Changing Generals Bodyguard of newly enlisted generals ?

[RuiQi]

Hello forum ,

Ive understood how to change the Bodyguards of starting generals but as stated in the title , how do u change those that are newly enlisted ?

Regards
RuiQi

[Ngugi]

Impossible, all new generals born or adopted or Man of the Hour get the generic bodyguard.

The only possible exception is if it's a named character (aka a child in the tree when the tree starts) getting of age, then a scripts can give him another kind of BG, used in the Uncle Imrahil patch http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...5#post11106895,
If that's of interest speak to Kilic who came up with the script http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...5#post11106895

cheers N'

[Withwnar]

You can change the default bodyguard which means that all generals will get this other one instead of the old one (except for those that are given special ones in descr_strat and script).

I'm not 100% sure but the rule is: in export_descr_unit the first unit from the top that has the "general_unit" attribute, for that faction, is the default bodyguard for that faction. Give another unit this attribute and move the unit to before the other one and it should be the new default bodyguard.

BUT: if it is a unit that can also be recruited then recruiting them might also be recruiting generals.

[Ulfgard the Unmaker]

You can change the default bodyguard which means that all generals will get this other one instead of the old one (except for those that are given special ones in descr_strat and script).

I'm not 100% sure but the rule is: in export_descr_unit the first unit from the top that has the "general_unit" attribute, for that faction, is the default bodyguard for that faction. Give another unit this attribute and move the unit to before the other one and it should be the new default bodyguard.

BUT: if it is a unit that can also be recruited then recruiting them might also be recruiting generals.

So what you're telling me is that I can be rid of those pesky cavalry generals for ALL factions without actually having to know how to mod properly?

[Ngugi]

So what you're telling me is that I can be rid of those pesky cavalry generals for ALL factions without actually having to know how to mod properly?

Sounds credible. Test. That's how you learn

Back up export_descr_unit
Take a unit you wan't as a factions normal general unit, copy paste it right before the normal general unit, change the unit name (see my edit with just a number in the example), add attibute general_unit.
Example:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

type Axemen of Lossarnach2
dictionary Axemen_of_Lossarnach2 ; Axemen of Lossarnach, Superior
category infantry
class heavy
voice_type Heavy
accent GondorInfantry
banner faction main_infantry
banner holy crusade
soldier lossarnach, 60, 0, 1.1875
officer gondor_banner_carrier_ug1
officer gondor_officer_ug1
mount_effect horse +1, camel +1, elephant -4
attributes sea_faring, hide_forest, hardy, can_withdraw, free_upkeep_unit, general_unit
formation 1.2, 1.2, 2.4, 2.4, 4, square
stat_health 1, 2
stat_pri 10, 5, no, 0, 0, melee, melee_blade, slashing, axe, 75, 1
stat_pri_attr ap
stat_sec 0, 0, no, 0, 0, no, melee_simple, blunt, none, 0, 1
stat_sec_attr no
stat_pri_armour 7, 4, 0, metal; scale armor
stat_sec_armour 0, 0, flesh
stat_heat 6
stat_ground 0, -1, 0, -2
stat_mental 13, impetuous, trained
stat_charge_dist 6
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 1, 575, 215, 75, 75, 575, 4, 100
armour_ug_levels 3, 4
armour_ug_models lossarnach, lossarnach_ug1
ownership sicily
era 0 sicily
era 1 sicily
era 2 sicily
recruit_priority_offset 57

Open export_units.txt (in teh text-folder; after backing up)
Search for the unit you've used and copy paste the entry for it.
Make the name change in the pasted entry and go ahead and rewrite the text to whatever you like (the info-text when you examine the unit). I have kept replaced text crossed out for the sake of it.
Example continued:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

{Axemen_of_Lossarnach2} Axemen of Lossarnach Bodyguard
{Axemen_of_Lossarnach2_descr}
Lossarnach, flowered vales and fertile land of the White Mountains, brings fierce warriors to Gondor's forces. Warriors who are slightly swarthier and shorter than other men in Gondor come bearing great battle-axes and are well-armoured. They are a great unit for shock attacks and for bloody close combat act proudly as body guards of the leaders of the land. REQUIRES LOSSARNACH
{Axemen_of_Lossarnach2_descr_short}
Experienced warriors protected by a chain mail and armed with a tall two-handed axe. REQUIRES LOSSARNACH

And think that should be it. Guess it's not save game compatible but hope it works.

{Axemen_of_Lossarnach2} = unit ingame name
{Axemen_of_Lossarnach2_descr} = the unit scroll description text (where you look at stats and such)
{Axemen_of_Lossarnach2_descr_short} = the name say it all hehe

[Ulfgard the Unmaker]

Alright. I'll try that tonight. Thanks for the information!

[bauhaus]

The is no description picture for the general unit, just the RTW placeholder

[Ngugi]

You must create a new image, it's easy if you created a BG based on an existing unit.

Continuing the example in post #5:

Open data/ui/unit_info and the folder sicily (since sicily = Gondor). Copy the image (check the EDU for the unit name if not obvious, in this case it would be Axemen_of_Lossarnach_info.tga) and paste it in again in same folder.
Rename the copy version Axemen_of_Lossarnach_info2.tga

Open data/ui/units and the folder sicily (since sicily = Gondor). Copy the image (check the EDU for the unit name if not obvious, in this case it would be #axemen_of_lossarnach.tga) and paste it in again in same folder.
Rename the copy version #axemen_of_lossarnach2.tga

[ThaDoews]

I wondered if it is possible to make infantry generals recruitable? :o

It could be working if only in key cities like Annuminas, Osgilliath and Minas Tirith?

[Greymane]

I wondered if it is possible to make infantry generals recruitable? :o

It could be working if only in key cities like Annuminas, Osgilliath and Minas Tirith?

Yep. But you would have to do most of the work yourself.
Make the unit recruitable (I'm assuming you want Gondor dismounted bodyguards) like any other, you can use any unit as a base*, and check if the unit has the general_unit attribute (in descr_unit). If the unit has it, every unit of that type you recruit will come with a general.
If it doesn't, it will just be a nomal unit like every other.
I have been told that the first unit of a faction with that attribute is the default spawn for births/adoptions/etc. So take that into account when you mod it.

* Just copy a unit of the faction to the building you want to recruit said unit in, change the recruitment rate to something you like and change the name to the name of the dismounted general you want to recruit. That name is somewhere in descr_unit.

EDIT: to make it recruitable in specific places, you will have to use hidden resources. Or you could use a building specific to that settlement (like with the guards of Orthanc), that's easier.

[ThaDoews]

Yep. But you would have to do most of the work yourself.
Make the unit recruitable (I'm assuming you want Gondor dismounted bodyguards) like any other, you can use any unit as a base*, and check if the unit has the general_unit attribute (in descr_unit). If the unit has it, every unit of that type you recruit will come with a general.
If it doesn't, it will just be a nomal unit like every other.
I have been told that the first unit of a faction with that attribute is the default spawn for births/adoptions/etc. So take that into account when you mod it.

* Just copy a unit of the faction to the building you want to recruit said unit in, change the recruitment rate to something you like and change the name to the name of the dismounted general you want to recruit. That name is somewhere in descr_unit.

EDIT: to make it recruitable in specific places, you will have to use hidden resources. Or you could use a building specific to that settlement (like with the guards of Orthanc), that's easier.

Thx! I was just adding the general recruitment for myself in my Eriador/Arnor and Gondor campaigns and this question came up though it would add some more action in game with some infantry or Citadelguards generals?!
Anyway, i'm on it and it might turn out to be some addon for MOS...

[ThaDoews]

I haven't made much progress with modding these bodyguards due to work, but what about the generals portrait? Will it be random or as bauhaus says, the RTW placeholder?

Next thing, how is it possible to edit those .tga-files?

[Ngugi]

Depends on what you mean; portrait as in character image, or the unit cards? If the first it shoudl work as usual, if the latter you can simply read the answer I gave bauhaus.

Use a program like Photo Shop or Gimp