Just getting started

[Chevalier IX]

I am just getting started with the monumental task of learning to mod from the ground up,and I am getting myself started with very basic things,just to get a feel for and the confidence with which to manipulate files.I am starting by moving characters from one mod to the next,integrating them into various game types for both Rome and BI.But every now and again I encounter and error where the game will not load when I do so,and I notice it is when I add BI characters to Rome base and the mods therin.Is there a way to get around this or is it pretty much the way it is???thanx for any and all help in advance

[Trajan]

Moved to the Rome Workshop.

[Salvor Hardin]

I would recommend you to start with the descr_strat file: changing starting characters and provinces of a faction is a good way of learning how modding TW games work. After that, try to replace some units of RTW Vanilla with new units. Leave the changes to the map for a later stage.

Doing your modding work on top of an already modded game (RTR was the one I started with) makes things easier, as most of the compressed files in Vanilla are already available.

[fristi61]

try using -show_err, it will tell you what you've done wrong if your game crashes

[Squid]

Sometimes it will give you an error, but at least thats better then no error ever from a crash.

[Cyrus the Virus]

The descr_strat errors if I recall is not as specific as the other text files, what I mean that those errors tells which line the errors excists in, descr_start errors don't?

[Salvor Hardin]

It depends on the errors. For instance, adding a wrong name will give you an errorless CTD. But, generally speaking, descr_strat is as good as any other file in the game when it comes to giving error messages: it tells you the line affected but sometimes the error message is really difficult to understand...to express it in a polite way.

[Cyrus the Virus]

Yes that pretty much 'puts up' everything.

[makanyane]

when it comes to giving error messages: it tells you the line affected but sometimes the error message is really difficult to understand...to express it in a polite way

and actually it also sometimes tells you line at bottom of file instead of the one where problem is, which leads to less polite comments from modder!

some of the less obvious show_err messages are listed on:
http://www.twcenter.net/wiki/Show_err
please add any other difficult ones to that when you find them.

Regarding the OP about adding BI 'characters' to RTW, please clarify if that meant battle or strat map models, or the generals names etc...

As Salvor Hardin said adding a 'wrong' name will give an message-less CTD.

To add a name properly it has to be included in bi/data/text/names.txt and bi/data/descr_names.txt. The part in {} in names.txt has to be exactly the same as the name entered under the relevant faction in descr_names.txt and the name in descr_strat.txt has to be exactly the same as a valid name for the faction in descr_names.txt, any difference including lack of capital letter, or using wrong faction or gender's name will cause immediate CTD on trying to launch campaign. Having names in descr_names.txt that don't match bits in brackets in text/names.txt can cause CTD later.