adding new units?

[SpydraXxX]

In the editor, I've gone through and renamed most of the current forces to what they most likely represent: ie.
Bomber to B-52 Stratofortress: Stealth Bomber to B-2 Stealth Bomber and so on. But I've been trying to add new units, but they wont show up in the game?

Ex. I tried creating an Air Transport Carrier but when I get to the game, it's not there?

To rename a unit you go back to the .ini file, but to create a new one, I'm a bit lost. The game doesn't make it clear what to do.. Also, under the same topic,
do you create new civilizations the same way as units then?

Can someone help with this?

[Sheik]

Add the unit using either the C3MT of the editor and hitting the add button (you need at least 1.21, I think). Then modify the pedicons. Just add an entry like the other units have, you will probably recognize the pattern. You also need a new folder (properly named) with an .ini for you new unit.

[SpydraXxX]

I have the 1.29v.

This is what I did:

Added Transport Carrier in edit,
I then added a folder named same as editor,
but the .ini file, I just copied the one from the bomber?
I don't know much about serious programming, so I thought by copying what already worked, it too should work. But it doesn't. Am I close?

[SpydraXxX]

I think I've figured it out.... Thanks

[Willem]

Originally posted by SpydraXxX
I have the 1.29v.

This is what I did:

Added Transport Carrier in edit,
I then added a folder named same as editor,
but the .ini file, I just copied the one from the bomber?
I don't know much about serious programming, so I thought by copying what already worked, it too should work. But it doesn't. Am I close?

No, the .ini file has to have the exact same name as the folder, you can't just copy another unit's.

[SpydraXxX]

I downloaded a program to help me create new units, now I can add units. However, couple of problems now,

This is what I've done. I may be all over the place though?

1. Tried to add units through editor. v1.29f
Couldn't figure everything out.

2. Created a folder called C-17 GlobemasterIII
(Air Cargo Transport)

Figured it was close enough to a bomber, so
maybe I could use it's files.

3. Copied the bombers files and folders to it.
Did not go inside the .ini file to change bomber to
C-17 though. Left it saying bomber. Not sure how
to change values, not sure if needed to?

4. That didn't work.

5. Now was find programs to help me time!

6. Grabbed a couple.
the one is really nice. walks ya right through
making a new unit.

7. No pics though! Not to worry, I'll get a
program for that too!!!

8. Got said program!!!!! Combined the two, and can
now;

Create a unit.
Sorta draw that unit.
Create animation of unit.

New problems:

don't know how to get picture of unit in game?
ie. Unit scroll (in game);
Unit icon (in editor)?
And why does the ICON list stop at 83?

I am certainly missing something here!! If anyone can help, please?!?!?!

If it helps to know, the programs I'm using are:

Civ3Multi Tool

Use this to create the unit.


FLICster v1.0.0 Build 17

Use this with my Paint Shop Pro to edit units animation

[Willem]

Originally posted by SpydraXxX

3. Copied the bombers files and folders to it.
Did not go inside the .ini file to change bomber to
C-17 though. Left it saying bomber. Not sure how
to change values, not sure if needed to?

That part should be OK as long as the name of the .ini file exactly matches the folder name and the entry you added in the editor.

And why does the ICON list stop at 83?

You can add more space if you like, up to 256 IIRC. Just Add some more spaces with your graphics program.

I am certainly missing something here!! If anyone can help, please?!?!?!

I'm not exactly sure what the problem is you're having. All you've said is that it doesn't work, but you've been very slim on specifics, or at least not communicating them well at any rate. Are you getting an error message, is the game crashing at some point, what exactly is going wrong?

It's really quite simple really, you use the "Add" button to create a unit in the editor then create a folder with the exact same name, which also includes an .ini with the exact same name. In that ini file, you have to make sure that the paths the game has to follow to find the graphics makes sense. If you copied the Bomber folder, make sure by looking at the paths that there won't be any confusion when the game looks for the files it needs.

It sounds to me like you're not renaming the ini file to match the new unit name, but your posts have left me somewhat confused so I'm not positive. Try to be a bit more specific and list the actual steps you've taken. Like I said, it's really quite a simple process, especially if you're using the MultiTool. With that you should easily be able to copy an existing unit at any rate, but it sounds like you're haveing trouble with even that.

Maybe before you get yourself confused with programs like Flicster, you should concentrate on getting a few basics down first. Like actually getting something to work!

[SpydraXxX]

OK, let me first say thanks for trying to help. Seems like alot of people dont want to be bothered.. So thanks...

Now this is what I want to have happen:

I want to add a unit, let's say an Apache AH, have it show up in my .bic and unit scroll in game. Also, in the ICON list.

Just want it be like the units that came with the game...

Now....

When you RENAME a unit, you go back to the unit's .ini file and adjust for the change. However, you don't have to change anything INSIDE the .ini file (to my knowledge) to get it to appear that way. Also, you would still have a picture of either, nothing, or one that looks like a chinook, which is all wrong for an apache, right... So I can rename a unit, if I keep the units identity the same, if I change it, as one would for an apache, I start getting confused...

So....

I got those programs, like I said....

Let me give you an exact example of something I did.

I was creating a E-3 Sentry (AWACS). A control, command and recon unit. This is what I did:

I took the civ3 multi tool and created the unit.

Went to my editor and gave it a couple of abilities, but couldn't put an ICON to it.

Then, being that I'm not an avid artist of the pixel, I took what was given to me through the game already that was close to this aircraft, the Bomber, which I had already renamed B-52 Stratofortress, brought that to the FLICster and drawing program for creating my aircraft.

Did that.

So now I have the aircraft, animation for a run in all 8 directions.

Went back to my editor for final abilities and assign an ICON to it. Did the abilites, but no icon.

Started a mock game to see how it looked in game.

1. Didn't have a picture in the Cililopedia, nor was there one in the unit scroll. The name was there, but no pic.
Then I wanted to build one to see it work. Build one from right-clicking on the city to bring up change production, changed to E-3, the city started building it.
I went inside another city to build it and clicked where it's name was in the list, and the game shut down.

I understand what you're saying with getting something to work before going crazy with everything, and I agree, but I thought I was going ok, I created the unit, I drew the unit, I saw it listed in the unit folder.

As for the .ini file, all I need for this plane, is a simple run. No bombing or anything, it's really only good for recon missions. So I copied the bombers .ini and just went with it's .ini as written. But I did change the name to match the units though for the file, but not inside.

I realize the bombers .ini file has fidget attack bomb run, but since I would only be using the run, I didn't think I needed to change anything. Like I said, I'm not great at programing, so I don't want to change something and have to uninstall because I screwed something up.

But I love things to be as real as possible, thus, I renamed most of the units to what they most likely represented, and wrote out a list of units MIA! And that's when I started this creating units stuff. I really love this game and think that with more units with more realistic capabilities, It can be really great!!!

I hope I made a bit more cense this time, I just didn't want to type alot if no one was going to help...

This is the third site, with this being the only responses, that I've asked for help... It seems many people, because they already know something, don't want to take the time to explain these things to fellow gamers!?!


So again.... Thanks....

Spy

[Willem]

Originally posted by SpydraXxX
Went to my editor and gave it a couple of abilities, but couldn't put an ICON to it.

OK, this part has me confused. There's an entry area called Icons with a number below it and a couple of arrows, up and down. All you have to do is click on either of them to go through the list until you find one that's suitable. I don't understand why you can't select one.

1. Didn't have a picture in the Cililopedia, nor was there one in the unit scroll. The name was there, but no pic.
Then I wanted to build one to see it work. Build one from right-clicking on the city to bring up change production, changed to E-3, the city started building it.
I went inside another city to build it and clicked where it's name was in the list, and the game shut down.

This sounds to me like there's a graphic that the game can't find. I had that problem a few times as well, and it usually was a result of having something not quite right in the paths listed in the ini file. Double check every entry there to make sure it's right. If you changed the name of your custom graphics without entering it in the ini file, that would probably be your problem.

As for the Civilopedia, you should see a very crude image of your unit, the same as the icon you select in the editor. For a better quality pic, you have to add a pcx file somewhere, I'm not exactly sure where right now. I haven't bothered with that myself yet.

So I copied the bombers .ini and just went with it's .ini as written.

Did you just copy the ini file or everything else as well? Keep in mind that it's pointing to the graphics in the Bomber folder, and it won't be able to find them unless you tell the game where they are.

But I did change the name to match the units though for the file, but not inside.

If you changed the name of the unit folder, you also have to change the name of the ini file inside.

This is the third site, with this being the only responses, that I've asked for help... It seems many people, because they already know something, don't want to take the time to explain these things to fellow gamers!?!

It probably has more to do with the fact that your post was somewhat confusing.

[BigFree]

Originally posted by SpydraXxX


1. Tried to add units through editor. v1.29f
Couldn't figure everything out.

Could this be the problem? The editor got more robust with PTW, right?

[SpydraXxX]

As for the ICON pic in the editor, I can change it by going up and down, however, I can't find a pic that looks like my plane.... The one I drew...it stops showing pics after 73.

I went into my pediaicon file and added paths for large and small .pcx I copied from my drawings.

What I've done now is I went back and added:

Entered a picture from my psp, made it same size as others. Large size 1.778 and small .444.

I wrote out a discription for the civilopedia when I used the multi tool, but that isn't showing up anywhere.

I went into the .ini file and changed the run command to match the units file name.

As for confusing, this one has gotten that way because I got frustrated. The other sites, all I did was ask if someone could help with adding units. No reply. Maybe posted elsewhere in site and people thought they already answered, so didn't want to do it again. Don't know...

I feel like I'm close... I've copied everything you've said, and I've printed it out, I'm going to go from scratch and try again....

Add unit in editor:

Goto folder and create file same name as unit:

Also, rename .ini file

Go inside .ini file check that the paths are looking where they should:

create a (unit)Run.flc file:

create .pcx file for unit:

add .pcx file path to pediaicons file:

Does that look right?

I still have the civilopdeia entry to make in the editor, but when I've tried to edit the civilopedia, it won't let me save over the file? I tried typing an entry, then saving it and it said I couldn't access that...

[Willem]

Originally posted by SpydraXxX
As for the ICON pic in the editor, I can change it by going up and down, however, I can't find a pic that looks like my plane.... The one I drew...it stops showing pics after 73.

You can add to it. Look for a file called units_32.pcx in the Art\Units folder. I think with 1.29f that there's something about always leaving the Army and modern Worker/Settler icons at the end of all the icons, though I don't recall exactly.

I wrote out a discription for the civilopedia when I used the multi tool, but that isn't showing up anywhere.

You may not have added the name in the editor to point to it, there's a space near the top for that. If not, use a program like Wordpad to doublecheck. The MultiTool does make mistakes from time to time.

I went into the .ini file and changed the run command to match the units file name.

The most important part is that you have an accurate path pointing to the graphics; the name of the actual file isn't all that important. Only the name of the ini file itself has to changed

As for confusing, this one has gotten that way because I got frustrated. The other sites, all I did was ask if someone could help with adding units. No reply. Maybe posted elsewhere in site and people thought they already answered, so didn't want to do it again. Don't know...

Yeah well, almost everyday there's a new post about how to add units, and it really is such a simple thing, once you figure it out, that it's easy to get tired of repeating it all over again.

Does that look right?

So far it does. Things have been changed somewhat with PTW so I might be missing something but I think you're on the right track.

I still have the civilopdeia entry to make in the editor, but when I've tried to edit the civilopedia, it won't let me save over the file? I tried typing an entry, then saving it and it said I couldn't access that...

Right click on the file, then go into Properties, and make sure that it doesn't have the Read Only security flag set.

[SpydraXxX]

I appretiate your help, I know it's tough when you keep repeating something like this to alot of people. Couldn't someone who knows this process, type out a step by step and leave that on a post for people to look at when they come across this problem? Seems like it would save time and effort for those whom already know... Ya know..? Unless there is one, and I just didn't see it...

Anyways, I'm getting close NOW!!!!

I've gone over my notes and went slow and noticed that on some of my entries, I forgot a letter or something. Fixed all spelling errors.

Now I've got my large and small pics showing in the civilopedia, but still no writing. I'm going to look for that units_32.pcx file, but will that have only the pics that came with the game? I'll see...

Nice catch on your part, before I came back here, I had noticed that my civilopedia was on READ ONLY, so I changed that...

I looked for my units I created, not in the civilopedia. For some reason the Multi Tool didn't add any of them.
At the end of creating a unit, it (Multi Tool)asks you which of 4 ways do you want to edit the civilopedia:

CREATE WITH THE CIVILOPEDIA EDITOR NOW
I WILL EDIT THE FILES MYSELF LATER
CREATE NEW FILES WITH THE ENTRIES IN,JUST TO
COPY AND PASTE TO ANY CIVILOPEDIA.TXT OR
PEDIAICONS.TXT
SELECT FILES TO ADD NEW ENTRY TO

I've used the first one and nothing shows up, and I've used the third one. Should I be using the 4th one?

They are however, at the end of my pediaicons unit file. Which is where I added:

art\civilopedia\icons\units\74unitnamelarge.pcx
art\civilopedia\icons\units\74unitnamesmall.pcx

which is how I believe I got the pictures to show up in the game civilopedia scroll. I thought that by putting that with the number (74) that would put that pic. with my ICONS list in the editor. But it didn't... I'll look in the file:units_32.pcx though, maybe it's there...

As for inside the .ini files, I have:

Run=E-3Sentry(AWACS).flc
Death=E-3Sentry(AWACS).flc

Run=BomberRun.wav
Death=BomberDeath.wav

That's what I meant by changing the .ini file inside.
Do I need to make pics. for fortify\Default too?
I hope I'm being more clear now with specifics on what I'm doing. And I'm sure that like you said, this is easy enough to do, and with every passing day, my road gets smoother. Again, Thanks alot for your help!!!!

[SpydraXxX]

Just wanted to add... I've checked my Unit_32.pcx and resized my units pic to fit in at the end, changed it's number to 75 everywhere, but I still don't have it in my editor. You said something about certain units may have to stay at the end?

I also checked my civilopedia, It has in it, my writing, but it's not showing up in the game? Path is good...

[SpydraXxX]

I believe I have my first created unit

I checked everything and I just need to adjust my civilopedia pic a little smaller, and try it out in the game!
But it's all in my editor.

Thank you



Let me ask you then, can I just make the grid in Units_32 bigger so I won't run out of room? I read somewhere a guy has over 332 units? WOW!

Also, when you rename a unit, you use it everywhere, but is there something special you need to do to get them on another .bic? Say I download someones mod, Can I use my units?

soooooooooo Happpppppppppyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!
I can sleep tonight!!!!!!!