How to change unit banners and faction icons

[Monkwarrior]

Modding Resource Header

Title: How to change unit banners and faction icons (formerly Total banners and symbols conversion)

Posted by: Monkwarrior

Modding area: Units (appearance), User Interface

Required programmes: Vercingetorix's X-Pak, an image editor capable of editing .DDS files (such as Photoshop or Paintshop Pro), Notepad (or other text editor)
Related links: xpak Tutorial, Nvidia dds plug-in
Summary: This guide details how to change the faction icons in the game - including the battlemap banners, strategic banners and user interface icons.


I had the idea of writing a guide for a complete conversion of all the symbols and banners in a given faction.
The first part for the faction selection menus has already been post here: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=45150

This guide is not intended to be a step-by-step tutorial, and it is supposed that the modder is able to use PSP or Photoshop in a correct way.

BATTLE MAP

The most relevant banners in battles are that for the general unit and the banner for the rest of units. These banners are included in one single file: standard_factionname.tga.dds placed in Data\models\textures folder. This is the example for the celts faction I did (I remember this is not a very artistic work, it is only for general information):


On the right the banner for the general unit, on the left the common banner. I did these banners from the "white" banner standard_routing_barbarian.tga.dds in the same folder. There are also white versions for eastern and western factions.
Here you have the effect in game:


Other banners appear in some units, but they are included in the textures of the units, in Data\models_unit\textures.
In the image (with a red circle) you can see also another banner, which is probably more difficult to find, as it is included in the packs.
Once unpacked, you can find these banners in the folder Data\ui\CAPTAIN_BANNERS, with the name CAPTAIN_CARD_FACTIONNAME.TGA. I did it simply by cutting the banner for the general unit, resizing to fit the new size and pasting it on the captain banner.

I hope this will help and next chapter will deal with the large amount of places where banners and symbols appear in strategic map.
Cheers.