Can't play XGM

[Selukon]

I just installed XGM, but the shortcut never appeared, and in the XGM files, I don't see anything to start it up. Can somebody help me?

[Pinkie Pie]

did you try re-installing?

[Selukon]

Yup, and if it matters, I was installing version 5.9.15

[DimeBagHo]

If the installer works correctly then the shortcut should show up in whatever folder the installer was in, which will probably be wherever your browser puts downloads.

[Selukon]

I think I found it


hmm when I try to play, it says

Script Error in xgm/data/export/descr_unit_txt. line 167, collumn 18
then it says something about gauls ownership not being found in barb_peltast_gauls

[DimeBagHo]

Sounds like a broken install, though that is a strange kind of error to get. Take a look at '[rtw]/xgm/data/export_descr_units.txt' with notepad and post a bit from the top of the file. The unit barb_peltast_gauls is the very first unit. Also if you could post xgmversion.txt and xgminstall.txt here that would be useful. Both are located in '[rtw]/xgm/'. Finally if you could right click on the shortcut you found and copy the target line and post it here that might be useful as well.

[Selukon]

long post inc because I'm bad at forums and can't find how to put things in the box where it's hidden unless clicked on

the barb_peltast_gaul thing

type barb peltast gaul
dictionary barb_peltast_gaul ; Skirmisher Warband
category infantry
class missile
voice_type Light_1
soldier barb_peltast_gaul, 40, 0, 0.8
attributes sea_faring, hide_improved_forest, hide_long_grass, can_swim
formation 1.6, 2, 3.2, 4, 4, square
stat_health 2, 0
stat_pri 7, 4, javelin, 60, 8, thrown, blade, piercing, spear, 25 ,1.0 ; Ranged
stat_pri_attr thrown ap
stat_sec 7, 4, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, spear, 25 ,0.85 ; Spear
stat_sec_attr light_spear, spear_bonus_4
stat_pri_armour 2, 5, 3, flesh
stat_sec_armour 0, 0, flesh
stat_heat 2
stat_ground 2, -2, 3, 2
stat_mental 8, low, untrained
stat_charge_dist 60 ; Skirmisher
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 1, 360, 180, 25, 50, 360
ownership gauls, slavs

it says access denied for the version thing, and which part of xgminstall.txtshould I post?

"Finally if you could right click on the shortcut you found and copy the target line and post it here that might be useful as well." I right clicked it, I didn't see anything to copy paste. I'm bad with computers so maybe I'm missing something obvious

edit: nvm I'm an idiot, found it
"C:\Program Files (x86)\The Creative Assembly\Rome - Total War\RomeTW.exe" -show_err -nm -mod:xgm

[DimeBagHo]

That all looks fine. I'm guessing that the problem is Vista. Running as Administrator might help. If you right click on the shortcut and select 'properties' there should be an option to do that.

[Selukon]

Ugh...that's all it needed...but the imperial campign doesn't seem to work. When I click it, it says "please select an item from the list"

[DimeBagHo]

That might be a version problem (your RTW version is shown on the top right of the options screen in-game - it should be 1.5, 1.6, or 1.9), or it might be caused by trying to play with the wrong exe. For example, if you select the play with Alexander exe option then your shortcut should point to 'RomeTW-ALX.exe'. The shortcut you posted earlier pointed to the basic RTW exe, so it won't work correctly if selected the BI or Alex options when you installed XGM.

[Selukon]

I went with regular exe, and my regular RTW is v1.5

though is there a way to check it without reinstalling?

[DimeBagHo]

Yes, you can take a look at your xgmversion.txt file. That shows your current version and all the install options you selected. Unfortunately it sounds like vista doesn't want you to look at that either.

I believe you can avoid some of these problems by installing games to a different location than 'program files'. So you could try installing RTW somewhere else and then reinstalling XGM.

[Selukon]

Hopefully I won't need to do that, I'm reinstalling to make sure I didn't click the BI executable. I don't want to reinstall RTW if I can avoid it.

Alright, for some reason my RTW went back to version 1.3 and I cant figure out how to get it to 1.5. XGM won't install right. ugh...

[Selukon]

Alright, I got my version fixed, but now when I try to play xgm I get an error saying unable to find skeleton 'fs_s1 fast swordsman'

[DimeBagHo]

You just need run the XGM installer again.

[Selukon]

It works, thanks so much! Sorry to bother you with all that stuff, starting an imperial campaign now

[DimeBagHo]

No problem. I'm glad it all worked in the end.

[Selukon]

One final quick question? What campaign do you think would be easiest for a complete RTW noob? I suck at the game, but still find it fun

[DimeBagHo]

The Pergamon campaign is pretty easy (from the Provincial Campaigns menu). You play as the GCS but you don't have the tough early fight against Macedon that you get in the main campaign. Carthage is also pretty easy, if you let the Romans have Sicily and focus on Africa and then Iberia. I also find the Ptolemies to be pretty easy to play.

[Selukon]

hmm alright, going to try pergamon. I was playing as Iberia but managed to get myself into a war with inde gauls and carthage, and had horrible economy.