How to make Mounted Greekfirethrowers/Naffatun with just text

[Eothese]

This is done mainly with text and a little bit of gimp for your pics.
Starting with EDU, find your unit of preference. I will use Greek_Firethrowers for my main example and touch on Naffatun later.

type             Greek Firethrower
dictionary       Greek_Firethrower      ; Greek Firethrower
category         infantry
class            missile
voice_type       Heavy
banner faction   main_missile
banner holy      crusade
soldier          Greek_Firethrower, 16, 0, 1
attributes       sea_faring, hide_forest, hardy, can_withdraw, cannot_skirmish, mercenary_unit
formation        1.2, 1.2, 2.4, 2.4, 2, square
stat_health      1, 0
stat_pri         18, 3, greek_fire, 30, 2, missile, missile_gunpowder, slashing, none, 25, 1
;stat_pri_ex      0, 0, 0
stat_pri_attr    ap, bp
stat_sec         9, 3, no, 0, 0, melee, melee_blade, piercing, sword, 25, 1
;stat_sec_ex      0, 0, 0
stat_sec_attr    no
stat_pri_armour  3, 4, 0, metal
;stat_armour_ex   3, 5, 0, 0, 4, 5, 3, metal
stat_sec_armour  0, 0, flesh
stat_heat        2
stat_ground      1, 0, 2, -2
stat_mental      11, normal, highly_trained
stat_charge_dist 30
stat_fire_delay  0
stat_food        60, 300
stat_cost        1, 860, 150, 30, 75, 800, 2, 240
armour_ug_levels 2, 3
armour_ug_models Greek_Firethrower, Greek_Firethrower_ug1
ownership        byzantium, slave
era 0            byzantium
era 1            byzantium
;unit_info        9, 18, 7
recruit_priority_offset    5

Copy the entry and paste into the bottom of the file, then we make the changes.

type            Mounted Greek Firethrowers
dictionary       Mounted_Greek_Firethrowers      ; Mounted Greek Firethrowers
category         cavalry
class            missile
voice_type       Heavy
banner faction   main_missile
banner holy      crusade_cavalry
soldier          Mounted_Greek_Firethrowers, 16, 0, 1
mount            eastern armoured horse
mount_effect     elephant -4, camel -4
attributes       sea_faring, hide_forest, hardy, can_withdraw, cannot_skirmish, mercenary_unit
formation        1.2, 1.2, 2.4, 2.4, 2, square
stat_health      1, 0
stat_pri         18, 3, greek_fire, 30, 2, missile, missile_gunpowder, slashing, none, 25, 1
;stat_pri_ex      0, 0, 0
stat_pri_attr    ap, bp
stat_sec         9, 3, no, 0, 0, melee, melee_blade, piercing, sword, 25, 1
;stat_sec_ex      0, 0, 0
stat_sec_attr    no
stat_pri_armour  3, 4, 0, metal
;stat_armour_ex   3, 5, 0, 0, 4, 5, 3, metal
stat_sec_armour  0, 0, flesh
stat_heat        2
stat_ground      1, 0, 2, -2
stat_mental      11, normal, highly_trained
stat_charge_dist 45
stat_fire_delay  0
stat_food        60, 300
stat_cost        1, 860, 150, 30, 75, 800, 2, 240
armour_ug_levels 2, 3
armour_ug_models  Mounted_Greek_Firethrowers, Mounted_Greek_Firethrowers_ug1
ownership        byzantium, slave
era 0            byzantium
era 1            byzantium
;unit_info        9, 18, 7
recruit_priority_offset    5

You may want to change the cost of reruitment and upkeep.

Save and open unit_models/battle_models.db, at some point we need to add to the serialization::archive number at the top, so it might as well be now. We are adding one new unit, with a single armour upgrade so we add two to the number highlighted.

22 serialization::archive 3 0 0 0 0 897 0 0

Next find your greek_firethrowers, copy the entire entry and paste it into the bottom of the file.

17 greek_firethrower 
1 
4 
54 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/greek_firethrower_lod0.mesh 121 
54 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/greek_firethrower_lod1.mesh 900 
54 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/greek_firethrower_lod2.mesh 2500 
54 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/greek_firethrower_lod3.mesh 6400 
2 
9 byzantium 
66 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/textures/mtw2_ES_Mail_byzantium.texture 
63 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/textures/mtw2_ES_Mail_normal.texture 
51 unit_sprites/byzantium_Greek_Firethrower_sprite.spr 
4 merc 
66 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/textures/mtw2_ES_Mail_byzantium.texture 
63 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/textures/mtw2_ES_Mail_normal.texture 
51 unit_sprites/byzantium_Greek_Firethrower_sprite.spr 
2 
9 byzantium 
61 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_byzantium_diff.texture 
61 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_byzantium_norm.texture 
0  
4 merc 
56 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_merc_diff.texture 
56 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_merc_norm.texture 
0  
1 
4 None 
17 MTW2_Flamethrower 
14 MTW2_Swordsman 
1 
21 MTW2_Arquebus_Primary 
1 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002 
21 greek_firethrower_ug1 
1 
3 
71 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/greek_firethrower_ug1_lod0.mesh 121 
71 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/greek_firethrower_ug1_lod1.mesh 1225 
71 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/greek_firethrower_ug1_lod2.mesh 6400 
2 
9 byzantium 
80 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/textures/mtw2_es_greek_byzantium.texture 
77 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/textures/mtw2_es_greek_normal.texture 
55 unit_sprites/byzantium_Greek_Firethrower_ug1_sprite.spr 
4 merc 
80 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/textures/mtw2_es_greek_byzantium.texture 
77 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/textures/mtw2_es_greek_normal.texture 
55 unit_sprites/byzantium_Greek_Firethrower_ug1_sprite.spr 
2 
9 byzantium 
61 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_byzantium_diff.texture 
61 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_byzantium_norm.texture 
0  
4 merc 
56 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_merc_diff.texture 
56 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_merc_norm.texture 
0  
1 
4 None 
17 MTW2_Flamethrower 
14 MTW2_Swordsman 
1 
21 MTW2_Arquebus_Primary 
1 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002

Now we must make the changes that link this new entry with the one we just made in the EDU and to make it mounted.

26 mounted_greek_firethrowers 
1 
4 
54 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/greek_firethrower_lod0.mesh 121 
54 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/greek_firethrower_lod1.mesh 900 
54 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/greek_firethrower_lod2.mesh 2500 
54 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/greek_firethrower_lod3.mesh 6400 
2 
9 byzantium 
66 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/textures/mtw2_ES_Mail_byzantium.texture 
63 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/textures/mtw2_ES_Mail_normal.texture 
51 unit_sprites/byzantium_Byzantine_Cavalry_sprite.spr 
4 merc 
66 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/textures/mtw2_ES_Mail_byzantium.texture 
63 unit_models/_Units/ES_Mail/textures/mtw2_ES_Mail_normal.texture 
45 unit_sprites/merc_Albanian_Cavalry_sprite.spr  
2 
9 byzantium 
61 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_byzantium_diff.texture 
61 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_byzantium_norm.texture 
0  
4 merc 
56 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_merc_diff.texture 
56 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_merc_norm.texture 
0  
1  
5 Horse 
16 MTW2_HR_Arquebus 
18 MTW2_HR_Non_Shield 
1 
24 MTW2_HR_Arquebus_Primary 
1 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002 
30 mounted_greek_firethrowers_ug1 
1 
3 
71 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/greek_firethrower_ug1_lod0.mesh 121 
71 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/greek_firethrower_ug1_lod1.mesh 1225 
71 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/greek_firethrower_ug1_lod2.mesh 6400 
2 
9 byzantium 
80 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/textures/mtw2_es_greek_byzantium.texture 
77 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/textures/mtw2_es_greek_normal.texture 
51 unit_sprites/byzantium_Byzantine_Cavalry_sprite.spr 
4 merc 
80 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/textures/mtw2_es_greek_byzantium.texture 
77 unit_models/_Units/ES_Greek_Greek_Heavy/textures/mtw2_es_greek_normal.texture 
45 unit_sprites/merc_Albanian_Cavalry_sprite.spr 
2 
9 byzantium 
61 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_byzantium_diff.texture 
61 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_byzantium_norm.texture 
0  
4 merc 
56 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_merc_diff.texture 
56 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Greek_merc_norm.texture 
0  
1 
5 Horse 
16 MTW2_HR_Arquebus 
18 MTW2_HR_Non_Shield 
1 
24 MTW2_HR_Arquebus_Primary 
1 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002

You will see that I have used the MTW2_HR_Arquebus, that is because there is no MTW2_HR_Flamethrower. (For those of you who don't know the HR means for horse riders). But its still going to work because the Arquebus is the parent of Flamethrower, so the firing action is the same. Although you will hear a musket shot when they fire.

As the unit is now mounted, you will have to change the sprite for one that is also mounted. As long as you choose one from the same faction and the colours match, they should look OK. Or you can use the sprite generation technique if you have the Nvidia pluging for gimp/photoshop.

That is the basic's of the process done and at this point you may want to test in custom battle.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

When you test the unit and it works first time, turn off the ui and take some screenshots, try and get a close up of 1 soildier on his own. You can use this later to make your unit_info pic.
To get the unit finished completely you will have to make another text entry.
Text/export_units

{Mounted_Greek_Firethrowers}Mounted Greek Firethrowers
{Mounted_Greek_Firethrowers_descr} Add or copy a discription{Mounted_Greek_Firethrowers_descr_short}Add or copy short a discription

If you want the unit recruitable you will need to add it to EDB. I have added it to the kings stables only as this is quite a powerfull unit.

recruit_pool "Mounted Greek Firethrowers"  1 0.3   1  0  requires factions { byzantium, }

1 = initial number of units available upon building the kings stables
0.3 = the rate at which the recruit pool replenishes
1 = the maximum number of units in the pool
0 = the experience the unit starts with

Now the only thing remaining for the modding perfectionist is to create the unit_info pic and the unit pic. I will not spend forever trying to explain how to do this, as its not necessary for enjoying the unit. But take some screenshots, cut out a nice close up of your new men and using gimp (its free) scale the size down to match the standard size's. 191 x 280 for the unit info and 48 x 64 for the unit pic. (It may look better to modify an existing unit pic than try to make a new one.)
Save your 191 x 280 as mounted_greek_firethrowers_info.tga
Save your 48 x 64 as #mounted_greek_firethrowers.tga
These will need to be placed in the byzantium and merc and mercs folders of units and unit_info folders respectivly.

Mounted GreekFirethrowers complete.

Naffatun
The process can be repeated with any unit you like, as long as there is a HR equivalent animation you can use in descr_skeleton. I will show the new battlemodel entry for mounted_naffatun.

16 mounted_naffatun 
1 
3 
62 unit_models/_Units/ME_Light_Mail_Heavy_Mail/naffatun_lod0.mesh 121 
62 unit_models/_Units/ME_Light_Mail_Heavy_Mail/naffatun_lod1.mesh 1225 
62 unit_models/_Units/ME_Light_Mail_Heavy_Mail/naffatun_lod2.mesh 6400 
4 
5 egypt 
85 unit_models/_Units/ME_Light_Mail_Heavy_Mail/textures/mtw2_ME_light_mail_egypt.texture 
86 unit_models/_Units/ME_Light_Mail_Heavy_Mail/textures/mtw2_ME_light_mail_normal.texture 
38 unit_sprites/egypt_Naffatun_sprite.spr 
5 turks 
85 unit_models/_Units/ME_Light_Mail_Heavy_Mail/textures/mtw2_ME_light_mail_turks.texture 
86 unit_models/_Units/ME_Light_Mail_Heavy_Mail/textures/mtw2_ME_light_mail_normal.texture 
43 unit_sprites/turks_Turkomans_ug2_sprite.spr 
7 mongols 
87 unit_models/_Units/ME_Light_Mail_Heavy_Mail/textures/mtw2_ME_light_mail_mongols.texture 
86 unit_models/_Units/ME_Light_Mail_Heavy_Mail/textures/mtw2_ME_light_mail_normal.texture 
40 unit_sprites/mongols_Naffatun_sprite.spr 
8 timurids 
88 unit_models/_Units/ME_Light_Mail_Heavy_Mail/textures/mtw2_ME_light_mail_timurids.texture 
86 unit_models/_Units/ME_Light_Mail_Heavy_Mail/textures/mtw2_ME_light_mail_normal.texture 
41 unit_sprites/timurids_Naffatun_sprite.spr 
4 
5 egypt 
60 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final ME Heavy_egypt_diff.texture 
60 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final ME Heavy_egypt_norm.texture 
0  
5 turks 
60 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final ME Heavy_turks_diff.texture 
60 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final ME Heavy_turks_norm.texture 
0  
7 mongols 
62 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final ME Heavy_mongols_diff.texture 
62 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final ME Heavy_mongols_norm.texture 
0  
8 timurids 
63 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final ME Heavy_timurids_diff.texture 
63 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final ME Heavy_timurids_norm.texture 
0  
1 
5 Horse 
15 MTW2_HR_Javelin 
18 MTW2_HR_Non_Shield 
1 
23 MTW2_HR_Javelin_primary 
1 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002

I had a small problem with mount fast pony for naffatun, the pony was half in the ground, so I used heavy horse.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Mithiras]

Wow!!! Hahaha, I want to try this! I wonder if you could do this with most ground type units ...

[J@mes]

Excellent work i'm sure this will be put to good use.

[Eothese]

Thanks guys, to check if it can be done with other ground units, find that unit in the battlemodels.db note its animations, and then try to find an HR varient in descr_skeleton.
You could be truly evil and make Elephant_Mounted_Greek_Firethrowers as MTW2_Arquebus is also the parent of MTW2_Elephant_Crew...

[hitokiri2486]

Quick question

Could you apply this to elephants as well? For example, could I stick Nubian Archers on top of elephants? Would I use something like HR_fast_bow (not trying to be specific, but you get my point) or would I have to use MTW2_Elephant_Crew??

[Eothese]

You could use any firearm troop whose anim is dirived from MTW2_Musket. The parent of MTW2_Musket is MTW2_Knifeman.
The difference between MTW2_Elephant_Crew and it's parent MTW2_Arquebus which is the foot varient, is what stops the riders looking like they are on foot, EG, it keeps them still when the elephant moves etc. If you have a carefull look through descr_skeleton and take on board what I have put in this tutorial you can figure out what will work and what won't. Trial and error are useful tools for this as well. EG, follow the tutorial and then change the mount in EDU, see what happens, change it back if it's no good or try another approach. Also if you have the unpacked anims provided by Caliban you can put together your own anim types and that way you could have any unit you want, ridding any mount you want.

[SSJPabs]

Nice, I was trying to do this on a lark but I couldn't get them to sit on the saddles, they'd stand on them and get distorted. Nice job!

[S-te-Fan]

I last tryed it with the CBUR submod for SS 6.1. But the Siphator was doing really strange.. and my mounted naffatun wouldn't throw:S.

[SSJPabs]

Got it to work at last with archers!

[alhoon]

man, You're insane. I was looking for it for some time. Anyway, MOUNTED NAFFATUN?!? LOOOOOL

+rep for the idea. I would give you +rep for the tutorial too, but I can't.

[Eothese]

Thanks for the thought, alhoon. It's nice to know people are finding this useful...

[alreadyded]

This may come of great use to me. I'm making a dragon, so it will be like an elephant with a mounted flame thrower.

[Excellion]

Lets hope someone see this thread after so many years...

I'm trying to make a light cavalry unit that uses spearmen with spears/shield. Could get them Kelly Slater style; they surf on grass atop horses, but they never sit on saddle. So I tried to change the battlemodeldb but after that I only get CTDs, no matter what I do; if I touch modeldb it always results in CTD. I'm desperate since I followed all the steps on this tutorial, and spend an entire night trying to get it right.

Could someone please point me some directions? My log can't offer me more than this:

12:19:10.669 [system.rpt] [always] CPU: SSE2
12:19:10.671 [system.rpt] [always] ==== system log start, build date: Feb 25 2008 version development ===
12:19:10.677 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_0.pack
12:19:10.679 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_1.pack
12:19:10.682 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_2.pack
12:19:10.684 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_3.pack
12:19:10.685 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_4.pack
12:19:10.687 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/localized.pack
12:19:13.944 [system.rpt] [error] Medieval 2: Total War encountered an unspecified error and will now exit.

Thanks in advance.

[Moon]

Does this soldier have a secondary weapon or does it not?.
It's easy enough to do if you know what you are doing.
Give some more information on what you want from this unit please.

[Excellion]

Nevermind, could fix it. Now I only need to know why their swords are invisible.

[Moon]

The unit you have modified, does it have a sword as a secondary weapon?.
If not it will have to be given one from another unit, and that means using a modelling programme like Milkshape3D.

[Excellion]

That's what I suspected...damn!

Could you point me some tutorial on how to do it? Ishan's "Doctoring of M2TW units" is the most recomendable?

Thanks in advance =)

[Moon]

Yep Ishan's tutorial is the bees knees, have a try at it and if you don't understand anything or have a problem, ask your question in there.

[jangkung23]

I want to make Mounted archer with Elephant any advice?

[7hillip]

How do you Mount Hand Gunners onto SE Late Bodyguard armored horses?