Civ Editor Questions

[Mxzs]

Okay, I'm slowly feeling my way through the editor and am trying my hand at modifying rules. Without much luck, I'll add.

First, a general question, and then some specific ones:

1. Is there a thread anywhere in these forums that describes the relationship between the rule changes that you make in the Editor and any changes that you have to make in text files? I see lots of tutorials in the non-Mac forums here, but they have to do with "adding" units, not modifying the behavior of units that already exist. Since my early attempts to modify rules led to unexpected quits (or other problems, such as settlers that wouldn't build, even when "Settle" and "Build City" were clearly chosen in the rules, I'm guessing that the text files are still important even when only modifying rules. I was also getting crashes (blamed on problems with the "PediaIcons" text) when modifying improvements.

2. Is there any way to define player start locations? In the FAQ for the PC version, it says that you can define a player start location by right-clicking on a tile and bringing up the "Properties" dialogue. However, when I control-click to bring up the Properties dialogue, the "Player Location" menu is ghosted out. I can't find any kind of setting that will un-ghost it.

3. In the scenario I am trying to play-testing, I am getting crashes in at least two occasions: when I move onto a goodie hut, and when barbarians attack me. (When I attack them, there is no crash.) Can someone explain what is going on and how to fix it?

I am playing on OS 10.2.8.

 

[dojoboy]

Is your Civ3 version patched to 1.21g or 1.29b2?

#1 reply = no idea, but someone will be along to help with this one.

#2 answer = No.

#3 reply = Is it always reproduceable?

 

[Mxzs]

EDIT: On the game crashes: Never mind. And where's the "really embarrassed" smilie?

The Barbarians info got deleted from the Civilizations setting in the Rules editor. I have no idea how that happened. (Damn gremlins.) I repaired it, and I think that's taken care of it. Anyway, first test expedition into a goody hut went okay. And I'm sure it was the inability to find a tribe name for the "x gave us 25 gold" and "We've been ambushed by x" was what was causing it.

I think I've got another problem later on in the game, when I try to build a modified custom unit. I'll be back with a question on that -- if I don't find another stuuuuuuuuupid error is behind it.

 

[AlanH]

Knowing nothing about mod making and the editor doesn't stop me from making stupid suggestions, so if these are please feel free to flame me:

#1: There's a reference to this thread in one of the editor threads hereabouts. Maybe that'll answer some how-to questions. There's another thread that looks like it might be useful here, and other threads in that forum are also relevant.

#2: The starting positions for civs are stored in the .BIC in the 'SLOC' record. It may be possible to hex edit a .BIC to add this section to a .BIC for a scenario. There's a comprehensive definition of the .BIC file format posted by Gramphos at Apolyton. If this is a big requirement, it may be possible to make a simple editor to do it.

 

[Startaff]

Speaking about the editor, how comes I cannot open (well, it opens but shows NOTHING) a map/mod with the editor?

Or I'm missing something?

Note: my editor IS working when creating maps, as I made the 2 separate installations (patched and unpatched to 1.29)

 

[AlanH]

Originally posted by Startaff
Speaking about the editor, how comes I cannot open (well, it opens but shows NOTHING) a map/mod with the editor?

Or I'm missing something?

Note: my editor IS working when creating maps, as I made the 2 separate installations (patched and unpatched to 1.29)

Which map? Give me a link and I'll try it here.

 

[Startaff]

One surely is this:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62225 ;-)

There were others I'm not sure of, though.

 

[srhfromtx]

I just downloaded Civ3Edit from the patches list, unzipped it, and put in in my civ3 folder. When i double click the Civ3Edit application, it does nothing at all...no error, no application, just nothing. I have tried the default version, 1.21, and 1.29b versions, and nothing has changed.. I am new to the whole editer thing, so any help would be appreciated. I am using OS X.3.2, if that means anything..

thanks in advance,

Stuart

 

[AlanH]

Originally posted by Startaff
One surely is this:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62225 ;-)

There were others I'm not sure of, though.

I see a blank map when I open that one as well. I've checked the BIC file and it seems to read OK in the utilities I have, so it looks like an editor problem. The map is 256 x 128. The largest map that the editor will generate is 160 x 80, so maybe it can't handle bigger ones, or ones with non-standard array sizes?

 

[AlanH]

Originally posted by srhfromtx
I just downloaded Civ3Edit from the patches list, unzipped it, and put in in my civ3 folder. When i double click the Civ3Edit application, it does nothing at all...no error, no application, just nothing. I have tried the default version, 1.21, and 1.29b versions, and nothing has changed.. I am new to the whole editer thing, so any help would be appreciated. I am using OS X.3.2, if that means anything..

thanks in advance,

Stuart

The most common error (well, I did it ) is to put the editor folder in the Civ3 application folder. You have to put the editor application itself in the Civ3 folder, and Civ3 MUST be version 1.21. The editor will NOT work with 1.29.

 

[srhfromtx]

Originally posted by AlanH

The most common error (well, I did it ) is to put the editor folder in the Civ3 application folder. You have to put the editor application itself in the Civ3 folder, and Civ3 MUST be version 1.21. The editor will NOT work with 1.29.

Ok, i now have two versions of civ on my comp - 1.29 ad 1.21, i put the actual Civ3Edit program, not the folder, in the same place as Civ3 1.21, and when i open it up, the icon moves as if it opens, but nothing at all happens

any advice or help?

Stuart

 

[AlanH]

Originally posted by srhfromtx


Ok, i now have two versions of civ on my comp - 1.29 ad 1.21, i put the actual Civ3Edit program, not the folder, in the same place as Civ3 1.21, and when i open it up, the icon moves as if it opens, but nothing at all happens

any advice or help?

Stuart

Sorry, I haven't a clue, then! It works fine here running Panther 10.3.2. Here's a screenie of the directory containing my Civ3 v1.21 and Civ3Edit v1.32.1

 

[srhfromtx]

Mine is exactly the same as yours, but still does not work. Oh well, thanks for your help

Stuart

 

[Startaff]

Originally posted by AlanH

I see a blank map when I open that one as well. I've checked the BIC file and it seems to read OK in the utilities I have, so it looks like an editor problem. The map is 256 x 128. The largest map that the editor will generate is 160 x 80, so maybe it can't handle bigger ones, or ones with non-standard array sizes?

Maybe this is the answer.
Actually, I have maps working (opened by the Editor) and other not working ones. I'll check the size thing...

Meanwhile, another question:
I created a custom map which is basically a long east-west valley with sea in the middle and mountains along the northern and southern borders.
I placed ALL the player starting points (10 of them) along these borders because I wished the player to walk down vs. the valley before settling.

When I start the game, MY starting point is NOT one of the set ones!
I reloaded several times but I'm always starting about mid-way between the mountains (southern border) and the central sea.
I checked again in the Editor but non starting point has been "automatically" or accidentally created there.
How can it be I'm starting in place where there's NO starting point???

Is there any rule in the Editor saying that I cannot start on a mountain? Or cannot start close to the border?
If so, why is the Editor accepting my settings?

 

[AlanH]

Originally posted by Startaff
I checked again in the Editor but non starting point has been "automatically" or accidentally created there.
How can it be I'm starting in place where there's NO starting point???

Is there any rule in the Editor saying that I cannot start on a mountain? Or cannot start close to the border?
If so, why is the Editor accepting my settings?

I was under the impression that the Mac editor can't set starting points, but I've never used it in anger. I doubt if there's a rule about having starts close to the edges of the map, but it may not be possible to put them on locations that can't be settled. Why do you assume the editor knows all the rules . Does it work if you don't put them on mountains?

 

[Startaff]

Originally posted by AlanH

I was under the impression that the Mac editor can't set starting points, but I've never used it in anger.

It's in the "overlays" menu, together with things like rivers, goody huts, etc.

Does it work if you don't put them on mountains?

NO! I just tried and put a good new starting point on the coast.

When I loaded the scenario, it kept putting my settler in the very same old spot it gave me before (where NO starting point is set!)
It seems to have a soft spot for that spot.

(Sorry, I had to say it...)

Sorry for not attaching the file, but it's on my iBook, not on this office PC.

 

[Trixter]

AlanH is right. AFAIK setting starting locations using the Mac editor doesn't work. It's a broken feature (aka bug). Someone correct me (and tell me how to do it!) if I'm wrong. (OK, technically I know a way, but it's not very convenient to edit the bic data directly...)
Oh btw concerning the lost barbarians... the current editor version tends to occasionally ehm... let's say "misplace" (to some data nirvana ) ... the first entries for most tabs in the rules editor.

 

[Brad Oliver]

Originally posted by Trixter
AlanH is right. AFAIK setting starting locations using the Mac editor doesn't work. It's a broken feature (aka bug). Someone correct me (and tell me how to do it!) if I'm wrong.

Can do - you're wrong. Civ3 1.21f/g have no notion of how to read/write the starting location from the BIC file, and thus the editor (which is based on that rev) does not either. It was added with 1.29f, and as we all know by now, the editor does not recognize those more recent .bic files.

 

[Vista]

I think we all miss Brad's hard work when he was responsible for releases...sheeshh....we want Brad!!!....bring back Brad!!!...oh lord...will we ever see a final release patch?

 

[GenghisEd]

Mxzs, I'm currently having the exact same problem (crashes when taking goody huts or combat with barbarians). What was your problem and what did you do to fix it? I've been poking around in the editor to see if anything got screwed up, but everything looks fine, so if you can let me know what you did, that'd be great.

I mean, I can't go on without my Mongols.