Am I able to exchange units between different factions?

**Roma_Victrix** · September 27, 2012, 03:08 AM

Hello everyone,

Now, some might call me a blasphemer for suggesting such a thing. And don't get me wrong, I love and appreciate all the hard work you guys have done in creating this magnificent mod. But I am simply jaded with it. I can't help but fantasize about playing as say, Venice, and march into battle with French chivalric knights and HRE dismounted imperial knights. Why not?

Or hell, something as simple as giving Castile or the HRE the Knights Templar and Hospitaller units that several other factions are able to have.

I've actually attempted this somewhat, editing the export_descr_unit file. Under "ownership" I listed additional factions for certain types of units. Then I went into the "ui" folder and gave them appropriate unit cards. But this doesn't cut it. Forget the strategy map. On the battle map, what really matters is the "unit_models" folder and all the unit textures therein. Yet from what I can tell there's no clear way to assign this unit texture or that to a particular faction in the game.

What I want to know is this: can it be done? Can I simply copy and paste this texture or that and then roll into battle as England with Genoese Italian MAAs for example? I mean, if you're England and you conquer all of Italy, would it be so unreasonable to be able to recruit Italian units?

Or if that's too complicated, just doing it with the "create_unit" cheat would satisfy me.

Otherwise, on the battle map these units just look like translucent ghosts, or the liquid metal T-1000s from the movie Terminator 2.

Someone throw me a bone here!

Yours truly,
Roma_Victrix

P.S. Don't worry, I've made backups for any folder or file mentioned above, so any changes made are easily fixed.

**PerXX** · September 27, 2012, 04:12 AM

You can give any existing unit to any faction you wish.

### Disclaimer ###
### Always make a copy of any files you edit before making any changes! ###

You'll need to edit several files to do so. In my examples I'll be adding the Baltic Spearmen to Denmark.

1: the export_descr_unit.txt file.
Here you'll have to find the unit in question, and add your required faction. It'll look something like this.
Under Ownership and each era, add your faction, seperated by a comma. Changes in red.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

2: Next you'll have to make them recruitable by this facition. This is done in the export_descr_buildings.txt.
Find the relevant unit lines, and add your faction to the list. Note that there'll often be several entries for each unit, making it available at various levels of buildings in both cities and castles. You'll need to fix each entry.

An entry can look like below. In the "requires faction { }" part you add the factions you want, making sure each faction is seperated by a space, ends with a comma and that there's a space in the end before the bracket closes.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

You'll now be able to recruit the unit, but most likely it'll have no proper icon or skin.

Go to the battle_models_modeldb and find the entry for your unit. Note that there's an entry for each armour upgrade available, and you'll need to edit each entry.

Change what'll look like this

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Into this.
The numbers in red is the number of faction entries below.
The number before each line is the number of characters in that line, so;
7 denmark (because there's 7 letters in Denmark) or
9 lithuania (because there's 9 letters in lithuania)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Now your units will have a proper skin, instead of just being "silver surfers".

Finally, you'll want to add an icon to the unit instead of the default Rome Peasant icon.
This may vary a bit from submod to submod, but go to the ui/units folder and find the original faction. In this case ui/units/lithuania and find the #baltic_spearmen.tga file.
Copy this file to ui/units/denmark.

Now you unit will also have it's proper icon!

Congrantulations, you have now added Baltic Spearmen to the Danish roster, with all skins and icons.

**nomercysniper** · September 27, 2012, 03:08 PM

He doesnt propose to much of a 'blasphemos' point come to think...

Do you think it could be possible for say.. Genoa.. to recruit some english units (more advanced longbows maybe, or the twohanded mace axe guys.. i forget names) once the 'King of England' crown was achieved? And likewise for king of spain, france, etc

**Ichon** · September 27, 2012, 03:33 PM

That first example by OP sounds a bit like Burgundy. Otherwise that main file people forget is to allow recruitment and set pool refill and tiers in EDB.

What would better longbowmen have to do with Genoa if King of England is gained? Do you mean the English roster units if Genoa captures England instead of just the AOR longbowmen?

**nomercysniper** · September 28, 2012, 05:56 PM

Sorry, not the AOR units, i meant one or two of the unique one.. for when you have fully conquered a region (britain say) as a foreign power, you unlock a couple of roster units, that are slightly stronger than the AOR units.. Billmen say (i dont think they're AOR)

**Roma_Victrix** · September 29, 2012, 07:53 AM

Dear PerXX,

I really don't know how to properly thank you for this, other than giving you rep that you rightfully deserve. Thank you so much for this! The mod is so much better now, I can't even begin to describe it.

Sorry for not responding promptly. I'm a Peace Corps volunteer living and working in Kyrgyzstan at the moment, so using the internet isn't exactly an easy task. In fact, it's a downright pain in the arse.

100% satisfied with your help,
Roma_Victrix

**PerXX** · September 29, 2012, 08:09 AM

Glad to be of service

Being in the Peace Corps is certainly a very valid reason for a late response. Good work with that!

**viking99** · October 18, 2012, 05:30 AM

I am trying to add jinetes to the crown of aragon but it I have major problems with CTD plus some other minor questions. I am using kingdoms version 1.3

I was trying to follow your guide but I get a CTD anytime I enter the battle map. I have tried several things: (I use stainless steel 6.4)

1. If I use the unpacker it instanty crashes any game so now don´t dare to use the unpacker.
2. After using the unpacker i noticed the actual model (jinetes) is actually already added for crown of aragon so editing that file is probably not necesary.
3. I had to reinstall the program for the CTD to stop.
4. I now tried a custom battle and succesfully added the jinetes to aragon but again CTD when I entered battle.
5. I removed the altered file and end renamed the copy (without changes) but again CTD and I was forced to reinstall the game.

I can play stainless steel but as soon as I do any changes to any of the files (units, buildings) I get a CTD

I will now try to install the game into a custom directory outside of the programsx86 directory to make sure that that will not cause a problem.

another question when altering the export_description_buildings I noticed there are other conditions close to the suggested changes (and, or ...) Do I need to add aragon there as well?

I have tried altering the building file with your method as well as adding aragon to the (or, and) conditions but when I do that stainless steel won´t load properly. Just editing the units file works apart from the CTD.

Do you have any insight into this?

**viking99** · October 18, 2012, 04:46 PM

PROBLEM SOLVED, apparently using a modded game do not work well when you install it in the default programx86 folder. After a fresh install in a custom folder I managed to solve the problems. Since I didn´t have to mod the modelsdb file I am unsure if the unpacker still would cause a problem but I probably won´t push my luck. Your guide worked really well and no other alterations were necessary, so thanks.

**PerXX** · October 19, 2012, 04:30 AM

Nice that you got it working

For future references, there's no need to unpack anything. Everything required should already be there.
As for the Program Files(x86) issue, that's why people recomment turning UAC off before installing.

Generally I always create a "Programs" and "Games" folder, where I install my things to. Makes it easier to backup, or re-install windows if needed, without loosing everything.

You might also want to take ownership of the Program Files folders. To do so, do this:

* Right-click the folder, and select properties.
* Go to the Security tab, and select Advanced.
* Go to the Owner tab, and click Edit.
* If your user is listed in the "Change Owner to" window, select it, and click Apply--> OK.
* If your user is not listed, click "Other users or groups", type your username in the field, click "Check Names" and finish Ok. Then select the username in the "Change Owner To" window and click Apply--> OK.