Sky Demon
17 years ago
Okay.

I am in the early stages of making an AirForceGeneral mod for C&C Generals.

I think it would be a much better mod if I didn't overwrite the existing USA faction for it.

Is there an FAQ or any information regarding making your own playable choosable faction for C&C Generals?


I tried making an AirForceGeneral faction earlier but it wouldn't work๐Ÿ˜Ž
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17 years ago
Sky Demon
17 years ago
I am following the Tutorial quite well although, I think that tutorial is for C&C Zero-Hour. There is some code in there that isn't needed and isn't shown in the existing other Factions code.

Needless to say. With a little initiative and experimentation I have set down the basics for my AirForceGeneral faction.

True there is alot of work to be done. I havn't been able to put in any of the AirForceGens stuff (Command Center, Raptors etc) yet becuase I am having trouble with the Sciences for him.

There is only the 3 Emergency repair powers there.
I think I found out why though. It's because of the Prerequisites needed for the Sciences.

It's hard to explain exactly. I have just had an idea as to how to fix it though.

I will post back later to say whether it worked or not.
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As you can see. The name is not showing correctly. Instead of 'Airforcegeneral' is shows some form of default error.
This is highly strange as the name shows on the Skirmish loading screen
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I am at a loss with this one. I have already added in the Player Template.ini that:


  DisplayName       = INI:FactionAmericaAirForceGeneral
And I have added in the correctly named string into the Generals.csf.
I can't figure out why the Skirmish menu name display in messed up??
Me Myself and Pi
17 years ago
You probably have made the mistake in generals.csf. Most likely a spelling error or you don't have the modified file in the correct place.

Make sure the generals.csf in the Data\English\ folders & that that you have INI:FactionAmericaAirForceGeneral as the name of the text. If you still can't find the mistake, upload the generals.csf file so I can check it. Though I won't be able to test it in game obviously.
creative
17 years ago
Hi, if i too was to add a sub faction. Would i be able to choose what the new faction builds?

(for zero Hour not generals)
Im creative AKA Col. Ben on CNC Den.

That small voice in your head ever get it, well theres meant to be 17 little you's in that part of you brain. ๐Ÿ™‚
Me Myself and Pi
17 years ago
Yes, but it would take awhile to do so.
creative
17 years ago
Ok, im gonna start trying that now and hope i get some part of it working so it shows up like the other guys pic atleast.

I shoudl b able to work out the rest so cya.
Im creative AKA Col. Ben on CNC Den.

That small voice in your head ever get it, well theres meant to be 17 little you's in that part of you brain. ๐Ÿ™‚
Sky Demon
17 years ago
I have it confirmed.

I have not got the namings or file structure wrong.

The Generals.csf is in the correct directory:

C:\Program Files\EA Games\Command and Conquer Generals\Data\english

And I can confirm that I havn't made any error in the naming of the displayed name/string. Check the image insert below:
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Beyond here I have no idea why it isn't displaying the name correctly in the Skirmish Menu.
The game can clearly read the Generals.csf and see my changes and added Strings because the faction name is shown with no errors on the Skirmish loading screen (Check previous post).

Oh crap๐Ÿ˜ž
The filesize for the Generals.csf I was going to add into the post is to big.
I think the only way I can get it to you is via E-Mail. You can PM it to me to avoid spam mail etc if you like.



Sorry to turn this into a double post topic. I hope this problem can be sorted quickly. But I have just noticed that even when I kill all oponents ingame playing as 'Airforcegeneral'.

It won't display the 'You are Victorious' box and take me to the scorescreen.
It just doesn't do anything. Here's a SS of me sitting ingame long after killing the only opponent there!
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I don't know why I can't win. Can you think of anything I might have missed out in the PlayerTemplate.ini that might cause this?
PlayerTemplate FactionAmericaAirForceGeneral
  Side              = AmericaAirForceGeneral
  PlayableSide      = Yes
  StartMoney        = 0
  PreferredColor    = R:0 G:0 B:255
  IntrinsicSciences = SCIENCE_AMERICA
  PurchaseScienceCommandSetRank1  = AirF_SCIENCE_AMERICA_CommandSetRank1
  PurchaseScienceCommandSetRank3  = AirF_SCIENCE_AMERICA_CommandSetRank3
  PurchaseScienceCommandSetRank8  = AirF_SCIENCE_AMERICA_CommandSetRank8
  SpecialPowerShortcutCommandSet  = AirF_SpecialPowerShortcutUSA
  SpecialPowerShortcutWinName     = GenPowersShortcutBarUS.wnd
  SpecialPowerShortcutButtonCount = 5
  DisplayName       = INI:FactionAmericaAirForceGeneral
  StartingBuilding  = AmericaCommandCenter
  StartingUnit0     = AmericaVehicleDozer
  ScoreScreenImage  = America_ScoreScreen
  LoadScreenImage   = SAFactionLogoPage_US
  LoadScreenMusic   = Load_USA
  ;HeadWaterMark    = SCTempSelectPortrait ; don't use unless we add a "generalshead for non selected generals
  FlagWaterMark     = WatermarkUSA
  EnabledImage      = SSObserverUSA
  BeaconName        = MultiplayerBeacon
  SideIconImage     = GameinfoAMRCA
End

I was thinking earlier that it could be linked to the Skirmish Menu name not working?โ“
Me Myself and Pi
17 years ago
Nah, text problems won't affect the game play. I sent my email address to you through pm. If possible, could you send me the entire mod? That seems weird why you can't win, & everything looks right for the text. Except the english folder should probably be spelled with a capital "E". (Since that's the way it's spelled with in the BIG file.)
creative
17 years ago
This is last post cus i dont wanna put you guys off, sky demon how did you get the files in the right place to work like atleast show the new faction in skirmish and become playable?

Im sorta new so im still learning my way round all the files.
Im creative AKA Col. Ben on CNC Den.

That small voice in your head ever get it, well theres meant to be 17 little you's in that part of you brain. ๐Ÿ™‚
Me Myself and Pi
17 years ago
After you extract a file from a BIG file, you put it in the same folders in the game directory as you see in the BIG file. (This is assuming that you know how to view BIG files with FinalBIG.exe.) So if you look at the file, AIData.ini in the INI.big file you'll see, Data\INI\AIData.ini. So if you extract this pictular file, put it a folder called INI, & put that in the Data folder you see in the game directory. Then, when you modify this file, it will overide the original AIData.ini in the BIG file.
creative
17 years ago
OHHHHH ok i get it, THX so so much, i wont bother this topic any more now.

Cya
Im creative AKA Col. Ben on CNC Den.

That small voice in your head ever get it, well theres meant to be 17 little you's in that part of you brain. ๐Ÿ™‚
Me Myself and Pi
17 years ago
Okay, I know how to fix both problems now!

For the generals.csf, just add the line, SIDE:AmericaAirForceGeneral. I guess the game sees the new player, AmericaAirForceGeneral & addes, the 'SIDE:' to it. Then it looks for that in the generals.csf file.

As for the victory, (I just realised) you need to copy the victory, defeat, & music scripts for your new player. To do this go to the Data\Scripts folder & copy/paste a copy of the multiplayer & skirmish scripts some where else. (Since these aren't in a BIG file.) Then open up the World Builder & add the skirmish players. Open up the script window & import the multiplayer scripts. Then just copy/modify them for your new player. To copy a sub-folder, select the one you want to copy, export it, & then reimport it. After you're all done, export all of the multiplayer scripts & save over the original. Open a new map & do the same for the skirmish scripts. (To get the music.)
Sky Demon
17 years ago

FINALLY. I understand what you mean.
You want me to use the C&C Generals world builder as an editing tool to add in the AirForceGenerals Skirmish & Multiplayer scripts into the C&C Generals Multiplayer & Skirmish script files!!๐Ÿ˜Š

I have attempted ot 4 times now and have been unsuccessfull๐Ÿ˜Ž. I find the whole process very complex and easy to make errors from the looks of it.
I hate to annoy you like this but can you give me step-by-step instructions or an FAQ to do this or something?

I have on my Desktop two folders. One has the C&C Generals script files in. The other has the Zero-Hour script files in.
Both of them have backups so I can experiment with this without causing irreversable damage.


On the lighter side of things. You were %100 right about needing a string named 'SIDE:AmericaAirForceGeneral' for the correct name in the Skirmish menu. Thanks!๐Ÿ˜
Me Myself and Pi
17 years ago
Okay, I was assuming you knew basic scripting for the world builder. But step by step instructions may take awhile. Would you mind if I did all the copying for you? It wouldn't be any trouble. But if you'd like to do the whole mod yourself, then sure, I'll write out instructions for you.
Sky Demon
17 years ago
Beleive me. I do try and ask as little as I can from you guys.
I don't want to be one of those people that prefers to just ask other people to do the work for them.

It truly is nothing personnel, but if I knew how to do the whole mod on my own, I would. But it's something I have never attempted before and there isn't any good detailed guides I could find to get me through it all.

Sorry Pi. But i've got to ask if you can give me a guide/FAQ.
I got plenty of spare time (6 whole weeks! ๐Ÿ™‚ ). There's no rush.
I know you have other things to do and other people who needs help. I understand you are releasing a mod you made for download soon (Seen your Topic).
Me Myself and Pi
17 years ago
Okay, sure thing!

1) Open up the World Builder.
2) Click Edit > Edit Player List.
3) Click Add Skirmish Players & then OK.
4) Click Edit > Scripts....
5) Click Import Scripts... & browse for the MultiplayerScripts.scb file in the game directory.
6) Double click the (neutral) folder.
7) You'll see a bunch of scripts in that folder. Select the first one that USA in the title & click Copy Script.
8) A new script will come up under that with a "C" at the end. Double click on that script to open it up.
9) In the MultiplayerPersonalDefeatTimerUSA C window, you can change the USA C part to Air Force General if you'd like. Now click on the Script Conditions tab.
10) Here, you'll see the conditions for this script. Double click on the one that refers to America.
11) In the Edit Condition window that pops up, click the linked text, Faction Name: America.
12) In the Edit Parameter window, open up the drop down menu & select the AmericaAirForceGeneral faction.
13) Close out the Edit Parameter & Edit Condition windows by clicking OK.
14) Back in the script window, you don't need to check the Actions if True tab because non of these scripts have actions that refer to a player.
15) Now just do this same thing for each script that refers to the USA player.
16) After you're all done here, click Export Script(s)... in the main script window.
17) Uncheck the 3 check boxes in the Include items in referenced in the scripts box, then check, Export all scripts & save over the original MultiplayerScripts.scb file.

18) Now onto the skirmish scripts. Close out of the script window & create a new map. Be sure to add the skirmish players again.
19) Open up the script window & import the SkirmishScripts.scb
20) Double click the PlyrCivilian folder.
21) Open the USA Music folder & double click on the first script, USA Set Default Music Track. (Were just going to modify this script, not copy it.) Don't worry about all the scripts in this folder, you won't need to touch them.
22) Click the Script Conditions tab.
23) Click Copy, & then Or, select the copied condition & click, Move Down.
24) Double click one of the conditions, (doesn't matter which since their the same) & change the America faction to the AmericaAirForceGeneral. Just like before. The script should then look like this:
*** IF ***
    Player '<Local Player>' is Faction Name: America
  *** OR ***
    Player '<Local Player>' is Faction Name: AmericaAirForceGeneral
See what I'm teaching you here? This script will activate most of the other music scripts if the human player is either USA, or Air Force General. You could've just used this technique for the multiplayer scripts, but since those have multiple conditions, it's easier to just copy the entire script there.
25) Close that script, then close the USA Music folder & then open the USA Music Events folder.
26) Copy each of the scripts here & modify them like before with the multiplayer scripts.
27) Export all the scripts again, just like what you did with the Multiplayer scripts.

Okay that's it! Congratulations if it works! Don't worry about the time it took to wrote, I might've just spent the half hour wasting it on Generals Online otherwise. It's always fun helping people with this stuff!
Sky Demon
17 years ago
Thank you so much Pi. It works like a treat now!

I really appreciate you taking the time to write all that out for me๐Ÿ˜‡ .

But now comes the real hard part.
Now I need to start to put in AirForceGenerals structures & Units. Starting with the Command Center, one of the most complex.

Not only will it need commandsets, correct textures, naming etc. But it will also need to support all of AirForceGenerals unique powers.

Before you reply back with info on how to start to put in the Command Center itself.
I need to know whether it's possible to put in these unique abilities from C&C Zero-Hour that AirForceGeneral has.
Basically what I mean is. Is it possible to put in things like...

Spectre Gunship
MOAB upgrade
Stealth Carpet Bomber

And not only the specialpowers but also the unique upgrades he has from Zero-Hour.

Such as Supply Lines & that upgrade that make infantry immune to Radiation/Chemicals.

Will C&C Generals be able to support these types of upgrades & specialpowers?
Ground Demon
17 years ago
for that stuff you might be able to get the bombs and textures etc from zero-hour i shell try and help you bro i have zero-hour you dont so i will try and find all of them with some of youre help.UserPostedImage

Specialize in Modding.

Online Name:Ground_Demon
Sky Demon
17 years ago
Ground Demon, your help is appreciated but I don't really need you to be browsing files for me. I may not have the game installed on my computer (I have Zero-Hour, just comp can't run it). But I can get the files I need quite easily from the C&C Zero-Hour Install disk๐Ÿ˜Ž .


My two biggest problems are that I don't know what I need to gather and move into Generals from Zero-Hour into Generals to give the AIrForceGeneral all his unique structures/units/specialpowers.

I have to consider a whole lot of stuff.

Structure textures
Unit textures
Commandsets
commandbutton images
Unit audio sayings
New upgrades
New specialpowers (e.g Spectre Gunship, MOAB upgrade)



Adding all of this stuff in is no piece of cake from where i'm sitting. There is alot of stuff to consider and it all has to be there correctly for it all to work. Kind of like a massive puzzle.

I am just confused and unsure of what needs to be done and how I should go about it๐Ÿ˜Ž .