Does the horse matter?

[Vyktrius]

_What differences if any are there between the three different horses available as mounts? Besides color that is. I mean, the medium or light horse (I can't remember which) has black fur which would look cooler for the unit I'm trying to make. But the unit is heavy cavalry so naturally I would want to use the heavy horse. But does it really matter? And what effect does giving an armor bonus or hit points to a mount have (when you edit export_descr_unit)?
_And elephants. The people that ride them are listed as crews so I assume that the three men riding them are one model. So does that mean it wouldn't be possible to have a hoplite riding an elephant? Don't know why I would want to do that but I had to ask.
_And one more question. So that I don't have to make new thread. Can I add more names to the list of names that will be used for named characters? I think It would be kinda cool to put my own name in there and have it randomly come up. Is it just that on file that is like nothing but names divided by faction or is there another?

[rstoner]

Hi there.
I think the only difference between light, medium and heavy horses is the speed in which they travel. This means you could give the black fur skin to any other horse in 'descr_model_battle'.
Editing armour and hitpoints is pretty straightforward, compare different entries in 'export_descr_unit' to work out how much affect they would have in-game.
You can make any human model ride an elephant, however you should use a model with a bow.
As for the names, I have not tried this but I think you should add the new name to the following 3 files:
1)data/descr_names
2)data/descr_names_lookup
3)data/text/names

Good luck.

[Vyktrius]

So all three of the horse skins will fit and work on any of the three models? And I know that I can edit armor and hitpoints for animal but the effects aren't listed in game. Besides that they start at zero and that doesn't seem to make the horse drop dead when the game starts so what does it really do? Does the armor of the animal just increase the animals chance of survival or the rider's too?

[Monkwarrior]

So all three of the horse skins will fit and work on any of the three models? And I know that I can edit armor and hitpoints for animal but the effects aren't listed in game. Besides that they start at zero and that doesn't seem to make the horse drop dead when the game starts so what does it really do? Does the armor of the animal just increase the animals chance of survival or the rider's too?

Yes, there is only one horse model (apart from cataphract). All the skins will fit on any horse.

Do you know how to edit armor and hitpoints? Are you sure?
This is the beginning of export_descr_unit (note the blue text).

; stat_health   Hit points of man, followed by hit points of mount or attached animal (if applicable)
;               Ridden horses and camels do not have separate hit points

; stat_sec_armour   Details of animal's or vehicle's defenses (note riden horses do not have a separate defence)

[ckerr094]

Cool different colours never knew that!

[Vyktrius]

Yes I'm quite aware of that line but like I said its effects aren't listed in game. You give a hitpoint to a mount and check it on the unit In game and it still says that the unit has only one hit point.

[Monkwarrior]

Yes I'm quite aware of that line but like I said its effects aren't listed in game. You give a hitpoint to a mount and check it on the unit In game and it still says that the unit has only one hit point.

Because the mount has no other hitpoint, but only that of the rider.
As it is said, mounts (horses and camels) have no extra hitpoints or armour apart from those of the rider.
Those lines are only for elephants, chariots, dogs and pigs (I think that's all).

[wilddog]

I think also that there is a group trying to make the horses look like horses rather than something thats had its neck streched.