Unpacker and Tools Needed For Modding?

**Sir Beane** · 03-10-2009, 02:19

Originally Posted by ArtillerySmoke

Hey guys...

Over on TWcenter they said that with Empire, one can't just go into the files and start editing unit stats etc. They said that you need a special unpacker and hex tool or else nothing you change applies.

Is this true?

Yep, fraid so. It's making modding much, much more difficult than in previous games.

**ArtillerySmoke** · 03-10-2009, 02:23

Originally Posted by Sir Beane

Yep, fraid so. It's making modding much, much more difficult than in previous games.

Understood.

Let me ask you though - because I was looking around in the folders early this morning: I couldn't even accidently change unit stats now because of this right?

In other words - There are no unit stats to change without using a special program?

Just to clarify, because I want to know how this all works while it's still early.

I got on the M2 train too late and had no clue about modding, etc.

**Sir Beane** · 03-10-2009, 02:28

Originally Posted by ArtillerySmoke

Understood.

Let me ask you though - because I was looking around in the folders early this morning: I couldn't even accidently change unit stats now because of this right?

In other words - There are no unit stats to change without using a special program?

Just to clarify, because I want to know how this all works while it's still early.

I got on the M2 train too late and had no clue about modding, etc.

I'm pretty sure that no one has been able to edit anything at all without unpacking and using a hex editor. I'm no expert though. You want someone like pevergreen for the details

.

**ArtillerySmoke** · 03-10-2009, 02:31

Originally Posted by Sir Beane

I'm pretty sure that no one has been able to edit anything at all without unpacking and using a hex editor. I'm no expert though. You want someone like pevergreen for the details

.

Cool thanks Beane...

I'll track this thread and check back later. I don't think I did anything either, but it's got me wondering how difficult it really is to edit anything.

**pevergreen** · 03-10-2009, 03:46

I cant be on long, as Im at work. Shhhh....

Basically there is limited textpad editing you can do straight into the .pack files, but the size must remain the exact same. Add a single character and the game will not load.

You need to unpack, then use a hex editor for most of the files (even then you have no idea what you are looking at most of the time) but there are a few text files for scripts.

gotta go!

**ArtillerySmoke** · 03-10-2009, 03:58

Originally Posted by pevergreen

I cant be on long, as Im at work. Shhhh....

Basically there is limited textpad editing you can do straight into the .pack files, but the size must remain the exact same. Add a single character and the game will not load.

You need to unpack, then use a hex editor for most of the files (even then you have no idea what you are looking at most of the time) but there are a few text files for scripts.

gotta go!

Thanks for sneaking on

Yeah this looks far more complicated than in the past. I was just worried that I might have (it was a really late night) accidently edited some files when I was looking around. It doesn't even sound like it's possible that I could have.

I'm by no means a modder, but I'd like to start getting into it lightly...so just trying to learn as much as I can about it as Empire is so new.

**Mailman653** · 03-10-2009, 06:39

There is a new tool out, modder created, that lets you view, add and remove things from the .pack files without having to extract them which would save you the trouble of having to unpack everything. In regards to the unit stats etc, I haven't gone near them, I think they are past my modding potential, I've just been playing with the textures.