Converting Huge Cities to Castles

[severdhope]

I have successfully converted a Huge City into a castle.

You will need the following:
export_descr_buildings.txt
export_descr_buildings_enum.txt
export_buildings.txt.strings
strings.bin converter
editting knowledge

Step #1: export_descr_buildings.txt

add this line to every wall stone and up:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

stone_wall city requires factions { northern_european, mesoamerican, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }
{
convert_to 2
capability
{

and add this to the list of convert_to's at the bottom:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

building convert_to_castle
{
convert_to convert_to_city
levels village_to_wooden_castle small_town_to_stone_keep large_town_to_castle city_to_castle large_city_to_castle huge_city_to_castle
{
village_to_wooden_castle city requires factions { denmark, hre, scotland, france, england, mesoamerican, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }
{
convert_to 0
capability
{
}
material wooden
construction 1
cost 800
settlement_min village
upgrades
{
small_town_to_stone_keep
}
}
small_town_to_stone_keep city requires factions { denmark, hre, scotland, france, england, mesoamerican, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }
{
convert_to 1
capability
{
}
material wooden
construction 1
cost 1600
settlement_min town
upgrades
{
large_town_to_castle
}
}
large_town_to_castle city requires factions { denmark, hre, scotland, france, england, mesoamerican, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }
{
convert_to 2
capability
{
}
material wooden
construction 2
cost 3200
settlement_min large_town
upgrades
{
city_to_castle
}
}
city_to_castle city requires factions { denmark, hre, scotland, france, england, mesoamerican, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }
{
convert_to 2
capability
{
}
material wooden
construction 2
cost 3200
settlement_min large_town
upgrades
{
large_city_to_castle
}
}
large_city_to_castle city requires factions { denmark, hre, scotland, france, england, mesoamerican, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }
{
convert_to 2
capability
{
}
material wooden
construction 2
cost 3200
settlement_min large_town
upgrades
{
huge_city_to_castle
}
}
huge_city_to_castle city requires factions { denmark, hre, scotland, france, england, mesoamerican, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }
{
convert_to 2
capability
{
}
material wooden
construction 2
cost 3200
settlement_min large_town
upgrades
{
}
}
}
plugins
{
}
}

step #2: export_descr_buildings_enum.txt

add this to the bottom:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

large_town_to_castle
large_town_to_castle_desc
large_town_to_castle_desc_short
large_town_to_castle_northern_european
large_town_to_castle_northern_european_desc
large_town_to_castle_northern_european_desc_short
large_town_to_castle_mesoamerican
large_town_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc
large_town_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc_short
large_town_to_castle_middle_eastern
large_town_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc
large_town_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc_short
large_town_to_castle_eastern_european
large_town_to_castle_eastern_european_desc
large_town_to_castle_eastern_european_desc_short
large_town_to_castle_greek
large_town_to_castle_greek_desc
large_town_to_castle_greek_desc_short
large_town_to_castle_southern_european
large_town_to_castle_southern_european_desc
large_town_to_castle_southern_european_desc_short
city_to_castle
city_to_castle_desc
city_to_castle_desc_short
city_to_castle_northern_european
city_to_castle_northern_european_desc
city_to_castle_northern_european_desc_short
city_to_castle_mesoamerican
city_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc
city_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc_short
city_to_castle_middle_eastern
city_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc
city_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc_short
city_to_castle_eastern_european
city_to_castle_eastern_european_desc
city_to_castle_eastern_european_desc_short
city_to_castle_greek
city_to_castle_greek_desc
city_to_castle_greek_desc_short
city_to_castle_southern_european
city_to_castle_southern_european_desc
city_to_castle_southern_european_desc_short
large_city_to_castle
large_city_to_castle_desc
large_city_to_castle_desc_short
large_city_to_castle_northern_european
large_city_to_castle_northern_european_desc
large_city_to_castle_northern_european_desc_short
large_city_to_castle_mesoamerican
large_city_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc
large_city_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc_short
large_city_to_castle_middle_eastern
large_city_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc
large_city_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc_short
large_city_to_castle_eastern_european
large_city_to_castle_eastern_european_desc
large_city_to_castle_eastern_european_desc_short
large_city_to_castle_greek
large_city_to_castle_greek_desc
large_city_to_castle_greek_desc_short
large_city_to_castle_southern_european
large_city_to_castle_southern_european_desc
large_city_to_castle_southern_european_desc_short
huge_city_to_castle
huge_city_to_castle_desc
huge_city_to_castle_desc_short
huge_city_to_castle_northern_european
huge_city_to_castle_northern_european_desc
huge_city_to_castle_northern_european_desc_short
huge_city_to_castle_mesoamerican
huge_city_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc
huge_city_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc_short
huge_city_to_castle_middle_eastern
huge_city_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc
huge_city_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc_short
huge_city_to_castle_eastern_european
huge_city_to_castle_eastern_european_desc
huge_city_to_castle_eastern_european_desc_short
huge_city_to_castle_greek
huge_city_to_castle_greek_desc
huge_city_to_castle_greek_desc_short
huge_city_to_castle_southern_european
huge_city_to_castle_southern_european_desc
huge_city_to_castle_southern_european_desc_short

step #3 export_buildings.txt.strings

use the strings.bin converter found here: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=73817

add these lines to the text file:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

{city_to_castle} city_to_castle
{city_to_castle_desc} DO NOT TRANSLATE
{city_to_castle_desc_short} DO NOT TRANSLATE
{city_to_castle_eastern_european} Convert to Castle
{city_to_castle_eastern_european_desc} The act of converting a City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{city_to_castle_eastern_european_desc_short} Converting a City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{city_to_castle_greek} Convert to Castle
{city_to_castle_greek_desc} The act of converting a City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{city_to_castle_greek_desc_short} Converting a City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{city_to_castle_mesoamerican} Convert to Castle
{city_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc} DO NOT TRANSLATE - NOT MEANT FOR THIS CULTURE
{city_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc_short} DO NOT TRANSLATE - NOT MEANT FOR THIS CULTURE
{city_to_castle_middle_eastern} Convert to Castle
{city_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc} The act of converting a City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{city_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc_short} Converting a City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{city_to_castle_northern_european} Convert to Castle
{city_to_castle_northern_european_desc} The act of converting a City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{city_to_castle_northern_european_desc_short} Converting a City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{city_to_castle_southern_european} Convert to Castle
{city_to_castle_southern_european_desc} The act of converting a City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{city_to_castle_southern_european_desc_short} Converting a City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{large_city_to_castle} large_city_to_castle
{large_city_to_castle_desc} DO NOT TRANSLATE
{large_city_to_castle_desc_short} DO NOT TRANSLATE
{large_city_to_castle_eastern_european} Convert to Castle
{large_vity_to_castle_eastern_european_desc} The act of converting a Large City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{large_city_to_castle_eastern_european_desc_short} Converting a Large City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{large_city_to_castle_greek} Convert to Castle
{large_city_to_castle_greek_desc} The act of converting a Large City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{large_city_to_castle_greek_desc_short} Converting a Large City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{large_city_to_castle_mesoamerican} Convert to Castle
{large_city_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc} DO NOT TRANSLATE - NOT MEANT FOR THIS CULTURE
{large_city_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc_short} DO NOT TRANSLATE - NOT MEANT FOR THIS CULTURE
{large_city_to_castle_middle_eastern} Convert to Castle
{large_city_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc} The act of converting a Large City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{large_city_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc_short} Converting a Large City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{large_city_to_castle_northern_european} Convert to Castle
{large_city_to_castle_northern_european_desc} The act of converting a Large City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{large_city_to_castle_northern_european_desc_short} Converting a Large City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{large_city_to_castle_southern_european} Convert to Castle
{large_city_to_castle_southern_european_desc} The act of converting a Large City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{large_city_to_castle_southern_european_desc_short} Converting a Large City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{huge_city_to_castle} huge_city_to_castle
{huge_city_to_castle_desc} DO NOT TRANSLATE
{huge_city_to_castle_desc_short} DO NOT TRANSLATE
{huge_city_to_castle_eastern_european} Convert to Castle
{huge_vity_to_castle_eastern_european_desc} The act of converting a Huge City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{huge_city_to_castle_eastern_european_desc_short} Converting a Huge City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{huge_city_to_castle_greek} Convert to Castle
{huge_city_to_castle_greek_desc} The act of converting a Huge City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{huge_city_to_castle_greek_desc_short} Converting a Huge City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{huge_city_to_castle_mesoamerican} Convert to Castle
{huge_city_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc} DO NOT TRANSLATE - NOT MEANT FOR THIS CULTURE
{huge_city_to_castle_mesoamerican_desc_short} DO NOT TRANSLATE - NOT MEANT FOR THIS CULTURE
{huge_city_to_castle_middle_eastern} Convert to Castle
{huge_city_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc} The act of converting a Huge City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{huge_city_to_castle_middle_eastern_desc_short} Converting a Huge City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{huge_city_to_castle_northern_european} Convert to Castle
{huge_city_to_castle_northern_european_desc} The act of converting a Huge City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{huge_city_to_castle_northern_european_desc_short} Converting a Huge City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.
{huge_city_to_castle_southern_european} Convert to Castle
{huge_city_to_castle_southern_european_desc} The act of converting a Huge City into a Castle significantly changes the way that the settlement will work, and what you can build there. Once converted to a castle, this settlement can be upgraded to a fortress as soon as you have the money required, rather than relying upon the population to make it grow. It will also be able to recruit cavalry and missile infantry, units that cities do not produce. This comes at a price however, castles are not conducive to open trade, and the settlement will generate less income as a whole. More importantly buildings that can only exist in a city will be destroyed in the conversion process – Check the building browser to see what structures will and won’t survive.
{huge_city_to_castle_southern_european_desc_short} Converting a Huge City into a Castle makes the settlement less conducive to trade, but allow for more diverse recruitment options.

rename the old file and leave the text file in its place, it will automatically be converted back to .strings by the game

there is one drawback, and that is the convert to castle buildings looks like RTW barracks in upper level cities, can someone help with that?

Screenshot of Huge city:http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9...tcastlezz2.jpg
Screenshot of description:http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6...castle2ua7.jpg

Please post any bug reports/problems/insight with this editting. Please do not post questions asking how to use io:file_first or mod switch, there are other forums for that. Tell me what you think!

[Ticu]

Neat! This could be the first of many modding breakthroughs.

[Giorgos]

true.

[selenius4tsd]

This isnt the first breakthrough we ve had btw.

@ severdhope: Great guide - the reason why the RTW barracks and the placeholder sign shows up is because you havent specified which picture should show. The system will then automatically use a generic picture (data\ui\generic) - those two pictures are found in here.
To change it to something more proper, you need to add the picture in data\ui\northern_european\buildings and in \construction. Obviously it should be done in northern, eastern european and middle east folders as well.

[alpaca]

I think you guys should stop calling everything a breakthrough

I mean, seriously, you can figure this out within a few hours, it only involves editing one file and you only have to follow what CA did in vanilla.
It's nice to have a guide about it, but it's hardly what I call a breakthrough (editing the textures was a breakthrough for example).

[Arakorn]

I think you guys should stop calling everything a breakthrough

I mean, seriously, you can figure this out within a few hours, it only involves editing one file and you only have to follow what CA did in vanilla.
It's nice to have a guide about it, but it's hardly what I call a breakthrough (editing the textures was a breakthrough for example).

I agree, but it's still a nice tutorial.

No hard feelings, I hope.

[alpaca]

I agree, but it's still a nice tutorial.

No hard feelings, I hope.

Yes it is, I didn't mean to be rude (well, maybe a little bit), but when I read "breakthrough" I usually think there's something pretty important inside

[Trajan]

Moved to Tools, Tutorials and Resources.

[Naja]

This is wonderful. Well done, Severdhope!

[ircphoenix]

Hmm... I was looking for a definitive "how to" guide when it comes to adding these files into the game... is there a step by step guide somewhere for us newbies?

[alpaca]

Hmm... I was looking for a definitive "how to" guide when it comes to adding these files into the game... is there a step by step guide somewhere for us newbies?

Well I wrote a short article over at the .org, you may view it here - maybe it helps you

[diputs7]

Okay, I have tried to above guide at least twice. The game runs fine. I see the two screenshot above and is the same thing that my game displays. But here is the problem: After 2 turns pass my Large / Huge Cities stays the same! No change at all. Anyone have the same problem? I'm frustrated when the computer builds up all these Large / Huge cities and I can't convert them to a castle which brings my expansion plans to a halt as my Armies can not resupply themselves!

[l52hg]

It doesn't work on me, although I did every step.The game runs but still cant convert city to castles.
R U sure it is "settlement_min large_town " e for city large city and huge city?

Like Shouldn't it be material wooden
construction 2
cost 3200
settlement_huge city
for huge city in step 1?


Need help.

[diputs7]

Well, I looked through it again to see what I did wrong, but still I have no clue why it isn't converting...

Anyway anyone know of any mod or program that will do this for you? If not...man we need to get this working on some of the mods out there. :hmmm:

[litcube]

Yeah, this guide doesn't work. Congratulations.

[Inarus]

Anyone managed to get this to work yet?

[EarendilElenthol]

What the threadstarter did should work in theory (although the enums are not necessary). Two possibilities why it doesnt work: 1) *dread* hardcoded; 2) you need to start a new game, as the game reads some files only at the start.
The simplest workaround is removing the requirement city/castle: it enables you to build all buildings that do not require (hidden) resources.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

building convert_to_castle
{
    convert_to convert_to_city
    levels village_to_wooden_castle small_town_to_stone_keep  large_town_to_castle city_to_castle large_city_to_castle  huge_city_to_castle
    {
        village_to_wooden_castle city requires factions { denmark, hre,  scotland, france, england, mesoamerican, middle_eastern,  eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 
        {
            convert_to 0
            capability
            {
            }
...etc

Again: I havent tried this myself, although it should work in theory, it has it's own problems (with all the castle buildings and city buildings buildable while they are each other's pendant, also for the AI. You can remove then nearly all castle or city buildings, although roads and ports are necessary in both versions, otherwise you have a CTD)

[draco16616]

the barracks don't even show up. is there something obvious i'm missing, something not expained by the guide?
and does the converting really works?

[Honoratus1973]

Hi, anyone get this to work?