XML HELP - CIV4FormationInfos

[FrostyBoy]

I have figured out how to increase the unit size from 3 to 50 people per unit, it's very very cool to see a large army attack, rather than just 3 men attacking.

The problem is now, the units are forming a circle, I want to scatter them up..

When I edit the xml file CIV4FormationInfos nothing seems to change in the game.


Can anyone shed some light on this?

[Martin Gühmann]

What did you edit in particular. The file is big and noone thought of using proper indention so that the file is readible with a text editor. (So I need to download an utility.)

So far from what I can see is that the file consits of blocks for different circumstances like IDLE (1) - IDLE (4) or BATTLE (1) - BATTLE (4).

These blocks should contain all the relevant stuff. And to make sure that all the formations are changed you have to edit them all, of course.

-Martin

[FrostyBoy]

ok I willhave a go at changing all the values

[FrostyBoy]

I changed all of Battle 1 to 4's values, nothing changed in the game.

[Martin Gühmann]

Originally posted by Sn00py
I changed all of Battle 1 to 4's values, nothing changed in the game.

Just to be sure: You tested your modifications in a battle?

-Martin

[FrostyBoy]

yes I did test it, I guess we need some help from the developers on this..

here is a screenshot, they are in battle right now, but you can tell they originally formed a circle.

[FrostyBoy]

Here's a screenshot of the battles section inside the Formations XML file.

Notice there are 4 of them...

Here are my Questions:

1. Why are there 4 Battle types?

2. What does Direction_South mean? Is this the direction the units must face?

3. The mask column, (255), what is that for?

4. Position X, Y, what does this mean exactly?

5. Position Radius, Direction and Dir(Direction?)Variation; what do these do exactly?

6. Why are the numbers so long?

7. Does changing the numbers do anything?

8. How do I change the numbers? (as in, what numbers can I change them to for it to work).

[ajbera]

Idle speculation...

1 - some units have 1, 2, or 3 figures, and I thought I saw a screenshot with 4 once. Perhaps each battle type is for that number of figures/vehicles per unit.

4 - position x, y around a central point (0,0). You'll note in a 3-figure unit, each is at the 120 degree point of a circle.

7 - try changing all the x,y coordinates to that of battle 1 (-.0201342281879, -.201342281879) and see if all figures in a 3-figure unit face the same direction instead of facing out, or if all figures are on the same spot.

[FrostyBoy]

Thanks ajbera, I will have another go at it..

When I edited these numbers, I actually had about 100 men inside the unit, maybe that's causing a problem..

will do a few tests

[FrostyBoy]

Well ajbera, you were right!

Here I was, excited to have turned 3 men into 100 men, then trying to put them into formation, never realising that there is no setting for 100 men to form.

[ajbera]

After all you've done for Civ, I'm happy to help.

I wonder if you can add a battle type for x units (20, 50, 100, whatever), but then you'd have to play with the x,y and other numbers and see what you get.

What xml editor are you using?

[Unspeakable Horror]

XMLSpy from Altova.

[FrostyBoy]

With the help from saar over at CivFan, I have worked out how it is done.


It's all in the X and Y values, the other 3 values are not important.

on the map:
X = horizontal
Y = vertical

Ignore the large numbers, Firaxis was just being precise.

If you have 3 men in a unit, and you want to form them into a horizontal line, you simply go to the number 3 idle row, change the first x value to 0.0 and the y value to 0.0 (this infact will put them directly in the center of the tile).
Change the 2nd x value to 0.10 (this either sends them right or left by 10 (pixels? not sure what its measured in) and the y value to 0.0 (if we change this, they will shift off the horizontal line). For the 3rd x value, we change it to -10.0 (because we want them to shift 10 pixels in the other direction), and the y value to 0.0.

[FrostyBoy]

Oh, and imagine, you can change the battle formation seperately from the idle formation, so you could have a bunch of pratorians form an attack formation.