5, arrow, 120, 60, missile, archery, piercing, none, 25 ,1
stat_pri_attr no
stat_sec 10, 7, no, 0, 0, melee, blade, slashing, none, 25 ,1
stat_sec_attr launching, ap
stat_pri_armour 11, 1, 0, metal
stat_sec_armour 0, 1, flesh
stat_heat 2
stat_ground 0, 0, -6, 0
stat_mental 12, normal, untrained
stat_charge_dist 40
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 1, 680, 140, 70, 110, 680
ownership slave, scythia

Anyone have any suggestions as to what I could be missing? Thank you very much!

[Silver Rusher]

Could we perhaps see some screenshots?

[vlad 1]

this unit here
http://www.totalwar.org/Downloads/Rt....2_by_vlad.rar

[AyraWinla]

Hi; I'd be glad to show a screenshot, but I don't have any webspace. I could e-mail the image though.

While I thank you for offering the mod, I do play multiplayer often, and I don't want to change any unit statistics; I want to play the legit way. I'll be glad to instal it once we get a patch where mods don't affect vanila multiplayer :) Of course, my modification can in theory allow me to use amazon chariots, but since I don't in multiplayer, no harm done :)

I did compare the mod entries for the chariots, and I'm even more lost: They look virtually identical, unless I'm blind...

--- descr_model_battle (Mod) ---
type greek_amazons
skeleton fs_chariot_archer, fs_chariot_sword
indiv_range 40
texture slave, data/models_unit/textures/greek_amazon_rebel.tga
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_high.cas, 15
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_med.cas, 30
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_low.cas, 40
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_lowest.cas, max
model_sprite slave, 60.0, data/sprites/slave_greek_amazons_sprite.spr
model_sprite greek_cities, 60.0, data/sprites/slave_greek_amazons_sprite.spr
model_tri 400, 0.5f, 0.5f, 0.5f

*** descr_model_battle (Mine) ***
type greek_amazons
skeleton fs_chariot_archer, fs_chariot_sword
indiv_range 40
texture slave, data/models_unit/textures/greek_amazon_rebel.tga
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_high.cas, 15
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_med.cas, 30
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_low.cas, 40
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_greek_amazon_lowest.cas, max
model_sprite scythia, 60.0, data/sprites/slave_greek_amazons_sprite.spr
model_sprite slave, 60.0, data/sprites/slave_greek_amazons_sprite.spr
model_tri 400, 0.5f, 0.5f, 0.5f



--- export_descr_unit (Mod) ---
type rebel amazon chariots
dictionary amazon_chariots ; Amazon Chariots
category cavalry
class missile
voice_type Female_1
soldier greek_amazons, 27, 9, 1
mount heavy chariot
mount_effect elephant -8, camel -4
attributes sea_faring, hide_forest, frighten_foot, cantabrian_circle
formation 8.5, 9, 15, 15, 2, horde
stat_health 1, 2
stat_pri 14, 6, arrow, 120, 50, missile, archery, piercing, none, 25 ,1
stat_pri_attr no
stat_sec 10, 5, no, 0, 0, melee, blade, slashing, none, 25 ,0.75
stat_sec_attr launching, ap
stat_pri_armour 12, 2, 0, metal
stat_sec_armour 0, 1, flesh
stat_heat 2
stat_ground 0, 0, -6, 0
stat_mental 15, normal, untrained
stat_charge_dist 40
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 1, 680, 140, 70, 110, 680
ownership slave, greek_cities

*** export_descr_unit (Mine) ***
type rebel amazon chariots
dictionary amazon_chariots ; Amazon Chariots
category cavalry
class missile
voice_type Female_1
soldier greek_amazons, 27, 9, 1
mount heavy chariot
mount_effect elephant -8, camel -4
attributes sea_faring, hide_forest, frighten_foot, cantabrian_circle
formation 8.5, 9, 15, 15, 2, square
stat_health 1, 2
stat_pri 14, 5, arrow, 120, 60, missile, archery, piercing, none, 25 ,1
stat_pri_attr no
stat_sec 10, 7, no, 0, 0, melee, blade, slashing, none, 25 ,1
stat_sec_attr launching, ap
stat_pri_armour 11, 1, 0, metal
stat_sec_armour 0, 1, flesh
stat_heat 2
stat_ground 0, 0, -6, 0
stat_mental 12, normal, untrained
stat_charge_dist 40
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 1, 680, 140, 70, 110, 680
ownership slave, scythia

The building and enum file being irrelevant... No other files elsewhere about it. Any suggestions...?

[Encaitar]

The unit (and building for that matter) cards are in one of the ui packs (Data\packs\ui_0.pak or Data\packs\ui_1.pak). Not sure how you get the game to use the unpacked files rather than the packs. Someone else might be able to help you there.

[Bacchon]

Add unit cards is a mildly lengthy process the first time, but after that it's pretty simple.

First, grab the inestimable Vercingetorix's PAK extractor from here.

Do what the readme tells you to unpack your PAK files, giving you access to a lot more of the gamefiles.

Next, create these directories in \Rome - Total War\:

(1) \Data\UI\UNIT_INFO\SCYTHIA\
(2) \Data\UI\UNITS\SCYTHIA\

Then, go back to where you unpacked your PAK files (should be Data\packs\Data\) to UI\UNIT_INFO\SLAVE, and copy AMAZON_CHARIOTS_INFO.tga to directory (1), then rename the file GREEK_AMAZONS_INFO.tga.

After that, back to the extracted PAK files to UI\UNITS\SLAVE and copy #AMAZON_CHARIOTS.tga to directory (2), and rename the file #GREEK_AMAZONS.tga.

That should do it.


One other handy thing to do that makes modding stuff like this a lot faster is to simply copy all the unpacked directories in Data\packs\Data\ to Rome - Total War\Data.

Cheers,

Bacchon

[AyraWinla]

Ooh, I see! I didn't knew I had to actually unpack them if I was using the same texture... Thank you very much!

[Sinner]

AryaWinla, the entries in the descr_model_battle.txt file have nothing to do with the unit cards, it simply tells the game what skeleton to use so the troops move correctly plus what sprites and textures are used to show the units on the battlefield, the former being 2D graphics shown at a distance, the latter being 3D skins for close up detail.

The link between unit and the unit card is simple a combination of the unit name and the faction. If you are playing the Julii and have created a unit called guys_with_big_swords, then you will need a TGA image file in Data\UI\Units\Romans_Julii\#guys_with_big_swords.tga (the # is required) to give you the little unit card you see in the build queue or in the army selection panel (on both strategy map and battlefield). If you select a unit to get more details - stats, unit description - you also get a larger picture, this is the TGA image file in Data\UI\Unit_Info\Romans_Julii\guys_with_big_swords_info.tga. And that's it, no need to edit any 'linking' file like descr_model_battle.txt.