How to add a new unit into game

[Moon]

Just edited the battlemodels file correctly. Is there any problems with the EDU?.

[Kolwen]

The unit is working perfectly, thanks to you!
This is amazing. Mate, I really appreciate your help

[ukrainik]

Hey guys sorry I'm a total newb at editing and I was wondering if anyone knows where I can find the script for the gold bonus the merchant receives from a resource? Or maybe I'm approaching it wrong and I need the resource txt?

[Ishan]

descr_sm_resources.txt and yes it's not the place to ask it.

[Baywatch]

I've been having difficulty adding a particular unit to Stainless Steel RC/RR taken directly from Call of Warhammer. I have no intention of releasing this to the public, this is merely for my own personal enjoyment. Anyway, the particular unit I've been attempting to add is the Kreml Guard. Here is the entry copied and pasted directly from the CoW modeldb into the SS modeldb (I changed the faction ownership from russia to kievan_rus).

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

11 Kreml_guard
1
3
69 unit_models/_units/warhammer/Kislev/Kreml_guard/Kreml_guard_lod0.mesh 121
69 unit_models/_units/warhammer/Kislev/Kreml_guard/Kreml_guard_lod0.mesh 1225
69 unit_models/_units/warhammer/Kislev/Kreml_guard/Kreml_guard_lod0.mesh 6400
1
10 kievan_rus
76 unit_models/_units/warhammer/Kislev/Kreml_guard/textures/Kreml_guard.texture
83 unit_models/_units/warhammer/Kislev/Kreml_guard/textures/Kreml_guard_normal.texture
42 unit_sprites/russia_Kreml_guard_sprite.spr
1
10 kievan_rus
76 unit_models/_units/warhammer/Kislev/Kreml_guard/textures/Kreml_guard.texture
83 unit_models/_units/warhammer/Kislev/Kreml_guard/textures/Kreml_guard_normal.texture 0
1
4 None
16 Warhammer_2H_Axe
0
1
17 MTW2_Mace_Primary
0
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002

The game crashes when the line in red is unchanged and when I change it to something like: 11 MTW2_2H_Axe 0 1, I end up with this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Any help with this would be much appreciated.

Also, while I'm at it I assume adding a mount model would differ from adding the model of a foot unit. If so, what all do I need to do to get one in game. Thanks in advance to anyone that can help.

[Moon]

Isn't the unit limit reached in the mod? anyway try something like the venetian_heavy_infantry animations. As for the mount add it in the BMDB and the descr_mount.txt

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

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

[Gigantus]

The line in red is the custom animation for the unit - hence the crash.

The 'silversurfers syndrom' is most likely due to the missing textures as these are custom as well.

[Baywatch]

Isn't the unit limit reached in the mod? anyway try something like the venetian_heavy_infantry animations. As for the mount add it in the BMDB and the descr_mount.txt

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

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

Yes, the unit limit is reached but, I'm replacing an existing unit with the model rather than adding one. I tried doing the above, the models still don't have a texture but they at least have a weapon now.

The line in red is the custom animation for the unit - hence the crash.

The 'silversurfers syndrom' is most likely due to the missing textures as these are custom as well.

I thought as much, is there anything I can do to get these animations/textures over to SS? Such as copy/pasting certain files from CoW to SS? Or should I be asking someone who has more knowledge/experience working with CoW?

My thanks to both of you for trying to help.

[Gigantus]

Getting the animations is a painstaking affair. Not exactly sure how it works. (text files, deleting things, slightly confusing)
The textures is a simple copy paste job, check the path in the modeldb file.

[Cinaéd na dTrá Beag]

Can I simply add factions to the "ownership" category in export_descr_units? Or is the process a bit more complicated than that?

[Cinaéd na dTrá Beag]

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

I'm modding out of Bare_Geomod by gigantus. I don't have a "unit_models" folder. What do I do?

[irishron]

I'm modding out of Bare_Geomod by gigantus. I don't have a "unit_models" folder. What do I do?

You have to unpack the game.

[Cinaéd na dTrá Beag]

Do I unpack Bare_Geomod or Vanilla. I've already copied Vanilla. Do I copy and paste the unit_models folder?

[irishron]

The unit_models folder should be in your modfolder and mod/edit that one. Keep the vanilla one "clean" just in case you need it for backup.

[Cinaéd na dTrá Beag]

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.

Now if I want to add a unit to a faction it is not originally present in, which texture files do I have to copy? I'm not sure if I'm even wording this question right. And I apologize if any of those who are helping me are losing patience with me. I am very thankful for your help.

Essentially what I'm trying to do is add Portuguese units to Scotland's unit roster, if that helps you out any.

[Ubiq]

When adding a new unit, do I have to add a 1 to the overall count at the very top of the modeldb for every different ug it has? For example I add a unit that has multiple armor upgrades and as such multiple ug files, do I add a 1 for every different ug? Or just a 1 for the unit regardless of its models?

[Taiji]

1 for every entry, which means one per upgrade.

[Pvt. Parts]

Hi.

I decided to post my problem up here, as I've tried everything.

I tried creating a new unit, but keep getting the "Medieval II: Total War encountered an unspecified error and will now exit." message. It's obviously a problem with the .modeldb file, but I've checked it over and over again, and found nothing wrong. When I use the default .modeldb file and my modified export_desc_unit file, the game will begin to load but then crash, without any error message at all. I'm worried that it might be an unrelated problem.

I copied the Hashishim and named the new unit "Xanderians", with as few changes as possible. I'm trying to mod Stainless Steel 6.3, if that makes any difference.

Anyway, I've attached the .modeldb, export_desc_unit and _units files/folders. Thanks in advance for any help!

NOTE: I changed the number at the top of the .modeldb file. It used to be 1197.

[Gigantus]

Stainless Steel = 500 units in EDU = maximum of units possible = hard coded = sorry

[Pvt. Parts]

Yeah, but I deleted an obsolete unit to make room.

Besides, that doesn't explain the problem with the battle_model file.