Why Can't I Add My Trebuchet Unit ?

[frunobulax]

Okay, this is what I'm doing to try to add a new unit - somebody tell me where I'm going wrong, as it ain't working (more on that later).

The unit I've been trying to add is a Trebuchet - excuse the longwinded description below, but I want to be sure I'm not missing something.

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1. I have a folder 'Trebuchet' in the Units folder containing all the requisite graphic/audio files (e.g. TrebuchetDefault.flc, TrebuchetDeath.flc, TrebuchetDeath.wav etc ) - all correctly named - plus the Trebuchet.INI file, which has been checked AOK for spellings etc.

2. Using iEditCiv I open my civ3mod.bic file and select a similar unit, in this instance a Catapult, rename it Trebuchet and hit 'Add'. I then save the civ3mod.bic file and quit iEditCiv.

3. Using Photoshop 7 I open the units_32.pcx file and copy in my Trebuchet 32x32 pixel image into the position after the Privateer. Save and Quit.

4. I move over the trebuchetlarge.pcx & trebuchetsmall.pcx icons to the Civilopedia's Icon>>Units folder. I add '66' in front of each file name (66trebuchetlarge.pcx and 66trebuchetsmall.pcx) , as this is the number following the last unit on the list (i.e. 65Privateersmall.pcx).

5. In the Text folder I open the Civilopedia.txt file and I copy the Catapult's entry (as it's closest text wise) in the Artillery Units section and paste this after the Catapult's entry - leaving the right number of spaces - and edit the text accordingly for my Trebuchet, adding a new description and changing any [catapult(s)] references to [trebuchet(s)] so it looks like this...

#PRTO_Trebuchet
^
^
^Superseding the [catapult] as a primitive form of artillery, [trebuchets] are devastating siege weapons in Medieval Times. They are used to $LINK<bombard=GCON_Combat> city defenses to soften the attack for accompanying soldiers. [trebuchets] have no attack or defense power, so they should be protected by an escort. Finally,they are wheeled so they may not enter $LINK<mountains=TERR_Mountains> or $LINK<jungles=TERR_Jungle> unless following a road.
#DESC_PRTO_Trebuchet
^
^
^The trebuchet was essentially an engine for destroying the defences of a fortification, so that it might be entered by means of scaling ladders or in other ways. From about the middle of the thirteenth century, the trebuchet in great measure superseded the catapult etc etc
(there's more but I cut it here)


6. In the text folder I open the PediaIcons.txt file and locate the units section, and add -

#ICON_PRTO_Trebuchet
art\civilopedia\icons\units\66trebuchetlarge.pcx
art\civilopedia\icons\units\66trebuchetsmall.pcx

- before "#End Units". Save and Quit.

7. Finally, using Civ3Edit I open the civ3mod.bic file, select Units and Edit. In the Unit Edit window I assign new bombard & cost values to my Trebuchet, give it the prerequisite of Invention, add Iron as required resource, and set it to upgrade to Cannon. I then go and modify the Catapult unit to upgrade to Trebuchet. Save and Quit.

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Now, that's what I've been doing, but it ain't working.

First off, none of the Trebuchet graphics are showing up in Civ3 - either via the Civilopedia or in the Science Advisor's timeline. Secondly the modifications to the PediaIcons.txt file (I know it's this precisely, 'cos I tested it) is causing the graphics for the Privateer unit to foul-up (blue and pink squares). Thirdly, whilst the Trebuchet appears in the Civilopedia as a viable unit, only it's historical description bit appears -"The trebuchet was essentially an engine for destroying the defences of a fortification" - not the first section. All it's Attack/Bombard etc values are listed okay, just not the short descriptive bit above.

Soooo, can anyone help me !

thanks in advance

Fruno (tearing his remaining hair out).

 

[DiamondzAndGunz]

Did you add a folder and all the graphics and such for the treb in the units folder? Doesn't seem you did, from your description. There needs to be a folder with the name of the unit, and then an .ini file with the name as well. I'll also look into the other problems.

 

[frunobulax]

Originally posted by DiamondzAndGunz
Did you add a folder and all the graphics and such for the treb in the units folder? Doesn't seem you did, from your description. There needs to be a folder with the name of the unit, and then an .ini file with the name as well. I'll also look into the other problems.

Forgot to include that in my list, as I kinda asumed it was a given (!) - I'll go and re-edit the post !

 

[senecasax]

What program did you edit the text file in?
Civ3 uses windows line ending encoding (CRLF - carriage return and a line feed), and you mght need to edit it in an app that recognizes this.
I've tested TextEdit, and it does, so that shouldn't be an issue unless you're editing it in OS 9. (that's why simpletext always has those little boxes at the beginning of lines).

Umm, does the Unit appear in the game? I've successfuly added a trebuchet unit and it does appear in the game - but I didn't change the civilopedia stuff. THere are threads in the PC customization stuff that tell you about this, and what to do about it.

 

[frunobulax]

Originally posted by senecasax
What program did you edit the text file in?
Civ3 uses windows line ending encoding (CRLF - carriage return and a line feed), and you mght need to edit it in an app that recognizes this.
I've tested TextEdit, and it does, so that shouldn't be an issue unless you're editing it in OS 9. (that's why simpletext always has those little boxes at the beginning of lines).

Umm, does the Unit appear in the game? I've successfuly added a trebuchet unit and it does appear in the game - but I didn't change the civilopedia stuff. THere are threads in the PC customization stuff that tell you about this, and what to do about it.

I'm using TextEdit to edit the text, so that should be fine re. the CRLF issue. I haven't got as far as seeing the unit in the game - I'll go back tonight and change the prerequisite tech to nothing and give it a very low cost, just so I can build it early on in a new game and make sure it does appear.

I've trawled through pages and pages on here of PC customization stuff but none of the tutorials gave me any new info - they're not THAT comprehensive actually.

Thanks for replying anyway !

it's just weird how the changes I'm making affect the Privateer unit - specifically when I make changes to the PediaIcons file.

 

[frunobulax]

Just to update this thread, the Trebuchet unit does appear in the game, and works fine, but the trebuchetlarge.pcx & trebuchetsmall.pcx graphics for the Civilopedia are just not appearing at all, or the Trebuchet 32x32 pixel image I added to the units_32.pcx file.

So, a question - when I update the PediaIcons.txt file what number do I give the Trebuchet unit ? In my example I chose 66 as this is the number following the last unit on the existing list (i.e. 65Privateersmall.pcx).


#ICON_PRTO_Trebuchet
art\civilopedia\icons\units\66trebuchetlarge.pcx
art\civilopedia\icons\units\66trebuchetsmall.pcx