AOE3 Forums

The modding thread!

Hi, guys.

I have finally decided to make a modding thread around here. Currently it is unstickied, but I hope it will be stickied with the time. So now it's “The (unstickied) modding thread”.

NOTE: You can call making custom maps modding too, but why should I make a thread about that, when there already is one? No. When I talk about modding I mean:

Modding a new unit/civ/homecity/building. There are many, many other possibilities too.

But what is modding?

[quoted from BilboBeutlin's introduction to AoE3 modding]

'Modding' is a usual short word for modding, modifying - that means changing existing stuff (espec. for games) to get a new outlook, other behavior, adapt on individual requirements or to add new features.
Strictly speaking it's already modding, if you change anything from the delivered original program state. That may be color settings or the keyboard layout. In most cases such changes are already doable with the program's inbuilt features.
Most programs come with one or more setup files, which are editable with normal text editors like eg. Windows' Notepad. From programming aspect, also the files which determine game behavior (like AoE3's proto.xml, techtree.xml) are also merely setup files, which the program's exe(cutable) reads in the initializing startup phase. So changes on such files will usually only take effect at a new game start.

Only to mention by the way: very experienced users can mod the program's exe (executable code) or a dll (dynamic link library). But this requires specialized, advanced know-how and particular tools.

[/quoted from BilboBeutlin's introduction to AoE3 modding]

Read the rest here. link

Modder's first rule: Never touch a non-backuped file!

Keep in mind that if you mod your game, and suddenly discover that you can't get your game working, ES may not be held responible. You might be forced to perform an uninstall, and then install the game again. If you get the message Intialisation Failed, we might help you.

IN CASE YOU DELETED A FOLDER IN YOUR GAME CORE, OR ANYTHING HORRIBLE THEN: DO NOT PANIC!!!

We might be able to help you. Once I was moving the game core from one folder to another, and suddenly everything got messed up. Half of the folders were still in C:Program Files/Microsoft Games/Age of Empires3, while the rest where in a folder on my desktop. I got panic, and I ended up having to uninstall windows.
 

Well. The first thing you should do is to read a couple of tutorials, before you do anything.

Here are some:

link

link

Okay. Now that you've read through this, I can start explaining some things:

1: Your game core.

Your game core is located in C: Program Files/Microsoft Games/Age of Empires 3

This is were the data for almost everything is located. In this folder you will find:

All unit data.

All building data.

Files for the Scenario Editor

All triggers

All random maps (both loading-screens, and the files)

And so on...

Usually when modding the most important folders in your game core are:

Art and Data.

2: The art folder:

The art folder is where you will find:

All models, graphics and animations.

(more info later)

3: The data folder:

In the data folder you will find many files. The most important of them while modding are:

Proto.xml (Protox.xml for TWC)

Stringtable(x).xml

Techtree(x).xml

In the proto(x) you will find all unit stats. It is specified in this file if a unit is Light, Heavy or whatever. I.E. You will find hitpoints, build limit, armour, attack, attack bonus and such in this file.

The stringtable(x) is also a VERY important file. If your game is in Italian, this file would be in Italian. In this file you can find the names of every unit, tech, home city, choice, text in the main menu buttons, and anything. This is called strings. Take the skirmisher as an example. In the proto(x) you can find all his stats. But there is more in the proto(x). It is also referred to a “String” in the stringtable(x). There are also tags that refers to the rollover text, for the unit, and his name. Every string in the stringtable(x) has a number. And you refer to strings by referring to these numbers. So a string might look like:

<string_lockID='23654'Skirmisher'</String>

So a tag in the proto(x) refers to this string's number. So... where was I...

Oh, yeah. Take the skirmisher as an example. In the proto(x) it is refered to a string, that contains the name of the skirmisher (for everything else in the proto(x) too.). Without this string, the name of the skirmisher wouldn't be showed.

You guys understand?

Note that also techs from the Techtree(x).xml refer to a string in the stringtable (I'll just call it stringtable from now on).

Then I will explain you the techtree(x):

In the techtree (I'll call it techtree) you will find every tech in the game.

Yes, I mean like Guard Musketeers, Bastion, Imperial Tercios, church techs, and such.

Also a tech in the techtree refers to a string in the stringtable.

4: A little break.

Just a little break from the constant reading. Now read through this or the tutorials again, or ask a question in this thread if there were some things that you didn't quite understood.

5: Modding programs:

Well... You might have read something about these programs in the two tutorials I posted above? Yes?, No?

Anyway there are a few programs you will need to use to mod:

AoE3ED: Download here: link

Explanation:

This will add two new programs to your desktop; AoE3ED Archive Viewer and AoE3ED File Converter.

Let's all cheer and clap for Ykkrosh who made this fantastic tool! *Claps*

-But what does AoE3ED do?

Oh, silly boy. You should have taught of that before clapping and cheering.

But anyway:

AoE3ED Archive viewer can read .bar files. As far as I know there are:

5 bar. files for AoE3 vanilla (without any expansion installed)

8 bar. files for AoE3 The War Chiefs.

AoE3ED File Converter converts files as: DDT to TGA (TarGA) and opposite, xmb to xml and opposite.

Notepad: A program that comes with Windows, and most of you have it on your computer. You use this program to edit XML files.

Any photo editing program. You will need a photo editing program if you want to mod. The program will only need to be able to read TGA (TarGA) files. Examples: Gimp, Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop.

6: Files you should know:

-XML: An xml. file can be edited with Notepad. (Everyone with Windows should have notepad... it comes with windows.)

-XMB: Not readable. You convert them to edit them, and then convert them back.

-DDT: Not readable. You have to convert them to TGA to read them, and edit them. Then you can convert them back.

TGA (TarGA): Editable file. You can convert it to DDT by using AoE3ED File Converter.

Okay, currently only these, but there are more.

7: Another Tutorial:

link

Well... I am going to add more into this, but not yet.

Also if some people has anything against modding, then DO NOT post your posts here, as it only would end up in me being irritated.

Also note that the thread isn't absolutely finished yet.

Okay... I think you may post now.

 

You may now post.... I think... but observe that the thread is not absolutely finished yet. But it will with time. But nothing more will come today. Comments are welcome.

kjn:

I'm assuming you have read the above post and have a basic understanding of what you need to do..

Making minitemen a full time unit..

With aoe3-ed..Go into data2 file..(For warchiefs)..Hilight the civs file and extract and convert to an .xml file..Open the file in notepad and Scroll down to the civ you want to do this for..You'll need to change the regen rate for this unit..Look for this line..<rate>-0.2</rate> Change to <rate>0</rate>..Save your changes and then place your civs.xml into your programfiles/microsoft games/aoe3/data folder..It's that easy and you now have full time minitemen.

Regards and enjoy your full time minitemen!

kjn

P.S. We all would greatly appreciate,  if this thread could be pinned..Thank you!

This is great..We now have a place to discus and ask our modding questions..This was something we needed here!

Thank you and great job!

kjn

I hope ES will sticky it...

(paragon, I'm looking in your direction, now) 

I'm assuming you have read the above post and have a basic understanding of what you need to do..

Making minitemen a full time unit..

With aoe3-ed..Go into data2 file..(For warchiefs)..Hilight the civs file and extract and convert to an .xml file..Open the file in notepad and Scroll down to the civ you want to do this for..You'll need to change the regen rate for this unit..Look for this line..<rate>-0.2</rate> Change to <rate>0</rate>..Save your changes and then place your civs.xml into your programfiles/microsoft games/aoe3/data folder..It's that easy and you now have full time minitemen.

Regards and enjoy your full time minitemen!

kjn

P.S. We all would greatly appreciate,  if this thread could be pinned..Thank you!

I will have more to come!.

I think you opened a new door in this category..

Lately..

This category has been a very quiet place..

I hope this thread can change that a little!

Regards!

@ES: I also added that you can not be held responsible if a person messes up his whole game while modding. We will try to help him here, then.
 

As long as the person modding..Saves a copy of the original file, he's modding,  in a safe place before attempting anything..The golden rule of modding.

He should not have any problems!