Ready-Made 'standard' Multi-Figure Units

[Kryten]

“Ready-Made Ancient Multi-Figure Units Modpack”
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This is a first of four modpacks, and is intended for those people who wish to use multi-figure units in their game without having to create their own.
All the units were created using Steph’s-SBB utility tool, which can be found here….

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=718161#post718161

How to Download
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NOTE: if you are lucky enough to have a fast connection, then Thunderfall has supplied the following link to a SINGLE downloadable zip file, that contains ALL 50 odd MF units:-
(You will still need to download the sound fix patch seperately, and this zip file is some 65 megs in size)

http://www.civfanatics.net/downloads/civ3/modpack/Civilization III Multi-Figure Modpack.exe

If, like me, you have a slow connection, then I'm afraid that you will have to download each unit (and the sound fix patch) seperately.
(For 364 days of multi-figure civing, you will have to spend just one day downloading them.
It is a very small price to pay. )

Once Downloaded, Here's What You Do
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1) First, go to your Civ3 unit’s folder and left-click with your mouse on the unit you wish to change.
2) Next, hold down the Ctrl key and holding down the left mouse button, ‘drag’ the folder to some other place on your PC (this will create a copy, in case you wish to reload the files at a later date).
3) Now simply copy all the contents of the zip file into the original folder (say “yes to all” in the popup warning window).
And that’s it!
There is no need to touch the .ini files, or to make any changes in the editor.
This can even be done with your current game: just save it, replace the old files with the new ones, and then continue your game.



Archer = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Archer.zip (1,069kb)
Bowman = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Bowman.zip (1,346kb)
Catapult = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Catapult.zip (555kb)
Chariot = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Chariot.zip (1,201kb)
Galley = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Galley.zip (476kb)
Hoplite = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Hoplite_fixed.zip (1,596kb) ***FIXED***
Horseman = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Horseman.zip (1,337kb)
Immortals = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Immortals.zip (1,776kb)
Zulu Impi = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Impi.zip (2,039kb)
Jaguar Warrior= http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Jaguar_Warrior.zip (1,603kb)
Legionary = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Legionary.zip (1,438kb)
Mounted Warrior= http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Mounted_Warrior.zip (1,468kb)
Spearman = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Spearman.zip (1,614kb)
Swordsman = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Swordsman.zip (1,799kb)
War Chariot = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_War_Chariot.zip (1,999kb)
Warrior = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Warrior.zip (1,354kb)

To fix the flaw with the 'screeching' sound files, just use your zip browser to unzip the following patch bundle DIRECTLY into the CivIII\Arts\Units folder (or wherever you have put them), and say "yes to all" to overwrite the ini & sound files that come with the above units......

MF Units Sound patch1 = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Units_sound_patch1.zip (1,595kb)

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Known Issues
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If a unit is destroyed near a coast or lake, then some of the routing figures will seem to be running across water!
The may be fixed at a later date.

All the multi-figure units are 'cut in half' in the city build window.
I don't think there is a cure for this at the moment.

Game speed does NOT seem to be affected by multi-figure units.
(My thanks to seesjuh for testing this for me)

If you are worried about ‘map clutter’.... then customise your units.
All you have to do is keep the original animations for most situations, but replace the .ini and the attack/victory/death flc files with these new multi-figure ones (just keep the names of the flc files the same).
Then they will only be seen during the combat sequences.

Suggestion: because each unit 'advances' slightly during combat, they seem to be a bit intermingled (which I think looks realistic).
However, you could always give ALL these multi-figure units the "Ranged Attack Animation" option in the Civ3Editor.
This will stop them from trying to climb into each others tile while fighting (but remember; if you do use the editor then you will not be allowed to continue any saved games, and so will have to begin a fresh one).

 

[Kryten]

“Ready-Made Middle Ages Multi-Figure Units Modpack”
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The second of four modpacks (please see above for downloading instructions).



Cannon = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Cannon.zip (502kb)
Caravel = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Caravel.zip (998kb)
Cavalry = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Cavalry.zip (1,384kb)
Cossack = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Cossack.zip (1,378kb)
Frigate = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Frigate.zip (1,791kb)
Galleon = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Galleon.zip (1,741kb)
Knight = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Knight.zip (1,515kb)
Longbowman = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Longbowman.zip (1,639kb)
Man-O-War = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Man-O-War.zip (2,159kb)
Musketeer = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Musketeer.zip (1,383kb)
Musketman = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Musketman.zip (1,369kb)
Pikeman = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Pikeman.zip (1,541kb)
Rider = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Rider.zip (1,404kb)
Samurai = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Samurai.zip (1,583kb)
Elephant = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_War_Elephant.zip (1,926kb)

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Some notes about the units:-

I have left the Civ3 Privateer as a single-figure unit because piracy was usually a solitary profession.

Please note that the Frigate and Man-O-War units deploy into a line astern formation during the combat sequences, showing how naval warfare had improved since the 16th century Spanish Armada days.

Some of you may ask "why is the Musketeer & Musketman in two ranks when the rear rank doesn't do anything?".
Well, in reality, 17th century musket units fought in 6 to 8 ranks deep, each one discharging their weapon and then being relieved by the next rank. Once all 6 or 8 ranks had fired, the first rank will have reloaded, and the whole process would start again.
So I have shown them in two ranks in order to represent this.

The Samurai: the rear rank of 'peasants' is a figure created by Kinboat, and used with his permission.
PLEASE don't look at it with FLICster and tell me that there are weird shadow lines all around it.....if it looks ok with the alpha.pal palette, then it will look ok in the game.....and it does.
That's all that matters.

Cannons: yes, it would be nice to have gun crews like they have in PTW.....but we are not allowed to post ANY figures from PTW (Friaxis are worried that downloading these for free may affect sales of the PTW expansion disk).
So if you want gun crews, then may I suggest that you use Steph's wonderful SBB utility and make your own.

Cannon sound effects: it is very, very hard to try and make the animations match the sound of guns being fired.
Anyway.....sound travels at a speed of about 333 meters per second.....so if you were some 600 meters away then you wouldn't hear the cannon roar until 2 seconds after you saw the cannon flash.
(How's that for realism! )

 

[Kryten]

“Ready-Made Industrial Ages Multi-Figure Units Modpack”
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The third of four modpacks (please see above for downloading instructions).



Artillery = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Artillery.zip (888kb)
Bomber = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Bomber.zip (1,013kb)
Destroyer = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Destroyer.zip (814kb)
Fighter = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Fighter.zip (626kb)
Infantry = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Infantry.zip (1,032kb)
Marine = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Marine.zip (1,061kb)
Panzer = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Panzer.zip (1,384kb)
Paratrooper = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Paratrooper.zip (1,153kb)
Rifleman = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Rifleman.zip (940kb)
Tank = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Tank.zip (1,364kb)
Transport = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Transport.zip (836kb)

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Some notes about the units:-

I've tried several different versions of the fighter, and finally settled on three aircraft in a tight 'vic' formation, as the Civ3 figure is obviously a British Spitfire, and the British at the begining of the Battle of Britain flew in this inefficient formation.
(This of course leaves open the possiblity of the German Me109 MF unit being 4 aircraft in an open loose 'finger of four' or 'shwarm' formation....with two normal sized fighters in the foreground and two half sized ones spread out behind them. )

I tried to give the Battleship & Carrier an escort of Destroyers, but even reducing the Destroyer by 60% still didn't look convincing....so in the end I left these as single-figure units.

Making the Infantryman kneel down was very hard, so only the SE direction is fully animated. In all other directions, they 'jump' from standing to kneeling (but the animations during the attack sequence run so fast that it hardly shows).

I have not included Helicopters is this set because, well, they came in to general use after WW2, about the same time as jet aircraft, missiles and nuclear submarines (i.e. the 'Cold War' period).

Here are some previews.....







Please let me know if there are any problems.

 

[Kryten]

“Ready-Made Modern Times Multi-Figure Units Modpack”
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The fourth....and last....of four modpacks (please see above for downloading instructions).



Cruise Missile = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Cruise_Missile.zip (192kb)
F-15 = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_F-15.zip (1,386kb)
Helicopter = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Helicopter.zip (1,735kb)
Jet Fighter = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Jet_Fighter.zip (1,077kb)
Mech Infantry = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Mech_Infantry.zip (308kb)
Modern Armor = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Modern_Armour.zip (1,216kb)
Radar Artillery = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Radar_Artillery.zip (927kb)
Stealth Bomber = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Stealth_Bomber.zip (764kb)
Stealth Fighter = http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads3/MF_Stealth_Fighter.zip (1,390kb)

EDIT: Oops! I originally had the MF Marines in this set.
The are now only in the Industrial Modpack (the link was repeated).
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Some notes about the units:-

The Mech Infantry uses the APC animation created by J-S, as I think that the Civ3 version looks too much like a light tank.
(It also gives me an excuse to use a very nice 50 cal heavy machinegun sound wave)
You know you could, if you really really wanted to, use the multi-figure Marine attack & victory animations for the Mech Infantry, to give the impression of troops leaving their vehicles to fight.
Just copy and rename these two Marine flcs and place them in the Mech Infantry folder as MechInfantryAttackA & MechInfantryVictory.

The multi-figure Stealth Fighter & Bomber have already been created by sprnv8.
All I have done is renamed them, added some shadows (as sprnv8's shadows seem to have been lost), and changed the death flc a little bit.
They still use sprnv8's lovely stereo sound waves.

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Well, after some 50 multi-figure units.....I need a rest!

Any problems with any of the above, then please let me know.

Happy civing everyone!

 

[Steph]

Originally posted by Kryten
Also, some people will be concerned about the map looking ‘cluttered’ with lots of these large units scattered all over it.

Or you can always download SBB and make your own munit using the "alone" formation

 

[Kryten]

I have discovered some problems when two of the new charge & melee sound waves are played together (see "Known Issues" in the first post).
Could anyone with more knowledge about sound files than myself help?

 

[mrtn]

There are transparency problems with the shadow of the Hoplite.

 

[Globetrotter]

To Kryten: Love the work
But since i had a couple of problems with the connection, can you please state the size of each file, just in case i got cut of, so that i know whether i got it all?
Thx veeeeeeeeery much

Edit: workers can be cool if multi-figure, no?

 

[Akula]

That's just so nice I love it
Just one question are you going to make all original units into multi-units
I mean Carriers and battleships are only really one unit and not a task force
Allso im second to ask for info about the file size I regularly gets kicked of especially when downloading

 

[GIDustin]

They look really cool. Do you mind if I post them all (and future ones) on my site? Most likely they will get their own section.

GIDustin

 

[Smoking mirror]

Kryten: several of the units have a small probem with little spots of magenta; I assume it is part of the palete change process, but it will make little areas of the figures transparent as someone already noted witht the hoplite.

Otherwise no problems- exelent work! Cant wait for the other packs.

 

[piderman]

It looks certainly great, Kryten! One question though, could you put the filesizes with the files? I am coping with a dial-up modem, and would like to know the sizes, so that I know in advance how long it is going to take.

 

[puglover]

If only I had the memory space on my computer!

 

[The Troquelet]

Terrific work. One question, are you sure about the formations for swordsmen? I had sort of pictured them in the Bowmans' formation but I'm sure you did more research than I.

 

[zulu9812]

I noticed that the INI files for these units require the sounds to be in the same folder, either copying from the civ3 unit folders or replacing the flcs in the civ3 unit folders. I've put together these INI files which point to remote files (e.g. ..\Archer\ArcherRun.amb) and corrected a few typos which were preventing the units from loading (e.g. "Swordsman .wav", rather than the incorrect "Swordsman.wav").

EDIT: for some reason when you download this file you end up with that old "attachment" thing - just rename to "Civ3 Ancient munits INI files.zip".

 

[Kenric af Grashen]

wonderful work Kryten.

 

[computerdude113]

I'm puttin all these units int a scenerio to save people the trouble, plus I wanted to do that anyway

 

[computerdude113]

EDIT: Nevermind, ifggured out my problem

 

[Kryten]

I'll try to answer a few of the many questions you have all posed.

First of all I have added the zip sizes next to each unit in the first post.

To mrtn & Smoking Mirror,
Yes, something must have happened during the alpha.pal palette conversions on some of the units, but hopefully it won't be too noticable on the map.
(Er....there are 15 frames in each direction, and 8 directions per flc, and 6 flcs, with 6 figures in each frame. That's a total of over 4,300 figures for the Hoplites alone!!!....all of which would have to be adjusted by hand, as I can't use the PaintShop Pro 'colour replacer' tool or the 'pink' background will lose it's transparency.
So I very much doubt that I will be fixing it for some time! )

To Akula,
Fear not.....modern ships are far too large to be able to get two in a tile.
I could squeeze two Destroyers together, but it looks unrealistic.
It would be nice to have Carriers & Battleships escorted by a couple of Destroyers, but they would have to be drastically resized first, and that means a loss of quality.
So almost all ships will have to stay as 'single-figure' units.

To GIDustin,
Of course you may place these units on your excellent website....but personally, I would save your limited webspace for all the hundreds of player created multi-figure units that will be made once people suss out how to use Steph's wonderful new utility.

To The Troquelet,
Legionaries are Roman, Hoplites are Greek, Immortals are Persian.
And Swordsmen are......who?
The only people who used trained, disciplined, uniformed and paid sword armed soldiers led by strict officers in ancient times were the Romans (in reality the Immortals fought with spears and shields, not scimitars).
All the other sword carrying troops, be they Celtic Gauls & Britons, Germanic Goths & Vandals, Spanish Iberians, Adriatic Illyrians, and so on, all fought in loose undisciplined groups called 'warbands'.
So that's how have I tried to show them; untrained, disordered, unruly tribal mobs with no actual formation.
(Of course, with Steph's wonderful new utility, you could always change it. )

To Zulu,
Thanks for those .ini configuration files , but my original idea was to simply replace the current flc animations with these new multi-figure ones.
This means that they will go inside the existing unit folders, where the Civ3 sound files already live. This seemed the quickest and easiest way of doing it.
(I know what a lazy lot you all are! )

 

[zulu9812]

Originally posted by Kryten
To Zulu,
Thanks for those .ini configuration files , but my original idea was to simply replace the current flc animations with these new multi-figure ones.
This means that they will go inside the existing unit folders, where the Civ3 sound files already live. This seemed the quickest and easiest way of doing it.
(I know what a lazy lot you all are! )

Well, what I've done is created a new folder under CIV3PTW\Scenarios and created a bix with no map detail and put the folder name in the Scenario Search Folders box. That way, I have the choice between random map games with single figures, or random map games with multi-figures.