Adding units with non-standard animation (Carriage ballistae)

[Peltast]

I've been tinkering with adding new units to XGM, and so far having a nice blast with infantry units, edit the stats, put in skin of choice, add sprites, texture, UI card, description text... so far so good. I've added about a dozen infantry units and has no problem so far. Problem started when I tried to add the carriage ballistae from BI to the XGM game. I checked the model, texture, etc, unpacked the animation files, and find the carriage ballistae animations and skeleton are in place, so I figure it should work... But no, spectacularly crashes the game every time I try to play a battle with them. Any idea where I went wrong?

I did the following:
1) Edited the following files:
Export_Descr_Unit.txt
Descr_Model_Battle.txt
Export_Units.txt

2) Added and matched the model files in xgm\Data\Models_Unit\

3) Added and matched the texture files in xgm\Data\Models_Unit\Textures

4) Added and matched the sprite files in xgm\Data\Sprites

5) Added and matched the UI files in xgm\Data\UI\Unit_Info\ and xgm\Data\UI\Units\

6) I added the 'scorpion_cart.cas' model for the carriage is in xgm\Data\Models_Unit\

7) I added the 'ballistae_chariot.tga.dds' texture file for the carriage in xgm\Data\Models_Unit\Textures

8) Checked and matched the skeleton and animation files - they do exist in the XGM packs already.

So, what did I do wrong?

EDIT: For no reasons I can understand, the carriage ballistae work fine in campaign. They just crash custom battles.

[Diomede]

Personally I've no idea, but I'm interested in what other units you added.

[DimeBagHo]

Take a look at the bi version of descr_model_battle.txt for an example to follow. You need to add a suitable skeleton line to all officers. This is probably the reason for the custom battle problem because if you just start a battle with one unit the general will be placed on one of the carts.

skeleton_scorpion_cart	fs_carriage_ballistae_crew

Also, make sure your crew type has the right skeleton.

skeleton	fs_carriage_ballistae_crew, fs_chariot_sword

[Peltast]

That's exactly it! I forgot all about adding the animation to the generals. Thank you! And of course it worked in campaign mode - somebody else was general. I plain forgot about it since officers already have animation for everything else. Thank you very much.