Adding Cirdan

[Demagur]

Ive been trying to add Cirdan as a general for a while now. Does anyone know how to give a general a biography like Elrond or his sons? (im using the MOS sub-mod)

[Minas Moth]

yes, you have to give it to him like trait... for all you want to know go to mod workshop and see Tools&Tutorials thread and then Texting&Scripting... good people of this forum will help you there and point you in the right direction... avoind posting this kind of questions (standalones) in new hreads... i suggest posting in official questions thread or submod section (MOS in this case) or even better in mod workshop...

with this i rest my case...

[Argaladir]

You'll have to edit a number of files, including export_descr_character_traits, export_VnVs, descr_strat, names.txt, descr_names .

I made myself a general earlier today, named Argaladir and i wanted to give him a biography.
I used Glorfindel to make the basic for him, so the first thing i did was to copy Glorfindel in the descr_strat.txt file (Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign)and edit the name to Argaladir.

Then head over to Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\text\ folder and find names.txt and names.txt.strings.bin. Find Glorfindel in the names.txt file and copy and paste him right under that entry. Rename the new entry to your desired name, in my case Argaladir and it should look like this

{Glorfindel}Glorfindel
{Argaladir}Argaladir

Then save the file and close it. (remember to always make backups!!)
After that you can just delete the names.txt.strings.bin as the game will create a new one the next time you launch it. (I've heard that NOT deleting it could make an error, but I'm not sure).
Then head over to descr_names.txt in your Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\ folder and search for egypt (High Elves = egypt) and add your name to the list there (male list). In my case i had to add Argaladir.

After that its time to make your general's a biography, so open the file named export_descr_character_traits file in your Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\ folder.
Find Glorfindel and copy and paste it and edit it as desired. Rename all the Glorfindels to your desired name. In my case Argaladir (again), and it should look like this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

;------------------------------------------
Trait Glorfindel
    Characters family

    Level Glorfindel
        Description Glorfindel_desc
        EffectsDescription Glorfindel_effects_desc
        Threshold  1 

        Effect HitPoints 8
        Effect Command 1
        Effect Chivalry 3
        Effect Loyalty 4
        Effect Authority 2
        Effect PersonalSecurity 1
        Effect Level 3 

;------------------------------------------
Trait Argaladir
    Characters family

    Level Argaladir
        Description Argaladir_desc
        EffectsDescription Argaladir_effects_desc
        Threshold  1 

        Effect HitPoints 10
        Effect Command 2
        Effect Chivalry 2
        Effect Loyalty 5
        Effect Authority 5
        Effect PersonalSecurity 2
        Effect Level 3 

;------------------------------------------

Save and close the file. (Remember to make backups!!)

Now you have to add a text and description for the trait, to do that head over to export_VnVs.txt in the Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\text\ folder and search for Glorfindel. Copy and paste his entry and edit as desired.

As my general is named Argaladir, it looks like this to me:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

¬---------------------
{Argaladir}Biography
{Argaladir_desc}Lord Argaladir (Noble Guardian of the Light) is the one and only son of Cirdan the Shipwright. He was born during the Second Age of Arda when Sauron's power was ever increasing, so he had to learn how to fight from an early age. He marched under Elrond Halfelven's banner during the destruction of Eregion, but he managed to escape the onslaught and get back to Mithlond. During the Last Alliance he was stationed in Imladris in case an army out of the north should attack Eriador while the main army was far away to the South-East. When Gil-Galad was slain and Elrond took his title as Lord of the Remaining noldorin elves in Middle-Earth, he appointed Argaladir to be his heir because of their long friendship together.
{Argaladir_effects_desc}+10 Hitpoints, +2 Command, +2 Respect, +5 Loyalty, +5 Authority, +2 Personal Security
¬---------------------
{Glorfindel}Biography
{Glorfindel_desc}Glorfindel is one of the mightiest Elves of Middle-earth in the Third Age. He is distinctive because of his return to Middle-earth after death, acting as an emissary of the Valar, on a similar mission to the Istari who were to come several thousand years later. His parentage is unknown.
{Glorfindel_effects_desc}+8 Hitpoints, +1 Command, +3 Respect, +4 Loyalty, +2 Authority
¬---------------------

(I know the description is not lore accurate, but i had to fit him in somehow :p)

When done, save and close the file. (did you make a backup?)

Then head over to descr_strat found in the Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign folder and search for either Glorfindel or the name of your general if you already made him. In my case Argaladir. Edit him as desired, but remember to give him your new trait. My general (Argaladir) looks like this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

character    Argaladir, named character, male, heir, age 20, x 61, y 255, portrait Argaladir, battle_model glorfindel ;forlindon
traits Argaladir 1, Factionheir 1 
ancillaries troops_helf
army
unit        Elf Archer3_BG                exp 1 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit        High Sword                exp 1 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit        High Sword                exp 1 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit        Elf Archer2                exp 1 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit        Elf Archer2                exp 1 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0

As you can see I've added him as heir, given him a new bodyguard and given him some traits. If you're using Glorfindel, he should look like this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

character    Argaladir, named character, male, age 46, x 61, y 255, portrait Glorfindel, battle_model glorfindel ;forlindon
traits Argaladir 1 , LoyaltyStarter 1 , GoodCommander 2 , ReligionStarter 1 , GoodAttacker 1 , Brave 1 , Just 1 , BattleChivalry 2
ancillaries troops_helf
army
unit        Elf Nobel Mount                exp 1 armour 0 weapon_lvl 0
unit        Elf Archer                exp 1 armour 0 weapon_lvl 0
unit        Elf Archer2                exp 0 armour 0 weapon_lvl 0

Rename him to fit your new named general
give him a new position just north of Mithlond so you don't get and error when two generals are at the same spot
give him your new trait (biography)
remove this ancillary from either Glorfindel or your new general as only one can have it (i think)
should look like this:

traits Argaladir 1 , LoyaltyStarter 1 , GoodCommander 2 , ReligionStarter 1 , GoodAttacker 1 , Brave 1 , Just 1 , BattleChivalry 2
army
unit        Elf Nobel Mount                exp 1 armour 0 weapon_lvl 0

When done, save the file and close it. (After a backup, that is!!)

Your general will now look just like Glorfindel, but with your name, traits and biography. Giving him a new picture or even model, adding him as heir and giving him his own bodyguard will take a little longer, but its not impossible.

This is my result with my general named Argaladir:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/11/argaladir.png/

I think that should be it, thats at least all i can remember at the moment. If anything is wrong, feel free to correct me!

NOTE: I know the lore and description is a little lame, but as i said earlier "I just had to make him fit in somehow".

[Ale_san]

You'll have to edit a number of files, including export_descr_character_traits, export_VnVs, descr_strat, names.txt, descr_names .

I made myself a general earlier today, named Argaladir and i wanted to give him a biography.
I used Glorfindel to make the basic for him, so the first thing i did was to copy Glorfindel in the descr_strat.txt file (Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign)and edit the name to Argaladir.

Then head over to Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\text\ folder and find names.txt and names.txt.strings.bin. Find Glorfindel in the names.txt file and copy and paste him right under that entry. Rename the new entry to your desired name, in my case Argaladir and it should look like this

{Glorfindel}Glorfindel
{Argaladir}Argaladir

Then save the file and close it. (remember to always make backups!!)
After that you can just delete the names.txt.strings.bin as the game will create a new one the next time you launch it. (I've heard that NOT deleting it could make an error, but I'm not sure).
Then head over to descr_names.txt in your Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\ folder and search for egypt (High Elves = egypt) and add your name to the list there (male list). In my case i had to add Argaladir.

After that its time to make your general's a biography, so open the file named export_descr_character_traits file in your Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\ folder.
Find Glorfindel and copy and paste it and edit it as desired. Rename all the Glorfindels to your desired name. In my case Argaladir (again), and it should look like this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

;------------------------------------------
Trait Glorfindel
    Characters family

    Level Glorfindel
        Description Glorfindel_desc
        EffectsDescription Glorfindel_effects_desc
        Threshold  1 

        Effect HitPoints 8
        Effect Command 1
        Effect Chivalry 3
        Effect Loyalty 4
        Effect Authority 2
        Effect PersonalSecurity 1
        Effect Level 3 

;------------------------------------------
Trait Argaladir
    Characters family

    Level Argaladir
        Description Argaladir_desc
        EffectsDescription Argaladir_effects_desc
        Threshold  1 

        Effect HitPoints 10
        Effect Command 2
        Effect Chivalry 2
        Effect Loyalty 5
        Effect Authority 5
        Effect PersonalSecurity 2
        Effect Level 3 

;------------------------------------------

Save and close the file. (Remember to make backups!!)

Now you have to add a text and description for the trait, to do that head over to export_VnVs.txt in the Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\text\ folder and search for Glorfindel. Copy and paste his entry and edit as desired.

As my general is named Argaladir, it looks like this to me:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

¬---------------------
{Argaladir}Biography
{Argaladir_desc}Lord Argaladir (Noble Guardian of the Light) is the one and only son of Cirdan the Shipwright. He was born during the Second Age of Arda when Sauron's power was ever increasing, so he had to learn how to fight from an early age. He marched under Elrond Halfelven's banner during the destruction of Eregion, but he managed to escape the onslaught and get back to Mithlond. During the Last Alliance he was stationed in Imladris in case an army out of the north should attack Eriador while the main army was far away to the South-East. When Gil-Galad was slain and Elrond took his title as Lord of the Remaining noldorin elves in Middle-Earth, he appointed Argaladir to be his heir because of their long friendship together.
{Argaladir_effects_desc}+10 Hitpoints, +2 Command, +2 Respect, +5 Loyalty, +5 Authority, +2 Personal Security
¬---------------------
{Glorfindel}Biography
{Glorfindel_desc}Glorfindel is one of the mightiest Elves of Middle-earth in the Third Age. He is distinctive because of his return to Middle-earth after death, acting as an emissary of the Valar, on a similar mission to the Istari who were to come several thousand years later. His parentage is unknown.
{Glorfindel_effects_desc}+8 Hitpoints, +1 Command, +3 Respect, +4 Loyalty, +2 Authority
¬---------------------

(I know the description is not lore accurate, but i had to fit him in somehow :p)

When done, save and close the file. (did you make a backup?)

Then head over to descr_strat found in the Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign folder and search for either Glorfindel or the name of your general if you already made him. In my case Argaladir. Edit him as desired, but remember to give him your new trait. My general (Argaladir) looks like this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

character    Argaladir, named character, male, heir, age 20, x 61, y 255, portrait Argaladir, battle_model glorfindel ;forlindon
traits Argaladir 1, Factionheir 1 
ancillaries troops_helf
army
unit        Elf Archer3_BG                exp 1 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit        High Sword                exp 1 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit        High Sword                exp 1 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit        Elf Archer2                exp 1 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit        Elf Archer2                exp 1 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0

As you can see I've added him as heir, given him a new bodyguard and given him some traits. If you're using Glorfindel, he should look like this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

character    Argaladir, named character, male, age 46, x 61, y 255, portrait Glorfindel, battle_model glorfindel ;forlindon
traits Argaladir 1 , LoyaltyStarter 1 , GoodCommander 2 , ReligionStarter 1 , GoodAttacker 1 , Brave 1 , Just 1 , BattleChivalry 2
ancillaries troops_helf
army
unit        Elf Nobel Mount                exp 1 armour 0 weapon_lvl 0
unit        Elf Archer                exp 1 armour 0 weapon_lvl 0
unit        Elf Archer2                exp 0 armour 0 weapon_lvl 0

Rename him to fit your new named general
give him a new position just north of Mithlond so you don't get and error when two generals are at the same spot
give him your new trait (biography)
remove this ancillary from either Glorfindel or your new general as only one can have it (i think)
should look like this:

traits Argaladir 1 , LoyaltyStarter 1 , GoodCommander 2 , ReligionStarter 1 , GoodAttacker 1 , Brave 1 , Just 1 , BattleChivalry 2
army
unit        Elf Nobel Mount                exp 1 armour 0 weapon_lvl 0

When done, save the file and close it. (After a backup, that is!!)

Your general will now look just like Glorfindel, but with your name, traits and biography. Giving him a new picture or even model, adding him as heir and giving him his own bodyguard will take a little longer, but its not impossible.

This is my result with my general named Argaladir:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/11/argaladir.png/

I think that should be it, thats at least all i can remember at the moment. If anything is wrong, feel free to correct me!

NOTE: I know the lore and description is a little lame, but as i said earlier "I just had to make him fit in somehow".

OMG i just did all of that but with Eomer, it felt soooo good when u finished it right

i rep u for that

[Ale_san]

[IMG][IMG=http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/3668/eomerdetails2.png][/IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][IMG=http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/669/eomerdetails.png][/IMG][/IMG]

here's my proof

[Pyres Δt Varanasi]

[IMG][IMG=http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/3668/eomerdetails2.png][/IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][IMG=http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/669/eomerdetails.png][/IMG][/IMG]

here's my proof

Epic Sir I Still Really Wish He Was in Vanilla TATW or MOS.

[JST]

I have tried changing gandalf to Gondor faction but on the campain map he looks like boromir and when I scroll over him it says boromir. can someone tell me what I forgot to change please?

[Ale_san]

hey Argaladir, what picture do you use for your in game argaladir? was that the actual argaladir or u just put a pic that's the closest resemblance to him?

[Nergor]

Scouts Extended Edition (a submod for FRoME) contains Cirdan.

[Argaladir]

hey Argaladir, what picture do you use for your in game argaladir? was that the actual argaladir or u just put a pic that's the closest resemblance to him?

The picture is of Gil-Galad.
Its one of the random pictures your generals can get. As Gil-Galad is one of my favorit characters in Arda, i chose his picture as a tribute to him

[Ale_san]

The picture is of Gil-Galad.
Its one of the random pictures your generals can get. As Gil-Galad is one of my favorit characters in Arda, i chose his picture as a tribute to him

when u moved the "random" Gil-Galad to Algaladir portrait, do you take out that portrait out of "circulation" or kept it there knowing that someday some random general can have the same exact portrait? thanks

sorry if confusing..

edit: i did the exact same thing with Hama from Rohan but don't know wether to take out Hama's random portrat out of generals portrait circulation.

[Argaladir]

Yup, I removed the picture from the random General folder when making Argaladir.
Thought it would look stupid for another general to get that picture too, in case that happened

[Ale_san]

Yup, I removed the picture from the random General folder when making Argaladir.
Thought it would look stupid for another general to get that picture too, in case that happened

when you removed gil_galad portrait from random general's portrait do you replaced it with other elven portrait to keep it 200 or just let it be?

[Noobio]

in order to just make him an admiral for high elves ...

would just puting his name in descr_names (text folder) and changing the name of the current admiral in descr_strat be ok ?

and what about a custom portrait ? maybe just adding one in the custom portrtaits folder (in ui) and add ", portrait Cirdan " in the decsr_strat entry (of the admiral character)?

[Argaladir]

in order to just make him an admiral for high elves ...

would just puting his name in descr_names (text folder) and changing the name of the current admiral in descr_strat be ok ?

and what about a custom portrait ? maybe just adding one in the custom portrtaits folder (in ui) and add ", portrait Cirdan " in the decsr_strat entry (of the admiral character)?

Adding the name shouldn't be any problem.
Adding another picture is a whole other story, as i think admiral pictures are hardcoded to only have that standard one (like captains). You could of course add a new admiral picture (of Cirdan) to the high elves, but all your other admirals would also get that picture then.

I've not tried that myself, but that is atleast what i imagine will happend.
If you should try it out, let us know how it works for you

[Noobio]

didn't work...when i tried adding "named character" to the admiral's line instead of a ship there was a battlemodel walking on water..
i put jesus ingame

[Ale_san]

didn't work...when i tried adding "named character" to the admiral's line instead of a ship there was a battlemodel walking on water..
i put jesus ingame

[Argaladir]

didn't work...when i tried adding "named character" to the admiral's line instead of a ship there was a battlemodel walking on water..
i put jesus ingame

Well, thats not always a bad thing, is it? :p

Ale_san: I just removed the Gil-Galad portrait all together. I didn't replace it either and so far I've not had any errors. (The Gil-Galad portrait I use is picture 024.tga)

[Ale_san]

Well, thats not always a bad thing, is it? :p

Ale_san: I just removed the Gil-Galad portrait all together. I didn't replace it either and so far I've not had any errors. (The Gil-Galad portrait I use is picture 024.tga)

Sweet thanks + rep

one question though, if u put glorfindel as your algaladir's battle model that means his hair is golden white right? but u put his portrait as Gil-Galad which is a brunette,why? (sorry if my lore knowledge failed me again)

edit: oops need to spread the rep first apparently

[Noobio]

generic strat_map (campaign) model for h.elves is black-haired (you just have to add the "named character" detail in descr_strat..maybe there has to be an _ between the 2 words..can't really remember now..just look how others are put..)

if you want glorfindel's (blond one..so more like "silver-haired" cirdan) you just take a look at how glorfindel's entry is put..all that it takes (i think) is add the "battle model glorfindel" detail (again see if _ are needed)

"portrait" detail is just for portrait