Mod Confusion - Batch files, etc. --io.file_first switch

[FortressofRain]

So I am about to start modding my M2TW game. I just installed it last week after being able to afford a nice snazzy top of the line Radeon 4870 x2 graphics card, and want to start customizing it heavily like I did for RTW.

I've figured out a lot, and read lots more, but I still am a little confused on how to mod the data folder and creating batch files in order to utilize the --io.file_first switch tool.

To start I have read http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=218561. I have also read http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showp...77&postcount=3.

I usually don't come to the forums lightly with questions without doing tone of research myself first.

Basically what I want to do is either unpack all the batch files, place them in my data folder, and create a batch file per the guide in order to make the program load the files from the data folder.

Option two is to just add modded files into the data folder (such as skins, improved weather and skies, dismounted orderly knights, and a few other cool mods that I like and want to add to my game). However, I am not new to modding (just the new system!) and I realize that many of the files that alter things like character ancillaries must be manually merged into one file before it can be added or the file pastes will just overwrite each other.

I am leaning towards option 2, but the guide says that you must create a batch file with the command similar to medieval2totalwar.exe --io.file_first switch, or whatever the medieval execution file is named. However, I am still not clear as to how to go about making a batch file that will allow me to simply place new files into the main data folder and then execute the --io... command to load the data folder files first before the .pack files.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, or any suggestions on a better way to go about modding files and getting them to load before the .pack files would be amazing! Thanks again!

[irishron]

I have done a little modding and the best teacher I have found experience. The only way I have found to get that experience is take these tutorials and try to make them work. If something doesn't work, try something else. When it crashes, the system.log.txt is your best friend.

There a barebones mod for Kingdoms with the basic files and folders to get you going. There is also a mymod mod for Medieval2 with the basic files. This way you don't have to try to build from scratch.

What I have done since the animation files overwrite the original files is copy the whole Medieval2 folder, then unpack and mod it. If I foul it up I don't have to reinstall the game.