How to add a New Leader Head?

[Traiano]

I'm trying to add 3 new leader heads to my mod to replace some existing ones.
Any idea how to do it?

If someone can show me the steps I'll really appreciate!

Thanks.

 

[siva]

As long as you want to use 2D graphics it is rather simple.

Convert your graphic into .dds. I think it has to have a height and width of 2^n, for example 512x512 pixel. You'll also need a smaller version of the same image with 128x128 pixels.

http://www.imageconverterplus.com/download/

places a watermark on your image, if you use the unregistered version and

http://eliteforce2.filefront.com/file/DDS_Converter;29412

gave me very blueish images. There are probably better tools available.


Open C:\Programme\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\Assets\XML\Art\CIV4ArtDefines_Leaderhead.xml with a texteditor. Immediately save the file to the corresponding folder of your mod.

Ctrl+F and search for the name of the leader you want to replace the graphics. You'll get an entry like this:

<LeaderheadArtInfo>
<Type>ART_DEF_LEADER_ALEXANDER</Type>
<Button>,Art/interface/LeaderHeads/Btn_LH_Greece_Alexander.dds,Art/Interface/Buttons/Actions_Builds_LeaderHeads_Specialists_Atlas.dds,1,11</Button>
<NIF>art/LeaderHeads/Alexander_the _Great/alexander.nif</NIF>
<KFM>art/LeaderHeads/Alexander_the _Great/alexander.kfm</KFM>
<NoShaderNIF>art/LeaderHeads/Alexander_the_Great/alexander_noshader.nif</NoShaderNIF>
<BackgroundKFM>art/LeaderHeads/Alexander_the_Great/alexander_BG.kfm</BackgroundKFM>
</LeaderheadArtInfo>

Change the entry to:

<LeaderheadArtInfo>
<Type>ART_DEF_LEADER_DEIN_LEADER</Type>
<Button>Path to 128x128 image/Name of 128x128 image.dds</Button>
<NIF>Path of 512x512 image/Name of 512x512 image.dds</NIF>
<KFM/>
<NoShaderNIF/>
<BackgroundKFM/>
</LeaderheadArtInfo>

The path is relative to your modding folder. For example Art/Leaderheads/Grafik.dds

Save and start Civ.

 

[Traiano]

As long as you want to use 2D graphics it is rather simple.

Convert your graphic into .dds. I think it has to have a height and width of 2^n, for example 512x512 pixel. You'll also need a smaller version of the same image with 128x128 pixels.

http://www.imageconverterplus.com/download/

places a watermark on your image, if you use the unregistered version and

http://eliteforce2.filefront.com/file/DDS_Converter;29412

gave me very blueish images. There are probably better tools available.


Open C:\Programme\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\Assets\XML\Art\CIV4ArtDefines_Leaderhead.xml with a texteditor. Immediately save the file to the corresponding folder of your mod.

Ctrl+F and search for the name of the leader you want to replace the graphics. You'll get an entry like this:

<LeaderheadArtInfo>
<Type>ART_DEF_LEADER_ALEXANDER</Type>
<Button>,Art/interface/LeaderHeads/Btn_LH_Greece_Alexander.dds,Art/Interface/Buttons/Actions_Builds_LeaderHeads_Specialists_Atlas.dds,1,11</Button>
<NIF>art/LeaderHeads/Alexander_the _Great/alexander.nif</NIF>
<KFM>art/LeaderHeads/Alexander_the _Great/alexander.kfm</KFM>
<NoShaderNIF>art/LeaderHeads/Alexander_the_Great/alexander_noshader.nif</NoShaderNIF>
<BackgroundKFM>art/LeaderHeads/Alexander_the_Great/alexander_BG.kfm</BackgroundKFM>
</LeaderheadArtInfo>

Change the entry to:

<LeaderheadArtInfo>
<Type>ART_DEF_LEADER_DEIN_LEADER</Type>
<Button>Path to 128x128 image/Name of 128x128 image.dds</Button>
<NIF>Path of 512x512 image/Name of 512x512 image.dds</NIF>
<KFM/>
<NoShaderNIF/>
<BackgroundKFM/>
</LeaderheadArtInfo>

The path is relative to your modding folder. For example Art/Leaderheads/Grafik.dds

Save and start Civ.

Many thanks for your reply.
I should have specified that I'm trying to import Arpad, Vlad Dracul and a few other leader heads that are available in the leader head section, and merge them with the GEM Mod.

With my naive approach I assumed it was a piece of cake to do it...

 

[siva]

If you got ready to go graphics to replace some existing ones it really just is a matter of entering the path to these graphics into CIV4ArtDefines_Leaderhead.xml.

I don' know GEM, nor do i know the particular Leaderheads you named though. So i still don't know exactly what you are up to.

 

[Traiano]

If you got ready to go graphics to replace some existing ones it really just is a matter of entering the path to these graphics into CIV4ArtDefines_Leaderhead.xml.

I don' know GEM, nor do i know the particular Leaderheads you named though. So i still don't know exactly what you are up to.

Thanks again for your help.

My problem is that GEM is a mod per se, therefore I'm not sure where to place my assets folder and then edit the xml.
I only have a WBS so far.

 

[Traiano]

I was under the impression - erroneous - that I could just add new leader heads in a folder (where, within GEM? under BTS? or in the main civ 4 folder for mods?) therefore adding them to the "pool" of available leader heads for any game.

And then, for instance, one a specific existing scenario, just edit the XML of the WBS and change LEADER_HAMMURABI Into LEADER_ARPAD.

I didnt know - and still dont - if that is possible.

The leader heads I downloaded are ready to go, graphic-wise, or so their creators argue.

I'm not familiar with where to place them.

I tried to do what you suggested, but the leader head I edited disappeared from the list of available ones.
Another proof that the transfer didnt work out fine.

 

[Ekmek]

I think people arent helping because it looks like you jhaven't even tried looking around. have you hunted around the folders/files ?

the leaderheads are usually in art/leaderheads but if its paked then you won't see them. you can specify any location with in mod for the leaderheads but its best to stay consistent with the other ones.

you'll still need to add to the existing xml:
artdefines_leaderhead
civilizationinfos
leaderheadinfos

 

[Traiano]

I think people arent helping because it looks like you jhaven't even tried looking around. have you hunted around the folders/files ?

the leaderheads are usually in art/leaderheads but if its paked then you won't see them. you can specify any location with in mod for the leaderheads but its best to stay consistent with the other ones.

you'll still need to add to the existing xml:
artdefines_leaderhead
civilizationinfos
leaderheadinfos

Touchee'.

Yeah, I was just trying to see if the files would magically set in place on their own.

Abracadabra.

 

[siva]

Ok.. i just downloaded gem to see how this looks like.

You need to create the folders in the Assets folder of your mod
Giant Earth Map\Assets\Art\Leaderheads
Giant Earth Map\Assets\xml\Art

All the art files of those leaders go to the Art\Leaderheads folder.

Into xml\art you have to copy CIV4ArtDefines_Leaderhead.xml, wich links the art files with the program. Then you'll just edit the path information in this file.


That's for replacing the graphics. If you want to edit anything else about the leader you need to look into other files. If anything doesn't work after you have changed something, you'll probably made a typo somewhere or accidently deleted a [ or <. It's quite fun. Try it!

 

[Traiano]

Ok.. i just downloaded gem to see how this looks like.

You need to create the folders in the Assets folder of your mod
Giant Earth Map\Assets\Art\Leaderheads
Giant Earth Map\Assets\xml\Art

All the art files of those leaders go to the Art\Leaderheads folder.

Into xml\art you have to copy CIV4ArtDefines_Leaderhead.xml, wich links the art files with the program. Then you'll just edit the path information in this file.


That's for replacing the graphics. If you want to edit anything else about the leader you need to look into other files. If anything doesn't work after you have changed something, you'll probably made a typo somewhere or accidently deleted a [ or <. It's quite fun. Try it!

Siva, thanks a lot for your input. Very helpful.
However I noticed a bizarre things on my installation: despite having installed civ gold edition - ergo I have the 3.13 patch - I went ahead and still opened the civIV.ini file to doublecheck: I found out my modular loading was set to 0!
I changed it to 1 after installing the CIV GOLD MOD, and while I can load the mod (the logo reads CIV GOLD) it still doesnt load the modular parts (no new leader heads etc).

How is that possible?

Isnt it strange that having the 3.13 patch - and also after manually activating the modular loading changing 0 to 1 - it still doesnt work?
It seems not to load modular - that might explain why I never managed to upload a new leader head after updating the art and xml files.

 

[Traiano]

Siva,

To be more specific: I did place the folders as you advised within GEM.
Then edited the artdefines xml to:

<Type>ART_DEF_LEADER_IVAN</Type>
<Button>Art/LeaderHeads/Ivan IV/Ivan.dds</Button>
<NIF>art/LeaderHeads/Ivan IV/Grozniy.nif</NIF>
<KFM>art/LeaderHeads/Ivan IV/alexander.kfm</KFM>
<NoShaderNIF>art/LeaderHeads/Ivan IV/Grozniy.nif</NoShaderNIF>
<BackgroundKFM>art/LeaderHeads/Ivan IV/alexander_bg.kfm</BackgroundKFM>

Even tough in the pre-generated graphic folder for Ivan IV, the creator of the Leader Head, already uploaded his path, that was:

<LeaderheadArtInfo>
<Type>ART_DEF_LEADER_IVAN</Type>
<Button>Modules/Custom LeaderHeads/Ivan IV/Ivan.dds</Button>
<NIF>Modules/Custom LeaderHeads/Ivan IV/Grozniy.nif</NIF>
<KFM>Modules/Custom LeaderHeads/Ivan IV/alexander.kfm</KFM>
<NoShaderNIF>Modules/Custom LeaderHeads/Ivan IV/Grozniy.nif</NoShaderNIF>
<BackgroundKFM>Modules/Custom LeaderHeads/Ivan IV/alexander_bg.kfm</BackgroundKFM>
</LeaderheadArtInfo>

I edited it to conform it to my path/folders as I dont have MODULES/Customs Leaderheads but just art/leaderheads/Ivan IV etc...
Was that correct?

Do you reckon the issue must be the modular that isnt activated?
The art is there but the mod doesnt detect it.

 

[Traiano]

I am all good. I made it work.
Importing the 11th Leader Head into my mod

 

[Traiano]

Ok.. i just downloaded gem to see how this looks like.

You need to create the folders in the Assets folder of your mod
Giant Earth Map\Assets\Art\Leaderheads
Giant Earth Map\Assets\xml\Art

All the art files of those leaders go to the Art\Leaderheads folder.

Into xml\art you have to copy CIV4ArtDefines_Leaderhead.xml, wich links the art files with the program. Then you'll just edit the path information in this file.


That's for replacing the graphics. If you want to edit anything else about the leader you need to look into other files. If anything doesn't work after you have changed something, you'll probably made a typo somewhere or accidently deleted a [ or <. It's quite fun. Try it!

Siva,

The Lhs have all been imported fine.
However they still miss the first contact/initial diplomatic text - their initial greeting is blank amd you can just choose to declare war or peace.
However afterwards they interact fine.

I placed the CIV4GameText_DiplomacyText_BTS, with the initial greeting text for the new Leader Heads, into the Xml/Text/ folder of my mod.
But the game still ignores it.

Do you know which other xml file I have to edit?