Problem unlocking all factions

[Cleon of Sparta]

I jsut installed RTW on my new computer but when i try save teh descr_strat file after editing teh factions playble it wont let me. It says that i need to make sure file name or path name is correct but they seem to be fine. It really starting to annoy me.
All help appriciated.

P.S I have vista which i think might be the problem.

[Charge]

"read only" ..
right click, properties, uncheck read only :D

[Cleon of Sparta]

it still says that the file name or path needs to be correct

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hi Cleon of Sparta,
What you are experiencing is the Vista security feature - User Account Control (UAC). It is designed to stop hackers/viruses editing the Program Files area, but, in the process of doing this, it prevents any user from doing so either.

To turn the feature off, first navigate to the start menu. In the "Start Search" box, type "Control Panel".

The next steps depend upon whether you have the classic view, or the modern view enabled.

Should you be utilising the classic view, simply select "User Accounts" from the menu.

Should you be using the modern view, select "User Accounts and Family Safety". From there, click on "User Accounts".

Once you are into the area, select "Turn User Account Control On or Off".

You will then be asked for permission to continue. Either enter the correct administrator password, or simply click continue to move onwards.

From there, it is nice and easy. Quite simply de-check the check-box on the screen, and click "Ok".

After that, restart your computer, and try editing the file again. With UAC turned off, you should be able to save the file as easily as you could in Windows XP.

Once you've completed the edit, it is advised that you turn User Account Control back on. This should allow a higher level of security for your system and ensure that you are less vulnerable to certain threats.

Hope this is useful to you, good luck!

[Cleon of Sparta]

It worked

Thanks Omanes

[Hound of Ulster]

I love that hack trick. It gives me the Celts in BI

[Gimli]

Sorry to um... "steal (?)" this thread, but it looks like the original started got the answer he wanted and this one has the title I wanted... I am not really having any problems except for one: I don't know HOW to unlock all the factions... I imagine that there is a thread somewhere or a set of instructions or a mod or something SOMEWHERE that is what I need, but I can't find it! Anyway, if anyone can point me in the right direction, that would be great! Thanks!

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hullo Gimli,
Firstly, if you are running Vista, you will need to disable UAC (User Account Control). If you are running XP or below, you can simply move onto the next section.

User Account Control is designed to protect your computer from hackers and viruses which may want to perform certain administrative actions to take control over your PC. Editing the "Program Files" area is classed as one of these actions, so is prevented by the UAC. To proceed, you will have to disable it.

Firstly, simply open your start menu, and type "Control Panel" into the start search box.

Next select either "User Accounts" or "User Accounts and Family Safety".

If you selected the latter in the previous step, then select "User Accounts".

Once you have entered the User Accounts area select "Turn User Account Control On or Off".

Once you've done that enter the relevant password if applicable. If not, simply click continue.

Then de-check the check box on screen, and click on "Ok" to proceed.

After you've done that, you will have to restart your computer for the changes to take effect. With User Account Control off, you can now modify the relevant files.

You can make the changes by opening "My Computer" or simply "Computer" under Windows Vista.

Once you are into the area navigate to:
"C:\Program Files\The Creative Assembly\Rome - Total War\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign"
should you have Gold or:
"C:\Program Files\Activision\Rome - Total War\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign"
should you have a standard version, not Gold.

Be aware that this may vary if the publisher is different from the norm, or you have installed the game in a custom location.

Once you are in the directory, find a file named "descr_strat" or "descr_strat.txt".

Open it up, and change the file from this:

to this:

Bear in mind that the spaces in front of the factions names are tab spaces. Also ensure that your edit contains no misspellings or errors - if there are any, the file will fail to work.

Save the file, and then load up R:TW to ensure that everything has worked correctly.

Finally, if you turned you UAC off early, switch it back on again following the same method.

Good luck gimli!

BTW, no need to worry about "hijacking" threads - if something goes too off topic the moderator tools can easily separate it from the parent thread.

[Gimli]

Thank you VERY much! That was quite possibly the most helpful reply possible! Thanks again!

[Gimli]

I did as directed, but I can only play as Macedon and Pontus (in addition to the regular ones...) Is there any reason that jumps out as to why? When I click on one of the other factions' symbols when selecting a faction to play as, it shuts the game and sends me to the desktop. * shrug *

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Sorry - it seems I forgot to mention the bug with faction unlocking in v1.3.

There are, fortunately, two solutions to the problem though. One is relativly simple, while the other is a little more complex.

The simple solution is to patch up to R:TW 1.5. This can be done nice and easily by downloading either the 1.5 patch (for R:TW alone) or the 1.6 patch, (for R:TW with BI). This will overwrite the changes you have made though, so you will have to perform the unlocking action again. In addition, it may also make saves unplayable, so watch out if you have any running campaigns of value.

The more complex solution is to provide a description for the factions you have made playable. You can usually do this by entering:
"C:\Program Files\Activision\Rome - Total War\data\text\campaign_descriptions.txt"

If you installed R:TW into a custom directory then the file path will vary to the location where you originally installed it.

Once you have the file open, you should see some text which contains faction descriptions. Simply copy and paste the following in between two of the blocks of text on screen:

 {IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_ARMENIA_TITLE}Armenia
 {IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_ARMENIA_DESCR}[enter description here]

 {IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_DACIA_TITLE}Dacia
 {IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_DACIA_DESCR}[enter description here]

 {IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_NUMIDIA_TITLE}Numidia
 {IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_NUMIDIA_DESCR}[enter description here]

 {IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_SCYTHIA_TITLE}Scythia
 {IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_SCYTHIA_DESCR}[enter description here]

 {IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_SPAIN_TITLE}Spain
 {IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_SPAIN_DESCR}[enter description here]

 {IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_THRACE_TITLE}Thrace
 {IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_THRACE_DESCR}[enter description here]

Ensure that there is a space of one line between the final faction mentioned here, and the following factions. Where the text "[enter description here]" is stated, you may place your own custom descriptive text of a faction if you wish.

Once you have completed the edit, save the file and load up R:TW. You should hopefully now have the ability to select any of the "new" factions without the trouble of a CTD.

Good luck Gimli

[Gimli]

Thanks again! You've been a great help! I'll try this as soon as I get home again.

[Hound of Ulster]

I didn't have to jump through the those hoops when I pulled this trick in both RTW and BI (I was using the Eras pack 1.5/1.6 version though). What I did in RTW was basically 'moving' everybody up. (Unlockable factions becoming playable from the get-go, unplayables becoming unlockables) DON'T try to make the Senate or the 'Slaves/Rebels' playable. It gets very cranky.

One neat trick I discovered doing this is that, if you have campaigns running and have already beaten some of the factions you make unlockable, the CPU automatically goes back and makes the unlockables playable.

A similar trick worked with BI, but I strongly recommend NOT unlocking the Romano-British and Slavs, as they do not techinally exist when the campaign starts. The Lombardi, Roxolani, Celts and Burgundi will work fine.

On a side note, do not attempt to change the campaign start (very tempting with regard to the Slavs in BI), as it will wreck the descr_strat script.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

One neat trick I discovered doing this is that, if you have campaigns running and have already beaten some of the factions you make unlockable, the CPU automatically goes back and makes the unlockables playable.

I've noticed something like that myself - after winning a historical battle, I had Carthage and the Greek Cities mystically become unlocked on the campaign screen (at this point I hadn't modified anything myself). I haven't had factions unlock exactly like you have described it though - this is the only alternative method I have seen.

A similar trick worked with BI, but I strongly recommend NOT unlocking the Romano-British and Slavs, as they do not techinally exist when the campaign starts. The Lombardi, Roxolani, Celts and Burgundi will work fine.

This mod enables all of the factions, including the emergent ones, to become playable. It does this through advanced scripting methods, which send the game into autopilot until the relevant faction turns up - as you have said, the conventional method doesn't work for such events.

[Gimli]

Hey, I'm back! I was just curious if there was a way to unlock all factions in BI and then I saw that the thread had moved in that direction... Unfortunately, when I tried to download the 1.6 patch, it downloaded just fine, but was declared corrupt... Anyway, is there a longer way (like for RTW vanilla) to go in and change a file to make more of the factions playable? (if not all!) Thanks again!

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hullo again Gimli,
For BI v1.4, there is always this mod. You can download the v1.4 version from here. Unlike conventional methods, this mod makes all factions become playable, including the emergent ones. Using the normal manual method, the game quite simply locks up when you select them on the campaign screen.

Good luck Gimli