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    Civilization II SAV/SCN file format 

    by
    Mercator
    Published on June 12, 2012 12:03

    Prologue

    This thread is intended to become a reference guide to the Civilization II savegame and scenario file format. It is a vital first step if we ever want to see a universal civ2 scenario editor. I started this thread to make it a more public and centralized effort, as opposed to Allard's Hex Editing document. While being an indispensable initiative, I believe it's become almost unmanageable. There never was one central place to post new discoveries, making it impossible to keep up to date.

    But for this new effort to succeed, we need your help. So, please post your discoveries about the file format here.

    However, this is mostly meant to be a raw file format reference, not (yet) a complete guide to how every single byte can be used in making your scenarios. When you do have a new discovery, please keep it concise and to the point. But feel free to add comments or ask questions, as long as they're specifically about this reference, and not about hex-editing in general.

    Please do NOT ask your hex-editing questions here. If you have a question, post a new thread.

    As you will notice, apart from the table of contents the file format is still mostly uncompleted. That's not because we know so little, but simply because I haven't added all of it yet. This thread will probably always remain a work in progress. And for the moment certainly not only for the file format itself. I will also be adding notes on the notation and some of the terms used. Notes will ...

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    Quick note on editing Civ2 units 

    by
    Martin Gühmann
    Published on February 12, 2000 19:20
    Article Preview

    A Quick Note on Editing Units

    Written by the Great Icon Library

    Copying and pasting the new unit into the green frame of the unit to be replaced ...
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    The Ghost Technology in Civ2 

    by
    Martin Gühmann
    Published on February 11, 2000 19:35

    Original Author:
    Dirk Weber
    Weseler Str. 145
    47169 Duisburg
    Germany

    Bakcm at aol.com

    With this file I TRY to explain you, how to allocate a technologie (and on this way also units) to a single civilization. As an example: Greece Fire (only for Greek civilization).

    Steps:
    1. Create a scenario, first (there is no other way)
    2. Rename one technologie (maybe 'def.user technology') to Greece fire. This Technology should be reached from nil (nil = from the beginning). The rest could be as you want. Then -> save. Before this you can also allocate units to this technology.
    3. Load your scenario, go in the cheat menu, allocate this technology to those civilizations you want it for, then save the scenario.
    4. Step again in the rules file. Replace 'nil' (see above) with 'no'. Then save again .
    5. ... finished.
    ...
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    The Rocky Mountain Civilization II Site presents: Mod Packs, Scenarios, Units, Hints and Tips 

    by
    Martin Gühmann
    Published on September 3, 1998 18:01

    The Rocky Mountain Civilization II Site presents:

    Mod Packs, Scenarios, Units, Hints and Tips provided by our site are SHAREWARE
    This means that you are free to look at them, download them, use them, abuse them, etc. If you like ours, and they are of benefit to you, we ask that you consider sending us the following to offset the site subscription, email, counter, etc. costs, so we can continue providing all of this to Civ II enthusiasts around the world:
    Our Hints & Tips that help ......................... $ 1.00 (US)
    Our Scenarios you like ............................... ...
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    How to make your custom unit icons for CIV2 

    by
    Martin Gühmann
    Published on February 13, 1998 15:23

    WARNING: backup the units.gif file situated in your CIV2 folder BEFORE changing anything.

    Well, you'll need Windows '95 or NT and the Paint Shop Pro (32-bit version) to work OK.

    First of all, you may create:

    a) a completely new unit or
    b) one based in a former unit.

    a) You may create the unit using a shareware icon editor. It is also possible to draw it using a program as Paintbrush, but I find that somehow difficult. Save your work in the *.gif format. If the program doesn't allow that, save under *.bmp or whatever and use Paint Shop Pro to convert to *.gif. Once you have it, go to the General Procedure section.

    ...
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    The Rocky Mountain Civilization II Site Presents: Editing UNITS.GIF Using PSP 

    by
    Martin Gühmann
    Published on February 13, 1998 12:44

    INTRODUCTION

    There are so many questions and problems out there about editing gif files in Civ II, I finally decided I’d try and write a basic “How To” Tip. I’ll go over some basic principles, then end up with a step by step example. This tip will not make you a good artist.

    UNITS.GIF

    There are several gif files in Civ II, all of which can be edited. UNITS.GIF gets the most attention. It is the file that stores the images (pictures) for all of the units displayed in Civ II. It is directly related to the description of each unit and its characteristics found in RULES.TXT. The units also use specific sound files (.WAV files) found in the SOUND directory of Civ II (or one of the scenario directories if you have the Scenario CD). Changing the units in Civ II’s UNITS.GIF without understanding these relationships will not produce the desired results.
    ...
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    The Rocky Mountain Civilization II Site presents: Scenario Creation 

    by
    Martin Gühmann
    Published on February 6, 1998 15:12

    The Rocky Mountain Civilization II Site presents:

    Mod Packs, Scenarios, Units, Hints and Tips provided by our site are SHAREWARE
    This means that you are free to look at them, download them, use them, abuse them, etc.* If you like ours, and they are of benefit to you, we ask that you consider sending us the following to offset the site subscription, email, counter, etc. costs, so we can continue providing all of this to Civ II enthusiasts ...
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    The Rocky Mountain Civilization II Site Presents: RULES.TXT Comments and Notes 

    by
    Martin Gühmann
    Published on April 8, 1997 17:30 

    ;------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
; The Rocky Mountain Civilization II Site 
;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
; 
;   RULES.TXT Comments and Notes 
; 
;    May 1997 by Jeff Head and the Rocky Mountain Civilization II Site 
; 
;	What follows are the notes and comments that I have made in my own rules.txt file
;	for the changes I make to Civ II when making a Mod Pack.  Some of it is the stock
;	notes that Microprose sent out with the game, a lot of it has been added to or
;	clarified based on my many “trial and error” experiences.
;
;	We release this as a help to those making Mods, not as an “end-all”. Although
;	these comments represent our general experiences, they could well be sub-sets
;	of the actual game operation and programming, meaning they may not work as
;	stated in all cases.
;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
			...
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    Radiospace's CIV 2 Scenario Design FAQ 

    by
    Martin Gühmann
    Published on June 4, 1996 16:50

    version 1.0
    by Patrick Williams
    June 4, 1996
    email: Radiospace at aol.com

    This FAQ is designed to help you build scenarios for Civilization II. It is completely unofficial and not affiliated with Microprose in any way. Then again, neither is Brian Reynolds, so what the hey.

    Some of the Menu Items I mention might have a slightly different name, as I’m writing from memory, but other than that the information is accurate, except where I note that I’m guessing about something.

    If you are new to building scenarios for Civ2, or even experienced but achieving unsatisfactory results, these notes may help you in your next effort. The material is organized as follows:

    1. Choosing a scenario
    2. Designing the map
    3. Placing the tribes on the map
    4. Starting the game
    5. Editing cities
    6. Creating units
    7. Controlling technology
    8. Influencing diplomacy
    9. Miscellany
    ...
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    Advanced Scenario Design in Civ2 

    by
    Martin Gühmann
    Published on March 26, 1996 20:10

    Advanced Scenario Design

    Leon Marrick (Leon2M at aol.com), assisted by Harlan Thompson (harlant at hawaii.edu) and others.
    Please see Credits for details.

    This manual is designed to assist those with both a firm understanding of the map editor and of the Cheat menu used in preparing scenarios to improve and polish their work. Novices are urged to read some of the excellent documents for beginners found on the "Ultimate Civ2 Page" now Apolyton, and practice with a design or two before delving too deeply into this document.

    This is a long essay, but not even close to being comprehensive. Additions are welcomed.

    If you see a section referance - example "(Section 5a)" - that section of the document (in this case, the discussion of the rules.txt file's cosmic principles area) will have further information on the subject.
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