Few questions here and pardon my ignorance as its my first time modding. Also, in case I am repeating someone else here, the search function appears to have been disabled (is this just for me?).

I am running PTW patch 1.29f under Windows XP.

Using the Multitool I've just added the T62 to a test scenario to see how it all works. The animations and attacks and sounds all appear to run OK but in my Civilopedia the units icon appears in a blue background. How come? Also as I have added using the standard unit pcx and used icon 19 (Tank) the icon appears VERY blurred in my build queue, a lot more so than the ordinary tank icon.

Next - I added a new unit using the Editor by simply adding a new Infiltration Submarine using the Nuclear Submarine graphics (I hope!). Do I have to add new animations etc using the Multitool or as it is based on the Nuclear sub will it ise these animations? Also, as I discovered belatedly when adding the T62, do I need to amend the Pediaicons to include the Infiltration Submarine?

FINALLY - is there an overview or text version of the latest pcx unit icons - I find it very difficult to pick the correct icon from the hundreds available for my new units.

All in all I found it easier than I expected, once I got to grips with what I was doing, to add new units. Where'd I put that damn Dora railgun file again...

Thanks in advance for any help!

Hm, this belongs into the general customization forum, but I´m sure a friendly mod will move it soon...

To your question - what icon exactly appears on blue bg in the civilopedia? The large pedia pic, or the small one (or both)?

And from which T62 version?

Its the small icon in the Units section of the Civilopedia. The main icon appears OK (I uttered a small cheer when this appeared. IT WORKS AT LAST!).

Its the latest T62 version, probably a few posts below this now.

Thanks for the prompt reply anyhoo.


WHOA!! Its your T62 BeBro - the green version. Nice unit!

And OOOPS! I just realised where I should have put this post.

Originally posted by BeBro
Hm, this belongs into the general customization forum, but I´m sure a friendly mod will move it soon...Not too bad; only an hour later. ;)

Thread moved. :D

Originally posted by Mirv Sheelon
Its the small icon in the Units section of the Civilopedia. The main icon appears OK (I uttered a small cheer when this appeared. IT WORKS AT LAST!).

Its the latest T62 version, probably a few posts below this now.


Are you sure you made no mistake in the pediaicons.txt? Spelling error or something? Because the icon itself seems to be ok.

I'm pretty sure I got that bit right - its simply a matter of putting T62green with the appropriate text etc in front, with the unit name in the next line? When I got that wrong, the minute I tried to build the unit it came up as a Pediaicons error.

I realised last night I am NOT using the most up to date version of the Multitool - could this be it?

Any idea on my other two problems - ie the Infiltration Submarine and then the units pcx file?

HELP!:confused: :confused: :confused:

OK - I got the icon working now, I hadnt realised that in the file it was T62_green and I'd been naming it T62green. Sorted.

Is the general approach to adding units using the Multitool as follows:

1) add unit to units folder within scenario
2) Using multitool, add unit to scenario placing appropriate animations to appropriate sounds, along with statistics
3) Add #icon to pediaicons
4) Add PRTO_ to Pediaicons
5) Add entry to Civilopedia
6) Test and play

I hope this sounds alright - I've been getting myself more and more confused as I've been trying to figure out what was wrong.

What happens with a unit that comes with no icon graphic, the Dora Railgun for instance? What do I add to my icons?

Finally, anyone any idea about a text units_pcx file?

Originally posted by Mirv Sheelon
OK - I got the icon working now, I hadnt realised that in the file it was T62_green and I'd been naming it T62green. Sorted.

Is the general approach to adding units using the Multitool as follows:

1) add unit to units folder within scenario
2) Using multitool, add unit to scenario placing appropriate animations to appropriate sounds, along with statistics
3) Add #icon to pediaicons
4) Add PRTO_ to Pediaicons
5) Add entry to Civilopedia
6) Test and play

I hope this sounds alright - I've been getting myself more and more confused as I've been trying to figure out what was wrong.

Well, I can´t say much about the procedure since I don´t use multitool. I simply add all (folder, files, pedia entries) manually....

What happens with a unit that comes with no icon graphic, the Dora Railgun for instance? What do I add to my icons?

If nobody has made icons, then you either have to do it yourself, ask a creator to do so, or use another (even empty) icon. Sure that sucks, but I don´t think the civilopedia runs when icons are missed.

Finally, anyone any idea about a text units_pcx file? [/B]


I´m not sure what you mean. If it is about the icons from the units32.pcx file the problem is that there is no single one. Zulu has created a large file with hundreds of icons, maybe he has a text file with changes, but since everyone can mod Civ3 with his own icons there is no "official" modded version of the units32.pcx.

Or do you mean the file fromthe latest AddOn "Civ3Conquests"?

Thanks again for the help BeBro - I do mean the one done by Zulu with the hundreds of icons. I've been trying to pair up the new additional unit with its own icon as opposed to using say the shermantank for any tanks up to modern armour and then modern armour for say the Leopard of Challenger. I'd like to give them their own icon. Is it just a matter of downloading Flicster and opening the pcx myself?

Im really finding this adding units quite hard going. Its times liek this I have to look up to all those dedicated modders and unit creators with awe!

Thanks again.

EDIT: Still havent got C3C - not too sure if its worth forking out for as I already have PTW.

Originally posted by Mirv Sheelon
Thanks again for the help BeBro - I do mean the one done by Zulu with the hundreds of icons. I've been trying to pair up the new additional unit with its own icon as opposed to using say the shermantank for any tanks up to modern armour and then modern armour for say the Leopard of Challenger. I'd like to give them their own icon. Is it just a matter of downloading Flicster and opening the pcx myself?

Im really finding this adding units quite hard going. Its times liek this I have to look up to all those dedicated modders and unit creators with awe!


With a bit routine it is not difficult, but yes, it is still a boring task. I wished Firaxis had included some additional options in the editor to make unit additions less annoying...;)

However, to the icons problem: if there´s no icon, you need a graphics editor. Load the default unit anim into flicster, then save it as pcx storyboard. Now you can load this storyboard into your graphics software. Pick one of the frames, cut the unit out, resize it to 32x32 pixel and paste it into an empty slot of the units32.pcx file.

If there´s an icon provided, you don´t need to create an own storyboard, just paste this icon directly into the units32.pcx file.

If you aren´t familiar with gfx software you´ll probabaly find that a bit difficult first, but usually those operations like cut/paste or resize are explained in the software´s help file.

Im now also thinking about dumping using the Multitool - handy though it is I think this is why Im getting lost. Sometimes I have to add the entries to Pediaicons myself and sometimes when I go into it to double check they've apparently been done by the editor.

Is Flicster (available somewhere here or apolyton.net) the program of choice for changing icons and animations?

I've got a cracker idea for a mod but its going to be a LONG way off at this rate...

Well, by changing do you mean changing the graphics itself, or do you mean changes like you do in the Civ editor (selecting icons for units etc.)

Flicster is neccessary, because Civ3 uses a non standard flc format for its units. This means that standard flc animations do not work in Civ3. So the main task of Flicster is to convert unit anims/graphics that were created before by using other software into a format that works with civ. However, you still have to implement that converted animeither manually or by using a tool like CivMultiTool.

Flicster also can save those anims in another format, as pcx storyboard (as said above). This storyboard can be changed in normal graphics software like PaintShopPro or Photoshop.

Sorry - yes I do mean the graphics and animations. I'm completely comfortable changing the stats and stuff in the editor, its just adding the new unit graphics which seems to be throwing me.

Is modding, or at the very least, adding new units easier in C3C?

Unfortunately not, it is the same as in Play the World.

Yes, Conquests is worth the 20 something bucks after you load the patch. Congrats on trying your own mod. I'm currently converting my own mod over from PTW and yes it can be tedious. What's your mod about? Conquests does have some new editor options that make for better mods.

Well I had two ideas - first and worst was an Animal Kingdom style mod. I used to have this game on my Spectrum in which the player was a wild animal and had to survive in the ecosystem of that terrain. So I thought I might like to have a mod with armies of Big Cats, versus Arachnids, versus Reptiles etc. Crap idea I know!

My second idea was to do a Northern Ireland mod - being from that neck of the woods. It would be tremendously combat heavy and not much to do in the way of city advancement. It would be good due to the relative lack of heavy weapons on one side. Various Terrorist groupings fighting each other and the security forces, with the best equipment belonging to those security forces. Certain terrorist gourps would have Car Bombs (with Cruise Missile ability) and there would be a lot of Workers being killed by combat actions. I thought it would be kinda interesting, but after my weekend of incredible difficulty trying to simply add new units, I think I will call it a day!

Hey, we were all first time mod'ers once. Don't give up! I think your animal kingdom idea is a good one. Original! Time the time to, and print out, some of the tutorials. With the enslavment option in conquests, your terrorists could take hostages.

Thanks for the vote of confindence! :) I only wish I felt so confident myself!

Time to print out the tutorials I guess. Maybe in work at the weekend when no-one is looking...prit as much of them as I can then....

:goodjob:

EDIT: OMG I cant even type THIS correctly!! What are my chances of correctly doing a change in the Civilopedia! ARGH:eek: