Trouble with Hard CTDs

[HalfThere]

I'm having trouble with Hard CTDs upon attempting to open the custom campaign map (custom battles work just fine). It just goes kapuut, and tells me nothing.

I'd like one of two things ideally, either a complete list of everything that can cause such a CTD, or someone who will offer to more-or-less proofread the relevant files.

This problem has been vexing me for over a week, and halted all progress on my mod. I'd be immensely appreciative of any and all help.

[HorseArcher]

try this thread:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=40557

[Lusted]

Moved to the modkshop as this is a modding question.

[HalfThere]

I tried the thread archer posted, but it's not specific enough, and I'm unsure whether it's inclusive of all possible problems.

It says, for instance, something about land:water ratio causing CTDs. Well, precisely what ratio is too little?

I'll keep on probing, but I have to say: I hate hard CTDs.

[Adorno]

Make a list of all files u changed.

[HalfThere]

in \Data
rebel_faction_descr_enums.txt
descr_rebel_factions.txt
in \Data\Text
rebel_faction_descr.txt
champions_regions_and_settlement_names.txt (champions is the provincial campaign name)
campaign_descriptions.txt
in \Data\world\maps\campaign\champions
descr_events.txt
descr_harvests.txt
descr_mercenaries.txt
descr_regions.txt
descr_regions_and_settlement_name_lookup.txt
descr_strat.txt
descr_terrain.txt
descr_win_conditions.txt
maps_regions.tga
maps_heights.tga
maps_trade_routes.tga
maps_climates.tga
maps_ground_types.tga
maps_FE.tga
maps_features.tga
maps_height.hgt
I also deleted the .rwm, or whatever it is, file.

[Nero666]

I hope the 'maps_' are all 'map_'. Custom battles are battles pinned at an x y coordinate. You should try all custom battles, until you find working ones. You can edit the locations in descr_custom_locations.txt and some other files (dont know which). You have to flip your map_regions.tga vertically in Photoshop to find the locations you need.

And ALWAYS use -show_err when modding. I presume you do, but if you don't, do it. It could just give you the error you're facing right away. One question: does the campaign itself work fine? If it does, it will almost undoubtedly be the x y coordinates of your custom battles which are bugging you. Weird thing is, that the custom battles are mounted on the Imperial Campaign, so if that campaign isn't working, your custom battles won't work either (ie file missing).

[HalfThere]

Yes, the maps_ are map_.

Anyway, you've got it backwards: it's the custom battles that work (I had changed the units, but have since put those edited files into storage), and the provincial campaign map that gives me a hard CTD and instantly exits the program when I try to use it. I've tried pretty much everything I know how. I'll double_check coordinates that I've placed cities and generals at, make sure that none of them are sitting on a mountain. However, I'm sort of doubtful whether it will make a difference.

I'm stymied.

[Muizer]

Yes, the maps_ are map_.

Anyway, you've got it backwards: it's the custom battles that work (I had changed the units, but have since put those edited files into storage), and the provincial campaign map that gives me a hard CTD and instantly exits the program when I try to use it. I've tried pretty much everything I know how. I'll double_check coordinates that I've placed cities and generals at, make sure that none of them are sitting on a mountain. However, I'm sort of doubtful whether it will make a difference.

I'm stymied.

If the error is in the maps themselves you should be able to find it using a series of test maps (all of the correct size of course):

Height: only land and sea (fixed elevation for both)
Ground: same. Be sure not to use inaccessible ground, that is no high and low mountains and dense forest on land and no oceans at sea.
Features: leave this one blank
Trade routes: idem
roughness: irrelevant
climate: just fill the map with Mediterranean, no need to distinguish land and sea

If it doesn't load the problem is almost certainly in the txt files. The regions file can cause CTDs too I guess, but the ones I encountered happen in-game.

If it loads, the problem is in the maps. Load them one at a time to see which is causing problems. Note that sometimes a combination of ground types and rivers that each by themselves are OK can cause an instant CTD. I'm not sure but I suspect the game does something involving path finding right after reading the maps and if it fails you get a CTD. If this happens, you must increas the accessibility (using accessible ground types and fords).

Muizer