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Modding Units - 9/4/2008 10:25:33 PM   
GetBackUp

 

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Very new newbie here. Can someone please explain how to find/open platoon##.oob to update units. I've downloaded the new units creator utility but am unable to find/open the files they talk about. Any help would be appreciated. Sorry for the trouble. Ive searched the forums no posts have really helped. Also this forum is by far the most helpful. Great work guys on helping newbies like me. Thanks in advance.
Post #: 1
RE: Modding Units - 9/5/2008 12:41:06 AM   
cw58

 

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All the platoon files are in the main folder of each game (EF, WF & RS). The platoon.oob files are really only for show. The game uses the platoon.obx files (also in the main folders) for all the unit values and they're newly encrypted as of 1.03. You can mod the platoon.oob file and then send it to Jason and he'll encrypt it for you as a platoon.obx file.

Here's a thread you might find interesting:
http://matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1860411&mpage=1&key=

There's an encryption program (for platoon.obx and weapon.pdx files) that will work for version 1.02 and earlier, but 1.03 and later uses a different encryption. Feel free to ask more questions and best of luck with your modding.

(in reply to GetBackUp)
Post #: 2
RE: Modding Units - 9/5/2008 1:09:01 AM   
GetBackUp

 

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Thank you cw58. But I can't even open the oob file. A popup comes uop and says "windows needs to know what file to use to open it" or something to that effect. Can I use notepad or somesuch programe to open it without it corrupting the install.

(in reply to cw58)
Post #: 3
RE: Modding Units - 9/5/2008 1:35:12 AM   
Warhorse


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Wordpad will do just fine, my friend! Just make backups incase you inadvertantly F something up!

Mike


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(in reply to GetBackUp)
Post #: 4
RE: Modding Units - 9/5/2008 2:14:03 AM   
GetBackUp

 

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Thanks for the quick response Mike. Another probably annoying question. Am I to assume that the new unit creator will not work with JTCS patched to 1.04beta? You've all been a great help by the way thanks.

Jeff

(in reply to Warhorse)
Post #: 5
RE: Modding Units - 9/5/2008 10:34:53 PM   
cw58

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: GetBackUp

Thanks for the quick response Mike. Another probably annoying question. Am I to assume that the new unit creator will not work with JTCS patched to 1.04beta? You've all been a great help by the way thanks.

Jeff


I meant to ask you about that in my first post but forgot. Must be my age, just turned 50. What unit creator are you talking about? I'm not familiar with one.

(in reply to GetBackUp)
Post #: 6
RE: Modding Units - 9/6/2008 11:25:47 AM   
sfinlay

 

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Hi Jeff. No unfortunatley, the new unit creator won't work with 1.04. Different encryption.

cw58 I think Jeff is refering to the old third party unit creator for the Talonsoft version. Can't remember where it was downloaded from but I have a copy if anyone is interested. Not sure but I think it works up to Matrix edition 1.02.

(in reply to cw58)
Post #: 7
RE: Modding Units - 9/6/2008 1:27:42 PM   
Warhorse


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Guys, now you need to modify your files, then contact Jason, send your modded file to him, and he will encrypt it for you.

Mike


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Post #: 8
RE: Modding Units - 9/6/2008 1:46:15 PM   
cw58

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: flying scotsman

Hi Jeff. No unfortunatley, the new unit creator won't work with 1.04. Different encryption.

cw58 I think Jeff is refering to the old third party unit creator for the Talonsoft version. Can't remember where it was downloaded from but I have a copy if anyone is interested. Not sure but I think it works up to Matrix edition 1.02.


Thanks scotsman, I must've missed that one. I appreciate the offer but I guess it won't do me much good. You're probably right about it working with 1.02, so the guys playing 1.02b would probably be interested in getting a hold of it.

(in reply to sfinlay)
Post #: 9
RE: Modding Units - 9/6/2008 4:13:21 PM   
GetBackUp

 

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Wow this forum is great so much advice and help. Thanks alot. Yes after I tweaked a unit and ran the encryption my game is now corrupted. Uninstall, re-install coming up. lol. Warhorse could you run me through modifing file and how to get it to this God Jason I keep reading about lol.

Jeff

(in reply to cw58)
Post #: 10
RE: Modding Units - 9/6/2008 7:45:14 PM   
cw58

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: GetBackUp

Wow this forum is great so much advice and help. Thanks alot. Yes after I tweaked a unit and ran the encryption my game is now corrupted. Uninstall, re-install coming up. lol. Warhorse could you run me through modifing file and how to get it to this God Jason I keep reading about lol.

Jeff


LOL, that's pretty funny especially considering your sign-in name. Yes, as Warhorse said, do make a copy of any file before you mod it. I have one stock installation of CS and a few others (different versions) to mod. That way if I screw up a file, I can always go to the stock version and copy and paste a new file. If you've already made a lot of changes to a file, you'll probably want to make back-up copies of it on a regular basis so you don't lose all your changes.

I imagine Warhorse can tell you how to send your file to Jason. I've never done it but he seems to know a lot about what goes on around here. Better luck next time.

(in reply to GetBackUp)
Post #: 11
RE: Modding Units - 9/6/2008 10:51:52 PM   
GetBackUp

 

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Right on thanks for the advice cw. I know I'm a pain in the arse, but anyone know where I could get the 1.02b update. There was a thread in the forums about it being at theblitz. Been there can't find it. The reason I ask is I want to use the Construction Engineer as the base Engineer unit. But it is to weak in both asslt and def and weapon range. I want to bump up their stats to ordinary engineers but keep their special abilities. This unit creator program will only work up to 1.02 0r 1.02b. Thanks in advance and apoligies if this is not the forum to ask that question.

Jeff

(in reply to cw58)
Post #: 12
RE: Modding Units - 9/7/2008 12:41:54 AM   
marcbarker


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hmmmmm choke point....you could do it yourself...but they locked it...can't test have to go through that delay process again.....

(in reply to GetBackUp)
Post #: 13
RE: Modding Units - 9/7/2008 12:43:07 AM   
cw58

 

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You're definitely in the right forum, at least as far as I'm concerned. All your questions have been about modding and this is the place to do it.

1.02b can be downloaded here: http://www.theblitz.org/member_sites/petho/images/MCS_TEMP_102B_20070806.zip
I think this is just a small quick fix to some weapons files for 1.02 but I'm not sure. The true 1.02 update is about 26MB and so far I haven't found a place to download it. Can anyone else help?

The bad news is that the new Engineer abilities (including the construction engineers)were introduced in 1.03 and hard-coded (I think) in the main program. The new engineer units were in 1.02 but they didn't have unique abilities until 1.03. I'm talking about the abilities to lay minefields and build obstacles. What you're wanting to do (tweaking the engineers) can be done in either version, but the engineers won't be able to build obstacles in 1.02. They will be able to do that in 1.03 but you'll need to encrypt a new platoon.oob file with help from Jason. Clear as mud, right?

BTW, it helps when you give specific examples about what you want to do (like you just did). If you still want it, I'll do some checking on the 1.02 update. I have it but I'm not sure how to get it to you (26MB ). So if no one else knows where to download it, maybe we can work something out.

(in reply to GetBackUp)
Post #: 14
RE: Modding Units - 9/7/2008 12:45:48 AM   
marcbarker


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if you want i can upload it to my web site and anyone can download it from there.....

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RE: Modding Units - 9/7/2008 12:54:18 AM   
cw58

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: barker

if you want i can upload it to my web site and anyone can download it from there.....


How is it done? I'm willing to share it but don't know how to go about it.

(in reply to marcbarker)
Post #: 16
RE: Modding Units - 9/7/2008 1:02:32 AM   
GetBackUp

 

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The God  Jason put a FAQ thread on JTCS forum the link is there now. Figured the rest of your post out cw investigating what was added in which patch. What I need to know now is what files do I need to mod in 1.03 or 1.04 to get the desired effect I described? Is it the same as 1.02 and how to get it to the God? E-Mail?

(in reply to marcbarker)
Post #: 17
RE: Modding Units - 9/7/2008 1:25:50 AM   
Warhorse


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You can also upload to Rapidshare, and provide the link here for folks to download it that way. Also, most of the new capabilities are indeed in the new exe's, therefore just changing data in the platoon files won't do the trick. GetBackUp, if you haven't figured out yet how/what to modify, send me an email, I have some files on modding that may be of help to you. Once you mod your file (backing up original, of course!), just zip it up using Winzip or some other archiving program, and send it to Jason via email. Gimme a shout with any questions, I'll try to help where I can! Also, do you know of/use JSGME? It will swap out files, eliminating the need for multiple installs, that's what I use and have many variations of mods that can easily be added to the game with one click!! Email is chevyss65 at dejazzd dot com. Not being a smart-ass with the addy, that makes it less likely to get spammed.

Mike


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Post #: 18
RE: Modding Units - 9/7/2008 1:27:19 AM   
cw58

 

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There are two files that directly effect individual units. Those are the platoon##.oob and the weapon.pdt files. These are the 'English' versions of the files. The game doesn't use them but Arkady's Unitviewer does. The companion files are the platoon##.obx and the weapon.pdx files. These are the encrypted files that the game uses.

The way this is supposed to work is you mod the platoon##.oob and weapon.pdt files, then send them to Jason and he encrypts them. Then he sends them back to you as platoon##.obx and weapon.pdx files. Then you replace your original files with the new files.

Most of the attributes for a unit are contained in the platoon file. You can change things like Assault Value, Defense, etc. there. BTW, each nation has its own platoon file. For example, all German units are in the platoon01.oob file. You only need to send in the platoon files that you're modding. Here's an example of a German construction engineer.

P01743 6 1 2 75 100 50 9 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 74 P01742 6 2 131 0 1 69 30 1 53 12 0 0 0 Construction Engineer Platoon , Construction Engineer ,

To change the hard and soft attack values of a unit, you would need to mod the weapon.pdt file. Find the unit ID number from the platoon file. In the example above, that's the bold print at the beginning of the line, P01743. Find that number in the weapon.pdt file and change as desired. Same unit in the weapon file:

P01743 1
4

The first line, after the unit ID #, is the hard attack value. The second line is the soft attack value.

After you have modded these files, you can send them to Jason. How? I don't know but I'm sure someone does.

(in reply to GetBackUp)
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RE: Modding Units - 9/7/2008 1:33:52 AM   
junk2drive


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http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1901139

(in reply to cw58)
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RE: Modding Units - 9/7/2008 1:35:26 AM   
cw58

 

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Thanks, Warhorse. You beat me to it. That's what I get for typing such long posts.

Good idea about Rapidshare. Kind of scary for a non-tech person like me. I've never tried the mod swapper even though I downloaded it. I like to stick with what I know and I've still got plenty of hard-drive space.

(in reply to cw58)
Post #: 21
RE: Modding Units - 9/7/2008 1:39:28 AM   
cw58

 

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I have got to learn to type faster. Are you guys ganging up on me?

Thanks, junk2drive, for the new link. And for saving me from having to upload something.

@GetBackUp, you can find 1.02 if you follow junk2drive's link. Also, in your manuals sub-folder, you will find a file named "EF_German_Platoon_Listing". That will explain (more or less) all the values listed in the platoon files.

< Message edited by cw58 -- 9/7/2008 1:43:31 AM >

(in reply to junk2drive)
Post #: 22
RE: Modding Units - 9/7/2008 1:39:42 AM   
junk2drive


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1.02 here

http://www.wargamer.com/thegamersnet/patches.asp

(in reply to cw58)
Post #: 23
RE: Modding Units - 9/7/2008 2:03:57 AM   
GetBackUp

 

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Thanks everyone. I greatly appreciate all the time and effort you've all put in. I understand it all now. Slow bunny here sometimes lol. Thanks again for all your help.

Regards
Jeff

(in reply to junk2drive)
Post #: 24
RE: Modding Units - 9/7/2008 2:17:36 AM   
Warhorse


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No problem man, have fun!! @CW58,LOL, if you change your mind about wanting to use JSGME, just holler, I'll walk you through it, not as hard as it may seem!! Thanks all for helping out GetBackUp, it's a pain just starting out modding and wondering how to get started.

Mike


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Post #: 25
RE: Modding Units - 9/8/2008 5:20:15 AM   
GetBackUp

 

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I'm back lol. I'm getting a data error "File company09.oob: line 3: Invalid unit reference number: 9118". What is this? I'm installed to 1.04 Beta. I've upgraded the Construction Engineers and had a friend encrypt the files.

Regards
Jeff

(in reply to Warhorse)
Post #: 26
RE: Modding Units - 9/9/2008 3:44:50 AM   
cw58

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: GetBackUp

I'm back lol. I'm getting a data error "File company09.oob: line 3: Invalid unit reference number: 9118". What is this? I'm installed to 1.04 Beta. I've upgraded the Construction Engineers and had a friend encrypt the files.

Regards
Jeff


I hope you backed up your original platoon09.obx file because you're probably going to need it. The companyxx.oob file takes units from the platoon file and organizes them into companies. As you're getting an error on the very first platoon listed in the company.oob, I would say that your entire platoon09.obx file is corrupted. Check and see if you have any UK units available in the OOB editor, say ... any month in 1941. If you don't, then your platoon09.obx is more than likely corrupted. Usually, if you mess up a single line modifying a unit, then only that unit disappears while the others are still there.

I don't know of any encryption program out (yet) that will encrypt 1.04 files and I believe Jason would just as soon keep it that way. The old encryption programs will work on 1.02 and before, but not any later version.

(in reply to GetBackUp)
Post #: 27
RE: Modding Units - 9/9/2008 7:13:43 AM   
marcbarker


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yep that is true. your freind probably has the encryption for pre-1.03

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Post #: 28
RE: Modding Units - 9/13/2008 7:52:02 AM   
cw58

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: GetBackUp

I'm back lol. I'm getting a data error "File company09.oob: line 3: Invalid unit reference number: 9118". What is this? I'm installed to 1.04 Beta. I've upgraded the Construction Engineers and had a friend encrypt the files.

Regards
Jeff


Hi Jeff,

How are you doing with your modding? Did you get your files straightened out?

(in reply to GetBackUp)
Post #: 29
RE: Modding Units - 9/13/2008 4:31:52 PM   
Jason Petho


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Yes, sorted him out with no issues.

That I know of anyway.

Jason Petho

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