some modding questions:

[BertHunter]

Hi there,

just finished reading the gamestar-review and promptly joined the forums here.
Now I am about to buy the game but still got one or two questions regarding mods for this game before I i will search for my credit-card


- I know you can add new units, but can you edit existing ones?
- is it possible to add new terrain-types to the game and 'build' them in the Editor?
- is it possible to exchange the UI with custom images?
- can you add new GamingRules? // something like: crossing a frozen river with a tank or ~3 random units will break the ice; OR building a certain unit and all enemy units are now forced into attacking this unit; OR a ceratin unit is forced to flee out of sight when another certain unit comes close to it; OR ...

So what I am basically trying to ask is: Is a total conversion possible? //like modding WWI or ... StoneAge or ... StarWars or I don't know...


Don't get me wrong. I like the setting, the 2d-graphics, the game mechanics, etc. ...
And I am certain I will have months/years? of enjoyment with the game in it's standard form [maybe adding one or two official AddOns?] !

It would just be great to know if a tc is possible

[Rudankort]

- I know you can add new units, but can you edit existing ones?

Absolutely.

- is it possible to add new terrain-types to the game and 'build' them in the Editor?

This should work in theory, although it was not tested in practice.

- is it possible to exchange the UI with custom images?

Not sure what you mean by "exchange the UI", but and graphics used by it can be replaced with something else.

- can you add new GamingRules? // something like: crossing a frozen river with a tank or ~3 random units will break the ice; OR building a certain unit and all enemy units are now forced into attacking this unit; OR a ceratin unit is forced to flee out of sight when another certain unit comes close to it; OR ...

No, adding game rules like that is not possible at the moment. Essentially this would require to code all game logic and AI in scripts, and we did not go this way.

[TheGrayMouser]

this has less to do in what you can/ how to mod but what effects will it have in MP (hopefully none)

For example
* i edit the unit equip file , change some stats, add some custom units.
I then accept a MP challenge for a "stock scenario" i assume there is a "mp"unit data file is hidden from modding dffernt than the one that is in plain text so me and my opponent are playing with the same official file ....

*same scenario, except this time I make a custom battle using my modified equip file, i then post challenge for that battle in MP and someone accepts. (part of the awsomeness of the slitheirne server that your opponent doesnt even need to download the scen files) Will both of us be playing with the same data , or will it have errors , fail to work? In this case would your opponent need a copy of your modded equip file?

So we are on the same page, i obviously understand that if i edit any file and then go to play vs the AI any scenarios will play differently possibly crash etc(depending on what I have changed)

[Razz1]

You use the hosts equip file.

If you host a game using a modified equip file you may be banished by the community if it is not posted in a thread somewhere. Especially if the files are NOT balanced.

Nobody wants to play a game where they don't know what the stats are and how they affect the game. However, if you post the changes and a player agrees with your file, your okay. Otherwise you may be accused of cheating because you set all the German/Allied units too strong.

SP will work fine with the files.

[TheGrayMouser]

You use the hosts equip file.

If you host a game using a modified equip file you may be banished by the community if it is not posted in a thread somewhere. Especially if the files are NOT balanced.

Nobody wants to play a game where they don't know what the stats are and how they affect the game. However, if you post the changes and a player agrees with your file, your okay. Otherwise you may be accused of cheating because you set all the German/Allied units too strong.

SP will work fine with the files.

Ok , i wasnt going as far as being worried about cheating per say but how to ensure your own mod files are kept clean for MP if you like to mod and tinker. I was hoping the files the game used for MP were embedded in the exe or something and inaccesable so you wouldnt have to worry about this but that appears not to be the case. So basically what you are saying is any non-official scenario someone posts could have modded files (and not nescaraily to cheat but they were playing around with modding)
So a player could have added a couple of experimantal or even fantasy units to his file and then issued a challenge with a legitiamte scenario he made and when you take your ist turn and go into the purchase screen you might be surpised you can buy a unit of mechwarriors , or something LOL

[El_Condoro]

When you start a game using a modified equipment.pzeqp you will be asked if that is definitely what you want to do. It will also show in red as using a modified file in the list of challenges. As for publishing exactly what those changes are you would need to notify your opponent (email or forum) as I imagine most players wouldn't accept a challenge with a modified efile without knowing the changes.

[TheGrayMouser]

Ok guys, i think you are missing my point since you both posted on how I should be keenly aware of "ramifications" of issing challenges w modded files.. I am not 15 yrs old trying to "test the waters" on doing something that might be wrong

The problem as i see it is was that Razz1 stated that the challengers data files are what the game reads ..... Since this game is so open to modding i fear that many scenarios are going to have the red warning and lets be blunt: how many players , are going to read the forums before they log onto MP to see if any one has a descrition of a custom challenge? i doudt there is enough room in the description message to explain what changes if any were made. Kind of defeats the whole point of how easy it is to make a scenario and post it as an open challenge. Of course no need to harp on what deviants(cheaters) might do.

Case in point : Razz1 the very ist open challenge i accepted was your Bocage in Hell , and BTW , I did get the red warning that the files were "modified" Let me be clear i am in no way accusing you of anything nefarious. BUt.. i dont see an explicit note of what you changed, if anything on the forums . I actually think you didnt change anything and that custom scenarios give that warning ... If so the warning really is pointless, or will give players false impressions

I has hoping MP games would read a hard coded set of data files so this wouldnt be a concern.
Ideally, if players want to play custom modded data files then perhaps both players would need the same sets of files to be able to do so. That way MP games can be kept clean and pure w the original data set but can also be played with custom ones by a simple xtra step

Cheers!

[El_Condoro]

It's too early to say how this will go, but my guess is that efiles will evolve similarly to the way they did with PG2 - guys will create their own and scenarios will be designated as using this or that efile. There may even be efiles created by groups and used by that group for all its group-generated scenarios.

But this all needs some way of specific notification for players. There have been a number of requests for the ability to add a lot more information to the scenario briefings - this could be the sort of information included.

Where custom efiles are created I guess guys will start games with the efile in the game description and a password so only players who know the password and are familiar with the efile will be able to play them. If non-passworded, red text flagged scenarios end up being bogus guys will just refuse to play them and only play against guys they know with efiles they know.

This is all part of the evolution of the MP game and I'm only guessing and thinking out loud!
Cheers

[Rudankort]

I has hoping MP games would read a hard coded set of data files so this wouldnt be a concern.
Ideally, if players want to play custom modded data files then perhaps both players would need the same sets of files to be able to do so. That way MP games can be kept clean and pure w the original data set but can also be played with custom ones by a simple xtra step

If MP games read hard-coded content, how would you experiment with new units in MP? This is the whole point of our design - you are free to do whatever you want. The game will give a warning, but not much else.

Now I don't claim that our system is already perfect. On the contrary, it very much likely needs improvement. But it will be much easier to do it right after we have some more experience and feedback from modders out there.

[TheGrayMouser]

Hello, thanks for the reply

I agree , i really apreciate the power of modding present in this game and your attitude regarding same (also fits my view in life as well. I am ok with higher risk and more freedom as opposed to having my liberties crushed for the illusion of security )

Basically my concern was that if too many players have issues on MP and complain , that you guys might decide to lock down the modding of files in a new patch or update, and that would stink (have seen game companies do this before)

So for now caveat empteor when you accept "red challenges'

cheers!

[Razz1]

We just want to make sure the MP games are fun.

The information is direct with hard consequences for members of the club to understand that players will not like manipulation of equipment files without notification up front.

As far as my maps are concerned... none of the statistics have been changed. Only the map is different.

Since the map is not from The Lordz Games Studio... then it is flagged on the server.

If anything changes in an equipment file in the future... it will be posted here the the design center with its own thread for the map.