Equipment Tweak Mod v1.3: Optional Backpacks, Spontoons and Ammoboxes (UPDATED 5/3/15)

[erasmus777]

The Equipment Tweak Mod

UPDATED 5/8/09

FEATURED IN:
THE RIGHTS OF MAN: AN HISTORICAL MOD FOR EMPIRE: TOTAL WAR
IMPERIAL RIGHTS MODPACK - T.R.O.M. WITH FX FOR IMPERIAL SPLENDOR
EMPIRE SEVEN YEARS' WAR BATTLEPACK
RUSTY'S DRUM REGIMENT AND SHIP CREW MOD
NAPOLEAN'S BATTLES: GROGNARD MOD
RUSTY & ALPHA'S MUSIC AND DRUM MOD

COMPATIBLE WITH
PRUSSIA REALISTIC UNIFORMS MOD
and Most Other Mods

There are now three versions of this mod. The full version, a spontoons only version and one that removes backpacks and bags only. The alternate versions are gone. If anyone has them, please share them in the Download Center and post a link on this thread.

The full mod does three things:

1) It removes backpacks and bags from European infantry. Backpacks were rarely worn in 18th century combat. Plus, I think the units look better without packs.

2) It replaces the bags with cartridge boxes similar to those used during this period.

3) It adds spontoons to European infantry officers. Spontoons were polearms used by early modern officers to signal commands to the line. While they were sometimes used in combat, this wasn't their purpose, so I've kept the sword as the weapon for melee. Historically cavalry officers did not carry spontoons, so they have swords as well.

This mod should be compatible with other mods. It is also save game compatible.

Let me know if there are any problems!


INSTALLATION:
Unzip to your ...\empire total war\data folder. Then use the Mod Manager. To avoid having files overwritten by other mods, please ensure that ETM loads last.

You can also skip the Mod Manager and do it the old fashioned way: type "mod equipment_tweak_mod.pack;" or "mod remove_backpacks_mod.pack;" (which ever pertains to you, and no quotation marks) in user.empire_script.txt. Save as Unicode. Create or edit the script here:

Vista
C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\The Creative Assembly\Empire\scripts

XP
C:\Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application Data\The Creative Assembly\Empire\scripts


MODDERS:
Thanks for all the help and tools that made this possible! Feel free to integrate it into your own mod. If you do, credit would be appreciated


CHANGELOG

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

4/14/2009 1.1 Changes
Overall quality of animation transitions much improved.
"Combat Ready" stance changed from spontoon/sword to spontoon only.
Spontoon "shooting" bug fixed. Officers once again use pistols.
Implemented work around for bug where spontoon appeared to sink into the ground when crouching or kneeling.

5/8/2009
"Combat Ready" stance changed to spontoon only.
Spontoon-pistol overlap when standing bug is fixed.
Spontoon "shooting" bug fixed. Officers once again use pistols.
Light Dragoons/Carabinier CTD fixed.
Floating cavalry officers fixed.

5/2/2015
Added good link.

here are three versions: full, spontoons only, and remove backpacks only. Choose one from below.

Prussia Realistic Uniforms Mod compatible version (replaces mod_prussia_realistic_db):
http://rapidshare.com/files/23333875...db_ETMv1_3.zip

Full Version:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=2475

[Chevalier IX]

this is awesome excellent job

[Condottiere SOG]

Good deal, thanks!

[Vanquisher]

Well done, if only we had staps for thos cartridge boxes.

[C.A.T]

great work man! +Rep

[klesh]

Ugh, I'm kind of torn. I like the backpacks and haversacks etc, but the ammo boxes and spontoon are very very nice. I wish I could have them all.

[SirAndrean]

Nice mod!! But when i apply the mod for the first time, it's not working at all. when i deleted the mod, finally i can get the mod working (without the mod file)! And although i can't get the spontoons, but i still can have my backpacks and haversacks cartridge boxes..

[JustForAVisit]

Very nice! great work

[Neofit]

This is interesting, but its animation is necessary for this officer - it stood it from behind and evened the ranks...

[erasmus777]

This is interesting, but its animation is necessary for this officer - it stood it from behind and evened the ranks...

It'd be great if I could add that, but right now we can't alter or add animation files. All we can do is mix and match them.

[Pdguru]

Great little mod! Thank you!

[Vanquisher]

Wouldn't that be a Sergeant? We need to have more officers in formations

[Bawha]

I dont want to sound to demanding or anything cuz this is really good work!.

But could you make one mod without the polearm?
I never enjoyed the current polearm fighting, one long stick and a sword in each hand look rather silly! =P

Either way, i quite enjoy the units without the backpacks!.
+rep

[TheOmegaGreen17]

Ive noticed that the guy with the polearm...shoots....... (i.e with the best jaegers from Austria)

Other than that, I really do like the backpackless units and the ammo boxes.

[Dud doodoo]

How exactly did you do this? I must have missed something.

[HGuderian]

Hi! Nice work. Line infantry looks really better now.

Do you might make a version with light infantry/jaegers/voltigeurs with backpacks and haversacks + ammo pouches?

Thanks

[erasmus777]

How exactly did you do this? I must have missed something.

At its most basic, I just edited the Warscape_Equipment_Items list and then created some new fragments for the animation table. It gets a little more complicated , because 1) it took me forever to figure out how to correctly edit the items list and discover that the PFM wasn't showing everything; 2) it can get tricky editing animation fragments because not everything works together, even when it seems like it should.



@theomegagreen - Thanks for pointing that out. I thought I had fixed that. I'll update the mod later today or tomorrow.

@Bawha - I'm going to make a couple more configurations so you don't have to download everything. I agree that the polearm/sword thing is a little goofy, but I didn't have many options. I'm hoping to fix that.

Glad to hear y'all are enjoying the mod.

[titanvoyager]

much better now! +rep!

please don´t stop!

[Kave-In]

Great mod ! One thing , would it be possible to make the officer fight with the Spontoon? Maybe useing the Russian axemen animation (I know nothing about modding so don't know if this is possible)

Anyway as said great mod! Here's Donald Sutherland with a little spontoon action

[Hidalgo1966]

Excellent mod, but when I use the ModManager it works fine in single, but when I want to start a multiplayer game, desactivating your mod and all the mods than appears in the ModManager, I can´t play because the version of the game is different.
Any idea?.