18 replies to this topic

[Gary]

This topic is actually more on the process of installing mods...I dont know where else to post this.
When I overwrite my original ini.big file (I back it up of course), and then try to start the game, I get this huge error message that looks like this:

Unknown field 'ShadowLOD' in block 'StaticGameLOD'.

Error Parsing field 'ShadowLOD' in block 'StaticGameLOD' in file 'Data\INI\GameLOD.ini', line 20.


Error parsing INI block' ShadowLOD'in file 'Data\INI\GameLOD.ini'.
7 addresses:
(unknown): game.dat+241950 Debug:ostStaticInit+3390
(unknown): game.dat+2293599 UnicodeString::UnicodeString+55606
(unknown): game.dat+2324389
GameClientRandowVariable::getValue+15977
(unknown): game.dat+6447835 Xfer::~Xfer+1182990
(unknown): kernel32.dll+280849 BaseThreadInitThunk+18
(unknown): ntdll.dll+255158 RtlInitializeExceptionChain+99
(unknown): ntdll.dll+255113 RtlInitializeExceptionChain+54

Because of the severity of this error the game will now exit

Two questions:

What does this mean? and

How do I fix it?

[Lauri]

Did you include all the .ini files in your mod's .big file?

Bsically, did you copy ini.big, take the one as a backup and use the other for modding?

[Gary]

Well, each mod only came with one file... and that was the ini.big file. So what I did what cut the original ini.big file and move it to desktop.

Then I copied and pasted the mod ini.big file into the game directory. But when I try to launch the game I get the error message. If I remove the mod ini.big and replace it with the original, it starts working fine...

[Lauri]

ah, you're installing a mod. Well then

Take the ini.big back into the BFME2\RotWK folder where it belongs. Then take the mod file and place it in (for Windows 7, possibly Vista);

C:\Users\*YOURUSERNAME*\AppData\Roaming\My Battle for Middle-earth™ II Files
or something along those lines (if it's for RotWK, you'll know what folder to place the mod in.

Then, make a shortcut for the mod. To do that, is simple. Make a new shortcut to BFME2\RotWK, and right-click on it and go to Properties (at the bottom)
Then see the Target section, and behind all of it, add;
-mod MODFILE.big

For example, a shortcut to a mod I have looks like this

"D:\Games\The Battle for Middle-earth ™ II\lotrbfme2.exe" -mod TPW.big

[Gary]

ok, found that folder, but im having problems with the shortcut. Mainly, it won;t let me change the target.

Here is what the target box looks like

"C:\Users\godlikeG\AppData\Roaming\My Battle for Middle-earth™ II Files\ini.big"-mod NoCP.big


IT seems as tho because the modfile itself is an ini.big file that throws a kink in the renaming or something

[Kwen]

No no, you want the target box to be like:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Battle for Middle-earth ™ II\lotrbfme2.exe" -mod NoCP.big

[Gary]

Ok, it is probably something I did...Let me tell repeat my steps so we can make sure.

1.Took the modfile (ini.big) and placed it in C:\Users\*YOURUSERNAME*\AppData\Roaming\My Battle for Middle-earth™ II Files
2. Made a copy of that modfile and placed it in C:\programfiles(x86)\ElectronicArts\ The Battle for Middle-Earth II
3. tried to rename the Target for the modfile, but says invalid target, make sure pathname and target are valid afterwards...

\My Battle for Middle-earth™ II Files"-mod NoCP.big

[Ganon]

2. Made a copy of that modfile and placed it in C:\programfiles(x86)\ElectronicArts\ The Battle for Middle-Earth II

Don't do that step. It only needs to be in the "My Battle for Middle-earth™ II Files" folder.

...

As for the target.
suppose this is your current target without any changes:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Battle for Middle-earth ™ II\lotrbfme2.exe"

If your mod file is called NoCP.big, AND it's in the "My Battle for Middle-earth™ II Files" folder, then, now it should look like this:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Battle for Middle-earth ™ II\lotrbfme2.exe" -mod NoCP.big

Edited by Ganon, 25 January 2011 - 01:00 AM.

[Gary]

See here is what I am confused about...The several mods that I have downloaded have all came with just one file: ini.big. So I may be creating more confusion by attempting to name it NoCP, which is what the mod itself does. So, When I place it in the C:\Users\*YOURUSERNAME*\AppData\Roaming\My Battle for Middle-earth™ II Files, I need to leave it there, right? but I cannot set the target from there. I have to create a shortcut, Is what Lauri Says... so after I place the modfile (ini.big) into C:\Users\*YOURUSERNAME*\AppData\Roaming\My Battle for Middle-earth™ II Files, what happens next?


Secondly, what are we doing? whats the purpose of what we are doing here?

[Ganon]

I have to create a shortcut, Is what Lauri Says... so after I place the modfile (ini.big) into C:\Users\*YOURUSERNAME*\AppData\Roaming\My Battle for Middle-earth™ II Files, what happens next?

You could also edit the existing shortcut for the game. Also make sure that if you create a shortcut that it is a shortcut to the game and not the icon itself in the program files folder. It can trick you because if I remember correctly they have the same name and picture.

Also, don't change the "Start in:" box if it says something like:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Battle for Middle-earth ™ II\lotrbfme2.exe"
Then don't change it, only the target needs changed.

Secondly, what are we doing? whats the purpose of what we are doing here?

The purpose of creating the shortcut is so the mod can be read. You can't replace the INI.big in the program files or the game won't run. Setting the shortcut up like this tells the game to use BOTH the mod AND the game's INI.big

Edited by Ganon, 25 January 2011 - 01:19 AM.

[Gary]

ahh ok, I gotcha! Now Im gonna try to Edit the existing one, but now I still gotta deal with the naming. When I see, my mod file, all it says is ini.big. So,

When I am making my target, it will read "C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Battle for Middle-earth ™ II\lotrbfme2.exe" -mod ini.big?

[Ganon]

Yep.

[Gary]

Well, I got the naming part right, but unfortunately im getting the same error message that I started with. btw, here were the instructions with the mod

1.unzip and save this mod in some folder
2.Go to your C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Battle for Middle-earth II ™ folder and back up your INI file
back up simple means copy it and put it in a folder somewhere so if you want bodies to disappaer agian
you have it backed up (it you like playing online this mod probably won't work on MP) SP works awesomly.
3.then chose a INI file thats in the zip (which should now be in bodies stay folder somewhere on computer)

4. copy and place the INI in your C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Battle for Middle-earth II ™
when in ask to replace say yes (DONT FORGET TO BACKUP THE INI FIRST THOUGH) thats it now lunch BFMEII and play!!!!

but instead of play!! I get a long error message :/

[Ganon]

Now we've come to the root of the problem.

Where did you get this mod from?
I'm assuming it isn't from T3A?

If it says to replace the INI.big then it means that it isn't set up right. And isn't a "true" mod, like some of the impressive masterpieces found here at T3A.

...

So, now then, if you replace the INI.big in the program files with this...mod...the way the instructions tell you to, and it gives you the error message still. Then I don't think I can help you.

[Gary]

Well then perhaps I shall go to the T3A to get my mods

[Gary]

could you give me a link to the mods? I seem to keep finding myself at bfme 1 mods

[Kwen]

It's possible it was made for an out of date patch. And so the code is conflicting.

[Ganon]

Well, here is where the mods for BFME can be found. Clicky

[alexanderxatz]

i have the same problem unknown field shadowlod right after installing patch 1.06