Help regarding how to download and open GotM saves.

[davos]

Hi. I just recently joined the forums though I've been lurking for a while. I'm interested in participating in the GotM. I know that Gotm 33 is almost over with (at least I wouldn't likely have time to finish before the deadline) but I decided to try to download the start to make I know how to get it started before GotM is released. So I tried it last night. Downloaded the save. Tried to open it. I got a window saying that this is not a valid CivIII scenerio. Then it opened up a CivIII editor window. I have no clue what I'm doing wrong and would greatly appreciatte some assistance or suggestions. I am using Vanilla 1.29 patch (or whatever the latest patch is, just loaded it last night as well). Thanks in advance.

 

[AlanH]

Hello and welcome

First question - did you download and install the GOTM 21,22,23,24,25 add-on mod packs for Vanilla? In order to support the same set of civs and units in vanilla and PTW, vanilla uses a set of mods provided by these add-on packs.

Second question - did you download the vanilla start file or the PTW start file?

 

[Dianthus]

Third question - Did you start Civ, then click on "Load Game"? (It sounds like you might have double-clicked on the .sav file).

Note, make sure you answer AlanH's questions first, they're important .

 

[davos]

Thanks for the quick response. I did not download the mod packs. Guess that is the first thing I will have to try. I've been looking for said mod packs but can't seem to stumble acrost them. I know I have seen them somewhere but now that I want them I can't find them. Where be they?

 

[ainwood]

You can get the install packs at the following links:

GOTM 21 Full setup:
http://gotm.civfanatics.net/games/saves/gotm21_v129_full_setup.exe

GOTM22 Add-On Setup:
http://gotm.civfanatics.net/games/saves/gotm22_v129_add_on_setup.exe

GOTM23 Add-on Setup:
http://gotm.civfanatics.net/games/saves/gotm23_v129_add_on_setup.exe

GOTM24 Add-On Setup:
http://gotm.civfanatics.net/games/saves/gotm24_v129_add_on_setup.exe

GOTM 25 Add-On Setup:
http://gotm.civfanatics.net/games/saves/gotm25_v129_add_on_setup.exe


All you need to do is download these, and then install them in the order
that you download them. The key point is to make sure that when the
installer asks where you want to install to, that you make sure that it
installs to the directory where you installed Civ to in the first place.

You will also find that when you try to play 'normal' games, the resources
pictures will be all messed-up. This is because the GOTM installs a
different resources picture. Unfortunately, this means that when you want
to play a normal game, you need to swap your resources.pcx file - in fact, you will need to do this to play the GOTM now, as we have reverted to the 'old' resources.pcx file.

The GOTM install package actually provides a readme file on how to do this
(its fairly simple), but if you have any problems with either the
installation of these files, changing the resources.pcx files or any error
messages playing the game of the month, then please don't hesitate to e-
mail or send a PM to myself or one of the GOTM staff.

You will also have to go to your civ3\art\flics\ directory. You will most likely see seven directories called "spain.flc", "Spain1.flc" etc. Each of these has a file in it called the same thing. Unfortunately, what you will need to do is drag all of these folders out onto the desktop, open each of them in turn then dump the spainx.flc file back to the flics directory.

Sorry about the hassle - we will work on sorting out these problems and get a 'working' download pack at some point.

 

[davos]

ok, i managed to get the mod packs downloaded and installed. Managed to get GotM 33 downloaded and running. Can't find the readme file that says how to change the resource resource.pcx thing.

Anyway thanks for all your help, folks. I appreciatte it.

 

[ainwood]

I've pasted the text in below.

Please note that this is somewhat out-of-date: it is written from the point of view of needing to change your files over to play the GOTM. Actually; you now need to change them back!

The easiest way to check if you have the 'right' file for the current GOTM is to start a new, random game. If the resources look all messed-up (eg an oil icon being used where the actual resource is wheat), then you have the wrong file installed.

The Civ3 and Civ3PTW executable programs will always look in your /Art folder to try and find a two files to install resource graphics in your game. The two files are named:

resources.pcx
resources_shadows.pcx

and they must be matched together for the resources to work properly. Many graphics mods for resources (including the out of the box PTW version) just ignore the shadows that can be used to increase the contrast and ease of visibility of the resources.)

Since these files always have to be named the same thing even if they contain lots of different graphics options, the easiest way to keep track of the files is to store them inside a folder that gives a clear indication of what type of resources graphics are inside the folder even though all the actual filename are the same.

We have provided these resource graphics files to you inside a folder called "resources storage". This folder comes to you complete with three subfolders of resources graphics that are labeled:
"gotm20 plain"
"gotm20 w letters smilies"
"gotm20 w letters smilies and bonus"

each folder contains a copy of the resources.pcx and resources_shadows.pcx files that will install and run that type of graphics in your Gotm20 game.

NOTE: NONE OF THE REQUIRED GRAPHICS FILES ARE INSTALLED UNTIL YOU COMPETELY FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

First look in your Civilization III/Art folder and locate your original files named "resources.pcx" and "resources_shadows.pcx". You want to cut an past or drag and drop these files into the folder that has been provided in your "resources storage" folder and named "my original resources folder". This folder wil lallow you to reclaim a copy of your original resource craphics and easily place them back into the correct position so that any other Civ3 game will run without any conflicts.

If you would like to install the plain but contrast enhanced resource graphics, all you need to do is open the folder titled "resources storage" and then open the folder titled "gotm20 plain" and copy the two pcx files inside. Tab back up two steps until you are inside the "Art" folder. Inside this folder paste in a copy of the two files that you selected and they will replace any existing "resources.pcx" and "resources_shadows.pcx" files and now you will be ready to play Gotm20.

All three versions of the resources graphics are available for you to freely use in your game and you can switch around and try the three different versions as much as you like. All three versions have been fully tested in the Gotm20-Spain game. It's your GOTM game, you make the choice of which graphics are right for you.

You must use one of the three supplied version of the resource graphics to successfully play the game. The special resources for the Gotm20 game will not work with any other Civ3 or PTW game outside of Gotm20-Spain. To load and play other standard Civ3v1.29 games that have not been upgraded to be compatible with PTW, you will need to follow a similar procedure to reach down into your "resources storage" folder and get a copy of your original graphics files. You may switch back and forth as often as you like as long as you pay attention to the name of the folder where you select the resource graphics from.

 

[davos]

Again, thanks very much. Everyone around here seems so helpful to hopelessly lost newbies like me.

I got it up and running and the resources to be correct. The leader portraits on the foreign advisor screen are messed up (one is a symbol on a bannder and another is still the blank leader pic even though I've met him) but that doesn't bother me to much. I'll give it a whirl and get my behind kicked in. This happens to be my foray above regent (and I only moved up there about 2 games ago-mind you two games I won rather handily but still). If I loose in time I may even submit it. thanks again

 

[mph3]

Hi, first of all, congratulations on a great site, I love the COTM & GOTM. I've played the COTM's and the last 2 GOTM without any problems, but when I tried to load the latest GOTM, it got to 14%, and then said FILE NOT FOUND "art\advisors\gotm_han_all.pcx" then it boots me out of Civ.

I did try loading up mod packs, but I'm fairly certain I didn't do it right, for example, the GOTM21 PTW mod-pack asks me whether I played GOTM20, which I didn't, so I said I did. At any rate, no luck. By the way, I'm playing with the full Civ3 PTW. Do I need to go back further than GOTM21 to install other modpacks, or should I be able to download 21 through 24 and get it working?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and once again, thanks for the great work on the site.

 

[ainwood]

Hi, first of all, congratulations on a great site, I love the COTM & GOTM. I've played the COTM's and the last 2 GOTM without any problems, but when I tried to load the latest GOTM, it got to 14%, and then said FILE NOT FOUND "art\advisors\gotm_han_all.pcx" then it boots me out of Civ.

I did try loading up mod packs, but I'm fairly certain I didn't do it right, for example, the GOTM21 PTW mod-pack asks me whether I played GOTM20, which I didn't, so I said I did. At any rate, no luck. By the way, I'm playing with the full Civ3 PTW. Do I need to go back further than GOTM21 to install other modpacks, or should I be able to download 21 through 24 and get it working?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and once again, thanks for the great work on the site.

Are you sure you're trying to play the correct save? In theory, you shouldn't NEED that file, as its for one of the old GOTMs!

But if it isn't working, then try installing the packs for GOTM 23, 24 and 25. Make sure that the packs are for PTW and that you install them to the Civ3 directory.

Can you e-mail me the save that you are trying to load? (e-mail to gotm@civfanatics.net )

 

[AlanH]

If you're playing with PtW you shouldn't need any mod packs to play the most recent games. I think you must have downloaded the vanilla save.

 

[AlanH]

I think the GOTM 21 mod pack asks if you played 20 in order to ensure that you need the full 21 pack and not just the update, but as stated on the game page:

Being a 'classic' game, this month's game will not require any downloads for the Play The World version - It will play with the 'out of the box' PTW install.

.

Ainwood says your starting file is OK. So I guess you've maybe confused your installation by installing the mod files. You should revert to the out-of-the-box pediaicons.txt file at the very least, and preferably reinstall PtW.