5 replies to this topic

[kames]

Hello. I want to make a mod/minimod, I don't know how to call it, I want to modify the game, to play with my brother. I don't know from where to start, I'm a beginner. I just want to modify some things (images, to add heroes, etc). Can you help me? What I need to do it? Thank you very much. I want to play this game as much as I have time, the time will come when I will not have the same feeling as 5 years ago. Thank you again.

[Jokuc]

Most of the information you want to edit are stored inside .ini files. You can access the most important ones by opening the file called ini.big inside your game's installation folder with a program called FinalBIG. 

 

 

 

I'll give you a fast tour of the different files you will find here and what information they contain.

 

Spoiler

data\ini\armor.ini

This file determines how much damage certain units will take from certain weapons. For example, how spiders take extra damage from pikes.

 

data\ini\attributemodifier.ini

This file contains the names for all attribute modifiers and the values that goes with them. For example, how War Chant gives 50% extra damage.

 

data\ini\commandbutton.ini

This file holds all the properties of the round buttons that are used in the game. Unit powers, spellbook powers, builder buildings and building purchases. For example, what image is associated with which function, if the button grants an upgrade, if the button requires an upgrade to be pressed, if a special power is activated when the button is pressed, and what text goes with it.

 

data\ini\commandset.ini

This file lists all the commandbuttons a certain unit or structure will use. For example, you can change which buttons/powers that appear when you select Aragorn. **Important to note is, this only changes the buttons. You still need to edit many other things to actually give him new powers or the button will do nothing at all when you press it.

 

data\ini\experiencelevels.ini

This file tells the game which attributes that will be applied to a unit when it levels up. For example, the amount of damage it does, the amount of exp it will give another unit when it is killed, or at what level it unlocks certain powers and upgrades.

 

data\ini\fxlist.ini, data\ini\fxparticlesystem.ini, data\ini\particlesystem.ini

These files has the properties of the effects in the game and how they look. For example, the color of certain hero powers.

 

data\ini\gamedata.ini

This file contains all the value tags and the numbers linked to them. For example, when editing health on a unit it may say ARAGORN_HEALTH instead of just 3000. Search for the tag here and you will find the number it represents.

 

data\ini\object\...

These files have most of the settings for a particular unit or structure. For example, animations used, which weapons it uses, which armor it uses, which commandset it uses, how much health it has, what kind of object it is, if you will lose when the object is destroyed, how much command points it costs, how much resources it costs, which sounds it uses, which powers/abilities it has, which direction the object will face when you create it, if it produces resources. Etc.

 

data\ini\object\system\system.ini, data\ini\science.ini

These are the inis for all the spellbook power properties. For example, which special power it uses, if it has any attribute modifiers, how many power points it costs and which other powers you need before buying it.

 

data\ini\playertemplate.ini

Here you will find all the settings for each faction. For example, which spellbook they will use and which starting units they have and how many (usually it is just builders).

 

data\ini\specialpower.ini

This is the file for all special powers in the game. It doesn't hold any information about what the powers do, just the names, the power type and how fast they reload.

 

data\ini\weapon.ini

This file contains, quite obviously, all the weapon properties. For example, special power weapons like fireballs, normal swords, poison arrows and Tom Bombadil's punch. The settings are too many to list but among others it's the damage they deal, if they deal damage over time, if they knock back units with force, how wide of a range they affect targets, how fast it fires, how far it reaches, if the weapon is accurate, what special effect is showed when the weapon is used.

 

 

Just adding new heroes is not as easy as you might think. There's lots of things you will have to do. Editing the game files means you will not be able to play online with others who have the normal version of the game, so most of the time modders use -mod commands so you won't have to replace the original files when making a mod. Also, if you want to replace images, you will find the textures and portraits in the Textures.big files. Just export the folder via final big. I don't remember where the button images are located though. A tip is to export the files from ini.big, then using something like notepad++ to edit the ini files. When you are done, import them into ini.big. This way you will still have the original files if you mess something up.

 

FinalBIG download: http://www.wagnerma....ad.php?detail=1

Coding tutorials: https://www.the3rdag...pe=1&category=4

Graphic tutorials: https://www.the3rdag...pe=1&category=2

Useful software: https://www.the3rdag...pe=3&category=9

Mod commands: https://forums.revor...d-command-v103/

Edited by Jokuc, 12 February 2018 - 03:17 PM.

[kames]

Thank you for help and your attention. For example, I want to add a new faction, to move units to another faction or to add more units/heroes/buildings, to edit loadimage, and portraits, etc, but I want to do that as -mod, I don't want to edit the original game. I saw the new mods have only a launcher (a shortcut with target -mod) and some folders (art is one of them). Can you help me please?

Edited by kames, 14 February 2018 - 05:06 AM.

[Echo]

Ugh, if you have no previous experience with modding, I suggest you don't start off with creating an entire faction. Change small things, and go from there. I can't really give you all the information 'quickly' that is required to make it work.

First of all, I recommend you to check out tutorials on T3A, it's helps you a lot in getting started: https://www.the3rdage.net

But if you're serious about creating a new faction, here are some tutorials that might be interesting for you (never added a new faction for BFME 2 so I can't really help you here):
https://www.the3rdag...tem-144?addview

https://www.the3rdag...item-73?addview

[Jokuc]

I want to do that as -mod, I don't want to edit the original game. I saw the new mods have only a launcher (a shortcut with target -mod) and some folders (art is one of them). Can you help me please?

 

I already gave you the link in my post for this. But here it is again https://forums.revor...d-command-v103/

[kames]

Tried to modify a hero potrait and main menu background, and doesn't work...when i open the game is same like the original game. And images looks bad after using https://forums.revor...d-command-v103/ :