Alternative explanation for CTD?

[The Alcotroll]

It's quite a while since I last played Rome, so long in fact that I've forgotten how to put in new units.
I re-installed the game a few days ago and re-inserted some of the mods which I used to use: nothing complex, mainly just a few new units using existing or downloaded models and new skins. The only problem is that I get a CTD every time I try to load the new units on the battlemap (the vanilla units are fine).

As I remember, the conventional wisdom is that a CTD at the battle loading screen is caused by a mis-match in the text between the descr_unit file and descr_model file. I've been through these with a fine tooth-comb though, and I can't find anything wrong- I've even experimented by using existing stat-lines and only changing the description and model, but I'm still getting the crash.

Strangely, the Unit Card and descriptions are showing up fine in the custom-battle set-up screen, and as I say, the rest of the game works perfectly.

I had a brief look around the FAQs and the other threads, and I can't see anything immediately helpful. Unfortunately, I don't have time to do a more thorough search because my internet time is limited these days. I'm officialy at my wits end, and I'd be grateful if anyone can spot the no-doubt obvious mistake I'm making.

[rstoner]

Right click on your RTW shortcut, go to properties and add -show_err to the end of the target line (leaving a space in between) so it looks something like this:

"C:\Program Files\Activision\Rome - Total War\RomeTW.exe" -show_err

This should now bring up an error code when the game crashes. If it does and you're still not sure what the problem is, post it here and I'll try to help.

[dvk901]

The most common reason for a CTD in Custom Battles is a unit texture that's missing. Whatever new units you've added, make sure there's a texture to match the line in DMB. And yes, run -show_err.

[The Alcotroll]

According to show_err, the problem is in the export_descr_building file. The message reads:

"expected faction of culture type, or 'all' -terminate list with comma, enclose list in {}"

It's given me a line and column reference, but I've no idea how to search according to that. I've had a look at all the things that were modded though, and I can't see anything wrong with them. I didn't think that descr_buildings was involved in custom battles in any case.

In the mean time, I've checked through descr_model to make sure that the indicated textures match the ones that I put in the texture folder inside the unit models folder.

[Jubal_Barca]

Post the DMB/EDU code. Then we can look at it.

[rstoner]

Open export_descr_buildings, go to 'file' in the menu, then 'go to'. Imput the line number you were given and this should bring you to the problem.
Sounds to me like the problem lies in the paticular building's available factions line.
Here's an example of the correct layout of the faction line:

governors_house requires factions { barbarian, carthaginian, eastern, parthia, egyptian, greek, roman, }

Check to see if any commas are missing (probably the last entry). This may not be anything to do with your alterations as I've noticed some errors in the vanilla file. If this is the case, the error code is the only one the game could display which means the real error cannot be shown for some reason... let's hope not.

[dvk901]

You must be very precise when adding a culture or faction to one of these lines. The following line is correct.

governors_house requires factions { barbarian, carthaginian, eastern, parthia, egyptian, greek, roman, }

This line will crash:

governors_house requires factions { barbarian, carthaginian, eastern, parthia, egyptian, greek, roman,}

And this one also:

governors_house requires factions { barbarian, carthaginian, eastern, parthia, egyptian, greek, roman }

Note the slight differences at the end of the line.
Your error is probably of the type in this last line. Look for a faction with no coma after it....done it a hundred times myself.

[The Alcotroll]

The problem turned out to be with a missing comma at the end of the faction stats for Highways.

I still have no idea why this was affecting only modded units in custom battles, but the problem went away as soon as I inserted that solitary item of punctuation.

Thanks for the show_err tip, because without that I'd never have found out what was going wrong!