Sorry probably been asked many times before...

[tibilicus]

Im sorry to ask this and I know its probably been asked many times before. How do you make non playable factions playable, Add units to other factions, back up exsisting files and also if i do edit does that mean the game will be unconpatible with an expanshion pack?
Sorry for asking this but im a moding noob and would like to learn if someone could teach me.
Thanks Tibilicus

[Laridus Konivaich]

make nonplayable factions playable: go to Rome - Total War/data/world/map/campaign/imperial_campaign/ and open descr_strat.txt

Right near the top is a section like this:

factions playable
romans_julii
romans_brutii
...
end playable
factions unlockable
gaul
britons
germans
...
end unlockable
faction nonplayable
romans_senate
slave
...
end nonplayable

Anyway, you want to cut the names from the unlockable and nonplayable sections and paste them into playable. The only factions that you SHOULD NOT make playabel are romans_senate and slave.

to be continued...

[Laridus Konivaich]

adding units to other factions:

goto Rome - Total War/data/ and open export_descr_buildings.txt

find the entry for the building that creates the unit that you want to change. For example, you want the romans to be able to train hoplites. so you find, under militia_barracks:

unit greek_hoplite ... requires factions { greek }

you want to change the line to something like

unit greek_hoplite ... requires factions {greek, roman, }

Of course, you can apply this to whatever units you want to, and whatever faction.

---

Anyway, the best way to learn stuff about modding the game is to experiment, and ask questions when you need help.

[Epistolary Richard]

You may also like to visit the Guides, Tutorials and Tools forum, especially the Some Howtos thread.

[tibilicus]

Thanks guys. Is there any side affects to this sort of moding i.e adding units may not look the same also i still need to know how to back stuff up. And how and is there a way to edit skins? it would be rather nice to make a new skin for a unit or something like that.

[Laridus Konivaich]

Backing stuff up is nothing more than copying the files that you are going to change, and placing them in a safe spot in case you really screw up the game by what you change.

Check out the 'Guides and Tutorials' subforum for skinning. I can think of about three threads that you should read:

Thread #1 - about xpack, a program that makes the skin files in RTW accessable to you.
Thread #2 - most of this is irrelevant to just making a new skin, but read it, because it do have important things, and introduces the files that you will use.
Thread #3 - The title of the thread pretty much explains it, it shows a guy working through the issues of learning to get the new skin to show up. Make sure to read the two links that were posted by GodsPetMonkey in this thread, especially the first one, which has the exact process for opening and saving a skin file in Photoshop or PSP.
Thread #4 - Similar to the previous link, shows my own difficulties with getting a skin to work. Just ignore the first half of the thread if you want to - it deals with building cards, but IS good for the general concept of where to put the new files that you make.

[tibilicus]

Thanks guys i will be the best moder in the world in no time at all !