M2TW Config File How To's

[Trajan]

Here's a bunch of useful information for the medieval2.preference.cfg file compiled by Epistolary Richard, wilddog, Modding Forum, alpaca, NIKO_TWOW.RU, and adonys. Thanks to them for spending some of their time to share this very useful information with us. If anybody knows any more useful information for the config file, please post it here and me or another moderator will update the guide.

Note: According to wilddog, this file should not be modified because the game will overwrite it again so to create a permanent custom configuration, follow the instructions mentioned below under ".cfg Switching".


With the release of the unpacker tool in the 1.1 patch, if you make any changes to the text files in the main Data folder, to get them to show up in the game, you need to add this command line to your config file:

[io]
file_first = true

Bug Tracking

To enable the error logging functions of MTW2, add:
Code:

[log]
to = logs/system.log.txt level = * error

The following gives a lot of info that won't be very useful for the average modder, but if the error logging doesn't help you, try it:
Code:

[log]
to = logs/system.log.txt level = * trace

You can further use both level statements in the same file in which case the last setting will be used. As an example, providing:
Code:

[log]
to = logs/system.log.txt level = * trace level = * error

Will do the same as if you only supplied level = * error.


Disabling Green Arrows Under Selected Units

To disable the green arrows under your units when you select them:

Change "disable_arrow_markers = 0" to "disable_arrow_markers = 1"

Unlimited Men On The Battefield

To allow all armies in the area to enter the battle:

Change "unlimited_men_on_battlefield = 0" to "unlimited_men_on_battlefield = 1"

Battle Editor

To enable the battle editor, simply add these two lines:
Code:

[features]
editor = true

Faction Unlocking

These few lines will unlock all playable factions in your campaign:
Code:

[misc]
unlock_campaign = true

Running in a Window

To run the game in a window (same as the "-ne" switch in RTW), add:
Code:

[video]
windowed = true

Disabling the Videos

If you want to disable the movies for the game ("-nm" switch in RTW), use:
Code:

[video]
movies = false

Disabling City/Castle Info on the Strat Map

To disable the settlement info on strat map:

Change "label_settlements =1" to "label_settlements =0"

Disable Unit Info In Battles

To disable info about units in battles:

Change "show_tooltips = 1" to "show_tooltips = 0"

Disable Flags/Banners in Battles

To disable flags/banners in battles:

Change "show_banners = 1" to "show_banners = 0"

Disable Event Cut Scenes

Change "event_cutscenes = 1" to "event_cutscenes = 0"

Minimal Battle Map UI/Hud

Change "full_battle_HUD = 1" to "full_battle_HUD = 0".

.cfg Switching

The .cfg switching mechanism allows you to use different game configuration.
To start the game using a different config file, you have to create a new batch file (create a new text file and rename the file extension to .bat) in your MTW2 directory, that looks like this:
Code:

medieval2.exe @mod.cfg

Then create a copy of your medieval2.preference.cfg, rename it to mod.cfg (you can use any name here, just remember to also change it in the .bat file) and make your changes. Then create a shortcut to your newly-created .bat file and enjoy the game.


Mod Switching

This method can be used as a very efficient mod switching mechanism:
Proceed as above, but before saving your .cfg file, add the following:
Code:

[features]
mod = mymodfolder

The mymodfolder is a placeholder for your personal mod folder, so say you have a mod called "Fishpants", then create a subfolder inside your MTW2 directory called "Fishpants", then add "mod = Fishpants" to your configuration file.
According to Epistolary Richard, a mod directory will require data/sounds/events.idx and data/sounds/events.dat, and I presume the campaign files, too, in order to work.
It should supercede any packed files, but that may actually only be the case after the unpacking tool has been released by CA.

Step-by-step guide on how to set up the mod switch feature:

1. Create a .bat file(make a .txt then rename the extension) in the Medieval II Total War folder with this line in it:

medieval2.exe @mymod.cfg

2. Copy and paste the medieval2.preference.cfg file, rename the copy to mymod.cfg, and add this to it:

[features]
mod = mymod

(it also helps to set this file to read-only as otherwsie the changes seem to be lost)

3. Create a new folder inside the Medieval II Total War folder called mymod. Then create a folder called data inside that.

4. Copy the world and sound folders from Medeival II Total War\data to Medeival II Total War\mymod\data.

5. Then place any modified text files in the mymod\data folder.

6. Run the game using the .bat file.

Hope this helps you guys.


Step by step guide how to create a new .bat file:

1) Click start, then click run and type "notepad" and press ok.

2) After notepad opens up, type what you want (medieval2.exe @mod.cfg) and click on file, save, and browse to where you want to save the file.

3) For the file name, type the name that you want to give it and be sure that you end it with .bat. Like for example, mymod.bat.

4 For the "save as type" option, be sure that you select "All Files" or the file will be saved as a text document.

5) Save your new batch file and close notepad. Now, to run the batch file, double click it like an .exe.



.cfg Variables

Bellow you'll find M2TW's .cfg file variables/parameters names. Most of them are already known (if you have a look at M2TW's original .cfg file), but there are a lot of hidden ones, with a few surprisez between them..

In order to use them, you'll have to make a backup copy of the original .cfg file (in case you mess anything), then a working copy (as the "unwelcomed" modifications you'll make will be deleted after you'll exit from the game).

A parameter's name is given in the <section_name>.<parameter_name> format, which means you'll have to add the <parameter_name = <value>> into the section_name .cfg's section (for example the misc.unlock_campaign parameter must be put in the .cfg file like this:


Quote:
[misc]
unlock_campaign = 1

if the section doesn't exists, just add it)


Video options
video.windowed Enable/disable exclusive video mode
video.borderless_window Do not put a border or title bar on the window
video.movies Enable/disable playing of cut scenes
video.num_shadow_textures
video.num_shadow_blend_stages
video.depth_shadows Shadow map quality (0-no, 1-single, 2-dual)
video.depth_shadows_resolution Shadow map resolution (0-512, 1-1024, 2-2048 or 3-4096)
video.reflection
video.gamma Gamma (50 - 200)
video.bloom Quality of bloom (0 - none, 1 - enabled)
video.texture_filtering Texture filtering (0 - bilinear, 1 - trilinear, 2 - anisotropic)
video.anisotropic_level Level of anisotropic filtering ([1..16], where 1 is no anisotropic filtering, 16 is maximum level)
video.shader
video.antialiasing Full screen antialiasing
video.autodetect Autodetect recommended settings

video.skip_mip_levels

Video preferences
video.widescreen
video.subtitles
video.vsync
video.splashes
video.stencil_shadows
video.vegetation
video.no_background_fmv
video.show_banners
video.anti_alias_mode
video.campaign_resolution
video.battle_resolution
video.unit_detail
video.building_detail
video.grass_distance
video.tga_width
video.tga_aspect
video.tga_input_scale
video.tga_reserve_space
video.graphics_adapter
video.terrain_quality
video.effect_quality
video.vegetation_quality
video.show_package_litter

video.assassination_movies
video.sabotage_movies
video.infiltration_movies
video.event_movies

Audio options
audio.disabled Disable audio
audio.snd_no_eax
audio.queue_character_voices

Audio preferences
audio.master_vol
audio.music_vol
audio.speech_vol
audio.sfx_vol
audio.enable
audio.speech_enable
audio.provider
audio.sub_faction_accents

Camera preferences
camera.restrict
camera.campaign_map_smoothing
camera.move
camera.rotate
camera.default_in_battle

Controls preferences
controls.keyset
controls.campaign_scroll_min_zoom
controls.campaign_scroll_max_zoom

User interface preferences
ui.show_tooltips
ui.full_battle_HUD
ui.radar
ui.unit_cards
ui.SA_cards
ui.buttons

Network options
network.use_ip
network.use_port
network.raise_priority
network.debug.simulation
network.debug.drop_every
network.debug.packet_delay_every
network.debug.queue_delay_every

Hotseat options
multiplayer.playable = enable multiplayer hotseat mode ?!! (doesn't work yet)
multiplayer.factions

multiplayer.hotseat_turns
multiplayer.hotseat_scroll
multiplayer.hotseat_update_ai_camera
multiplayer.hotseat_disable_papal_elections
multiplayer.hotseat_autoresolve_battles
multiplayer.hotseat_save_prefs
multiplayer.hotseat_disable_console
multiplayer.hotseat_validate_diplomacy

Game preferences
game.english
game.morale
game.fatigue
game.event_cutscenes
game.no_campaign_battle_time_limit
game.auto_save
game.disable_arrow_markers
game.label_characters
game.label_settlements
game.first_time_play
game.campaign_num_time_play
game.campaign_map_speed_up
game.disable_events
game.micromanage_all_settlements
game.advanced_stats_always
game.mute_advisor
game.blind_advisor
game.advisor_verbosity
game.campaign_map_game_speed
game.ai_factions
game.unit_size
game.tutorial_battle_played
game.use_quickchat
game.chat_msg_duration
game.tutorial_path
game.pref_factions_played
game.allusers

Miscellaneous
misc.display_error_on_exit
misc.unlock_campaign = unlocks locked factions
misc.output_con_cmds
misc.nice
misc.show_hud_date Show campaign date/turn in hud
misc.bug_report

Features options
features.quick_battle Start quick battle with defending faction
features.editor Enable editor in menus (doesn't work yet)
features.bookmark Enable set bookmarks mode
features.multirun Allow multiple copies of the game to run simultaneously
features.default_campaign
features.mod
features.disable_mod

Input options
input.play
input.save
input.play_cursor
input.file
input.ignore_revision
input.autorun
input.playback_assert

Sync test options
sync.dump

IO options
io.disable_file_cache Disable search file cache if present
io.packs_root Root path for packs
io.filtered Filtered file list
io.file_first Enable file override for packs

BugReport Options
core.disable_dialogs Disables displaying of dialogs
core.assert_ignore_always
core.exception_search

Debug options
debug.default_no_dump
debug.window Enable/disable debug window output

Memory options
mem.init Set initialisation value for memory
mem.leaks Enable extended memory leak tracing
mem.leak_depth Extended memory leak tracing stack depth
mem.crt Enable crt memory leak tracing
mem.accounting Enable memory accounting (requires 'leaks')

Log options
log.to Set global log file
log.file_flush Set file flush count (how many times log system is called before it flushes file buffer)
log.timestamp Enable/disable log timestamp
log.level Set levels for different parts of logging system in form of "<log_name> <level>"
log.file Set output file for different parts of logging system in form of "<log_name> <file_name>"
log.dbgwnd Enables output to debug window for different parts of logging system in form of "<log_name> <level>"

I think this is everything I can find at this hour. It's too late to can work over it anymore (past 3Am in here), but there are some interesting things which can be noted from them:

1) there seems that CA worked for a strategic map multiplayer hotseat mode of the game!!! the multiplayer.playable variable seems to be used to enable it (but it doesn't work atm), while multiplayer.hotseat_disable_papal_elections and multiplayer.hotseat_autoresolve_battles variables clearely point that there was (at least some) work done for a strategic map multiplayer hotseat mode

[NIKO_TWOW.RU]

Add same for

label_settlements = 0 - disable info about settlements on strat map
show_tooltips = 0 - disable info about units in tactical battles
show_banners = 0 - disable flags and banners in tactical battles

ps recomend for atmosphere - F5 - F6 - F7 - disable radar/buttons/units cards )) (need minimal UI - enabled ) and ofcouse disable the green arrows ))

[adonys]

you may want to have a look at this http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=72180
which is a list with all .cfg variables from M2TW posted by me two weeks ago on .org...

[cudakite]

-Disable Unit Info In Battles-

You can toggle this in-game during the battle by pressing Ctrl+F2. It works really nice. turn the info off for atmosphere and then turn it on really quick so you can see how your units are holding up.

[jaklei]

Is it possible to enable hotseat campaigns for singleplayer?
I mean can you play 2 campaigns at once with the hotseat thingie
[multiplayer]
hotseat_autoresolve_battles = 0
hotseat_disable_console = 0
hotseat_disable_papal_elections = 0
hotseat_save_prefs = 0
hotseat_update_ai_camera = 0
hotseat_validate_diplomacy = 1

[nightwar]

what about the -ai code from RTW? anyone know if its in Mtw2?

[krakkur]

just a quick Q... iv'e been trying to find out how i can get that console down.. is there any way to get it down in ME2???

[Spurius]

Originally Posted by nightwar

what about the -ai code from RTW? anyone know if its in Mtw2?

Nope, unknown so far - and we only heard about the -ai switch because someone blabbed about it in an interview (and got berated over it) - I was the first to post about it on RTR forum back then

(tried a lot of alternative switches already, also stuff snooped from the .exe - no go, alas)

[Preskinn]

Keep diggin' boys!

And what about that hot-seat mode?

[adonys]

you don't look like you've bothered to go to .org and take a look at what I've posted in there. so i'll copy/paste it in here for you

the variables are ALL the variables I've found digging through the M2TW exe's code. I don't think I've missed any of them.

Bellow you'll find M2TW's .cfg file variables/parameters names. Most of them are already known (if you have a look at M2TW's original .cfg file), but there are a lot of hidden ones, with a few surprisez between them..

In order to use them, you'll have to make a backup copy of the original .cfg file (in case you mess anything), then a working copy (as the "unwelcomed" modifications you'll make will be deleted after you'll exit from the game).

A parameter's name is given in the <section_name>.<parameter_name> format, which means you'll have to add the <parameter_name = <value>> into the section_name .cfg's section (for example the misc.unlock_campaign parameter must be put in the .cfg file like this:


Quote:
[misc]
unlock_campaign = 1

if the section doesn't exists, just add it)


Video options
video.windowed Enable/disable exclusive video mode
video.borderless_window Do not put a border or title bar on the window
video.movies Enable/disable playing of cut scenes
video.num_shadow_textures
video.num_shadow_blend_stages
video.depth_shadows Shadow map quality (0-no, 1-single, 2-dual)
video.depth_shadows_resolution Shadow map resolution (0-512, 1-1024, 2-2048 or 3-4096)
video.reflection
video.gamma Gamma (50 - 200)
video.bloom Quality of bloom (0 - none, 1 - enabled)
video.texture_filtering Texture filtering (0 - bilinear, 1 - trilinear, 2 - anisotropic)
video.anisotropic_level Level of anisotropic filtering ([1..16], where 1 is no anisotropic filtering, 16 is maximum level)
video.shader
video.antialiasing Full screen antialiasing
video.autodetect Autodetect recommended settings

video.skip_mip_levels

Video preferences
video.widescreen
video.subtitles
video.vsync
video.splashes
video.stencil_shadows
video.vegetation
video.no_background_fmv
video.show_banners
video.anti_alias_mode
video.campaign_resolution
video.battle_resolution
video.unit_detail
video.building_detail
video.grass_distance
video.tga_width
video.tga_aspect
video.tga_input_scale
video.tga_reserve_space
video.graphics_adapter
video.terrain_quality
video.effect_quality
video.vegetation_quality
video.show_package_litter

video.assassination_movies
video.sabotage_movies
video.infiltration_movies
video.event_movies

Audio options
audio.disabled Disable audio
audio.snd_no_eax
audio.queue_character_voices

Audio preferences
audio.master_vol
audio.music_vol
audio.speech_vol
audio.sfx_vol
audio.enable
audio.speech_enable
audio.provider
audio.sub_faction_accents

Camera preferences
camera.restrict
camera.campaign_map_smoothing
camera.move
camera.rotate
camera.default_in_battle

Controls preferences
controls.keyset
controls.campaign_scroll_min_zoom
controls.campaign_scroll_max_zoom

User interface preferences
ui.show_tooltips
ui.full_battle_HUD
ui.radar
ui.unit_cards
ui.SA_cards
ui.buttons

Network options
network.use_ip
network.use_port
network.raise_priority
network.debug.simulation
network.debug.drop_every
network.debug.packet_delay_every
network.debug.queue_delay_every

Hotseat options
multiplayer.playable = enable multiplayer hotseat mode ?!! (doesn't work yet)
multiplayer.factions

multiplayer.hotseat_turns
multiplayer.hotseat_scroll
multiplayer.hotseat_update_ai_camera
multiplayer.hotseat_disable_papal_elections
multiplayer.hotseat_autoresolve_battles
multiplayer.hotseat_save_prefs
multiplayer.hotseat_disable_console
multiplayer.hotseat_validate_diplomacy

Game preferences
game.english
game.morale
game.fatigue
game.event_cutscenes
game.no_campaign_battle_time_limit
game.auto_save
game.disable_arrow_markers
game.label_characters
game.label_settlements
game.first_time_play
game.campaign_num_time_play
game.campaign_map_speed_up
game.disable_events
game.micromanage_all_settlements
game.advanced_stats_always
game.mute_advisor
game.blind_advisor
game.advisor_verbosity
game.campaign_map_game_speed
game.ai_factions
game.unit_size
game.tutorial_battle_played
game.use_quickchat
game.chat_msg_duration
game.tutorial_path
game.pref_factions_played
game.allusers

Miscellaneous
misc.display_error_on_exit
misc.unlock_campaign = unlocks locked factions
misc.output_con_cmds
misc.nice
misc.show_hud_date Show campaign date/turn in hud
misc.bug_report

Features options
features.quick_battle Start quick battle with defending faction
features.editor Enable editor in menus (doesn't work yet)
features.bookmark Enable set bookmarks mode
features.multirun Allow multiple copies of the game to run simultaneously
features.default_campaign
features.mod
features.disable_mod

Input options
input.play
input.save
input.play_cursor
input.file
input.ignore_revision
input.autorun
input.playback_assert

Sync test options
sync.dump

IO options
io.disable_file_cache Disable search file cache if present
io.packs_root Root path for packs
io.filtered Filtered file list
io.file_first Enable file override for packs

BugReport Options
core.disable_dialogs Disables displaying of dialogs
core.assert_ignore_always
core.exception_search

Debug options
debug.default_no_dump
debug.window Enable/disable debug window output

Memory options
mem.init Set initialisation value for memory
mem.leaks Enable extended memory leak tracing
mem.leak_depth Extended memory leak tracing stack depth
mem.crt Enable crt memory leak tracing
mem.accounting Enable memory accounting (requires 'leaks')

Log options
log.to Set global log file
log.file_flush Set file flush count (how many times log system is called before it flushes file buffer)
log.timestamp Enable/disable log timestamp
log.level Set levels for different parts of logging system in form of "<log_name> <level>"
log.file Set output file for different parts of logging system in form of "<log_name> <file_name>"
log.dbgwnd Enables output to debug window for different parts of logging system in form of "<log_name> <level>"

I think this is everything I can find at this hour. It's too late to can work over it anymore (past 3Am in here), but there are some interesting things which can be noted from them:

1) there seems that CA worked for a strategic map multiplayer hotseat mode of the game!!! the multiplayer.playable variable seems to be used to enable it (but it doesn't work atm), while multiplayer.hotseat_disable_papal_elections and multiplayer.hotseat_autoresolve_battles variables clearely point that there was (at least some) work done for a strategic map multiplayer hotseat mode

[Trajan]

I was busy yesterday so I didn't have time to do it but I was planning to. Thanks for the info adonys.

[lordgeordie]

hello

any info on movie cam for med2 ? how to enable it

[Trajan]

I don't think CA included a movie cam mode. I remember reading something like that.

[misfitsfiend138]

wat program do u use to open this file? also where in the file do u type these enable codes?

[Inkompetent]

Originally Posted by misfitsfiend138

wat program do u use to open this file? also where in the file do u type these enable codes?

You open the file with notepad, and this stuff is the only things the file contains, so...

[hobbes]

When using the mod switch, there are no loading screens and no in-game videos. The first can be easily changed by copying, but has anyone an idea for the videos?

[Trajan]

Originally Posted by hobbes

When using the mod switch, there are no loading screens and no in-game videos. The first can be easily changed by copying, but has anyone an idea for the videos?

The loading screen folder is packed up so we'll have to wait for the unpacker. I'm just using some custom loading screens for now. About the videos, have you tried including the fmv folder? That's the one that contains all the videos.

[Lusted]

Added a step-by-step guide to the mod switch feature under the mod switch section.

[misfitsfiend138]

can i place them anywhere in the file?


[log] to = logs/system.log.txt level = * error
[log] to = logs/system.log.txt level = * trace

[Adorno]

One simple question. After starting the mod the dos windows pop up but it seems to be not longer necessary. Does somebody know an entry for the .bat that close the dos window again?