I need some clarity

[Lancaster]

Hi, I'm fairly new to Civ IV modding, and I've come across a bit that confuses me. It says in these tutorials: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=139721 and http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=176460 that the only thing you can change about the graphics of a unit are the skins, and not the underlying models.

Then I take a look at units like this:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=339876&highlight=scorpion

Did the game really come with a giant scorpion model? Or are the tutorials wrong?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[The_J]

I think you've missunderstood some part of the tutorials. I can't see where is mentioned that only the skins can be changed. Sure the 3D models can be changed, that's not a problem, if you just want to exchange something.

If you look at the part of the artDefines_, there are 3 entries, nif, kfm and shadernif. The 1st and 3rd are the model, the 2nd is the animations. If you have a new unit, just put the model and animations from the new unit in.