Changing specs for just one scenario

Xerkis · Post by **Xerkis** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 1:14 pm

Trying my first scenario design – so it’s a learn as you go.

I’ve seen that if you want to change a unit’s specs you can modify the equipment.pzeqp file. Correct me if I’m wrong – but won’t that modify the unit for all scenarios? I don’t won’t to change the game as it was shipped, but just change a unit’s specs for the scenario I am making. Where do you change the specs for a unit that starts off in a scenario?

Thanks

sokol991 · Post by **sokol991** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 1:28 pm

In the editor - Shift+Click on the unit, then a tab will open where you can modify various different values for this particular unit.

Xerkis · Post by **Xerkis** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 1:33 pm

Ah thatnks .....
What about other stats; like range, spoting, etc?

El_Condoro · Post by **El_Condoro** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 2:07 pm

Those stats can only be changed in the pzeqp file. Yes, it will affect any game that is started using that pzeqp file.

Xerkis · Post by **Xerkis** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 2:16 pm

So what would be suggested to make a change on just one scenario and not all of them?

How does this sound:
Copy the unit I want to change and paste it in to the pzeqp file – rename it to something else and – then add that new unit to my scenario like a normal unit.

If that will work – does this mean though that the new unit I made will be available for purchase in all scenarios? Because I don't want that to happen either.

El_Condoro · Post by **El_Condoro** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 2:28 pm

There is a setting to make a unit purchaseable or not. You can create a new unit with different stats and just use that in the scenario. It will be flagged as a custom e-file for MP games.

Xerkis · Post by **Xerkis** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 2:35 pm

El_Condoro wrote:There is a setting to make a unit purchaseable or not. You can create a new unit with different stats and just use that in the scenario.

Perfect! Thanks.

El_Condoro wrote:It will be flagged as a custom e-file for MP games.

Don't know what a "custom e-file" is.
Is this good, bad, means I need to do something else?

El_Condoro · Post by **El_Condoro** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:52 pm

Sorry - an e-file is short for equipment file (equipment.pzeqp is the one PzC uses in the \data folder).
If you make changes to this file and start a multiplayer game with it, the server will flag that game as using a custom equipment file. Not a problem but any opponent will probably want to know what the changes are.

Razz1 · Post by **Razz1** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:42 am

If you modify the equipment file and start playing games with others...

You will get a bad name and it will spread like wild fire.

You won't be able to find any players as they think your are a cheater.

This means you need to make a thread with the map. Post the changes and ask for players.

Also, it must be revealed on the first turn of the changes you made, otherwise someone will join you game and call you a cheater after they find out you modified the files.

If a player joins your MP game and you reveal changes on the first turn...

They will have the option to surrender right a way if they don't like the changes.

Don't put yourself into a position to look bad.

El_Condoro · Post by **El_Condoro** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:54 am

As an enhancement to the MP screen, perhaps a link or a short description of the types of changes could be added. There would still need to be some way to access *all* the changes, though.

I imagine that, given time, efiles will emerge that are adopted by groups of players (clubs) and the efile name will be all that's needed to know what's in it.

Razz1 · Post by **Razz1** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:25 am

For the record... any map that is not stock will show a red flag. It doesn't mean the equipment files have changed.

It shows up Red because it is custom.

Xerkis · Post by **Xerkis** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:01 pm

All good advice and understandable as to the whole “cheating” thing.
But here is all I wanted to do…..

I made a very small scenario – just to get used to the editor. It’s “The Guns Of Navarone” – mainly based off of my memory of seeing the movie when I was a kid – so nothing historical by any means. I didn’t want to change any of Panzer Corps so I wanted to copy the fortification and make a new entry in the file with an increase of the range of the guns (to reflect the movie a bit more). So nothing that would or could ever be used in any other scenario or mp game… or at least this was my plans.

So by what you all are saying – you would suggest not doing this?

Also – how do others (or myself for that matter) know that someone modified the equipment file? Does the game tell you this or is it just that you notice stats on their units that are not right?

El_Condoro · Post by **El_Condoro** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:12 pm

I think these questions are good ones that need to be clarified by devs.

- How does the MP server know an equipment file is not standard? i.e. does it do a compatability test and show 'not standard' if there is any discrepancy/change?
- How does a player accepting a MP challenge know that the equipment file has been changed? I know that a warning appears for the one making the challenge if a non-standard efile is used.
- How does the MP server determine if a scenario is standard or custom? Is it hard-coded i.e. looks for Bagration.pzscn? Is it determined by the pzscn being in the \data folder or the My Games\Panzer Corps\Data folder?

Xerkis · Post by **Xerkis** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:21 pm

El_Condoro wrote:I think these questions are good ones that need to be clarified by devs.

- How does the MP server know an equipment file is not standard? i.e. does it do a compatability test and show 'not standard' if there is any discrepancy/change?
- How does a player accepting a MP challenge know that the equipment file has been changed? I know that a warning appears for the one making the challenge if a non-standard efile is used.
- How does the MP server determine if a scenario is standard or custom? Is it hard-coded i.e. looks for Bagration.pzscn? Is it determined by the pzscn being in the \data folder or the My Games\Panzer Corps\Data folder?

And add to those questions:
How are others making tons of new equipment without “change the e-file”?

Xerkis · Post by **Xerkis** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:50 pm

Xerkis wrote:
El_Condoro wrote:I think these questions are good ones that need to be clarified by devs.

- How does the MP server know an equipment file is not standard? i.e. does it do a compatability test and show 'not standard' if there is any discrepancy/change?
- How does a player accepting a MP challenge know that the equipment file has been changed? I know that a warning appears for the one making the challenge if a non-standard efile is used.
- How does the MP server determine if a scenario is standard or custom? Is it hard-coded i.e. looks for Bagration.pzscn? Is it determined by the pzscn being in the \data folder or the My Games\Panzer Corps\Data folder?
And add to those questions:
How are others making tons of new equipment without “change the e-file”?

Any one know - Have these questions been clarified by devs someplace and I missed them?

Razz1 · Post by **Razz1** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 2:32 am

Yes, you missed them.

When you click on a MP game there will be a text telling you it is custom.

equipment file is loaded to server, and you play the game off the server.

El_Condoro · Post by **El_Condoro** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:48 am

They're only partial answers. There is more to it than just being told the scenario is 'custom'. In what sense? Exactly what has been changed? If a 5 strength Tiger is created in pzeqp but all stats are the same, does that qualify as 'custom'? There are a lot more issues and questions that need a thorough response for the benefit of designers and players alike. When guys get tired of the current MP scenarios and more MP games are played with more custom scenarios these questions will become more important.

Xerkis · Post by **Xerkis** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:56 am

@Razz1
And what about the question that I added to El_Condoro's list?

How are others making tons of new equipment without “change the e-file”?

Rudankort · Post by **Rudankort** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:51 pm

El_Condoro wrote:I think these questions are good ones that need to be clarified by devs.

- How does the MP server know an equipment file is not standard? i.e. does it do a compatability test and show 'not standard' if there is any discrepancy/change?
- How does a player accepting a MP challenge know that the equipment file has been changed? I know that a warning appears for the one making the challenge if a non-standard efile is used.
- How does the MP server determine if a scenario is standard or custom? Is it hard-coded i.e. looks for Bagration.pzscn? Is it determined by the pzscn being in the \data folder or the My Games\Panzer Corps\Data folder?

I'm afraid that giving more details on this will only make it easier for cheaters to develop techniques to walkaround the existing system.

I agree that a better indication of what exactly is changed and where would be great, and it is on my todo list, but I'm also limited by what the server is capable of, so this may have to wait a bit.

Xerkis · Post by **Xerkis** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:12 pm

Rudankort wrote:
El_Condoro wrote:I think these questions are good ones that need to be clarified by devs.

- How does the MP server know an equipment file is not standard? i.e. does it do a compatability test and show 'not standard' if there is any discrepancy/change?
- How does a player accepting a MP challenge know that the equipment file has been changed? I know that a warning appears for the one making the challenge if a non-standard efile is used.
- How does the MP server determine if a scenario is standard or custom? Is it hard-coded i.e. looks for Bagration.pzscn? Is it determined by the pzscn being in the \data folder or the My Games\Panzer Corps\Data folder?
I'm afraid that giving more details on this will only make it easier for cheaters to develop techniques to walkaround the existing system. I agree that a better indication of what exactly is changed and where would be great, and it is on my todo list, but I'm also limited by what the server is capable of, so this may have to wait a bit.

I was sort of thinking that too. The more you tell - the easier it is to get around it.

But - again -

How are others making tons of new equipment without “change the e-file”?