Using -mod:my_mod

[Makanyane]

I'm starting to believe that the -mod:bi/modname actually just does the same as -mod:my mod in terms of getting a BI mod to work under BI.exe: ie. you need to copy in everything from the BI folder that's required for BI except things like textures that can have a defined relative path, or things that got duplicated into RTW with the post BI patches everything else I'm pretty sure (unless I'm doing something wrong -help?!) its still only looking for in modname/data first then rtw/data. I suppose that does at least mean BI vanilla folder should be able to remain untouched!

(Also recently realised that TFT mod Stuie mentioned having working via modname, is I think for RTW not BI unless there's a second version of it.)

It still could be worth getting this to work even if its not as neat as RTW mod -mod solution. Unfortunately I know no-where near enough to advise on music pack issues etc.

[Dol Guldur]

Ah, well wait 'til you get to the strat map cas files and have no 3ds max to see which memory textures go with each model ;) (fortunately the show_err seems to report these well enough).

I am still proceeding slowly but need to get all my rtw bits working in bi first before I continue on the mymod folder.

I think this will involve several phases of completion. I will see how far I can get in the next 24 hours or so before I make a decision as to whether it is really worth it.

Many mods are not for BI, and many mods are roman-era and maybe do not mod certain elements that no-roman-eras do. This is probably not taken into account with such things as the -mod switch (for BI at least), but we will see...

Now I must work on ground type TGAs for the aerial map....

EDIt: Yep, Foot is quite right - the ground type TGAs will not repath neither does there seem a reference to the text file in order to repath it from there. Our TGAs are already renamed, but of course any mod using the -mod switch with modded ground type TGAs where they have left the names the same as vanilla or where, by coincidence, have called them the same as another mod using the switch; well, the map's not going to look like it ought to ;)

So the first rule for mod switch users is definitely to use unique TGA names here - I'd suggest Foot's approach of using the mod abbrev. prefix. We use "4a_" (helps see everything listed in the same place in files too for viewing and manipulation!), Foot above is using "eb_".

Now on to loading bars where, alas, the same method cannot be implemented I believe...

EDIT 3: Nah, as already mentioned, loading bars seem quite stubborn. This means mids with modded bars and overlays will overwrite each other, so each mod you play will have the latest mod's loading bars ;) There are ways around it but they all involve the player having to rename files so it might be best just to have the variety of bars :) Something to put in the install notes though.

EDIT4: Music seems impossible to move down to the bi folder unless it is unpacked.

EDIT5: Tile pieces may be problematic. I am trying to move down a modded texture file for the volcano_dormant.tga but can see no reference to it in the text files; I suspect it must be a memory texture for the dormant volcano cas file and so may need to copy it to bi and repath that. Nope, no go - no path reset in file by the looks of it. May well have to copy over the entire file and all associated elements.

Now, what about the intro movie (into mymod)?