The Civil War Mod for ETW
Handling ETW or NTW mods is a painful procedure not only in creating them but also using them for playing. That is why I've followed the addition of a launcher in my mods, trying to create as much as possible a friendly user interface. Equipped with powerful scripts, it makes the installation easy and the use of mod just a matter of couple of clicks.
What is new in TCW launcher
As of you have used another mod of mine you will be familiar with launcher. However there are some changes in TCW launcher, making players' life even easier. You can have access in this infos by clicking the Help button in launcher.
An important change has to do in the way of automatic editing of user.empire_script.txt. Also there is a new page with additional options that help player customize mod as he likes. Last some messages have been added to inform or warn the user about critical changes.
Installing TCW launcher
Run mod's set up file to install it in your game's directory. There is a default path for C:\Programs Files (x86)\Steam\...\empire total war\, but if you have the game installed in a deferent location, just redirect the installer in the right path.
During the installation Setup makes the necessary folders where the mod files are copying. It uses its own mod folders and original files are never overwritten. Also during setup it cheeks if player has a user.empire_script.txt file and if not it creates one for him.
Using TCW launcher
You can start TCW by using either the shortcut on your desktop or the one in Start Programs\The Civil War folder of the mod. You can also use the executable file TCW.exe, which is located in <HD>:\Steam\...\empire total war\TCW \ folder, to start the mod or create a new shortcut if you accidentally have deleted one.
When TCW starts, launcher keeps a backup of player's existing user.script.txt in the created ...\scripts\TCW folder and replaces it with the mod's one. Until now my mod launchers used to add in new user script the existing mod commands of the player (if any) plus the current mod's command. Now in current user script there is only the TCW mod command. However if player wants to add the command of a compatible mod that he likes to use combined with TCW, he can easily access the file from launcher's Options page for editing.
Main page
After TCW has been launched the starting page is appeared with main menu. Here you can choose to go in Options page, either in CS or in US campaign pages.
Tip: Place your mouse cursor over a button to get additional infos.
Options page
Having in mind players' suggestions or difficulty reports I've added in TCW launcher an Options page. Several actions can be made here. You can disable some futures of the mod, either because you do not like them or because you experience some problem, edit user.empire_script.txt, preferences.user_empire.txt or change the language of the game ( English by default).
One more useful utility has been added that works like this: it moves all the files that are not vanilla or do not belong to TCW, in a folder which has been created during setup called NonVanillaFiles and it is stored in game's data folder. None of these files is deleted and easily can be copied back.
Campaign Pages
Here you can select the campaign you want to play. Make sure you are ready to go because after you click on the campaign button, the game will start automatically!
Closing TCW launcher
You have to make sure that you always close launcher after you have closed the game. For being able a click 'n play mod to be delivered, some changes must be done in game's files especially in data folder. These changes are made by mod launcher every time it starts and they are restored back when you finish playing. As you may know, if the game is running no changes are allowed to be done in data folder, that is why it is critical to have launcher running until the game is closed. After that all changes will be restored and your game's installation will be like mod does not exist. You can play a vanilla game or another mod without warring about TCW. If you want to play TCW again just... click 'n play!
When launcher restores files a report is shown in a cmd window and must always be exactly like this:
If for any reason you think that something didn't go well or report says about files that have not restored do this: close it, start TCW again, let it load the mod files and then just exit! This time the report will be successful!
Troubleshoot
It is strongly recommended to disable or remove any other mod from your game's installation the first time you'll run The Civil War mod. After you are sure that it works properly you can try to combine it with another mod to see if it is compatible.
The most common issues that prevent a mod to run properly are:
1. Wrong installation
Mod must be installed in game directory which is <Hard Disk>\Program Files <or Program Files (x86)> \Steam\steamapps\ common\empire total war\. A quick way to check it is with right click on mod's shortcut, Properties. Target path should be ...\empire total war\TCW\TCW 4.exe.
2. Bad user. empire_script.txt entry
In user script file must be present the mod command: mod TCW_Sounds_Music.pack; You can access your file in Options page. Make sure that only this command line is present in your file and only once.
3. Another mod file
If you have left (or forgotten) a file(s) from another mod, perhaps it conflicts with TCW files. If you are not sure which files belong where, go in Options and run Check Game's Files utility. It will move any non vanilla files in NonVanillFiles folder (they won't be deleted).
4. A pirate game version
Game is very cheap now so there is no excuse not to buy an original copy. Some problems like CTD on game's start (unspecified error) are related with pirate versions and cannot be fixed.
5. False anti-virus actions
Some anti-virus like Avir and McAfee, consider some of the mod files as a threat and delete them without asking user. Then you receive an error the some exe file could not been found. These are false alarms as the anti-virus companies admitted (see the relative topic in mod's thread). If you experience any of these problems, adjust your anti-virus not to delete automatically potential threats, but ask you first or change it. There are many free good anti-virus programs out there. Personally I use Avast (free edition) for many years without a problem.
If you are experience a problem and need technical help, post it here. Please avoid generic expressions like: " game does not start or it won't load", "I get a CTD", etc. Instead try to be specific about it like when exactly the problem appeared and provide any additional infos you observed or you think that might help.
The Civil War - Installation ...... (last update 13/03/2011)
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Originally Posted by husserlTW
! CSA campaigns (warpath and mission for grand) are ready but I am trying to add some new stuff I've discovered lately.
