Custom Unit using base art?

[Woodmorning]

I am back again trying to mod Civ 6. After having some successes with custom leader traits I am now looking to make a custom unit. However I do not know how to model yet, and rather than spend time modeling before I know I can actually do it, I wanted to try and create a custom unit and just re-use the base game art assets.

For example, I wanted to create a new ranged unit that uses the observation balloon model/assets. (sort of a zeppelin bomber).

The have the new unit defined in GameData, as well as added a trait to a custom leader that should allow the unit to show up. The unit shows fine in the game config screen, but it doesnt show up in the loading screen or in-game with the custom civ. It doesn't show up in the tech tree, nor as an option to build the unit in the city production screen (I've tried both WITH a pre-requisite tech, and WITHOUT a pre-requisite tech defined).

I am thinking the reason for this is because I am lacking the art definition, so the game knows about the unit but doesn't know how to display anything about it.

I know in past games, there was a <UnitArtInfo> tag in the <Units> Table, that defined what art it would use...so you could do something like

<Units>
<Row>
<UnitType>MY_CUSTOM_UNIT</UnitType>
...
...
<UnitArtInfo>ART_DEF_UNIT_OBSERVATION_BALLOOON</UnitArtInfo>
</Row>
</Units>

But this (UnitArtInfo) doesnt seem to exist in the units table in Civ 6. Is there a tutorial that covers this? Or if someone could just tell me what I need to know to progress further?

 

[Carnegie]

Your goal is to create a unit using the base model, correct?

 

[Woodmorning]

Yes that is correct. I want to create a custom unit (Zeppelin Bomber) using the Observation Balloon model, and give it a ranged attack (sort of like a helicopter) and/or make it behave like a very early bomber. As an update, I think I got the custom unit working in the Asset Editor, but the animations are a bit wonky (assuming because the observation balloon doesn't normally have an attack animation.) also there is no sound for its attack, this also makes sense since the observation balloon doesn't have any attacks normally.

 

[Carnegie]

You have to create .geo and .fgx files for it, then edit the unit_bins art def and regular art def files. There is a 5-6 part tutorial references by Deliverator on one of his threads.. on google search for, "Civ 6 unit art tutorial." Should be under that. I'm in the same boat however I know how the new engine works expect for texture mapping/applying, seems to never work for me (I make new models for the game.) If you need further help, make a private conversation with me and I'll lend a hand.