48 replies to this topic

[Hasfusel]

Hello, guys.

I've been thinking for awhile about starting my own mod for BFME, but there's a problem - I have no idea where to begin.
I browsed both this site and The Third Age for ages, but there isn't really anything that shows the basics, just stuff that shows how to deal with individual articles, and expecting you to already know a bit. But I don't, and I need to find somewhere that shows the basics. The real basics. Let's say that I haven't ever done any sort of modding before (except for Morrowind, and that's different), and will need explaining from the beginning. So please, could someone help me by showing me somewhere to start?
For instance, I'd like to learn to begin with is how to modify the statistics, powers and abilities of heroes and units.
I don't know how to access the right files, for a start. Knowing this would be very useful.
Please, guys. Listen to the goodness of your hearts. Help a guy out. What should I do?

Edited by Hasfusel, 21 December 2008 - 11:56 AM.

[Sûlherokhh]

Check out the tools section. Download FinalBIG. Use it to extract the file INI.big to someplace safe. That's all the files you will need to get started.
Also check out the tutorials for one of the specific and small things (changing hero power/leadership, adjusting values for weapons, armor, leadership, xp). Then there should also be a tutorial explaining how to set it up so your adjusted files will be read at game start.

[Hasfusel]

Thank you. You're a star. I'm not sure what to do once I've downloaded FinalBIG, or how to extract the INI.big or what it is, but I'll try to make a start nonetheless. I'm sure I'll work it out.
Thanks again for your help. I'm sure I'll get to understand this in no time.

...

*goes away and starts downloading*

Edited by Hasfusel, 13 December 2008 - 10:33 PM.

[Hasfusel]

So far I've downloaded FinalBIG and Winrar (what to do with them remains a mystery). However, I can't seem to find the relevant tutorials you mentioned. And I'm not too sure which "Tools" section you were referring to. I can't find it anywhere.
How do I extract this INI.big, and where to? What then? As I said, I'm a complete beginner, and don't understand anything other than what you've told me. Someone please help. :/
Thanks again,

- Hasfusel

Edited by Hasfusel, 13 December 2008 - 11:14 PM.

[Hasfusel]

(No replies? Well, there go my modding dreams... )

[m@tt]

Sul was referring to the Tools section of the T3A website, where you can find FinalBig (which you've installed anyway).

Extracting the INI is easy, in FinalBig you click "extract" for single files or "extract all" to move everything. Sul says "somewhere safe", so anywhere really that's not in the program directory. I'd suggest making a folder on your desktop called Hasfusel or whatever, and extract it all to there.

There are plenty of beginner articles on site. Go to Articles, then Coding. For setting up the mod, check out 2playgames article on the -mod command to get the mod working with the folder you've made.

Once it's in a safe place, just look at the extracted files to get an understanding of things. Look at the file structure, the coding language etc. It also helps to think of a list of things you want to do (e.g. make unit X cheaper, faster, weaker... or make somewhere recruitable elsewhere, or make a summon power last longer)

[Radspakr Wolfbane]

Sorry for not replying.
I lot of us are busy at the moment preparing for betas,holidays and other things.

[Hasfusel]

Well, thank you. I'll try my best.
So, do you mean make a copy of all the .INI files in a seperate folder, and then edit them using FinalBIG?

[Sûlherokhh]

Yes.

[Hasfusel]

So, how should I go about this?
All I've done so far is right-click on my The Battle For Middle-Earth folder and archeive it with WinRar. Now what? How do I extract the files to my folder, and which ones do I extract? Is it the whole thing, or just the file that says ini.BIG?

[Sûlherokhh]

No. I will list the steps.

Prep.

• Install BfMe1 (done)
• Install Patch 1.03 (done?)
• Download and Install FinalBIG
• Create Folder 'My Custom Ini Files' on desktop.
• Double Click on file 'ini.big' inside main game folder. Should automatically be opened by FinalBIG. If not, you will be asked which program should be used to open '.big'-files. Associate with (and possibly browse for) FinalBIG.

Go.

• Now FinalBIG has opened the file 'ini.big'. Go to the top function 'edit'
• Press 'Extract All'.
• When FinalBIG asks 'continue?' press yes.
• FinalBIG asks you to choose folder. Choose 'My Custom Ini Files' located on your desktop.
• Close FinalBIG

With the windows mouse function 'right-click (on free area)' - select 'new' - select 'FinalBIG-document' you are able to create a new .big file.
Open it and drag everything inside 'My Custom Ini Files' (but not this folder) into the FinalBIG window, say yes to everything, then save. If the custom files have been changed by you, the new .big file will have all the changes.
Now rename your file
from 'New FinalBIG Document.big'
to '_CustomIniFiles.big',
drop it in your main game folder.
Play.

[mike_]

Wow, thanks Sul. That's something I've been needing for ages but haven't had the courage to ask

[camjam_2012]

Ya, that helped me out a little too. I knew everything, except for the last part. Wait, do you just drop it in the folder when you want to use it, or do you drop it in and remove the other INI file? That is the only part i am confused about.

[Sûlherokhh]

If the file starts with a '_' (i.e. '_myMod.big' not 'myMod.big'), you can leave everything as is, just add your custom BIG file. You have to remove it again by hand if you want to play the normal game or any other mod.

[Hasfusel]

Does it matter that it only let me make a FinalMEG document? Is that the same?

And do I drop it somewhere specific, or do I just put it in the My Battle For Middle Earth Files folder? Is there anything else I do to play the edited game?

Thank you very much for all your help. I'm sure I couldn't have done it without this. I'm looking forwards to starting my very own mod!

EDIT: And I actually edit the files using Notepad, right?

Edited by Hasfusel, 20 December 2008 - 08:35 PM.

[camjam_2012]

Ya, and i never drop it somewhere specific. i just put it in a folder called mods somewhere in the game files. (You have to make that folder) and ya. I just made a mod where the good people are amazing, and now i am going to see if it works. get back to you soon!

[camjam_2012]

Does this work if you have the Elvan aliance mod installed? And to you have to put the file that you created back into .big format, and if so HOW?

[Sûlherokhh]

You will have to mod the ElvenAlliance files, which are probably in .BIG format, right?

[Hasfusel]

Well, I did it slightly differently, but it works.
I put my custom .BIG file in the C: drive, and then created a new shortcut to the game with the -mod command and the location of my custom files. It works.
However, so far all I have managed to change is the level in which Aragorn, Gandalf and Saruman start at (I hated it when you bought them already levelled up).
But I also made some changes to the gamedata.ini file; I changed the amount of money you start with, and the costs, revive times and statistics of a few heroes.
For some reason, the level change in Aragorn, Gandalf and Saruman works perfectly, but the other changes that I made to the gamedata.ini folder haven't. Is there any reason why? How can I fix it? (I'd really like to reduce Gandalf's cost to something reasonable like 3500, that way you get to play with him as Gandalf the Grey awhile before you purchase his upgrade).

[camjam_2012]

Well, i installed the mod, and it does what it is supposed to, but i cant find the files that it installed, unless it just edited the ini file, and i cant find anything about it in my BFME folder. not even an uninstall or anything. if you know how to uninstall it please tell me. and when i extracted the files it turned them into notebook files. are you supposed to turn them back into .big files? And if so, tell me how.