question:modding PD and modding battlefields

CelestialGoblyn · #1 June 24th, 2007, 12:55 AM

(I apolgize if this was asked before, but I didn't find nothing with the search option)
Can anyone tell me if it's possible to deny a nation the ability to buy provincial defense?
Or is it possible to mod which nations can have provincial defense underwater?

Secong matter, modding battefields:
Is it possible to change graphics of battlefields or at least swap them around?
It is possible to add spells to battlefields just like 'darkness' is added to the underground battlefield?
Is it possible to change the 'backdrop' of the battlefield, that is, the texture of sky?

Sombre · #2 June 24th, 2007, 02:16 AM

1. Should be possible to give them only 1 crappy unit for each 10 points of PD.

2. No idea.

Don't know anything about battlefields.

jutetrea · #3 June 24th, 2007, 02:19 AM

1. Yes, but not sure on underwater

2. There are a few options with the battlefield editor in game tools, cold -3/+3, terrain, etc. And I heard it was possible to change the graphics on it but can't remember where. Beyond that I have no idea.

Interested to hear responses though.

Endoperez · #4 June 24th, 2007, 04:16 AM

Quote:

CelestialGoblyn said:
Secong matter, modding battefields:
Is it possible to change graphics of battlefields or at least swap them around?
It is possible to add spells to battlefields just like 'darkness' is added to the underground battlefield?
Is it possible to change the 'backdrop' of the battlefield, that is, the texture of sky?

In Game Tools, there is a Battleground Editor. To find out the names of existing maps, open the 'battlemaps' directory under main Dom3 dir. When you load e.g. darkcit.d3m into the editor, you can edit it. The tool is far from elegant, but it should let you do several things with it.
You can't add in your own things to put to the battlefield, or replace e.g. the existing tree graphics, if you meant that. The Dominions uses a custom graphics format.

You can't add spells to battlefields. It has been requested that magic sites would allow for this, but we've requested many other things as well. However, you can get darkness-effect by changing the spesific province's terrain into Cave. Caves are always dark.

As for changing the backgdrop skies, check out skybox1.tga, dusksky1.tga and poisonsky1.tga in your main Dominions 3 directory.

Heinrich · #5 November 29th, 2007, 07:58 AM

Hi there!

I have just other battlefield questions so I use this thread.

1: Is it possible to TURN objects on the battlefield?

Some samples battlemaps such as campfire.d3m have objects in mant different directions while when I put them on my battlefield they're always facing the same. Is it linked to the angy of the camera? If so is there a way to change it?

1-bis: Is it possible to turn the grid as well?

2: Is it possible to specify the sky type in the map editor or something?

I mean without modyfing the .tga file. This should be possible as the introduction map shows dustsky1.tga while battlefield editor shows skybox1.tga. I didn't manage to find where.

3: Is there any doc, manual, thread, people or website I could check to have more informations about the battleground editor?

Thank you very much for your help.

Endoperez · #6 November 29th, 2007, 01:30 PM

1) You either turn the objects, or choose a different object that is identical except for facing different way. I don't remember which way it is, but I do remember seeing walls facing different directions.

2) I don't think so.

3) None, except for pressing '?' or contacting the Illwinter team.

NTJedi · #7 November 29th, 2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Heinrich Kruger said:
3: Is there any doc, manual, thread, people or website I could check to have more informations about the battleground editor?

Thank you very much for your help.

I haven't seen anyone post working battlefield backgrounds... using the editor. There's only a few if some exist.

Heinrich · #8 November 29th, 2007, 08:23 PM

Thanks again. I have looked around for a while but found nothing as well.

So I will try to contact Illwinter in order to get more informations.

I will let you know if I find something.

Twan · #9 November 30th, 2007, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Endoperez said:
Caves are always dark.

Caves aren't actually dark. It was a project when they were created but it was abandonned (and as ways to get darkvision don't exist for all nations I think it won't change, maps with caves wouldn't be balanced with full darkness in caves, except if they also add low level light/darkvision spell/items).

I think for caves the best would be if to create an effect of "half darkness" or "non magical dark", giving to darkvision nation no more advantage than C'tis gets in a swamp (say -2 att and precision for 0% darkvision units, -1 for 50%).

Endoperez · #10 November 30th, 2007, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Twan said:
Caves aren't actually dark. It was a project when they were created but it was abandonned (and as ways to get darkvision don't exist for all nations I think it won't change, maps with caves wouldn't be balanced with full darkness in caves, except if they also add low level light/darkvision spell/items).

I think for caves the best would be if to create an effect of "half darkness" or "non magical dark", giving to darkvision nation no more advantage than C'tis gets in a swamp (say -2 att and precision for 0% darkvision units, -1 for 50%).

From the bug thread:

CBT Cave Provinces are not automatically under the effects of the Darkness spell as they should be

That makes me think that caves are intended to be dark, just like cave forts and cave cities. If this has changed, I'd like to know where you read about it.