Tutorial on saving DMB Slots

[dvk901]

For anyone interested or intent on adding to RS1.5 in terms of creating submods, I'll be a 'good joe' and share with you an easy....well, maybe not so easy.....but 'A' way to cut the number of slots the Legions use in RS1.5 in half.

I learned some time ago from DimeBagHo at XGM that a 'mercenary unit' could be recruitable in a city just like any other unit, and also, that you can RETRAIN that unit just like any other. Light bulbs came on in my head as I contemplated this, because, you can\could effectively DOUBLE the usefulness of a model in DMB.txt simply by using the merc slot for not just a 'merc', but for a unit you wanted your faction to have. For the Legions, this turns out to be a savior, because in RS2 we were sorely hurting for slots in DMB...and the Legions were consuming 56 slots, even after I removed 7 of them. Since each legion had\has it's own individual texture, in RS1.5, the Legions use 35 slots.
But each legion also has it's own banner....so that's another 35 slots. Total: 70!

This problem can be solved, however, by making one Legion the 'normal' unit, and the next Legion the 'merc' unit. Here is an example of how to do this:

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;First two Converions;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

type germanica_augusta
skeleton fs_javelinman, fs_s1_slow_gladius
indiv_range 40
texture romans_brutii, data/models_unit/textures/tone/romans/legio_i_germanica.TGA ;;Legio I Germanica, romans_brutii
texture merc, data/models_unit/textures/tone/romans/legio_ii_augusta.TGA ;;Legio II Augusta, merc
model_flexi data/models_unit/legio_germanica_augusta_high.cas, max
model_sprite 60.0, data/sprites/romans_julii_roman_legionary_cohort_i_sprite.spr
model_sprite romans_brutii, 60.0, data/sprites/romans_julii_roman_legionary_cohort_i_sprite.spr
model_tri 400, 0.5f, 0.5f, 0.5f

type germanica_augusta_standard
skeleton fs_standard_bearer
indiv_range 40
texture romans_brutii, data/models_unit/textures/tone/romans/vexillarius_legio_I_germanica.tga ;;Legio I Germanica, romans_brutii
texture merc, data/models_unit/textures/tone/romans/vexillarius_legio_II_augusta.tga ;;Legio II Augusta, merc
model_flexi data/models_unit/vexillarius_germanica_augusta_high.cas, max
model_sprite 60.0, data/sprites/romans_julii_roman_praetorian_cohort_ii_sprite.spr
model_sprite romans_brutii, 60.0, data/sprites/romans_julii_roman_praetorian_cohort_ii_sprite.spr
model_tri 400, 0.5f, 0.5f, 0.5
************************************************

In the example above, I Germanica and II Augusta are combined into two slots. The textures for the Legions themselves are combined....one 'romans_brutii' and one is the 'merc'...under 'germanica_augusta'.

The standards are also combined into one slot so that Germanica and Augusta each get the correct banner....one normal, one merc.

**************************************************
Now in EDU.txt, the two units look like this:

type legio i germanica
dictionary legio_i_germanica
category infantry
class heavy
voice_type Medium_1
soldier germanica_augusta, 50, 0, 3.2
officer roman_centurion
officer germanica_augusta_standard
officer roman_signifier
attributes sea_faring, hide_forest, can_sap,very_hardy, frighten_foot
formation 1, 2, 2, 3, 5, square, testudo
stat_health 1, 0
stat_pri 30, 1, javelin2, 45, 2, thrown, blade, piercing, spear, 0 ,1
stat_pri_attr prec,thrown ap
stat_sec 27, 18, no, 0, 0, melee, blade, piercing, sword, 0 ,0.5
stat_sec_attr ap
stat_pri_armour 14, 45, 10, metal
stat_sec_armour 0, 2, flesh
stat_heat 3
stat_ground 4, -2, -2, -2
stat_mental 28, disciplined, highly_trained
stat_charge_dist 35
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 0, 850, 270, 70, 70, 210
ownership romans_brutii

type legio i germanica first
dictionary legio_i_germanica_first
category infantry
class heavy
voice_type Medium_1
soldier germanica_augusta, 50, 0, 3.2
officer roman_centurion
officer roman_eagle
officer roman_cornicean_foot
attributes sea_faring, hide_forest, can_sap, very_hardy, command, frighten_foot
formation 1, 2, 2, 3, 5, square, testudo
stat_health 1, 0
stat_pri 30, 1, javelin2, 45, 2, thrown, blade, piercing, spear, 0 ,1
stat_pri_attr prec,thrown ap
stat_sec 27, 18, no, 0, 0, melee, blade, piercing, sword, 0 ,0.5
stat_sec_attr ap
stat_pri_armour 14, 45, 10, metal
stat_sec_armour 0, 2, flesh
stat_heat 2
stat_ground 4, -2, -2, -2
stat_mental 29, disciplined, highly_trained
stat_charge_dist 35
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 0, 1100, 270, 70, 70, 210
ownership romans_brutii

type legio ii augusta
dictionary legio_ii_augusta
category infantry
class heavy
voice_type Medium_1
soldier germanica_augusta, 50, 0, 3.2
officer roman_centurion
officer germanica_augusta_standard
officer roman_signifier
attributes sea_faring, hide_forest, can_sap,very_hardy, frighten_foot, mercenary_unit
formation 1, 2, 2, 3, 5, square, testudo
stat_health 1, 0
stat_pri 30, 1, javelin2, 45, 2, thrown, blade, piercing, spear, 0 ,1
stat_pri_attr prec,thrown ap
stat_sec 27, 18, no, 0, 0, melee, blade, piercing, sword, 0 ,0.5
stat_sec_attr ap
stat_pri_armour 14, 45, 10, metal
stat_sec_armour 0, 2, flesh
stat_heat 2
stat_ground 4, -2, -2, -2
stat_mental 28, disciplined, highly_trained
stat_charge_dist 35
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 0, 850, 270, 70, 70, 210
ownership romans_brutii

type legio ii augusta first
dictionary legio_ii_augusta_first
category infantry
class heavy
voice_type Medium_1
soldier germanica_augusta, 60, 0, 3.2
officer roman_early_centurion
officer roman_eagle
officer roman_cornicean_foot
attributes sea_faring, hide_forest, can_sap, very_hardy, command, frighten_foot, mercenary_unit
formation 1, 2, 2, 3, 5, square, testudo
stat_health 1, 0
stat_pri 30, 1, javelin2, 45, 2, thrown, blade, piercing, spear, 0 ,1
stat_pri_attr prec,thrown ap
stat_sec 27, 18, no, 0, 0, melee, blade, piercing, sword, 0 ,0.5
stat_sec_attr ap
stat_pri_armour 14, 45, 10, metal
stat_sec_armour 0, 2, flesh
stat_heat 2
stat_ground 4, -2, -2, -2
stat_mental 28, disciplined, highly_trained
stat_charge_dist 35
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 0, 1100, 270, 70, 70, 210
ownership romans_brutii
*******************************************

Note that the first two units, cohort and 1st cohort, are 'normal' units.
The second, legio ii augusta, has the 'mercenary_unit' attribute, and is ONLY recruitable by the Romans.

Both of these units work just like any other units, but you have to do a few other things to make this all work right.

First, the Legion you make a 'mercenary_unit' has to have it's unit cards put into the 'MERC' folders.

Second, you have to give ALL the Roman officers a 'merc' line in DMB.txt, like this:

type roman_early_centurion
skeleton fs_dagger
indiv_range 40
texture romans_brutii, data/models_unit/textures/tone/romans/early_centurion1.tga
texture slave, data/models_unit/textures/tone/romans/early_centurion2.tga
texture merc, data/models_unit/textures/tone/romans/early_centurion2.tga
model_flexi data/models_unit/early_centurion_high.cas, max
model_sprite 60.0, data/sprites/romans_julii_roman_legionary_cohort_i_sprite.spr
model_sprite slave, 60.0, data/sprites/romans_julii_roman_legionary_cohort_i_sprite.spr
model_sprite romans_brutii,60.0, data/sprites/romans_julii_roman_legionary_cohort_i_sprite.spr
model_tri 400, 0.5f, 0.5f, 0.5

This is so the 'merc' Legion can use the 'merc' officer. This includes the Generals, Centurions and any other officer you give a Legion. (And ANY unit you did this with that has an officer would have to have the same thing.)

ALL of the Legions in RS1.5 don't combine like this, because there is an uneven number, and the models are sometimes different and there are an odd number of Legions using them, but I'd be willing to bet you could save roughly 26-28 slots by doing this to every Legion possible.

*****************************************************************

But this is not just a 'trick' for Legions. RS2 extensively uses this system to add units to factions that otherwise wouldn't have been possible. Tone has even created models that use different textures that produce units that are TOTALLY different looking one from the other.

The net result is that we used all 500 slots in EDU.txt because we could combine various models and textures using the same model in DMB. In fact, it isn't rare that ONE model in DMB represents 3-4 or more entirely different units.

[Kylan271]

I know this a year ago,but very handy. As I have Ferres units in mind,I want to save some slots for other factions also,so very helpful this. Hmm Tone and RS2 team,way to go! Perhaps this should feature in Wiki???

[Subrosa Florens]

Just as an addendum, when doing this you need to put the unit cards for the units using the merc slots in your Unit_Info\Merc & Units\Mercs folders, not your regular faction folders.

[Kylan271]

I used a sprite generator to count my unit types in DMB and it counted the Mercs(TE Gold Mod) there,lol???? So I am confused now? How to have them not stack against the DMB limit?

[Subrosa Florens]

If the mercenary units in question share the same .cas files and skeletons as a regular units, you just move their texture and sprite lines to that unit's DMB entry, then update EDU to point to that entry.

Be sure you put the merc texture last in the list of textures, and then put its sprite line in first, without the part that says merc for faction ownership, like so:

type                amazon_spear_warband    
skeleton            fs_s1_hoplite
indiv_range            40
texture                dacia, amazon/data/models_unit/textures/amazon_spearwarband_dacia.tga
texture                slave, amazon/data/models_unit/textures/amazon_spearwarband_slave.tga
texture                merc, amazon/data/models_unit/textures/amazon_spearwarband_merc.tga
model_flexi            amazon/data/models_unit/amazon_spearwarband_high.cas, 8
model_flexi            amazon/data/models_unit/amazon_spearwarband_med.cas, 15
model_flexi            amazon/data/models_unit/amazon_spearwarband_low.cas, 30
model_flexi            amazon/data/models_unit/amazon_spearwarband_lowest.cas, max
model_sprite            60.0, amazon/data/sprites/amazon_spear_warband_sprite.spr
model_sprite            slave, 60.0, amazon/data/sprites/slave_amazon_spear_warband_sprite.spr
model_sprite            dacia, 60.0, amazon/data/sprites/dacia_amazon_spear_warband_sprite.spr
model_tri            400, 0.5f, 0.5f, 0.5f

Otherwise you will not see the correct sprites in the game.

[Kylan271]

OK hmmm,yes I see now. It works if you have same cas model basically and saves some DMB slots. I will have to try it,appreciate this. I would have missed the sprite data,so greatful pointing out to me,otherwise I would list is as "merc, 60.0,....." ..oopsie. Hmm "Florense Subrosagale" of TWC heh ^_* .