Requesting step by step assistance on how to unpack, mod and run the character traits file

[Ilmater]

I am not sure if this is the right forum to post, if it's not the appropriate forum would a moderator move it please?

Anyway after playing the game for some time I find myself rather dissatisfied with how some of the game traits are designed to trigger so I decided to do a little tweaking myself to fix some the chances that certain traits (like battle dread, ignorance, drunk) are triggering. Here are my questions for the expert modders:

1. Is there a way to unpack just the export_descr_character_trait.txt file rather than using the "unpack all" function which takes up unnecessary hdd space? The readme seems to explain it but it's a bit perplexing.
2. After I have unpacked the said file to the data folder, how do I make the game run with changes that I will make to the file? I am aware there's sth like a modswitch, how do I create one of those?

That's about it, any help (as detailed as possible as I have no experience modding whatsoever) will be greatly appreciated.

[Gigantus]

batch file 'unpack_all.bat' should read like this:

unpacker.exe --source=..\..\packs\*.pack --destination=..\..\ --verbosity=1 --filter=export_descr_character_trait.txt

[Ilmater]

batch file 'unpack_all.bat' should read like this:

unpacker.exe --source=..\..\packs\*.pack --destination=..\..\ --verbosity=1 --filter=export_descr_character_trait.txt

I tried modifying the unpack_all.bat line to that and ran it, but can't seem to find the exported file anywhere on my computer.:hmmm:

[The Count(er)]

It should be in the Data file if it's not there then something went wrong with the unpacking

[Ilmater]

Ok after some trials I finally managed to unpack all the text files into the \SEGA\Medieval II Total War\data folder.

So I assume I could just modify the export_descr_character_trait.txt, save the changes and run the game with a .bat file with the command line "medieval2.exe --io.file_first" so as to make the game work with whatever tweaks I've made?

[Ilmater]

After fooling around with the unpacker for a long time I finally managed to get all the game text files unpacked into the \data folder and set up a modswitcher to allow me to edit those files without messing up the game. Now I am ready to edit the file. I have a few doubts which I need clarified as I am completely new to modding.

Firstly, I wish specifically to edit the BattleDread trait triggers in the character_traits.txt file and here is one of them:

;------------------------------------------
Trigger battle3Dread_PickingOnWeak
WhenToTest PostBattle

Condition WasAttacker
and WonBattle
and BattleOdds > 1.5
and PercentageEnemyKilled > 50
and not Trait BattleChivalry > 0

Affects BattleDread 1 Chance 100

I have a few assumptions, correct me should they be erroneous:

1. I assume that I can just change the numbers (which may represent percentages or otherwise) in the trigger arbitrarily? For instance, if I want the above particular trigger to activate 75% of the time provided conditions are satisfied, I could just change the Chance 100 to Chance 75?
2. Is it possible to add conditions to pre-existing ones? For instance, if I want it to activate only if my general does not have the Fair in rule line of trait which belongs in the StrategyChivalry group, could I just add the line "and not Trait StrategyChivalry > 0" to the list of pre-existing conditions? This of course applies to any other condition that I may wish to add to other triggers in order for them to be satisfied.

So essentially, my modified trigger will look like this:
;------------------------------------------
Trigger battle3Dread_PickingOnWeak
WhenToTest PostBattle

Condition WasAttacker
and WonBattle
and BattleOdds > 1.5
and PercentageEnemyKilled > 50
and not Trait BattleChivalry > 0
and not Trait StrategyChivalry > 0

Affects BattleDread 1 Chance 75

Am I correct to interpret the above modified trigger to work like this:
If a general with no levels of BattleChivalry or/and StrategyChivalry attacks an enemy and kills more than 50% of them in a battle with odds greater than 1.5 he has a 75% chance to gain one point of BattleDread.