I followed this tutorial: https://www.the3rdage.net/item-127
I looked at this tutorial since I'm trying to retexture also, but I don't know what he means by "add it to the game with the usual method." How do I add my custom stuff into my game? He refers to another tutorial for this, but does not name it or link to it which is frustrating to people like me who are new to BFME modding. This tutorial does the same thing: https://www.the3rdag...tem-691?addview . It assumes you already know how to add stuff into the game as well.
1. Let's start with FinalBIG which you'll use to extract files from ini.big and art from texture.big. There you'll see how the art is, get an idea of image size, layers, etc.. Notice the file structure of ini.big and find the ini of the unit you want to change its portrait or button.
2. You need to learn about mod command and how to create an asset.dat, so read about that.
3. You need Photoshop or something similar.
4. Art is in dds or tga format. Photoshop can open tga, but you'll need a plugin to open dds.
5. Portrait art is 256*256 pixels. Actual image you put there is 192*192 pixels. And there's an alpha layer. Use an existing portrait image, put your new art over it then save in tga format and name your file for example: UPGondor_Fighter.tga.
6. Here's where mod command matters. Mod command is creating a folder and naming it for example: "my mod" or anything you want. In that folder you create a folder named "art". Inside "art" you create a folder named "compiledtextures". Inside that a folder named "up". Inside "up" you put UPGondor_fighter.tga.
Notice how the folder is named "up" like the initial letters of your art. Any art you want to add has to be placed in a folder named like the initial letters of your art.
7. You open Assetbuilder. Sy's Assetbuilder is the best. You open it an drag compiledtextures folder into it then create an asset.dat and save it in your "my mod" folder.
8. Inside "my mod" folder, you create a folder named data. Inside that a folder named ini. Inside that a folder named mappedimages. Inside that create a new text file; name it unitportraitandbuttons.ini. Inside that you'll define the art like this:
MappedImage UPGondor_FighterPortrait
Texture = UPGondor_Fighter.tga
TextureWidth = 256
TextureHeight = 256
Coords = Left:0 Top:0 Right:191 Bottom:191
Status = NONE
End
And save.
9. You go back to ini folder. Create folder "object" then "goodfactions" then "units" then "men". Inside folder "men" you put gondor fighter.ini. Inside gondorfighter.ini you find the line that says portrait and change it to = UPGondor_FighterPortrait. After that you save.
10. Assuming you learned about mod command and setting up a shortcut for yor mod. You would run that shortcut and see the new art in game.
Again folder structure is very important so copy from ini.big and texture.big.
