Customization & Tech Support: the INI file

[FinnMcCool]

I'm lost. I tried making my own unit, and the static icons (city, civpedia etc) were fine, but when I use
the unit in-game, it gets stuck.

I thought I figured out the .INI file, but now I think I'm on the wrong track. I went to

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=1980093&postcount=781

which is a thread by someone who obviously knows what he's doing. I can't even find any .INI files.
I thought maybe the "configuration settings" file in the units folders would be it, and I edited one in
Notepad, and saved it as "TeslaMissile.ini" and at least the game ran without the greyscreen of death.
But when I build a Tesla Missile, it doesn't work. Won't do anything. Just sits there.

I love this game, especially because it lets me build my own units, but this is frustrating. I've made
several units using the in-game graphics, and have succeeded, putting in-game entries to PediaIcons.
Slavemaster, using the Inquisitor animname. Field Agent, using the Explorer animname. But I wanted
to make my own graphics for Tesla Missile, and it doesn't work.

Please. I'd love to know what step I went wrong.

The Tesla Missile works just like a Cruise Missile, only much more damage. I created a test scenario, and
made the Tesla Coil (which produces the Tesla Missile) and when the first TM appeared, it would be on
the gameboard, with the bombard button displayed. Pressing it does nothing.

How I made this unit:
1. Opened Cruise Missile in PSPAnimationShop 9.
2. Overlayed each frame with my own Tesla Missile image.
3. saved as Art\Units\Tesla Missile

using PSPA, at this stage there is a settings window, I chose maximum image quality settings. I asked
myself if the pallette needs to be local, or is the Octree default good? (Also, transparency came to my
mind, since there is some in my image. Does this preclude the graphic from being used in Civ3?)

4. Opened the Configuration Settings file in Cruise Missile with Notepad. Changed all entries from
"CruiseMissile" to "TeslaMissile" and saved it as "TeslaMissile.ini" (please note, I made sure all spaces and
caps were identical to the original Cruise Missile file, I'm just not looking it up as I write this.) I saved it
in the Tesla Missile folder, of course.

5. Ran the game. Built the unit. No greyscreen of death. YIPPEEEE! Clicked on unit. Nothing happens.

Arrrrg! Am I in the doghouse or what. Do I need to make each frame in Paint with no transparency, then
c-p them to each frame in ASP9?

 

[polyphemus]

I had this exact same problem before. WHat you have to do is get a program called FLICster. This program allows you to create CIV FLCs that you can use in game. Open up FLICster, find the cruise missle animations, open them up. Go to the export tab, export a storyboard, and export it to the folder of your choice. OPen the storyboard, which is a pcx file and now the gruiling process begins. You will have to copy and paste each frame per each view onto the storyboar from ANIMshop. Then save it. DO the same with each animation. For further help you can access the help file on how to use FLICster at the site previously mentioned. Now you have to make a cuistomized pallette. You can do it the long way or you can do it the easy and modern way with the help of a new program called PEdit. this creates a pallete for you. Visit my tutorial in my signature for more help.

Oh, remeber you can search for files using the search window in CIVFANATICS at the top of the screen. There are many unit creators that have had the same problem as you and have posted them in a threa and have gotten help form others.