How to add a new unit into game

[Stephan]

Thats quite difficult for beginners, at least it was difficult for me
so i made this tutorial, i hope it is helpfull


if you want to add a new unit into game you just have to edit 2 files

the battle_models.modelbd file and then the export_descr_units file

open the "_units" folder which is locaded in the "unit_models" folder and create a new folder and call it "new_folder" and in this folder you create another one and call it "textures"

instead of "new_folder" you can use any other name but just remember it has to be the same as the green marked one in the battle_models file

copy the .mesh files (in this case "Hoplites_early_ug0_lod0-3.mesh") into the "new_folder" folder and copy your new texture and the norm_texture (in this case "ionian_hoplite.texture") into the "textures" folder.

since the hoplite unit is a spear unit we are going to use another spear unit as base, eg the levy_spearmen unit.
if your unit is eg an archer you copy an archer unit entry instead

these are the original levy spearmen entries.
the orange entries are the ones you have to change.
the green ones tell the game where the file is locaded

the numbers before the lines have to match the string lenght.
eg "stephan" has 7 letters, so you would have to write a 7 before "stephan":
7 stephan

13 levy_spearmen
1 4
60 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/levy_spearmen_lod0.mesh 121
60 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/levy_spearmen_lod1.mesh 900
60 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/levy_spearmen_lod2.mesh 2500
60 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/levy_spearmen_lod3.mesh 6400
2 (this number says how many factions own this unit, in this case england and slave, so 2)
7 england
79 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/textures/EN_Peasant_Padded_england.texture
78 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/textures/EN_Peasant_Padded_normal.texture
49 unit_sprites/england_Dummy_EN_Spearmen_sprite.spr
5 slave
78 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/textures/EN_Peasant_Padded_rebels.texture
78 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/textures/EN_Peasant_Padded_normal.texture
47 unit_sprites/slave_Dummy_EN_Spearmen_sprite.spr
2
7 england (these files are responsible for shields)
58 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Kite_england_diff.texture
58 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Kite_england_norm.texture 0
5 slave
56 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Kite_slave_diff.texture
56 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Kite_slave_norm.texture 0
1
4 None
10 MTW2_Spear 0
2
18 MTW2_Spear_primary
14 fs_test_shield 0
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002

here is the new entry (orange are the changed entries)
i also changed the faction ownership from england to france (blue)

14 ionian_hoplite
1 4
55 unit_models/_Units/new_folder/Hoplites_early_ug0_lod0.mesh 121
55 unit_models/_Units/new_folder/Hoplites_early_ug0_lod1.mesh 900
55 unit_models/_Units/new_folder/Hoplites_early_ug0_lod2.mesh 2500
55 unit_models/_Units/new_folder/Hoplites_early_ug0_lod3.mesh 6400
2
6 france
60 unit_models/_Units/new_folder/textures/ionian_hoplite.texture
67 unit_models/_Units/new_folder/textures/ionian_hoplite_normal.texture
49 unit_sprites/england_Dummy_EN_Spearmen_sprite.spr
5 slave
60 unit_models/_Units/new_folder/textures/ionian_hoplite.texture
67 unit_models/_Units/new_folder/textures/ionian_hoplite_normal.texture
47 unit_sprites/slave_Dummy_EN_Spearmen_sprite.spr
2
6 france (you dont have to change these files, they are responsible for shields, so in this case our unit would have english shields, not france ones. but if you want to change them it works the same)
58 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Kite_england_diff.texture
58 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Kite_england_norm.texture 0
5 slave
56 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Kite_slave_diff.texture
56 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Kite_slave_norm.texture 0
1
4 None
10 MTW2_Spear 0
2
18 MTW2_Spear_primary
14 fs_test_shield 0
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002

dont forget to add 1 new unit at the top of the page
so if there it says 700 you change it to 701

22 serialization::archive 3 0 0 0 0 701 0 0

save the file and exit


open the export_descr_units file in the data folder

just change the orange entries to the unit name (what you wrote at the top of the battle_models entry is the unit name)
dont forget to change the faction ownership from england to france(blue)

type ionian hoplite (here you dont have an "_", dont know why, but its done in all the other enries)
dictionary ionian_hoplite
category infantry
class spearmen
voice_type Light
banner faction main_spear
banner holy crusade
soldier ionian_hoplite , 60, 0, 1.5
attributes sea_faring, hide_forest, can_withdraw
formation 1.2, 1.2, 2.4, 2.4, 4, square, schiltrom
stat_health 1, 0
stat_pri 7, 3, no, 0, 0, melee, melee_blade, piercing, spear, 25, 0.6
;stat_pri_ex 0, 0, 0
stat_pri_attr spear, spear_bonus_8
stat_sec 0, 0, no, 0, 0, no, melee_simple, blunt, none, 25, 1
;stat_sec_ex 0, 0, 0
stat_sec_attr no
stat_pri_armour 0, 3, 8, flesh
;stat_armour_ex 0, 2, 3, 0, 3, 8, 8, flesh
stat_sec_armour 0, 0, flesh
stat_heat 0
stat_ground 1, 0, 2, -2
stat_mental 3, normal, trained
stat_charge_dist 20
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 1, 290, 155, 55, 135, 290, 4, 80
armour_ug_levels 0
armour_ug_models ionian_hoplite
ownership france, slave
era 0 france
era 1 france
era 2 france
;unit_info 7, 0, 11
recruit_priority_offset 0

here is a tutorial which explains what all these numbers mean
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=221093

save and exit
now your unit is ingame!!!!

start the game, make a costom battle with france. the new unit is the one with no unit card and called "unlocalized placement text"
that brings us to the next problem, even though the unit is ingame and you can play with it, it looks very unfinished.

if you want to remove the "unlocalized placement text" thing and change it to your unit name, use this tutorial
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=230009

if you want to give the unit a unit and info card open this tutorial and scroll down
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=221097

Thats it, you have a totally new unit in game and it doesnt look unfinished


formatted modeldbs:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=84043
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=196382

[EVYATAR]

lol

nice Tutorial

[Stephan]

comments please

[Gigantus]

Nice and compact.
If it is for newbies then you should be merciful and give them a link to a formatted modeldb file.

[Stephan]

updated

[konny]

There is a model.db syntax checker around (cannot find the download, but it is in the download section here on TWC). This can be very helpful: Modify models.db by changing the entries, but do not touch the numbers at the beginning of each line. When you have made your changes for that unit let the syntax checker run, it will tell you which character numbers to place where. As a side effect, if anything is wrong you can exclude the numbers to be the culprit, what saves you endless hours of counting letters.


Another thing: Making new mounted units that way is pretty easy. In EDU change the entry

type             Viking Raiders
dictionary       Viking_Raiders      ; Viking Raiders
category         infantry
class            light
voice_type       Light
banner faction   main_infantry
banner holy      crusade
soldier          Viking_Raiders, 60, 0, 0.3
attributes       sea_faring, hide_forest, hardy, can_withdraw
formation        1.2, 1.2, 2.4, 2.4, 4, square
stat_health      1, 0
stat_pri         9, 2, no, 0, 0, melee, melee_blade, slashing, axe, 0, 0.35
;stat_pri_ex      0, 0, 0
stat_pri_attr    ap
stat_sec         0, 0, no, 0, 0, no, melee_simple, blunt, none, 0, 0.35
;stat_sec_ex      0, 0, 0
stat_sec_attr    no
stat_pri_armour  0, 16, 6, flesh
;stat_armour_ex   0, 4, 5, 7, 3, 6, 6, flesh
stat_sec_armour  0, 0, flesh
stat_heat        2
stat_ground      1, -2, 3, 2
stat_mental      9, normal, untrained
stat_charge_dist 40
stat_fire_delay  -2500
stat_food        60, 300
stat_cost        1, 480, 15, 85, 65, 480, 4, 120	;KRP 1, 480, 155, 85, 65, 480, 4, 120
armour_ug_levels 0, 1, 2, 3
armour_ug_models Viking_Raiders, Viking_Raiders_ug1, Viking_Raiders_ug2, Viking_Raiders_ug3
ownership        sweden, denmark, slave
era 0            sweden, denmark
;unit_info        9, 0, 9

to:

type             Viking Raiders
dictionary       Viking_Raiders      ; Viking Raiders
category         cavalry
class            light
voice_type       Light
banner faction   main_infantry
banner holy      crusade
soldier          Viking_Raiders, 60, 0, 0.3
mount            heavy horse
attributes       sea_faring, hide_forest, hardy, can_withdraw
formation        1.2, 1.2, 2.4, 2.4, 4, square
stat_health      1, 0
stat_pri         9, 2, no, 0, 0, melee, melee_blade, slashing, axe, 0, 0.35
;stat_pri_ex      0, 0, 0
stat_pri_attr    ap
stat_sec         0, 0, no, 0, 0, no, melee_simple, blunt, none, 0, 0.35
;stat_sec_ex      0, 0, 0
stat_sec_attr    no
stat_pri_armour  0, 16, 6, flesh
;stat_armour_ex   0, 4, 5, 7, 3, 6, 6, flesh
stat_sec_armour  0, 0, flesh
stat_heat        2
stat_ground      1, -2, 3, 2
stat_mental      9, normal, untrained
stat_charge_dist 40
stat_fire_delay  -2500
stat_food        60, 300
stat_cost        1, 480, 15, 85, 65, 480, 4, 120	;KRP 1, 480, 155, 85, 65, 480, 4, 120
armour_ug_levels 0, 1, 2, 3
armour_ug_models Viking_Raiders, Viking_Raiders_ug1, Viking_Raiders_ug2, Viking_Raiders_ug3
ownership        sweden, denmark, slave
era 0            sweden, denmark
;unit_info        9, 0, 9

in models.db change

14 viking_raiders 
1 4 
61 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/viking_raiders_lod0.mesh 121 
61 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/viking_raiders_lod1.mesh 900 
61 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/viking_raiders_lod2.mesh 2500 
61 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/viking_raiders_lod3.mesh 6400 
2 
7 denmark 
79 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/textures/EN_Peasant_Padded_denmark.texture 
78 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/textures/EN_Peasant_Padded_normal.texture 
46 unit_sprites/denmark_Viking_Raiders_sprite.spr 
5 slave 
78 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/textures/EN_Peasant_Padded_rebels.texture 
78 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/textures/EN_Peasant_Padded_normal.texture 
44 unit_sprites/slave_Viking_Raiders_sprite.spr 
2 
7 denmark 
60 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Danish_denmark_diff.texture 
60 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Danish_denmark_norm.texture 0  
5 slave 
58 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Danish_slave_diff.texture 
58 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Danish_slave_norm.texture 0  
1 
4 None 
9 MTW2_Mace 0  
2 
17 MTW2_Mace_Primary 
14 fs_test_shield 0 
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002

to

14 viking_raiders 
1 4 
61 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/viking_raiders_lod0.mesh 121 
61 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/viking_raiders_lod1.mesh 900 
61 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/viking_raiders_lod2.mesh 2500 
61 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/viking_raiders_lod3.mesh 6400 
2 
7 denmark 
79 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/textures/EN_Peasant_Padded_denmark.texture 
78 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/textures/EN_Peasant_Padded_normal.texture 
46 unit_sprites/denmark_Viking_Raiders_sprite.spr 
5 slave 
78 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/textures/EN_Peasant_Padded_rebels.texture 
78 unit_models/_Units/EN_Peasant_Padded/textures/EN_Peasant_Padded_normal.texture 
44 unit_sprites/slave_Viking_Raiders_sprite.spr 
2 
7 denmark 
60 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Danish_denmark_diff.texture 
60 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Danish_denmark_norm.texture 0  
5 slave 
58 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Danish_slave_diff.texture 
58 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final Danish_slave_norm.texture 0  
1 
5 Horse 
12 MTW2_HR_Mace 0  
2 
17 MTW2_Mace_Primary 
14 fs_test_shield 0 
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002

done. Now you have the made the Viking raiders mounted. Repeat the process for the upgrade models too.

[Gigantus]

ModelDB Checker

[konny]

Ah yes, it is part of the formated model.db download. Thank you!

[Gigantus]

One is glad to be of service

[NrGBaller]

I have done everything as shown but towards the BC mod. I am getting an
unspecified error right before the strating screen can open,. any reasons for this?

[Gigantus]

Go back and check your entries. My bet: error in the modeldb file.

Still chekc your log if there is an entry that might point you in the right direction. An error in the EDU shows up sometimes.

[NrGBaller]

Quick question, where do you place your new entry in the modeldb file. Top/Bottom?

[Adnan]

Quick question, where do you place your new entry in the modeldb file. Top/Bottom?

Wherever you want.

[Emperor Domitianus]

I have been able to format the M2TW 1.3 and Kingdoms 1.5 modeldb files.
However to add a new unit in is it so simple?
Just 2 files and a few other things to have cards ect? It seems really similar to RTW.

[Gigantus]

And the new mesh and new textures files. Got any spare ones?

[Alex-ander]

A couple of questions how do i use the model.db syntax checker.

And if i extract the formatted version of battle_models.modeldb into the data/unit_models directory do i replace the vinilla version of the file that is already there.

[Gigantus]

If you extract the formatted modeldb file into that directory, you will:
a) overwrite the vanilla file if the names are the same or
b) have to delete\rename the vanilla file and give the formatted the name of the vanilla version.

[Alex-ander]

Thanks another question though. I was going to try importing a unit from a mod (dead one) but when i checked there is only one lod0.mesh file not 4 as in the example shown.

Should the unit have more mesh files?

[Gigantus]

A lot of modders don't go through the hassles of developing 4 meshes. It will put a strain on older machines with a low end graphic card if you have only one mesh for all the distances. This is how you would add this mesh (not sure whether it is actually necessary to enter all instances):

19 aznauri_cavalry_ug1
1 4
60 unit_models/_Units/georgia/aznauri/aznauri_cavalry_lod0.mesh 121
60 unit_models/_Units/georgia/aznauri/aznauri_cavalry_lod0.mesh 900
60 unit_models/_Units/georgia/aznauri/aznauri_cavalry_lod0.mesh 2500
60 unit_models/_Units/georgia/aznauri/aznauri_cavalry_lod0.mesh 6400

[LuiSius_ScutaRuS]

Hi,

There is something that I don't understand,
you mention this: copy the .mesh files (in this case "Hoplites_early_ug0_lod0-3.mesh") into the "new_folder" folder and copy your new texture and the norm_texture (in this case "ionian_hoplite.texture") into the "textures" folder.

in this part, I want to add three MTW2 units into the THIRD AGE TOTAL WAR mod (I hope you know about this beauty ) but I don't know where I could get the meshes and textures for Rocket Launchers, Mangonels and Naffatun, I want to add those units into that mod.

Please help

Thanks