[Civ2] Hex editing SAV file for units

[axx]

So, I've been reading Allard Hofelt's hex editing guide, specifically the units' section and I'm interested which byte determines the unit's "moves left". Sadly I can't find any info, not even in the ancient Apolyton's pages.

I saved a file (version MGE, which has 32 bytes for each unit) and after moving a horseman only 1 turn saved it again and compared the two. For this unit the difference (besides X-Y coordinates) is in bytes 5, 9 and 12:

• byte 5: before = 00hex, after = 40hex (=64dec)
• byte 9: before = 00hex, after = 03hex
• byte 12: before = FFhex, after = 02hex

Any ideas what these 3 bytes represent?

regards

 

[FoxAhead]

Looking at this:
http://users.tpg.com.au/jpwbeest/jp_hex.htm#Units
https://github.com/FoxAhead/Civ2-UI...7eaf3ebc425aede632d1c8/src/Civ2Types.pas#L301

I will try to guess that
byte 5 is part of unit attributes
byte 9 is "Movement points expended (move x road multiplier)"
byte 12 is "Starts off at FF and then drops following movement"

 

[axx]

Thanks for the info! Did some more testing:

• byte 5 just signals that the unit started movement (00hex if it hasn't moved and 40hex if it started movement). Basically the second bit is important.
• byte 9 - correct!
• byte 12 is still a mystery. Moving 6 times on a road with a horseman it changes FF -> 06 -> 06 -> 07 -> 07 -> 06 -> 07. Moving a trireme FF -> 05 -> 05 -> 05.

BTW great job on the patcher. It helps immensely.

 

[FoxAhead]

Byte 12 could be related to movement direction. Ranging from 0 to 7.
For example in accordance with NumPad keys:
Num8 - 7
Num9 - 0
Num6 - 1
Num3 - 2
Num2 - 3
Num1 - 4
Num4 - 5
Num7 - 6

 

[axx]

Yes, it's almost certainly the case, good one!