Second Unique Unit Mod 1.00

This is a working standalone mod, but it is intended to be integrated into other mods.
Every standard civ gets a second unique unit which has a new skin, new name (in all languages),
a new icon and civilopdia description (english and german).
Maybe with some help, I can add descriptions in other languages too.

So there are 2nd uus, as well as new skins for existing units and other units have been altered.
All skins have been converted with dds converter 2.1, dxt3 with alpha channel.
I had to reconvert some, because of bad compression or use of dxtbmp (never use dxtbmp).
All icons are put in the 2nduumod_atlas.dds, so you can easily copy them over to your atlas.dds.

Download:
There are two versions currently, the one has just the 2nd uu and new skins. The "Plus" version also has the t-34 as second tank
included, the original tank has the name Sherman and +Amphibious, the new tank has the name T-34 and +10%withdrawal.
All the eastern civs get the T-34 and the western get the Sherman. This shows some historical differences between east/west.

Basically the plus version has a second tank class that makes this t-34 available with the standard tank, russia t-54 replaces
this second tank, I excluded the standard tank for all eastern civs and excluded the t-34 for all western civs. So it works like
the barbarian forbidden units, the opposite way of a second unique unit. I also changed the name references of the standard tank there.

plus version: http://myrror.net/civ/2nduuplus10.rar

standard version: http://myrror.net/civ/2nduu10.rar

If the download doesn´t work, try again in a few hours, maybe I am just updating.

Downloads until now (13.03.06):
Plus version: 408
Standard version: 167

You can talk to me in on irc.irc-chat.net 6667 in #civfanatics or in #civmod
(irc channel for modding civ4) or click here for java irc to this channel (http://www.civfanatics.com/chat/chatroom.php)


here the list of the current second uus:
(fs(c) = first strike (chance))

America - Minuteman
replaces rifleman, +1fs, +30% withdrawal, -10 prod

Arabia - Ansar Warrior
replaces knight, +get terrain defense, + heal 1

Aztec - Elite Jaguar
replaces maceman, +woodsman 1&2, -5 prod

China - Junk
replaces galleon, +1 cargo, +20% withdrawal

Egypt - Egypt Archer
replaces archer, +1fs, +1fsc

England - English Longbowman
replaces longbowman, -10 prod

France - Dragoon
replaces cavalry, +get terrain defense, -20 prod

German - Teutonic Knight
replaces maceman, +march

Greek - Companion Cavalry
replaces knight, +1fs, +1fsc

Inca - Elite Quechua
replaces swordsman, +50% vs archer, needs iron or copper

India - Indian War Elephant
replaces war elephant, +25% vs melee, +50% prod with ivory, doesn't need ivory

Japan - Zero Fighter
replaces fighter, +1str, +20% evasion

Mali - Mali Cavalry
replaces knight, +commando, +10 prod

Mongol - Keshik Horse Archer
replaces horse archer, +ignores terrain movecost, +1fs

Persia - Sipahi
replaces knight, +2str

Rome - Roman Cavalry
replaces knight, +30% withdrawal, +1fsc

Russia - Tank-54
replaces tank, +retreat 1, +10% vs armored

Spain - Treasure galleon
replaces galleon, +2str

other units that have been modified:
Swordsman -> 10% city attack to 20%
Jaguar -> -25% jungle defense, + woodsman 1
Camel Archer -> replaces horse archer (was knight), +30% vs mounted
Keshik -> replaces knight (was horse archer)
Tank -> changed txt keys

Here the screenhots of all new 2nduu of all civs (german/white coloured):

http://myrror.net/civ/skins/all2nduu.jpg


Credits:
Minuteman - C.Roland - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=155881
Ansar Warrior - Wyz_sub10 - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=152199
Elite Jaguar Warrior - MasterLexx - not published
Junk - Exavier - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=147560
Egyptian Archer - Hell's Angel - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?p=3587078
Longbowman - Hell's Angel - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=151313
Dragoner - Arne - http://www.civforum.de/showthread.php?t=30072
Teutonic Knight - krowtrobot - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=156407
Companion Cavalry - Civ4 - Civ4
Elite Quechua - Master Lexx - not published
Indian Warelephant - Master Lexx - not published
Zero Fighter- krowtrobot - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=146648
Mali Cavalry - C.Roland - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=155552
Mongolian Horsearcher - Mumin - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=151409
Sipahi - krowtrobot - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=146788
Roman Cavalry - Robo Magic Man - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpo...6&postcount=23
T-34/54 Tank - Master Lexx - not published
Treasure Galleon - Arne - http://www.civforum.de/showthread.php?t=30096


new skins for existing units:
Warrior leopard outfit - Hell's Angel - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=150566
German Panzer realistic style - mirtan - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=147955
MechInfantry urban camo - Fëanor - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=137389
Navy Seal darker clothes - CrazyAce - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=148111
Scout with more clothes - Tremo - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=140120
Modern Worker more stylish - Spindrift - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=141741
Samurai less golden skin - Expositus - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=153510
Praetorian with red shield - Master Lexx - not published
Galleon less coloured - Master Lexx - not published

other units that could fit:

AH-1 Cobra (America) - feando - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=146480
Mirage Jet Fighter (France) - Sir Aragorn - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=150579
Hyapist (Greek) - Aranor - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=156585
Highlander (maybe England) - Arne - http://www.civforum.de/showthread.php?t=30109
Prussian Infantry (Germany) - Arne - http://www.civforum.de/showthread.php?t=30061
MiG (Russia) - krowtrobot - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=156407

new Skirmisher - krowtrobot - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=156407
Classical Swordsman - Aranor - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=152012
Golden Warrior - Mix - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=152203
Archduke - bhiita - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=147568
New Skirmisher - Mumin - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=145818
Ancient Bowman - C.Roland - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=156652
Leather Swordsman - C.Roland - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=156555
Roman Velite - C.Roland - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=155552
Bohemian Hussite - Jouda - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=155423
new Skirmisher - LittleRedPoint - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=154618
new Swordsman - Hunter - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=134956
Black Knight - bhiita - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=146275
Paladin - C.Roland - http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=143869


This mods can still be developed further, let's hear what you think of it.
Some units like the persian sipahi don't really fit, but do you have a better idea?

Looking forward to this!

Doesn't Arabia's first UU (camel archer) replace Knights? [disregard as I did not read the ENTIRE first post]

... The "Plus" version has the t-34 as second tank
included, the original tank has the name Sherman and +Amphibious, the new tank has the name T-34 and +10%withdrawal.
All the eastern civs get the T-34 and the western get the Sherman. This shows some differences between east/west or russia/america...


What do you mean by "eastern" civs? Persia, Mali, Arabia...?


Russia - Tank-54
replaces tank, +retreat 1, +10% vs armored


Panzer has +50% vs armored in vanilla game, T-54 is a later and more powerful tank. I would suggest +50% vs armored and +retreat 1.


Anyway, good work, Master Lexx! :thumbsup:

And I am going to use your T-34 re-skin, if you don't mind ;)

PS. This looks more like a "completed modpack" than many modifications in the main Completed Modpacks subforum

Okay, thanks, but although this is a playable mod, there is nothing in there, just the 2nd uu.
So either the moderators have to move more threads in this subforum or this is simply a high quality mod component.

And barak: please first read everything before posting questions! Why do you think I have written all this text?

And barak: please first read everything before posting questions! Why do you think I have written all this text?

Its like that exam in a psychology class that tells you to wait 5 minutes then turn in the exam with your name writen at the bottom.

Sorry for not fully reading the post...looking forward to playing this mod.

Great mod! I'll probably make a Canada 2nd UU addition for this.

My only concern is that because it borrows from other Civ UUs, it might become confusing if a combo pack is done.

Still, I'll definitely be using this as I love the idea of multiple UUs for Civs.

Nice results of the hard work. Will a future version have more civs in it?

I would be glad to add more civs, but they need to fit in the game and they need a new 3d animated leader head (or at least a modified one).

Thats really cool

but they need to fit in the game and they need a new 3d animated leader head (or at least a modified one).

I think we're a ways away from that, yet. Hopefully it won't be too difficult once the tools are made available.

Now taht the mod is relased, we can improve it.

My suggestions :

First, i think we have to change some of the UU for somes civs like Persia. For France i suggest the Paladin. It represents a great french(frank) period, Charlemagne's empire.

My french paladin skin :screenshot (http://forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=109391&stc=1&d=1135900187)

Download (http://forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=109840&d=1136144354)

After, we can improve the mod by adding some new units to the game (and maybe take some from Lost unit mod) or put specefic graphic units (example: instead of rifleman the german get the prussian infantry skin, same stats but specefic graphic.) Or we can do it both.

India - Indian War Elephant
replaces war elephant, +25% vs melee, +50% prod with ivory, doesn't need ivory


is that in addition to +50 vs mounted? if yes, then what in the world could kill this guy

A tank can, 9 out of 10 times :p

Whats the prob with this? Elephants come so late, nearly as fast as maceman or knights. Elephant vs knight = 12:10, elephant vs maceman = 10:8, elephant vs crossbowman = 8:6 (or 8:7 because of fs).

I like the look and the idea for this. Will keep track of it's progress.

-=R=-

Okay, new civs are possible, in the civs subforum there are plenty of civs and some also have a new leaderhead. Like babylonians and zulu (since civ1). The problem is, they are too many, I cant look through all of them. The question now is which one too choose? Of course there will be no thailand civ or so, and only those who have a new leaderhead. Also tehre are many uus (units with new skins) included there, plenty of new skins!

Awesome, it's done! :D I'm downloading it now.

As for new civs, I could offer:
- Italy Civ (Animated Leaderhead, Alpino UU replaces rifleman)
- Switzerland (Static LH, Swiss Mercenary UU replaces pikeman)

Personally, I prefer included civs to be with animated leaderheads. Keeps things closer to the vanilla game.

Personally, I prefer included civs to be with animated leaderheads. Keeps things closer to the vanilla game.

No offense, but I see a lot of people saying this and it's a bit frustrating - this simply is not possible right now unless you re-use existing ones (which people also claim not to like).

Even using static images - editing the XML, finding and converting images, making buttons - takes a considerable amount of time. When new 3D images are possbible, I'm sure we'll see a few. Until then, if people want new civs they're going to have to put up with static images.

whoa, this is so great. I love UUs. awesome work Master Lexx ;)

No offense, but I see a lot of people saying this and it's a bit frustrating - this simply is not possible right now unless you re-use existing ones (which people also claim not to like).

No offense taken, its just my oppinion on the matter. And I know only too well it isn't possible atm. I personally have no problem with skillful skinned existing leaderheads, and I've seen quite a few nice ones already.

Hi Master Lexx, I've just finished adding this awesome work into my mod.
Sadly though, it seems I've made a little error while doing this.
when the mod loads up, I get an error message that says:

Tag: in Info class was incorrect
Current XML file is: Units/CIV4UnitInfos.xml

I've already dealed with many similar messages that occurred whenever I did something wrong while modifying XML files, and always fixed everything.
but this one is different: it doesnt tell me where the error is! I am clueless.
Do you have any idea on what could have gone wrong?

thanx in advance for your help, and kudos for your great work :goodjob:

Whats the prob with this? Elephants come so late, nearly as fast as maceman or knights. Elephant vs knight = 12:10, elephant vs maceman = 10:8, elephant vs crossbowman = 8:6 (or 8:7 because of fs).

I have to agree that the Indian War Elephant sounds too powerful. Just look at your own numbers; it has a two point lead on all its contemporary units. If the +50% vs. Mounted is maintained with the Indian War Elephant along with an additional +25% vs. Melee, they would be nigh impossible to effectively counter, accept maybe with pikeman which generally come later. Spearmen, which are on basically equal footing with vanilla war elephants, would no longer be effective. War elephants are VERY powerful units considering when they come in the tech tree and their comparatively low production cost. However, balance is maintained by the fact that Ivory, an extremely rare resource, is required to build them. If you take away that limitation (a move that I'm not objecting to), then there is no longer a small chance that the civ (in this case India) will be able to build this exceptional unit, but a guarantee. Obviously a UU should not require a rare luxury like Ivory, but a weakening of the unit should be implemented to maintain balance. My suggestion would be to reduce their strength to 7 or something along those lines. Even then it might still be overpowered, I don't know.

Oh, and excellent work on this not-so-mini mod :)

On the topic of new civs, I just thought this would be a good place to let people know, I've combined this mod with my Italy mod, and given Italy a second UU.
Due to the fact that Italy fighting Rome would be absurd IMO, Italy replaces Rome in the mod. Italy also has an animated LH (Vittorio Emanuele II). Just click the link in my signature to check it out!
__________________________________________________ ____________________________________
Also, I agree with Kodama on the War Elephant thing. The Indian War Elephants are too strong, and IMO, it shouldn't be possible to build war elephants w/o ivory.

How can you ride an elephant if you have no elephant?! :confused:

Also, I agree with Kodama on the War Elephant thing. The Indian War Elephants are too strong, and IMO, it shouldn't be possible to build war elephants w/o ivory.

How can you ride an elephant if you have no elephant?! :confused:

I must reiterate that I DO think that the Indian War Elephant should be available without Ivory. Otherwise, because Ivory is uncommon and tends to clump in certain regions rather than being more evenly distributed, you would have a UU that you would rarely be able to build, which would be both annoying and unbalanced. I think that the bonus to production from Ivory (maybe should only be only 25% bonus) is a good idea, but at the moment the Indian War Elephant is just too powerful.

On a realism level, Indian elephants aren't the major source of ivory -- African elephants are. But Indian elephants are the sort of elephants used in battle, because African elephants are almost impossible to train. In reality if you had access to a small number of Indian elephants, but no African elephants, you could have war elephants without a significant source of ivory. Also, Ivory can be harvested from fossil mammoth tusks (this was the primary source of ivory in Europe for a very long time) an example of having a source of ivory without having the capacity to train war elephants. So the 1:1 correlation between an ivory resource and the capacity to build war elephants is not entirely realistic anyway, but really more of a semi-realistic gameplay quirk to make things more fun and interesting.

You guys are right, I will remove the +50% prod bonus from indian war elephants. And Gecko, I need more infos, plus version or not,...

yes, it's the plus version, I've pasted the new tank over the old one and added in the t-34. sadly there's not much info I can give, since the error message actually gives NO info. I thought that maybe someone with more knowledge than me might understand what the problem is just by looking at that error message...

Gekko']Hi Master Lexx, I've just finished adding this awesome work into my mod.
Sadly though, it seems I've made a little error while doing this.
when the mod loads up, I get an error message that says:

Tag: in Info class was incorrect
Current XML file is: Units/CIV4UnitInfos.xml

I've already dealed with many similar messages that occurred whenever I did something wrong while modifying XML files, and always fixed everything.
but this one is different: it doesnt tell me where the error is! I am clueless.
Do you have any idea on what could have gone wrong?

thanx in advance for your help, and kudos for your great work :goodjob:

You are not going to like this:( That's one of the those rare parsing errors you can get with this game. The question is do you remember what you edited(ie. one unit, two, more?) Obviously the lower the better, but you have a syntax error in one or more of the entries.

Generally, this one is tied to Bonuses needed to produce the unit. You might check there specifically <BonusType>NONE</BonusType> for any units that you added. Just a thought because this was the one place that I saw this unlisted error a couple of times while modding units.:goodjob:

it happened when I added this mod to mine, so when I added all the new UUs, but I might have editted some other units as well during that same "session".
I'll try to hunt the error down following your instructions, thanx :)

what's a "parsing" error btw? I dont really know what "parsing" means... :blush: if you can provide me with an example to make me understand, that would be appreciated. :goodjob:
oh and an example for a syntax error would be nice too. :)

Gekko']what's a "parsing" error btw? I dont really know what "parsing" means... :blush: if you can provide me with an example to make me understand, that would be appreciated. :goodjob:
oh and an example for a syntax error would be nice too. :)

Syntax=spelling(not exactly but you get the idea) One wrong period or comma could do it.

Parsing=Review file contents for correctness. File contents is reviewed for mistakes or errors in syntax and form.

Thanks for your help RED DIAMOND.
I still can't find that damn error though. this is gonna get me mad... :(

I still can't find that damn error though. this is gonna get me mad... :(

Actually, that's the real function of parsing errors. ;)

Send me the xml file, I can help you. So xmlspy saved the file and there was still an error? Thats strange, at me it always gives me a warning if a tag in not right.

@Gekko: Do what I always do in these situations, remove any modifications you made to the file (or at least the latest batch, the ones that started causing the errors) and then start adding them one by one until it gives you the same error. It's time consuming, but it works. :)

Also, if XML syntax checkers aren't giving you any problems but the game gives you an error it might have something to do with the schema. Make sure that you don't use something like <sometag/> when you have to use <sometag>NONE</sometag>, or vice versa.

actually I'm using just wordpad to modify the xml files. and I don't like the thought to re-add all the new unique units + the modifications I've done to them from scratch... it would take away loads of time.

thanx a lot for your offering your help Master Lexx, I'm going to send you the file right now :)

Never use wordpad for editing xml, at least take notepad++ http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm

well it worked fine so far ( excluding that error that is clearly my fault though, not the program I was using ) , but from now on I'm going to use notepad++, thanx for the link :D

Never use wordpad for editing xml, at least take notepad++ http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm


I use Crimson Editor: http://www.crimsoneditor.com/

... but I have heard great things about notepad++ too...


-=R=-

Really like the new units. My only complaint would be with the zero being japans unit. The zero was kinda a crappy fighter. It had a fairly low max altitude, no armor what-so-ever, and burned like a match if it took any hits at all (mainly cause it was made of silk stretched over a bamboo frame) anyhow just thought i'd share. good stuff

Ah, but it was extremely maneuverable with great range. Apparently it was beaten with good tactics, and the exploitation of its serious flaws.

Thats the problem with WW2 planes, good models became outdated very quickly, e.g. the stuka, the zero.

:goodjob: This is awesome! The only thing I recomend is a change to the Aztec 2nd UU. Instead of calling it Elite, you should go with Eagle Knight. The Aztecs had both the Jag and Eagle knights around the same time with the Eagle knights being a more elite organization. Maybe reskinned with more gold. I'd do it myself, but I'm only a history buff and know nothing about python or XML. Again, great MOD

Really like the new units. My only complaint would be with the zero being japans unit. The zero was kinda a crappy fighter. It had a fairly low max altitude, no armor what-so-ever, and burned like a match if it took any hits at all (mainly cause it was made of silk stretched over a bamboo frame) anyhow just thought i'd share. good stuff

I wasn't as crap as the Allied fighters it spent over
a year hacking down in droves during 1941-42...;)

The unit represents a high point in Japan's power.

Although a battleship unit would be more fitting...

:)

"I wasn't as crap as the Allied fighters it spent over
a year hacking down in droves during 1941-42"

I think you will find that fact is ignored, glossed over, or completely unknown to many, many people.

Because when you go on about how great your victory was, the skill of your pilots, the great designs of your planes, i.e. your total superiority, you cant very well acknowledge a year of defeat, now can you?

:lol:

Hi. Great job! Let me know if you need help with the Spanish translation.

Okay, next version the elite jaguar warrior will be called eagle warrior. And Der_Meister: I still need Civpedia entries in spanish and if you find icorrect translated names, just pm me. Thanks.

When I build an Elite Jaguar w/the Aztecs I get a black spot w/a white exclamation in the city build bar. I don't know if it's like this for any of the other UU, but its kinda of bothersome. Otherwise I love this mod. Thanks ML

@wicked1: There's a bug associated with that city build bar. Try this - if you put the mod in (something like) mydocs/mygames/civ4/mods/, then move it to [civ4 installation folder]/mods/, it should fix the problem.

"I wasn't as crap as the Allied fighters it spent over
a year hacking down in droves during 1941-42"

I think you will find that fact is ignored, glossed over, or completely unknown to many, many people.

Because when you go on about how great your victory was, the skill of your pilots, the great designs of your planes, i.e. your total superiority, you cant very well acknowledge a year of defeat, now can you?

:lol:

The matter was that during the 1930s, the Allies had ignored the Japanese fighter industry,
and was under the poor impression that the IJN flew inferior biplanes and outdated types...

The Zero was outdated, but had superior dogfighting potency...And decent
armament to boot. But after 1942, the newer species US and British fighters
had the edge and the Japanese air superiority was ended.

As I mentioned, the Japanese 2nd UU should be a modern naval battleship...

.

how about a third UU :D

@white_rabbit: I did a search and couldn't find any other folders with CIV in it. But your right, I did install it in mydocs/mygames/civ4/mods/ Where exactly should these files be?

Thanks

A third uu, very nice idea, maybe somebody can make a 3rduumod?
Besides... I have quit modding Civ4, thanks for all the feedback.

Where should I save this to to download it? I download it into my documents/my games/civilization 4/mods, but it doesn't show up when I go to advanced load a mod. Other mods work on my machine.

does this mod work for warlords

Since there are new unit tags in warlords no not out of the box, although the conversion would not be to complex.