Quick Modding Questions Thread

[dacubz145]

Does anyone know if making animals spawn in water requires anything then the basic xml? I put in an alligator unit, its the same xml as the other animals (minus the obvious changing the terrain to water, changing description etc) but the alligator never shows up

 

[The_J]

There's a "water animals" mod somewhere in the mod comps section. No matter what it does, but obviously something else is needed dunno.

 

[dacubz145]

For my mod, my custom games work fine, but when i try to do the scenarios after around 10 turns the mod crashes, no xml errors, no python errors (yes i have them activated) i also tried reconverting 2 maps that were on the website( GEM, and a norht american map) same problem, loads fine hten crashes after 10 turns or so it crashes, is there anyway to fix this or atleast show what the problem is?

 

[The_J]

Did you convert some map, or did you do it yourself?

 

[dacubz145]

Did you convert some map, or did you do it yourself?

Converted the map from GEM, made three scenarios of my own using that map, also tried converting three other maps, didnt work

 

[Baldyr]

My best guess is that either the maps you're using as a base for your scenarios are made for a different game version. Or that you messed your maps up while setting up your scenarios. It would be near impossible to pinpoint what is wrong if you did more than just a few minor changes. You may have to revert all changes and start all over again with a map/scenario that works. Then only add one or a very limited number of changes at a time. Make back-ups all of the time, or use some sort of version control application to keep check on things.

 

[dacubz145]

My best guess is that either the maps you're using as a base for your scenarios are made for a different game version. Or that you messed your maps up while setting up your scenarios. It would be near impossible to pinpoint what is wrong if you did more than just a few minor changes. You may have to revert all changes and start all over again with a map/scenario that works. Then only add one or a very limited number of changes at a time. Make back-ups all of the time, or use some sort of version control application to keep check on things.

Couldnt really be either, GEM is for 3.19, and its not just the scenarios, when i convert the blank GEM map it loads fine, if it was xml, those errors show up when u click on the scenario, python shows up when you play it, and any other error like having a messed up civ, the game shows up black and it says in the begining, you lost already, its none of that, it just crashes on turn 10-20, so i have no idea I attempted to remove python, same thing, also i didnt change any resources or any other terrain, so thats not it,

 

[Baldyr]

Question: What exactly is GEM? Do yo have a link?

 

[dacubz145]

giant earth map

 

[Baldyr]

Aha, so its a mod and not a map. You're basically making a mod-mod, then. That is infinitely more complicated than simply editing a World Builder Save file. Perhaps you should start with something simpler? Like a scenario/mod that only has a WBS file and no other custom assets.

 

[The_J]

Converted the map from GEM, made three scenarios of my own using that map, also tried converting three other maps, didnt work

So, the map "conversion" was successful, you could open it in the worldbuilder, but after changing stuff with the WB the map crashes?

That shouldn't be possible .

 

[dacubz145]

So, the map "conversion" was successful, you could open it in the worldbuilder, but after changing stuff with the WB the map crashes?

That shouldn't be possible .

I didnt change anything in worldbuilder, for the GEM map for example, i converted the blank modern resource map, i loaded it, it loads fine, i play 10-20 turns, no worldbuilder just build a citie and start building a biulding or unit w.e and everytime it crashes randomly between turn 10 and 15ish

 

[dacubz145]

Aha, so its a mod and not a map. You're basically making a mod-mod, then. That is infinitely more complicated than simply editing a World Builder Save file. Perhaps you should start with something simpler? Like a scenario/mod that only has a WBS file and no other custom assets.

Ive created a mod with a custom tech tree, hundreds of custom units wonders buildings etc and 100 custom civs, dont think im going to take that all down to make a copy of GEM. and its not anything different then editing a world builder file. All i converted was a blank map, so i am suppose to just have to edit the top part of the xml (were you edit the civs part,) making that work with my mod, and it should work, and it does but it randomly crashes

And GEM is more of a map, im just borrowing the map not the mod, nothing from GEM mod needs to be converted

 

[Baldyr]

I just had a quick look at the download package, but its chock-full of stuff! Are you sure that there are no custom Resources or Terrain or anything included in the WBS only map? Because you're not supposed to load the map directly, but rather load the GEM mod firstly, then load the map included in the mod.

What you basically need to do is mod the GEM mod. It seems that you can't simply lift the WBS out of its context and apply it to your own personal mod. So your mod will be a mod-mod of GEM, then.

I suggest you ask for advice on the GEM sub-forum - the folks over there should be able to help you out, whatever it is you plan on doing.

edit: GEM includes a custom DLL file, for crying out loud!

 

[dacubz145]

I just had a quick look at the download package, but its chock-full of stuff! Are you sure that there are no custom Resources or Terrain or anything included in the WBS only map? Because you're not supposed to load the map directly, but rather load the GEM mod firstly, then load the map included in the mod.

What you basically need to do is mod the GEM mod. It seems that you can't simply lift the WBS out of its context and apply it to your own personal mod. So your mod will be a mod-mod of GEM, then.

I suggest you ask for advice on the GEM sub-forum - the folks over there should be able to help you out, whatever it is you plan on doing.

edit: GEM includes a custom DLL file, for crying out loud!

Ik its a mod, but the dll is for the 50 civs, as for recolutions, i did mod mod GEM, its my base one, ive contacted the creator of GEM, weve talked before, its worked before on my mod, but now its not. You can definatly convert it, i guarentee it, its a map. Hate to say it but your a little off on this, please keep in mind its not only GEM its all other maps to, so it has nothing to do with GEM DLL or whats in GEM, its something else i cant think of

 

[Baldyr]

What you have is a mistake, somewhere. Considering the mass of content in your mod it will be hard to debug it. You're off course right; it could very well be something else than the actual WBS file.

 

[dacubz145]

What you have is a mistake, somewhere. Considering the mass of content in your mod it will be hard to debug it. You're off course right; it could very well be something else than the actual WBS file.

If it was it would be an xml error, then i would get a popup when i click on the scenario

 

[Baldyr]

So you expect someone else to solve this for you, is that it? Of course there is a bug in your mod - or you did a bad job converting the map. Crashes happen for a reason, and only you have any chance of figuring out what it is. All it takes for the game to crash is one mistake somewhere, and XML is a very likely culprit. Note that even if your XML loads without errors, its no guarantee that there aren't anything illegal in the actual settings. Like contradictions or something that simply isn't logical according to the Core Game Engine that is using those values.

 

[dacubz145]

So you expect someone else to solve this for you, is that it?

No? This is a thread to ask questions, thats what i did, i asked a question, no need to get mad i asked one, just was wondering if theres an easy fix for it

Of course there is a bug in your mod - or you did a bad job converting the map. Crashes happen for a reason, and only you have any chance of figuring out what it is. All it takes for the game to crash is one mistake somewhere, and XML is a very likely culprit. Note that even if your XML loads without errors, its no guarantee that there aren't anything illegal in the actual settings. Like contradictions or something that simply isn't logical according to the Core Game Engine that is using those values

umm okay then, doesnt help at all, seems like ur angry i asked a question, o well ill just keep trying to figure it out

 

[Baldyr]

No, no... Its just that you have this crash issue and it can be just about anything. There is no way of knowing what causes it, without debugging it. And you're the only one who should have to do that. (You're the only one who has access to your mod, at any rate.) I suggest you start by doing this:

1. Try your mod (XML and whatnot) with another map. Does the game crash?
2. Try your converted map with a standard BtS game - not your mod. Does the map crash your game?

This would help you determine whether its your XML or the WBS that is causing the crash. If neither causes the crash issue, then it must be the combination of both of these elements.

You need to start narrowing down where the problem is, otherwise you'll never sort this out. But the above would probably be the first step. Once we know where to start it will be that much easier to find the exact cause. And this is the place to get help with it. Unfortunately my modding knowledge is somewhat limited, but there are more knowledgeable people than me around. No worries.