Embarrassed Question - Where the heck is the Mod Dircetory???

WhiteHojo · #1 February 23rd, 2001, 03:26 AM

OK - get home and finaly find time to download the new 1.27 patch and install it. The thing wouldn't load (something about me not having a proper Version or something)... anyway, reinstalled SE4 and ran the patch - voila, it worked.

All my previously loaded races and prior savegames are still there but looking at the directories of the SE4 folder, I can't find any new "Modification" directory. All that is there is the SE Mod Dir and all the related folders/files that were installed when I ran the 1.60 Mod pack from the fabulous threesome.

Now I was confused. Read the forum board, and everyone is talking about some Mod directory and how the computer will look in this 1st when starting a game and how wonderful this new feature is. After reading the forum, I am totally confused. HELP!!!!

I am a fairly inteligent (or I once thought I was, not so sure anymore) semi computer literate type of guy, but I am sooooo confused on the proper use of this new mod directory feature of patch 1.27. How the heck do you set it up? What needs to be include in it (in detail please)? If I want to mod some of the data files do I mod the ones in the orig data folder or the ones in the "new" mod directory - wherever and whatever that might be???

Someone please draw me a picture of what I need to do - I need my SE4 fix BAD and I don't want to start a new game w/o my favorite components/additions/etc...

As always, any help will be greatly appreciated.

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Character is best defined as that which you do when you believe nobody is watching.

Kimball · #2 February 23rd, 2001, 03:48 AM

See the thread "Mod directory" posted by me. Here is the nuts and bolts of it:

Originally posted by Kimball:
Let me see if I have the right. If I want to modify the techarea.txt file I
1. create a new directory
2. copy the entire 'data' directory into the new directory
3. modify the techarea.txt file within the copied 'data' dirctory
4. adjust the path.txt file to reference the new directory

If I don't want to mess with the race files or AI files I am done at that point?

[This message has been edited by Kimball (edited 21 February 2001).]

Basically, if you want to edit the the components.txt file you have to create a new directory, copy the DATA directory into it, edit the file and set the path.txt file to point to the new directory.

You end up with c:\space empires IV\my mod\data\ with your path.txt pointing to my mod

Darwin · #3 February 23rd, 2001, 04:31 AM

Basically it could be any directory. Just create one for your mod.

If you want to make a game without BlackHoles you could make Space Empires IV\NoBlackHole\ and put your files in there and modify them for your mod. This way you can have multiple mod directories in the Basic SE folder.

Sinapus · #4 February 23rd, 2001, 03:58 PM

Yes, I was confused myself for a bit. The directory you're supposed to name is whatever one you put the data, AI, etc. directories into for your mods. Mine is 'Mod', for instance.

WhiteHojo · #5 February 23rd, 2001, 06:02 PM

so I don't have to put any race files in the newly created mod folder? Do any new race files go in the regular pic & empire folders? What if I want to mod some of the research files - like God Emporer & Daynars(?) research files? Do I need to copy the entire SE4 directories into this newly created mod directory?

as always, all help is appreciated...

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Character is best defined as that which you do when you believe nobody is watching.

Darwin · #6 February 23rd, 2001, 06:55 PM

Normally put new Races just in the normal place you put them. To use things like drayner(sp?) mod without changing the origanal:

1: Create a new folder under the Se4 directory. C:\Space Empires IV\<ModName>\
2: Under there create a pictures Directory
C:\Space Empires IV\<ModName>\Picture\
3: Same with Races.
4: Copy the Data file for every race you want avilible in the game to the proper folders in the mod directory. C:\Space Empires IV\Pictures\Races\Terran\Terran_AI_General.txt gets copied to
C:\Space Empires IV\<ModName>\Pictures\Races\Terran\Terran_AI_Gener al.txt
Do the same for all the other .txt file in the various shipsets.
.bmp files do not need to be copied unless you change them.
5: Apply the Patch to the files in the <ModName> directory and change your Path.txt and your done.

*<ModName> should be translated to the name of the directory you create.

WhiteHojo · #7 February 23rd, 2001, 07:03 PM

Ahhhh... the little lite is starting to come on.

thanks

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Character is best defined as that which you do when you believe nobody is watching.

nmoppa · #8 February 24th, 2001, 02:34 AM

Leaves the fact this could have been explained a bit more clearly by MM in the Help files or another .txt file. We all are aware of the fact this is implemented in 1:27, but still!

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PERHAPS THIS IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE <Worf facing another critical fight>

[This message has been edited by nmoppa (edited 24 February 2001).]

Tenryu · #9 February 24th, 2001, 02:38 AM

Don't feel bad WhiteHojo. You're not the only one that's confused.
I am usually hopelessly befuddled.

Instar · #10 February 24th, 2001, 06:23 PM

This gives me a little idea. Ill have to figure out how I would set that up
Here's what Im thinking. A little program that would edit path.txt (so computer illiterate types wouldn't have to)
It would have the standard windows file path window, and the string returned by that would be placed into path.txt