Scenario problem

[fred]

need help creating scenarios i made to scenarios saved them and they don't work also how do i create the scenario packs.

1) when i saved the scenario it went to the save files than when i tried to load it, it said something about no enough data.

can you people help me!!!!!

[Locutus]

fred,

I'm glad you followed Markos advise
First of all, do you have patch 1.2 installed? This is a must have, especially if you want to create scenario's. With the patch comes a readme.doc (it's placed in the help-folder) in which the basics of scenario design are explained. You'll probably want to use the 1.21 hack as well.

In short it comes down to the following (if this text conflicts with what the readme says, this text is probably more accurate since I've done this many times already, but read the readme anyway, I could have skipped a few things or went through them slightly too fast):

Create a folder under the *your_civ_dir*\scenario folder. This will be your scenario pack. Then create a file called packlist.txt. The first line must contain the name of your pack, the last must contain the number of scenarios in your pack. Everything in between is a description of your pack. If you want to you can also add a packicon.tga file containing a picture that should accompany your pack (size (115x90) and file-type must be exactly correct, or it won't work - I advice using an existing packicon or scenicon file as a basis and paste your own pic over it and then "save" the file, not "save as" or something like that - this always works in Paint Shop Pro for me).

Then create scenario-folders under your pack-folder and name them scenxxxx in which xxxx is a number. In each of these folders create a scenario.txt file. The first line of this file must contain the name of the scenario (you'll need this later on so remember it!). The rest of the file is a description of your scenario. Again you can add your own picture, this time in scenicon.tga.

If you want you can change any of the files in the ctp_data folder and place them under your scenario (to affect one scenario) or scenario pack (to affect all scenarios in the pack) folder. For example if you change units.txt to add your own units (can be found in *your_civ_dir*\ctp_data\default\gamedata) for the scenario then place it in *your_civ_dir*\scenario\*scenario_pack_name*\defau lt\gamedata to affect all your scenarios in the pack or in *your_civ_dir*\scenario\*scenario_pack_name*\scen0 000\default\gamedata to affect only the first scenario in the pack. You could experience some problems here, there's a bug here no-one has addressed yet.

Not all the files work if they are placed in the scenario-folders instead of the normal gamefolders. Even experienced mod-makers sometimes have problems with this, so if you have problems with this, ask for help around these forums. As far as I know everything in the gamedata-folder works fine in scenario setup, but everything in aidata- and sound-folders doesn't. I'm not sure about the graphics-folder and the uidata-folders have (so far) hardly been used, so I don't know about that either.

If you want a good example of how to use the scenario system in CtP, install the Apolyton Pack. It shows well how things work and are by most people accepted as a must-have for playing CtP.

Well, this post got a lot longer then I intended it to be, but I hope it helps you (and perhaps others as well). If you have any questions after this, I'll be glad to answer them (and others with me)... I hope I didn't forget to mention anything (I usually do ), but I'm sure someone else will correct me if so.

Locutus
[This message has been edited by Locutus (edited February 20, 2000).]

[fred]

well thanks for the info. But that is a lot further than i am. I'm having problems saving the stupid file. I'm getting mad right now because i spent 4 hours on a scenario. Just before I saved the file the game crashes.

also i have the apolyton pack and i was trying to copy what it was like. My problem is that the scenario doesn't actually work.

I'm not sure if i have the hack 1.21 (does it work with the pack?)

also i hate to ask but does SMAC have decent scenario support.

[Locutus]

fred,

Your problem is probably that you don't have the hack, as it solves many scenario-related problems. This is the description of it in the Download section of the CtP site:

quote: An UNOFFICIAL fix to the 1.2 Patch. Corrects most of the problems of the 1.2 Patch concerning scenarios, modified files that don't override the default game files, as well as save/load problems in games with scenarios. As you can understand, this is a not supported fix, use at your own risk.

The Pack and all other mods and scenarios I have ever tried work just fine with the hack. (In fact it wouldn't surprise me if some mods don't work without the hack).

And I don't know anything about scenarios in SMAC, I tried the game but like CtP better (call me insane if you want but I do ). But don't give too easily: it takes some time and persistance but once you know how to do it, you'll see modification and scenario-making is a lot more powerfull than in any other civ-game.

Locutus