Custom Battle Loading CTD [solved]

[Resurrection]

Hi,

I have a weird problem I need at least some clue for. Some time ago the custom battles stopped working but I am unable to determine the cause through the SVN log since I do not know how long is it. It crashes during the loading of the battle in about 1/4 or 1/3 of the loading bar with unspecified error. The log is not really helpful unfortunately:

11:23:44.975 [system.io] [info] open:   found data/settlements/Middle_Eastern/ambient_settlements/medium_hamlet/ME_Medium_Hamlet_A.worldPathfinding (from: packs/data_1.pack)
11:23:44.976 [system.io] [trace] pack close,,data/settlements/middle_eastern/ambient_settlements/medium_hamlet/me_medium_hamlet_a.worldpathfinding,,,-98367
11:23:45.371 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/DotS/data/descr_oil_effect.txt
11:23:45.371 [system.io] [trace] file open,,11B1B228,,not found
11:23:45.371 [system.io] [trace] pack open,packs/data_0.pack,data/descr_oil_effect.txt,,not found
11:23:45.371 [system.io] [warning] open: data/descr_oil_effect.txt is missing
11:23:45.371 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/DotS/data/descr_fire_texture_list.txt
11:23:45.371 [system.io] [trace] file open,,116BA680,,not found
11:23:45.371 [system.io] [trace] pack open,packs/data_0.pack,data/descr_fire_texture_list.txt,,not found
11:23:45.371 [system.io] [warning] open: data/descr_fire_texture_list.txt is missing
11:23:45.475 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/DotS/data/config_ai_battle.xml
11:23:45.475 [system.io] [trace] file open,,data/config_ai_battle.xml,,not found
11:23:45.475 [system.io] [trace] pack open,packs/data_0.pack,data/config_ai_battle.xml,36701
11:23:45.475 [system.io] [info] open:   found data/config_ai_battle.xml (from: packs/data_0.pack)
11:23:45.476 [system.io] [trace] pack data(),,data/config_ai_battle.xml,,,36701
11:23:45.478 [system.io] [trace] pack close,,data/config_ai_battle.xml,,,-36701
11:23:45.478 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/DotS/data/battle_config.xml
11:23:45.478 [system.io] [trace] file open,,data/battle_config.xml,,not found
11:23:45.478 [system.io] [trace] pack open,packs/data_0.pack,data/battle_config.xml,9777
11:23:45.478 [system.io] [info] open:   found data/battle_config.xml (from: packs/data_0.pack)
11:23:45.478 [system.io] [trace] pack data(),,data/battle_config.xml,,,9777
11:23:45.479 [system.io] [trace] pack close,,data/battle_config.xml,,,-9777
11:23:45.701 [system.rpt] [error] Uh oh. This isn't good. No idea why, but exiting now. Sorry pal.

I have already determined that EDU nor any other text files seem to be involved. I always tried swapping them with vanilla ones where possible. The crash was always exactly the same. Then I tried strings.bin files but again there was nothing wrong with them and vanilla files did not fix the problem either.

Since it crashes during the loading which is usually the case for media files / 2D art / models I suspect some of those. From these I have ruled out music so far and models because neither vanilla BMDB and other models/animations files fix the problem. So from this logic it must be the UI but that has not been touched according to SVN log for months and reverting to ancient revision (when custom battles worked for sure) does not seem to solve the problem either. Still the same crash.

I would be grateful for any idea what might be causing this. Or at least some hint from anyone who has experience with loading crashes.

Thank you!

[Ishan]

If your mod uses a custom campaign map then you need to reassign proper coordinates for your custom scenarios in custom_locations.txt file in the data folder. Like for example:

custom_location		Scottish Glen
{
	location		99	176
	image			data/menu/battlefield_pics/scottish_glen.tga
	sett_locked		no
	climate			highland
	summer			no
}

That's one area to check out, make sure they're land tiles not on sea, as these are vanilla coordinates.

[Resurrection]

Thx, I made sure it is the proper location but the battle still crashes at the same place while loading. The problem is present even in campaign:

12:55:55.383 [system.io] [trace] pack close,,data/models_effects/textures/napthabomb_common_01.texture,,,-11112
12:55:55.402 [system.io] [info] exists:   found mods/DotS/data/loading_screen/loading_bar.tga (from: C:\Games\M2TW)
12:55:55.402 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/DotS/data/loading_screen/loading_bar.tga.dds
12:55:55.402 [system.io] [info] exists:   found mods/DotS/data/loading_screen/loading_bar.tga (from: C:\Games\M2TW)
12:55:55.402 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/DotS/mods/DotS/data/loading_screen/loading_bar.tga
12:55:55.402 [system.io] [trace] file open,,mods/DotS/data/loading_screen/loading_bar.tga.dds,,not found
12:55:55.403 [system.io] [warning] open: mods/DotS/data/loading_screen/loading_bar.tga.dds is missing
12:55:55.403 [system.io] [trace] file open,,mods/DotS/data/loading_screen/loading_bar.tga,40577
12:55:55.403 [system.io] [info] open:   found mods/DotS/data/loading_screen/loading_bar.tga (from: C:\Games\M2TW)
12:55:55.427 [system.io] [info] exists:   found mods/DotS/data/descr_offmap_models.txt (from: C:\Games\M2TW)
12:55:55.427 [system.io] [trace] file open,,1F49D388,15300
12:55:55.427 [system.io] [info] open:   found mods/DotS/data/descr_offmap_models.txt (from: C:\Games\M2TW)
12:55:55.484 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/DotS/data/normal_map_8m
12:55:55.484 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/DotS/data/normal_map_8m
12:55:56.057 [system.rpt] [error] Uh oh. This isn't good. No idea why, but exiting now. Sorry pal.

No idea what does descr_offmap_models.txt might have to do with it though. In campaign it crashes at the start of the loading though not in 1/3 through as in custom battles. Might be something with battlemap generation perhaps?

[Resurrection]

I finally got the battles working again by reverting both EDU and BMDB to vanilla state (just replacing ownership in EDU to my factions). That means that my custom EDU was missing a core unit or that the units I had were missing something important. I do not have a clue what that something might be though. I suspect it might have something to do with the general/officer. Is the general battle model specified in descr_characters.txt also involved in the EDU somehow? What are the EDU essentials that must be there no matter what?

[Resurrection]

Trial & error revealed that I have commented out 'banner faction' entry in all units which is apparently needed but is checked only when entering battle.

Why this never shows in a log nor in trace or something is beyond me but lesson learnt, heh... For anyone with the similar problem - CTD while loading - first rule out the geography files and then compare your EDU entries with the vanilla EDU to see if you have all necessary lines there.