BlueO of Apolyton's forums agreed to let me post his work here. The first (that I know of) complete new units made with FLICster.

From BlueO's readme:


Attack Chopper - I think Civ3 is missing this vital modern unit. If the tank can be say to be modern era swordsman, then the chopper is modern era horseman. The chopper should be classified as a land unit with the ability to treat all terrain as roads. Its attack value should be 24 - same as modern tank, but the defense value is only 12 - slightly lower then the modern tank. Its movment speed is 3, so it doesn't move faster than a modern tank on the road. It so sweet, to fly through 9 tiles of rough terrains. :) Its too bad, the chopper can't fly across water, but on the other hand, the chopper can't realistically end its turn in water...

Air Transport - Another missing vital unit, the air transport. The air transport is a helicopter upgrade that has the maximum opertional range (eight). In addition, the air transport can carry more units... two, as well as vehicle units. I had hope to increase the range to 12, but 8 is the limit.


I've viewed the animations and they look great. I haven't tried them in a game yet... still hard at work on the next version of FLICster. For more info on FLICster and the issues involved with creating unit animations, or to download flicster, read this thread: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?threadid=10208

To download the new units:

d00d. How do I install it? o.o All the Civ 3 units have this amb extention on them and your units don't. I would REALLY love to use these units, 'cause from what I see from the icons, they look as if they were in Civ 3 all the long! :D But yeah. The units won't show up for me. :(

Yeah, these are the units that I am trying to install. Im struggling.

I think that the "/Art/Units/Planes.pcx" , "/Art/Units/s_Planes.pcx" , and especially the "/Art/Units/units_32.pcx" need to be changed to make them useable.

Please let me know if anyone has any more success...

RoY

I'll try to work up something detailed later, but for now, take a look at Zippo's instructions for his Stormtrooper unit on this thread: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10762.
HTH

Yes... that is informative... however, the other two pcx files need to be fixed as well...

Frankly speaking those pcx files are not that important. You really do not need to fix them to get new units to work in the game. All you need to do is to assign one of the current available icon to the unit (after using the hacked Civ3Edit to add the unit of course:D ) and the unit will appear in the build menu just fine. And if you read the readme file in the zip file, this is suppose to be a land unit so editing the plane.pcx will not help.:p

As to the ambient files (file with a .amb extention), I notice that not all unit have that (I have been busy making my own mod as well:lol: ) and when there is one, it also have a few more files related to it. I never did try to open up the .amb file to take a look, but from my observation it always relates to those file that has the same name. Take rifleman for example :

I believe you have a RiflemanRun.amb. It relates to a few files such as RiflemanRunPack.wav, RiflemanRunxxx.wav etc. (Basically, a RiflemanRun.amb is linked to all the RiflemanRunxxx.wav files and I believe the program somehow choose the wav files in random). So, for the case of this Attack Copter, I don't think you need a .amb file (Please note that not all units has .amb as mentioned above. For those without a .amb file, the sound file is usually just a .wav file). And I believe the original helicopter unit also do not have an ambient file but it does has a HelicopterRun.wav or HelicopterDefault.wav file which give a nice heli sound anyway. :)

Actually I am typing this on another computer that do not have Civ3 installed so I cannot post a detailed line by line entry of how the sound file works. If someone is willing to post a copy of the workers.ini file here I will try to post a more detailed instruction on how to configure sound and what not as a separate thread using the file as an example.

Alright, looks like no one bother to post the ini :rolleyes:

Anyway, since I am such a nice guy, I have compiled a complete zip file for the Attack Chopper unit (including the two Civilopedia pcx file which should be unzipped to CivilizationIII/Art/Civilopedia/Icon/Units folder) that includes an ini file and all the necessary sound files.:D For those of you who don't understand (or choose not to understand;) ) how the sound files and ini file for the unit works, you can download the zip file at the link below and unzipped all files except the two 66AttackChopperxxx.pcx file to the directory CivilizationIII/Art/Unit/AttackChopper (or whatever name you choose to call the unit, I called it gunship :cool: )

ThunderFall : If you think it is useful you might want to put it up in the CFC download section. I have to put it on my own domain server (on SimpleNet) as the file size is just slightly above 500k.

http://www.dweller.com/downloads/AttackChopper.zip

Finally reached Advanced Flight in my current game and see the Attack Chopper unit in game. Great stuff!!

Whoever have not downloaded the files yet I would strongly recommend them!!:goodjob:

What does the gunship look like?
I don't have the game yet so i can't see for myself.

Hmmm....lets see, I haven't look at modern helicopter images for a while now:D

It looks like the helicopter in the Airwolf TV series (you know, squary rather than round body shape, no landing gear after take off) with two extended wing on the side (hmmm...those wings make it looks like Apache ). I believe the image is based on some modern helicopter or at least some design idea as I think I seen it before somewhere but just can't recall.

Only thing the original designer claim wrong was having the blade rotating the wrong way but hey, its wonderful animation all in all considering that you need to spend a few hours just to crank out this 8 direction animation flc files for a unit :goodjob:

This is it...

It would have been cool with a Hind.:)

Ok,

I unzipped all those files into appropriate folders but what do I next? How to link those files to new unit in Civ Edit?

Originally posted by Crist2000
Ok,

I unzipped all those files into appropriate folders but what do I next? How to link those files to new unit in Civ Edit?

Hmmm...didn't read Zippo's post on how to add a new unit eh?:rolleyes:

Anyway, all you need to do is to download the hacked Civ3Edit which is available under the utility section. Under the unit tab in the editor just select add then name the unit as AttackChopper as the unit name has to be the same as the folder name you unzip the files into. Also the ini file must also have the same name. If you want to call the unit another name just remember to rename the folder and ini files.

After all that is done, just assign the unit attack/def/movement and make the unit either a land unit or air unit and you are done!!:king:

I zee. Seems that I have missed something. But anyway, it doesnt make my lify easier either. :D How do I create the unit icon to make it visible in build list? Should I modify units32.pcx?

Originally posted by Crist2000
I zee. Seems that I have missed something. But anyway, it doesnt make my lify easier either. :D How do I create the unit icon to make it visible in build list? Should I modify units32.pcx?

Yup, just refer my post on Creation & Customization under Img pasting :D

Hey this unit sounds pretty good so far but I havent tried it yet. Are there any crashes or probs yet?
Im already using the LWC mod so would it still work ok with both installed? Sorry for all the questions just dont wanna run into any problems.:)

Dark Sheer, pleeezz, be more specific! Where

Moreover, I cant apply AI strattegy to this goddamn new unit. These checkboxes are just greyed out. When I'm trying to load some previously saved game with edited civ3mod.bic I'm startting to recieve wierd error message:

DataIO operation error:CNSL

what actually i did:

1. Created new folder in ...\unit\gunship
2. renamed ixxxxx.ini fail to gunship.ini
3. Downloaded hacked civedit
4. creeated new unit with name "gunship"
5. make new unit as land unit
5. applied cost,moves,att,def and req.res.
6. added abilities : all terran as roads.
7. Put two files to civilopeadia folders.

What I'm doing wrong?!

KALIROB2k2 :
Adding new unit to any mod doesn't really affect the mod. However, making changes to the Civ3mod.bic file will result in an old savegame unplayable. So if you have a game in progress, finish it before installing any new unit :D Also, the new unit looks great and work with no crash. I am having a modern war in my current game and already lost a few of the gunship :p


Crist2000 :
I don't think you have done anything wrong. The game will not load a savegame as it realise you have change the rules by adding new unit thats all. Starting a new game should be fine

Great to hear, well I was just worried cause the games messed up in certain areas already heh. Good to know I can add this mod, thanks for getting back to me fast. :goodjob:

Dark Sheer, that is nice. Does AI use this new unit? I mean gunship. I coudnt find any place where I may assign a strategy. Only "explore" option is available for new unit in hacked CivEdit. :(

Originally posted by Crist2000
Dark Sheer, that is nice. Does AI use this new unit? I mean gunship. I coudnt find any place where I may assign a strategy. Only "explore" option is available for new unit in hacked CivEdit. :(

I believe once you set the unit to be a land unit the other option will open up. And of course you need to give it attack value before Offence will open up and defence value before Defence will open up etc. ;)

And no worries about AI not building those units, I assure you they do! And in great numbers too :eek:

Holy crap:eek: I love the gunship heh, really good job.:goodjob: Just had to come thank you again, the game needed more units and you made a good one. Hope to see more in the future?

http://civilization3.gamesweb.com/design/x2.jpg
The Attack Choopper! :D

Heh Sweet looking isnt it? Thanks for posting that pic Jonny:goodjob:

Anyone have idea, how to make gunship destroyable by fighter ?
As land unit it could only be bombed, not destroyed...IF fighter could destroy gunship it would be very realiastic, and balancing too...Fight for air superiority would be really important...

Moeniir, I put your units for download on my site, OK?

Originally posted by s3d
Anyone have idea, how to make gunship destroyable by fighter ?
As land unit it could only be bombed, not destroyed...IF fighter could destroy gunship it would be very realiastic, and balancing too...Fight for air superiority would be really important...

Hey s3d I dont think it can be done :( I had that idea a while ago and made the point to a few mod makers and all of them said Civ3s coding made it real hard to see that done anytime soon.
I agree that it would make it far more realistic if that could happen(ie: Pearl Harbor) I also thought it would give more use to those 2 unit groups, since now they are useless as to compared to how usful they were in Civ2, now they are just crap and almost pointless (Planes that is). At least ships are still playing a role in the game somewhat :( Submarines also got a bad remake and role in this game, another unit that is now pointless :cry:

everytime i biuld one it says, cannot draw buffer .....something something..what did i do wrong, i installed crossbowman, terrorist, frigate, and chopper ok. what the matter :( :confused:

Originally posted by Jandor
everytime i biuld one it says, cannot draw buffer .....something something..what did i do wrong, i installed crossbowman, terrorist, frigate, and chopper ok. what the matter :( :confused:

Ummm...not quite sure what you are trying to say here. Do you mean all other units installed ok except Chopper or all added units have the same problem :confused: :confused:

u know reading that back, it really dosnt make any sense ;) .anyway, all those units installed okay, (nice job on attack chopper, and frigate espeacilly) but the air transport when its biult says cannot draw buffer....(cant remeber anymore)and then crashs., and it looks so good

Originally posted by Jandor
u know reading that back, it really dosnt make any sense ;) .anyway, all those units installed okay, (nice job on attack chopper, and frigate espeacilly) but the air transport when its biult says cannot draw buffer....(cant remeber anymore)and then crashs., and it looks so good

Ah, the Air Transport. Unfortunately this is one unit I never installed myself. I was trying to look at the flc file just now and it crashes the latest version of Flicster!! :eek:

There seems to be a problem with the default flc since Flicster has never failed to open any flc files for Civ3 so far. Maybe Moeniir might know whats wrong with the file. :(

Don't know, but I'll go download the unit now and take a look. Thanks for the heads up, guys!

I added these two units to my bic file (no tech prereq for testing), added a civ-pedia entry, added the animations to properly named folders, and modified the units_32.pcx. I started a new game just to test the units, and the units worked fine.

So, I started playing a real game and everything was great until I hit the industrial era (the point in the game when the workers and settlers graphics change). Now my workers look o.k. on the screen (.flc files), but my build menu and the F3 screen show the air transport for workers and the attack chopper for settlers!

Again everything works o.k. on the map, the game is playable, but where did I mess up?

as i haven't known either until a few days ago, the last 8 icons in the units_32.pcx file have always to be the last 8. those are era specific icons such those for settlers and workers.

you have to insert all your new unit icons before those 8 and after all the others (that is, BETWEEN them, to make it perfectly clear :D ) and change your units' icon IDs appropriately in the editor.

Thanks MetalChild - I'll try the modification as soon as I get home!

Metalchild,

I just added the Perry Frigate, Crossbowman and Gunship. Everything is working great, but now that I've reached the middle ages, when I look at the cityview where I have a leader fortified it shows the Perry Frigate rather than the leader. I followed your advice about leaving the last 8 icons as the last 8, but there still seem to be some bugs.

What gives?

hmm... when you edit the file and put all your added units in between those last 8 and the others as described above, then this HAS to work.

strange.

you sure that you did evrything right? and saved the file correctly to the same location etc?

Thanks for the unit,
It's working great for me.

Alright, apparently my first attempt at adding a unit to the Civilopedia failed miserably. Does anyone know how to add the Civilopedia pic to the unit? Any suggestions would be gladly accepted.

has anyone been able to get the airtransport flc
I can get the chopper to work fine, but the air transport will not work. :cry:

Originally posted by Hawkman
has anyone been able to get the airtransport flc
I can get the chopper to work fine, but the air transport will not work. :cry:


Same here !!! Has somebody got the flc right ??? In the meantime I'll have to replace the file with the bomber- shame though... :(

Has anyone checked to make sure all the files referenced in the ini file are present in the Air Trans folder?

Having a missing file or a misspelled file name would crash the unit.

I'd check myself, but I'm at work right now...

Originally posted by Kingpin
Has anyone checked to make sure all the files referenced in the ini file are present in the Air Trans folder?

Having a missing file or a misspelled file name would crash the unit.



Well, the ini file contains coding for 2 files: default and death- both of these r in the folder- no typos found... :confused:
There is however (sounds) reference to the bomberattack.AMB !!! could that create a problem ???

:goodjob: I love this unit. I use it differently than it was intended though. I just use it like a bomber instead of as a ground unit. I don't like the idea of not being able to fly over water.

I had one small problem in the editor: I'm new at this and can't seem to scroll down to the english on the unit screen. The screen goes below the bottom of my screen's viewable area so I can't give this unit to the english. Any tips for a newbie?

Has anyone got the Air Trans to work yet?

Originally posted by Kingpin
Has anyone got the Air Trans to work yet?


Hi ya, take a look into the bic file of your game and match the name of the unit with that of the units folder (art/units/air transport) and the "Air Tansport.ini" name... these have to match identically for it to work!!!

I downloaded this version of the Air Transport
MonsterMan's Civ3 Units !!!! A superb linke by the way !!!! (http://www.angelfire.com/amiga/civ3/units.html)
Works just fine now ;)

ps. If you dowloaded the latest patch and there is a different name in the bic file for the unit than in either of those in the folder, create ini and folder with the the exact name (even if misspelled in the bic) and put it in art/units !!!

I installed both the attack chopper and the air transport. The attack chopper works perfectly. The Air Transport seems to have a poorly done default.flc and death.flc (the only two animations). I have been able to get the AT to show up in the build que, and the unit it shows when being built is all funny looking. It seems to have all sorts of holes in it, and the civ specific color in sporadic spots all over it. I build it, and the turn It is built the game freezes, I never get to see a moving unit. Thre you go.

Hiya :),

Sounds like two problems:

The first (with the holes) I don't really know- could it be a pallette problem ???

The second (game freeze) is probably due to a typo in either the unit name in the (a) bic file, (b) Unit folder, or (c) Unit Ini...

Hmmm... very possible, but my question is this: has anyone EVER seen the air transport work? Reading through the posts, it doesnt look like it.:confused:

Works just fine here :) look 4 typos- I am sure that is the problem ;)

I've got the Air Trans working.

Awesome unit!

And the AI uses it too. Drops infantry right next to my cities. Arg!

Lab Monkey,

I don't think these units are in the unit's library yet. You might want to seperate them, however, because they comein the same zip file.

These are great! Can the team in my sig's link use them?!?!

EDIT: As I said in PM, please ask the creators for permission in private, via PM or emails. Don't post the same request in all those threads. Thanks. -- TF

I made everithing the same, you wrote. Let's see: I can't begin a new game now, can't load any old game, can't load any scenario. 1. step: I downloaded the hacked version of civedit. 2.: unzip, copy - drop images to the units32.pcx 3.: copy recommended files to ..\Art\units\unitname folder. 4. open civ3mod.bic in civedit and created the 2 new units. I made care of names of file names, and folder names. Nothing . . . please help!

when asking help, state the following:

system specs
which patch
PTW or no PTW
what program you use to edit pcx files

Nice collection zulu! So:
Win2000
tried on v1.07 ; v1.29
units_32 edited in Photoshop 6.0.

It's odd that adding a single unit would cause the game to be completely unplayable. Have you modded anything else?

Nooo!
I needed to completely reinstall the full game to play again. I dunno, no idea . . . maybe windows ???