WIP: Naval Units Editor v0.6 {Update July 12}

[ZaPPPa]

This is an editor I am developing for Naval Units and Naval Combat in general. Considering many people are focussing on land combat and land units, I think it's more worthwile for me to focus purely on Naval Combat. Because this tool is so specific, it has a very user friendly interface and very specific functionality per file.

The idea is for this editor to be available for all modders and all mod groups to make quick edits to Naval units without having to bury through hex code.

How to use:
- Extract the 'patch.pack' pack file or whichever pack file you're working with. Make sure you extract the 'db' folder.
- Start application.
- Point to the 'db' folder

Special features:
- Two very handy features are the mass multiplier and mass adder. These enable you to make changes to all units with a single mouse click. For example: if you feel the ships sink too quickly, simply select 'hull' in the selection box, then enter '2.0' in the multiply box and click the multiply button. This will multiply the hull strength for ALL ships by 2.0. Using multiply will ensure the relative values stay intact. (PS. I am not sure about what all the hex values do)

Future features:
- Add new units based on existing template.

NOTE:
- Due to some weirdness in CA's db file, this only works with the 'unit_stats_naval' from the 'patch.pack' file, not the 'main.pack' or 'patch_en.pack'. CA seems to be cleaning up some of these bugs, so hopefully I won't have this problem in the future.
- You will need .NET 2.0/2.5 installed to run this. Tested on XP 32b.

Cannons:
Slot 1 - Front
Slot 2 - Rear
Slot 3-7 - Work from top deck down

Single deck ship: Slot 3,4
Two deck ship (with open deck): Slot 3,4,5,6
Two deck ship (closed middle deck) : Slot 6,7 or Slot 5,7


Version info:

v0.6
- Updated for patch 1.2 / 1.3
- Added point of sail speed
- Added pitch & roll
- Added turn speed

v0.5
- Adding new ship names.

v0.4c
- Ship names (view only)

v0.4b
- Labels renamed to proper variables

v0.4
- Added cannon battery editing
- Added tooltips for buttons

v0.3
- Editing of data blocks now enabled
- Added tabs
- Added guns screen (test)

v0.2b
- Editing of individual fields added

v0.2
- Mass Editor mode enabled (editing individual fields will be done soon)
- Mass multiplier & adder enabled

[Tharros]

Wow nice. I am surprised no one else has replied. Definitely giving this a try.

+ rep

[Ace_Ares]

I was so excited when I saw this tool. I've been dying for an indepth ship editor ever since the land unit editor came out. Unfortunately, I can't get this to work for me. I extracted the right pack (patch.pack), I point the editor to the db folder, press Okay, and it immediately pops up with the generic error, "NavalEditor has encountered a problem and needs to close." I have .NET 2.0 for sure, every other mod tool works fine. Am I doing something wrong? Does the exact folder structure other than pointing to the db folder matter?

Thank you for making this tool, either way.

[ZaPPPa]

UPDATE:
Started work on ship names editor. For now view-only, but will add editing capabilities later.

@Ace_Ares
That is odd. I'll need to add some exception handling tomorrow so I know where it is failing. I have unpacked different packs on top of eachother, so it is possible I have two different versions now. You may want to try unpacking other packs (main.pack and patch-en.pack) and see if any of those work.

Try the latest version. I have added some very generic error messages that should tell you where it is failing.

[Ace_Ares]

The latest update seems to be working, it loads the files fine and I can edit and save everything just fine. It's just giving two small errors though, "error loading guns," and "error loading ship names."

Thank you so much!

[ZaPPPa]

Those two screens aren't doing much yet. The following folders (with their files) need to exist in 'db' for all screens to work:

'gun_types_tables'
'ship_names_tables'
'unit_stats_naval_tables'

[ZaPPPa]

Any feedback or requests?

I have been chugging away making this tool, but haven't had the time to test it's functionality in the game yet. I am wondering if the game is able to read the edited file correctly and if the changes make it into the game properly. Also, if anyone knows the function of other hex values, please let me know so I can incorporate them.

[Anbar]

Have been looking forward ot making some adjustments to the naval side of things.

will changing the hull points (increasing them)also reduce the visual damage shown to the ships? i.e. is the visual damage shown on the ships tied inexorably to the amount of damage done to the ship hull points...or is it tied to something else?

[ZaPPPa]

Update.

You can now add new names for ships very easily. Just pick the region from the drop-down box and enter a new name. That is all.

Click Add to add the name(s) to the list, then click save to save your file.

[izanagi11]

Cool beans, I like ZaPPPa! I'm assuming we going to be able to modify gun info later. Nice touch giving us the ability to add or change ship names.

[juhzun]

does your tool really modify the hull strength? cuz i've been toying around with most of the numbers in the navy stats.

and the one your tool says is hull strength for a first rate is probably a secondary morale stat.

[the_mango55]

Any way to add sail/rigging strength to your mass multiplier tool?

I think hull strength is fine, but I want chain shot to be a bit more effective.

[ZaPPPa]

Any way to add sail/rigging strength to your mass multiplier tool?

I don't think it is known yet where that value lives in the file. What I thought was rigging strength actually turned out to be hull strength.

It is tough finding out where rigging strength lives, because the value is not public anywhere in the game. There are still 200+ unknown hex values in the naval units file. It could be anyone of those.

does your tool really modify the hull strength? cuz i've been toying around with most of the numbers in the navy stats. and the one your tool says is hull strength for a first rate is probably a secondary morale stat.

In v0.4 I corrected some of the labels. The first one is thought to be morale and the second hull strength. At first I interpreted it as Hull Str and Rigging Str.
If the labels in v0.5 are still incorrect, let me know.

To all. Feel free to experiment with the values in the two list boxes with unknown Hex values. All these values do something, we just do not know what it is yet. If you find out anything, post it! I'd be more than happy to include it in the tool.

[titanvoyager]

Do you think we will be able to change things like the visual damage of the hull and the sails (that BIG holes) and modify the textures sides (adding the missing cannon port cover, new painting...)?

[aronnov]

+rep. very nice.

do any files have to be repacked into patch.pack?

[Ishron]

+rep interesting tool!!

[ZaPPPa]

Do you think we will be able to change things like the visual damage of the hull and the sails (that BIG holes) and modify the textures sides (adding the missing cannon port cover, new painting...)?

This may be linked to the hull strength or (what I believe to be) hit points. So, if you increase those values, your hull damage may go down automatically.

do any files have to be repacked into patch.pack?

Yes. I do not wish to infringe on other people's work, so I will not develop a packer myself. You will have to repack using LtChambers packer.

[Mandor]

Nice handy utility thankyou. But I dont see the gun_types_tables' or
'ship_names_tables' files anywhere.

I extracted the patch.pack file successfully and see the folders listed in the db folder.

Your help is appreciated.

[ZaPPPa]

Nice handy utility thankyou. But I dont see the gun_types_tables' or
'ship_names_tables' files anywhere.

I extracted the patch.pack file successfully and see the folders listed in the db folder.

Sorry, I meant you need the 'ship_names_tables' folder and the 'ship_names' file. Same for the other files (file = folder without the '_tables').

[Mandor]

Thanks! I extracted the main.pack as well and i now see the folders and files you mentioned, great!