Adding New Resources?

[Jon Shafer]

This has probably already been asked before, but I'm too lazy to go look at the moment.

So how can you go about adding new resources/goods/etc.? That mostly includes how to add the graphic where it will work, since using the hacked 1.21f editor is pretty easy to work with. I wanted to add "Sugar" and "Cotton" to provide the South and Caribbean with some value.

[Willem]

If you look in your Art folder, you'll see a file called resources.pcx, the icons are in that file. Make sure you get the one with the magenta background, there's another there called resource. pcx that just has some extra icons you can use. You can use pretty much any graphic program to paste new icons into it.

There's currently a limit to the number of unique resource icons you can have in a game. I believe it's now 36, though some people have managed to get as many as 82. That doesn't happen very often though, it's pretty much a fluke. You can still have more than 32, but you will have to share graphics for some of them. Anything above that number, and the icon is invisible on the map and the civilopedia.

Be careful with luxury resources, they can cause some problems in the game. First off, it looks like you can't have any more than 8 total. And switching with one of the defaults occasionaly can cause problems, though not always. Just test any changes before you get carried away. There's no limit that I can see for bonus or strategic, other than the 82 overall total.

[green_athena]

No Go Oasis

Well it appears I do not possess either the technical expertise, or the right program...to add resources. The only graphics programs I have to work with, can work with, are Paint and MS Photo Editor. I am trying to add a Desert Oasis resource. I can use Paint to paste the Civ2 Oasis icon into a new resources slot in the file. However, Paint cannot save .pcx. So --fine. I just saved it bmp without losing any color. Then I used photo editor to save the file as a .pcx. However, apparently photo editor pcx's are not viewable by the game. Suddenly all the icons show up as black square boxes. I did make sure the borders for none of the icons were messed with in any way. Pink is the background --fine.
No go.

The thing is ...I don't want to actually *change* any of the original resource graphics...or I would use some of the premade mods ...but I *like* the original icons...they work just right for me..I don't want them larger or whatever. I just wanted to add some more.




*sigh*

[Willem]

Re: No Go Oasis

Originally posted by green_athena

The thing is ...I don't want to actually *change* any of the original resource graphics...or I would use some of the premade mods ...but I *like* the original icons...they work just right for me..I don't want them larger or whatever. I just wanted to add some more.

Your problem is the wrong program. It's actually quite an easy thing to do, if you have the right tools. Paint is good for nothing IMO. In fact any MS graphic program. My suggestion is Photoshop 7, though that's a very costly program. I'd suggest an *ahem* alternative approach, but I gather the moderators don't take kindly to that kind of advice.

At any rate, it's not your skill that's at fault, it's your tools.

[Jon Shafer]

Ahhh, beautiful, works fine. Thanks!
Now my only problem is that my cotton image looks like crud, but oh well.

[Panag]

Re: Adding New Resources?

Originally posted by Trip
This has probably already been asked before, but I'm too lazy to go look at the moment.

So how can you go about adding new resources/goods/etc.? That mostly includes how to add the graphic where it will work, since using the hacked 1.21f editor is pretty easy to work with. I wanted to add "Sugar" and "Cotton" to provide the South and Caribbean with some value.

hi ,

there should be a whole lot more then just those two , ....

have a nice day

[Jon Shafer]

True, but I'm just focusing upon things I'd like to see at the moment (and things I can produce half-acceptable graphics for ).

[CivGeneral]

My suggestion is Photoshop 7, though that's a very costly program. -Willem

Some of us do not want to pay that much for Photoshop 7

I'd suggest an *ahem* alternative approach, but I gather the moderators don't take kindly to that kind of advice. -Willem

Wouldint the alternative approch be using a Bmp to Pcx utillity to convert them. Just a thought
.

[green_athena]

paint programs

Originally posted by Civfan01




Wouldint the alternative approch be using a Bmp to Pcx utillity to convert them. Just a thought
.

Yea, except that's what I did originally but that doesn't seem to save the PCX in a format the game agrees with. Maybe it's saving it in a different pallet or something, when it saves ...I don't know.

In any case, I went to cnet and downloaded the trial verson of Paint Shop Pro 7, and have been using that. Works pretty well for this.

[delfino]

Originally posted by Trip
True, but I'm just focusing upon things I'd like to see at the moment (and things I can produce half-acceptable graphics for ).

Just take a look at the excellent work done by Harlan. He not only improved the initial Firaxis work but also added some exciting new ones. Even if you want to do it by yourself I would suggest that Harlan is the man to give you some help.

all the best
carlos

[Panag]

Originally posted by Trip
True, but I'm just focusing upon things I'd like to see at the moment (and things I can produce half-acceptable graphics for ).

hi ,

need any help , ....

"half-acceptable" , what you mean with that , ....

have a nice day

[Amesjustin]

I use 37 resources (with 1 repeated graphic for offshore oil). All 36 images I cut and paste using MS Paint, as crappy as it is, and it works fine. I just cannot create new graphics that are worth a damn.

[Panag]

Originally posted by Amesjustin
I use 37 resources (with 1 repeated graphic for offshore oil). All 36 images I cut and paste using MS Paint, as crappy as it is, and it works fine. I just cannot create new graphics that are worth a damn.

hi ,

, Snoopy is very good in the creation of new graphics , ....

, why not take pics from the net or so , and work with that , ...

have a nice day

[green_athena]

odder still

Strangely, I used pspro to cut & paste graphics, and they show up just fine in the editor (the hacked editor, of course) ...but they don't show up in the actual *game*. Vamoos. Gone. Vanished. Empty places where they should be displayed. Check the scenerio in editor again ...yep, there. show up.

like the coffee bean, for instance. and the crab (from ctp, right?). and the pearls and.....

sigh

[Amesjustin]

Re: odder still

Originally posted by green_athena
Strangely, I used pspro to cut & paste graphics, and they show up just fine in the editor (the hacked editor, of course) ...but they don't show up in the actual *game*. Vamoos. Gone. Vanished. Empty places where they should be displayed. Check the scenerio in editor again ...yep, there. show up.

like the coffee bean, for instance. and the crab (from ctp, right?). and the pearls and.....

sigh

Did you set an advance prerequisite for the resource that you have not yet used in the game?

Did you use Gramphos' copy tool to copy an already existing resource, then modify it and change the graphic so it becomes the new resource?

That's what I did and it worked perfectly - all 37 graphics show up in all new games once the appropriate advance has been researched.