Adding new clans to Shogun 2!
To preface this, I do not mean the clan-swapping stuff I have been doing. I also do not mean applying this custom clan to the campaign map. I am starting much more basic than that. I simply mean creating a custom clan that you can use in custom battles!
I will start simple. This will mean no custom visuals will be used. I'm thinking more people will understand this way. I thought this would be much more complex. I was prepared for a lengthy quest to get this right. Humourously, I got it right the first time.
You will need the following program:
-Pack File Manager. TWC page: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=433370
-WordPad (or any text editor)
You will need the following files (open each .pack with Pack File Manager):
1. From data.pack, you will need:
-faction_banners
-faction_uniform_colours
-factions
Their file path is "data.pack > db". From here you can see folders like "faction_banners_tables". Inside the folders "faction_banners_tables", "faction_uniform_colours_tables", and "factions_tables" are the files you need.
2. From models.pack, you will need:
-banners.tai
This files' file path is "data.pack > rigidmodels > flags > textures > banners.tai"
3. From local_en_patch.pack, you will need:
-factions.loc
This files' file path is "local_en_patch.pack > text > db > factions.loc". Important: "en" is my localization. For anyone who doesn't use the english language in Shogun 2, that "en" bit may be different. Look for something like "local_<2 letters here>_patch.pack". <2 letters here> means... well... two letters.
Before you extract these, create a folder. Call it anything you want. This will be for your custom .pack file. Extract each file I listed above into this one folder. They will overwrite the originals.
Before we get to editing, let's get some things clear. Even though I'm calling this simple, if you start this from scratch it can be a lengthy process. We will be using pre-existing information and changing the important things.
It will be easier if we start with "banners.tai". This is because Pack File Manager cannot edit .tai files. There is a detail we need to make note of before editing the file; the faction ID. This is used throughout the game files, so you need to be absolutely clear about what your faction ID is. I am re-using database information for the Ukita clan, and I will use the faction ID "ukita2".
Now, open the file with WordPad. There are a bunch of banners you can use for your custom clan. As I said before, I will not get into custom visuals in this tutorial. I plan to make a nice and detailed tutorial for that soon. Our focus is simply getting the bare essentials together.
I will use the Toyotomi banner for my custom faction. The entry will look like this:
Copy this. Be careful that you don't copy anything else. Click your mouse after hovering to the right of the last number in that line. For every entry, this number is "0.250000". Hitting enter will create a line between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa entries. Remember how I told you to copy the entry? Well, paste it in this blank line.mon_stratbanner_toyotomi_diffuse.tga banners2.dds, 2, 2D, 0.500000, 0.250000, 0.000000, 0.250000, 0.250000
Do you have your faction ID? Mine is "ukita2". In the entry I just pasted, I need to replace "toyotomi" with "ukita2" so the game knows to load that particular banner. Part of my banners.tai file now looks like this:Save it. If you did this and everything to follow properly, the game will know to load the banner. You can do this for any of the listed banners. Just follow the same instructions.mon_stratbanner_toyotomi_diffuse.tga banners2.dds, 2, 2D, 0.500000, 0.250000, 0.000000, 0.250000, 0.250000
mon_stratbanner_ukita2_diffuse.tga banners2.dds, 2, 2D, 0.500000, 0.250000, 0.000000, 0.250000, 0.250000
mon_stratbanner_tokugawa_diffuse.tga banners2.dds, 2, 2D, 0.750000, 0.250000, 0.000000, 0.250000, 0.250000
Now to create the .pack file. In 'Pack File Manager' go File > New. You need to browse for the folder that contains the files you extracted. Once you do that, right-click somewhere under "untitled.pack" and "add directory...". Do the same thing, and select the folder you made. You will be able to expand everything.
Open the "factions" table. Remember how I said we were using pre-existing information? Well, we will be using one of the rows in each of the db tables. We do not need more than one, so we will delete all but one. Look under the "Faction IDRef" for what clan you want to keep. I am using the information for the Ukita clan, so I will keep the row with "ukita" as the Faction IDRef. To delete a batch of rows, click on one using the column to the left of "Faction IDRef" (it has no information, it is meant as a way to select entire rows), then while holding the shift key do the same thing further down. Then hit the 'del' (delete) key. For me, I am left with one row: the one with "ukita" as the Faction IDRef. To limit this to what is absolutely necessary, there is only one thing that really needs changing. Change the Faction IDRef entry to the one I told you to create earlier. Remember, mine is "ukita2". We need to do a little bit extra to tell the game that this clan can be used in custom battles. Under "Early Availability" and "Late Availability" you need to change the "False" entries to "True". We are done.
Do the same deleting of rows for the "faction_banners" table. You will really only need to change the Faction IDRef to your own Faction IDRef here. The rest of the values change the colours of the soldiers' sashimono, amongst a few other things. For now, we just want to get our clan going. The details can be made better once we get it working.
Do the same deleting of rows for the "faction_uniform_colours" table. It's getting pretty easy, isn't it? This time, the database calls the column "Faction ID" instead of "Faction IDRef". No matter. Change the original entry with your own Faction IDRef.
We have one more thing to do: add the name of the clan. Before we make changes, I should note something. Do not delete any entry on "factions.loc". It will be easier if we sort these names by the "Localised String" column, so click on "Localised String". The fifth entry you should see should be something like this:Let's clone this fifth entry, and the sixth one below it with the "factions_screen_adjective_amako" entry in the "Tag" column. You should see two rows of these entries. We now need to enter our Faction IDRef as well as the custom clans' screen name. For me, these new entries look like this:Entry in "Tag" column: factions_screen_name_amako, Entry in "Localised String" column: AmakoThere are three other Ukita entries I did in my successful test, them being the "factions_screen_name_when_rebels_ukita2", "factions_screen_name_when_shogun_ukita2" and "factions_defend_desc_ukita2". These shouldn't be needed, but I did them to be comprehensive. Make those changes if you want.First "Tag" column entry: factions_screen_name_ukita2, first "Localised String" column entry: Ukita2
Second "Tag" column entry: factions_screen_adjective_ukita2, second "Localised String" column entry: Ukita2
This concludes the edits you will need to get your clan to show up. Before you go ahead and save your .pack file, right-click anywhere under "untitled.pack", move the cursor over "change pack type" and choose "movie". This will make sure your pack file is prioritized. Now, go "file" and hit "save". Search for Shogun 2's data folder. I use 64-bit W7, so for me it is:This might be different for 32-bit users or anyone not using Windows Vista/7. Give it a unique file name; it doesn't matter what, just as long as it isn't the same as any of the preexisting pack files. From there, load up the game and test it. If something doesn't work, download my .pack file which I have attached to this post in a .rar file and have a look at what you need to do.C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\total war shogun 2\data
As I have noted, this is the bare basics. I might do a 'Part II' that has a look into things that make up the adding of a clan for the sake of customizing, like choosing crests from data.pack, changing RGB info and so forth.
Screenshots (BTW, with the first screen, don't worry about the Kiso crest; SP battle preferences told it to do that.
I'm on the TWC pretty often, so I'll be able to get back to anyone pretty quickly. Specifically, if you don't think something is clear, or if I have made lots of spelling errors let me know for the sake of other TWC members. Also, this is my first TWC tutorial; critique me. Did I lack any detail? Does the thing actually work?! Oh, and I have attached my test file to this page, as noted above.
I intend to make more tutorials, including but not limited to a detailed one for making custom banners.
Anyway: good luck, guys!
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by kairlano
.
. 
