Switch Faction?

[Hannibal Barca]

OK, i never would have thought this possible until i saw that in new rome multiplayer campaign a human player can take over an AI faction. I'm pretty sure this is different but there is maybe a glimmer of hope.

Is it possible to switch factions mid way through a campaign in RTW? (As in take over an AI players faction and the AI takes over yours). A scripted thing or something i don't know. While i ask this i know the answer is no but it would be awesome if you could. I don't know much about modding so i dare say that this is a limit to what modders can do.

[King Edward I]

As far as I am aware it is not possible (maybe with rebels though) to take over a faction in campaign games, if it is it would have to be a console "cheat" command to do it so I am afraid as far as I know it isnt possible!

-Marcvs

[Stuie]

The console_command is "control [faction_name]". It only works in scripts though.

Some scripting guides:
http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=46738
http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=57014

[Hannibal Barca]

I've had a look at those pages and i'm not a lot closer to achieving this. It sounds possible now, but beyond me unfortunately.

If this is possible could anyone give me a few hinters on what to do???

Thanks

[Stuie]

Ok - here's exactly what you need to do:

1. In the Data folder, add this to the export_descr_advice.txt file:

;Add at the top of the file
;------------------------------------------ Switch_Factions		
AdviceThread Switch_Factions_Thread		
	GameArea Campaign	

	Item Switch_Factions_Text_01	
		Uninhibitable
		Verbosity  0 
		Threshold  1  
		Attitude Normal
		Presentation Default
		Title Switch_Factions_Text_01_Title
     	Script scripts\show_me\Switch_Factions.txt	
		Text Switch_Factions_Text_01_Text1

;Add at the bottom of the file
;------------------------------------------ Switch_Factions

Trigger Switch_Factions_Thread_Trigger
    WhenToTest SettlementSelected

    AdviceThread Switch_Factions_Thread  0

2. In the Data\Text folder, add this to the export_advice.txt file:

¬***********************************************************
¬Add at the bottom of the file
{Switch_Factions_Text_01_Title}	Switch Factions

{Switch_Factions_Text_01_Text1}	Click the 'Show Me How' button to switch factions.

3. Create a new file named "Switch_Factions.txt" in the Data\Scripts\ShowMe folder, and paste this into the file:

;Change the faction based on which one you want to play
;For reference:
;romans_julii
;romans_brutii
;romans_scipii
;romans_senate
;macedon
;egypt
;seleucid
;carthage
;parthia
;pontus
;gauls
;germans
;britons
;armenia
;dacia
;greek_cities
;numidia
;scythia
;spain
;thrace

script

console_command control greek_cities

end_script

Now you just need to change the "console_command control greek_cities" line to whichever faction you want to switch to prior to starting the game. Then start the game, click on any of your current faction's settlement and the advisor will pop-up:



Click on her face and you will see this:



Click the Show Me How button, and you will be switched to your new faction (Greek Cities in my example):

[Legionary Jezza]

Ok - here's exactly what you need to do:

1. In the Data folder, add this to the export_descr_advice.txt file:

;Add at the top of the file
;------------------------------------------ Switch_Factions		
AdviceThread Switch_Factions_Thread		
	GameArea Campaign	

	Item Switch_Factions_Text_01	
		Uninhibitable
		Verbosity  0 
		Threshold  1  
		Attitude Normal
		Presentation Default
		Title Switch_Factions_Text_01_Title
     	Script scripts\show_me\Switch_Factions.txt	
		Text Switch_Factions_Text_01_Text1

;Add at the bottom of the file
;------------------------------------------ Switch_Factions

Trigger Switch_Factions_Thread_Trigger
    WhenToTest SettlementSelected

    AdviceThread Switch_Factions_Thread  0

2. In the Data\Text folder, add this to the export_advice.txt file:

¬***********************************************************
¬Add at the bottom of the file
{Switch_Factions_Text_01_Title}	Switch Factions

{Switch_Factions_Text_01_Text1}	Click the 'Show Me How' button to switch factions.

3. Create a new file named "Switch_Factions.txt" in the Data\Scripts\ShowMe folder, and paste this into the file:

;Change the faction based on which one you want to play
;For reference:
;romans_julii
;romans_brutii
;romans_scipii
;romans_senate
;macedon
;egypt
;seleucid
;carthage
;parthia
;pontus
;gauls
;germans
;britons
;armenia
;dacia
;greek_cities
;numidia
;scythia
;spain
;thrace

script

console_command control greek_cities

end_script

Now you just need to change the "console_command control greek_cities" line to whichever faction you want to switch to prior to starting the game. Then start the game, click on any of your current faction's settlement and the advisor will pop-up:



Click on her face and you will see this:



Click the Show Me How button, and you will be switched to your new faction (Greek Cities in my example):

Very well done.

[Hannibal Barca]

Thanks very much for that. A great, easy to follow tutorial. I can't wait to give this a go so i can take on a superpower i built myself

P.S. i can play this for a few years before i switch factions right? And what faction will i be after loading a saved game?

Thanks again.

EDIT: I tried it out and it worked. I sent a roman army to greece and then next go i was playing as the greeks. Great i thought, all is swell. Unfortunatley, i tried a test that failed miserably. I tried to save it and load that save. I saved it fine. Clicked load and it came up with the loading screen (and a white box where the faction symbol should be) and then CTD. Is there any way around it so i can save/load. Maybe if i swap back to the original faction somehow then save. Damn, i'm gutted about that.

[Epistolary Richard]

As well as the multiplayer mod, you can find other examples of switching factions in the following mods:
Make All Factions Playable in BI
BI Year Jump mod
Rebel Commander

[Hannibal Barca]

I can't believe i pulled this off. I know nothing about this rubbish but i thought that if i changed back to the romans (after being greeks for a while) then it would save and load ok. So i made a second script. Basically i completely ripped off the Switch_Factions. I made duplicates of the text i had added for Switch_Factions and changed the duplicate to Switch_Factions_Back. So basically i just added a back at the end of this duplicate. The only other thing i did was change the trigger (i used the F1 trigger from that link Stuie posted - thanks Epistolary Richard). So i played as the greeks for a while, then changed back to the romans and saved it. Loaded fine.

I realise this is probably easy as pie to most people (well modders) but this was a real achievement for me lol.

[Stuie]

I realise this is probably easy as pie to most people (well modders) but this was a real achievement for me lol.

Nice job!

I have to admit that I didn't test my stuff beyond switching to the new faction. Sorry I didn't catch the save/load problem.

[professorspatula]

I've adapted ER's faction switching script in one of his mods to change factions mid-campaign before. There are a few minor drawbacks though. For Roman factions, you don't get all the information about the Senate's stance towards other factions. Also battles end as soon as the last enemy unit routs so you don't get the option to continue the battle. I think there may be a couple of other minor issues, but it's a been a few months since I last played a faction-switched campaign so I can't recall them all. Regardless of the issues, it can be fun to switch factions towards the end of a current campaign. I had a partially modded campaign where I was controlling a horde of 50,000-60,000 Germans ready to storm and pillage the mediterranean. I switched to the Julii (and a very weak Julii at that) and had to hastily repel the Spanish and Britons (and their veteran units) before the AI controlled Germans landed on my shores. It was hectic stuff!

[Hannibal Barca]

Regardless of the issues, it can be fun to switch factions towards the end of a current campaign. I had a partially modded campaign where I was controlling a horde of 50,000-60,000 Germans ready to storm and pillage the mediterranean. I switched to the Julii (and a very weak Julii at that) and had to hastily repel the Spanish and Britons (and their veteran units) before the AI controlled Germans landed on my shores. It was hectic stuff!

Thats exactly what i want this for. Should be really challanging. I realise there are a few drawbacks but i think i can put up with them.

Thanks to everyone that helped

[Epistolary Richard]

I believe another known issue with switching factions is that if your original faction is subsequently destroyed you can no longer save the game.

[Hannibal Barca]

Ok, i finally got down to using this mod and it's working fine and i'm having a great campaign. I made started as carthage, switched to scipii and made them very powerful (also weakening carthage), and the switched back to a rather weak carthage. because i switched back to the original faction their are no problems. I can save fine, continue battles (slaughter routers) and so basically their are no problems.

The thing that is annoying me is that everytime i click on a settlement, the advisor pops up and asks if i want to change factions.

The trigger i'm using is this:

Trigger Switch_Factions_Thread_Trigger
    WhenToTest SettlementSelected

    AdviceThread Switch_Factions_Thread  0

And i'm also using the F1 trigger for the second script. Could anyone suggest a different trigger that would cause the advisor to pop up less. I have looked for a list of triggers but i just can't find one. I was thinking maybe if the trigger was clicking on the faction details button or something like that (i don't check that very often). Also, if you could show me what the exact trigger should be for my mod that would be great. Thanks.

[Stuie]

How about the construction button? Do you use that?

Factions_Thread_Trigger
    WhenToTest ButtonPressed

    Condition ButtonPressed construction_button

    AdviceThread Switch_Factions_Thread  0

I'll try to find the list of button possibilities...

[Hannibal Barca]

Thanks for the quick reply, but i'm not actually sure what the construction button is. Therefore its either something i use all the time and i'm overlooking it or its something i rarely use.

[Stuie]

Thanks for the quick reply, but i'm not actually sure what the construction button is. Therefore its either something i use all the time and i'm overlooking it or its something i rarely use.

It's the one you click to build forts/watchtowers in the open and shows building progress in settlements. It is right above the mercenary/unit recruitment button.

Edit: Here's a list of the UI Elements:

strat_ui
campaign_hud
radar
radar_zoom_in_button
radar_zoom_out_button
hud_show_units_tab
hud_show_buildings_tab
hud_show_agents_tab
hud_show_passengers_tab
recruitment_button
construction_button
hud_select_prev_item_cycle
strat_prev_card
hud_select_next_item_cycle
strat_next_card
character_ap_bar
faction_button
faction_turn_display
hud_money_string
hud_date_string
season_icon
end_turn
end_game_scroll
file_requester_scroll
file_io_result_scroll
audio_options_scroll
accept_audio_changes_button
gfx_options_scroll
accept_visual_changes_button
overwrite_confirmation_scroll
campaign_options_scroll
accept_campaign_options_button
null
null
file_delete_confirmation_scroll
confirm_quit_scroll
diplomacy_scroll
diplomacy_ok_button
diplomacy_cancel_offer_button
diplomacy_accept_offer_button
diplomacy_decline_offer_button
diplomacy_counter_offer_button
diplomacy_offer_button
diplomacy_gift_button
diplomacy_inform_button
post_battle_stats_scroll
post_battle_stats_show_results_button
ally_attack_warning_scroll
field_construction_scroll
help_scroll
post_battle_scroll
post_battle_show_stats_button
exchange_scroll
null
null
merge_selected_button
prebattle_scroll
prebattle_fight_button
prebattle_auto_resolve_button
prebattle_withdraw_button
settlement_listview
settlement_listview
enemy_settlement_info_scroll
garrison_info_zoom_to_button
enemy_garrison_display
enemy_agents_display
settlement_status_icons_group
settlement_state_icon_revolting
settlement_state_icon_under_siege
settlement_state_icon_plague
enemy_buildings_display
own_settlement_info_scroll
null
own_settlement_governor_info_panel
decrease_taxation_gadget
increase_taxation_gadget
governor_policy_inc_gadget
governor_policy_dec_gadget
games_policy_dec_gadget
games_policy_inc_gadget
show_construction_advice_button
settlement_stats_button
building_browser_button
garrison_info_zoom_to_button
settlement_info_prev_item_cycle
strat_prev_card
settlement_info_next_item_cycle
strat_next_card
settlement_status_icons_group
settlement_state_icon_revolting
settlement_state_icon_under_siege
settlement_state_icon_plague
available_construction_options
null
construction_queue
available_training_options
null
recruitment_queue
settlement_info_construction_tab
settlement_info_construction_tab
settlement_info_construction_tab
settlement_info_construction_tab
null
character_listview
character_listview
enemy_character_info_scroll
null
character_info_scroll_character_panel
null
enemy_character_siege_equipment_display
character_info_zoom_to_button
show_bodygaurd_unit_button
enemy_army_unit_display_1
enemy_army_unit_display_2
enemy_army_unit_display_3
null
null
own_character_scroll_character_panel
available_training_options
null
recruitment_queue
character_info_prev_item_cycle
strat_prev_card
character_info_next_item_cycle
strat_next_card
set_rally_point_button
remove_rally_point_button
toggle_unit_recruit_button
hire_mercenaries_button
show_recruitment_advice_button
garrison_info_zoom_to_button
show_bodygaurd_unit_button
garrison_buildings_button
garrison_stats_button
army_listview
army_listview
fort_info_scroll
garrison_info_zoom_to_button
enemy_garrison_display
enemy_agents_display
building_info_scroll
destroy_building_button
garrison_info_zoom_to_button
seige_scroll
available_siege_equipment_options
null
siege_equipment_queue
siege_end_button
siege_assault_button
siege_maintain_button
unit_info_scroll
unit_info_zoom_to_button
disband_unit_button
faction_events_scroll
events_listview
trade_summary_scroll
trade_summary_scroll
senate_office_listview
senate_office_listview
family_tree_scroll
family_tree_zoom_to_button
set_heir_button
agent_info_scroll
mission_target_listview
mission_target_listview
perform_assassination_button
perform_sabotage_button
mission_scroll_assassinate_tab
mission_scroll_sabotage_tab
request_assistance_scroll
faction_ranking_scroll
null
null
null
end_campaign_scroll
null
loot_settlement_scroll
loot_settlement_occupy_button
loot_settlement_enslave_button
loot_settlement_extermintate_button
advanced_settlement_info_scroll
advanced_stats_show_trade_button
advanced_stats_set_as_capital_button
zoom_to_settlement_button
null
settlement_details_population_stats
null
settlement_details_puplic_order_stats
null
settlement_details_income_stats
building_browser_scroll
building_browser_scroll
building_browser_select_prev_city_cycle
strat_prev_card
building_browser_select_next_city_cycle
strat_next_card
landmark_info_scroll
break_siege_confirmation_scroll
combined_overview_scroll
family_tree_button
faction_ranking_button
show_senate_offices_button
combined_scroll_senate_tab
combined_scroll_diplomacy_tab
combined_scroll_finances_tab
combined_scroll_faction_tab
advisor_speech_bubble
advisor_hide_bubble_button
advisor_show_me_button
advisor_dismiss_button
advisor_zoom_to_button
message_show_me_more_button
message_zoom_to_button

[Hannibal Barca]

Ah yea of course

Hmmm, yea that should be fine. I don't use it much and certainly not as much as my settlements. Thanks again.


Edit: Ah that list is great thanks. I never use the agent info scroll so i think i'll use that. Would the code be:

Trigger Switch_Factions_Thread_Trigger
    WhenToTest ButtonPressed

    Condition ButtonPressed agent_info_scroll

    AdviceThread Switch_Factions_Thread  0

[Stuie]

Not sure - you'd have to try it and see. :original:

[Hannibal Barca]

Not sure - you'd have to try it and see. :original:

Well i did and i couldn't actually get that one to work (although i think i know where the trigger is now i have deleted it). So i changed to the family_tree_zoom_button one. And that works fine