Caesar's Gallic War

[McMonkey]

Sure thing Jarec, what do you want it to do?

You can make it change terrain graphics, units graphics, rules files and events. There are probably other things you can get it to do too!

When I have created one I will send it to you with an explaination of how it works and how to make changes to it.

[Jerec]

Things that you could also add:

I'll definitely use these ideas. Thanks!

Jarec

Knock it off with the "a" McM. The e-mail I sent you was a relative's, nothing to with my name!

what do you want it to do?

I had thoughts about making a winter season, with appropriate gfx and changing the legions into "winter camp" units or some such, but that might be a little too ambitious for me. What I'm hoping is that it can allow a bigger (or multiple) events file(s), to make more Gaulish "resistance" units or some such created for rebellion, etc. I'm just afraid that the events would be needed NOT in a timeline fashion (Red Front, Stalingrad), but all throughout the game, ready to be triggered whenever. Still thinking about that...

[McMonkey]

No probs JErec

Winter/Summer can be changed very easily. I know people like having campaigning seasons so in winter the rules file can be changed to restrict movement as well as snowy graphics. The tricky part is calculating the correct turn for the text message pop-up to inform the player its time to run the batch file. Far too drunk right now to remember the best way of doing this but I'm sure I will remember in the morning!

The events are a bit more tricky for you, but the batch file side is quite straight forward. The challenge of multiple events files is trying to predict what the player is going to do and setting the events accordingly. I suppose the beauty of rebellions is that they can spring up behind the lines and the player will have to move his forces to react to them.

I will make a batch file tomorrow with an explanation of how to alter it and you can then work out how to go about creating event files to challenge the player.

[McMonkey]

Text to follow!

[McMonkey]

I have included two essential files for getting the batch file to run and some examples of the different functions. Ultimately you will need to combine everything into one batch file but you can use these examples to experiment with the different elements individually to see how they work.

DELEVENT
Maybe someone else will be able to explain how this works better than I can but I will give it a go! As far as I understand the delevent file must be included to allow rules (?) and events to be changed over successfully. In the batch file text there needs to be a line telling the computer to run DELEVENT. Without the delevent file I don't think the events will merge with the scenario if you swap during the game. If someone can give a better explanation please do!

CHOICE
The CHOICE file is needed to run the batch file on Vista and XP (I think). Certainly on Vista if you do not have the CHOICE file in the folder the batch file appears for a split second before you can chose any options.

BATCH FILES
To alter a batch file right click and chose EDIT. You should get a wordpad with a load of text. When you have finished making changes save the batch file, pick a name for it then type: .bat after the name. For example UNITS.BAT. This will save it into the correct format so that you can then double click the batch file and pick an option.

The batch file basically runs a simple set of commands. The most common command used it a copy and rename one. For example, with the units file option 1 is: Load 1941 rules and units. My 1941 Units file is already saved as UNITS41 and the rules as RULES41. The batch file will copy both these files and rename them UNITS and RULES and deposit them in the scenario folder (overwriting any UNITS/RULES files already there). When you reload the game you should see the new units and find that the new rules are in place.

The terrain and events work much the same. You may with to download the Fortress Europe Beta (really Alpha!) zip from the scenario league so you can experiment with the batch files. Alternatively dl Red Front or any scenario that uses batch files and experiment.

Once you know exactly what you want the batch file to do you can put one together and I would be happy to test it and help with any problems.

I won't say any more now. Have a play around to figure out how they work and I, plus the community I'm sure, will be happy to answer any queries!

[Cyrion]

Originally posted by McMonkey
DELEVENT
Maybe someone else will be able to explain how this works better than I can but I will give it a go! As far as I understand the delevent file must be included to allow rules (?) and events to be changed over successfully. In the batch file text there needs to be a line telling the computer to run DELEVENT. Without the delevent file I don't think the events will merge with the scenario if you swap during the game. If someone can give a better explanation please do!

The DELEVENT is required for changing the events, but not for the rules, as the events are "recorded" in the saved file (which the rules aren't!).

CHOICE
The CHOICE file is needed to run the batch file on Vista and XP (I think).

Yes, it is necessary for XP too.

[Jerec]

Originally posted by Cyrion
Yes, it is necessary for XP too.

I play Civ2 on a Win 98, since my newer computer has very dark gfx. So it doesn't apply to me, but I'll include it since other people will probably want to play it on an XP/Vista.

Thanks for the rundown on everything McMonkey. I'll get to work scaring up some winter terrain and experimenting with the batch file.

[fairline]

Originally posted by Jerec


I play Civ2 on a Win 98, since my newer computer has very dark gfx. So it doesn't apply to me, but I'll include it since other people will probably want to play it on an XP/Vista.

I'm not taking the p1ss, but have you tried adjusting the contrast on your newer computer?

[Jerec]

Yep. Doesn't work very well, so I just gave up.

[McMonkey]

IMPORTANT

Make a back up of your original files in a separate folder. The last thing you want to do when experimenting with the batch files is accidentally over-right your original files!!!

This just occurred to me!

[Jerec]

I already made 2 back-ups of my whole scen file, 2 separate backups of my rules.txt, and am experimenting with the batch file apart from my scen also. I'm a sort of safety nut!

[Jerec]

Been testing the batch file and I'm pretty sure about how to use it. I've also started compiling winter graphics.

I came up with a problem on techs. I've put any techs I'm not using on no no, first of all. Alll the civs have a few techs allowing building of improvements and civ-specific techs for unique units. Beyond that, the Romans have a small "decision" tech tree branching off their civ-specific tech. Here is where a problem comes in. Whenever I link the techs together using the scenario editor and save, I load the save and the techs have reverted to no, nil, or disconnected themselves automatically. When I change this by directly editing the rules.txt, the game crashes. Has anybody else had this problem? Oh, and one more thing. Future tech is securely branching off one of the basic techs, and works perfectly.

[Cyrion]

Originally posted by Jerec
Whenever I link the techs together using the scenario editor and save, I load the save and the techs have reverted to no, nil, or disconnected themselves automatically. When I change this by directly editing the rules.txt, the game crashes. Has anybody else had this problem?

Yes, I'm sorry but you should NEVER use the editor to edit your techs! It simply doesn't work!

So do all your tech editing directly in the rules files and you won't have that problem again!

[Jerec]

Originally posted by Cyrion


Yes, I'm sorry but you should NEVER use the editor to edit your techs! It simply doesn't work!

So do all your tech editing directly in the rules files and you won't have that problem again!

Thanks for the alert Cyrion. Hmmmm...but if I link them by directly editing rules.txt it crashes...is there a limit on the number of letters you can have making up a tech name? 16? The techs I made have rather long names.

[Harry Tuttle]

Originally posted by Jerec


Thanks for the alert Cyrion. Hmmmm...but if I link them by directly editing rules.txt it crashes...is there a limit on the number of letters you can have making up a tech name? 16? The techs I made have rather long names.

No, I don't believe there's a limit. Your problem probably stems from the tech tree makeup. I would use CIVTECH, by Merc I think, to see if there are any problems.

Try using Excel to setup your tech tree diagram. As Cyrion said the editor tends to crap out when the more complex changes have to be made. Map it out first in Excel then edit the rules.txt by hand.