General modding questions

[unmerged(176743)]

I was told that in order to mod the game, all one needs is notepad. Do you simply put in commands for the changes, or is there a file in notepad with the game data? (I don't have the game nearby to run right now).

Also, I saw that the Imperium mod extends the game time frame to 1 AUC. It it only possible to extend the time backward, but not forward?

 

[Cheexsta]

The game uses a whole bunch of .txt files to define how the game works. Some things are hardcoded into the .exe file itself, in which case they can't be edited, but other things are "open" in the .txt files for editing. Open up your EUR folder and check the subfolders to get an idea.

 

[unmerged(176743)]

The game uses a whole bunch of .txt files to define how the game works. Some things are hardcoded into the .exe file itself, in which case they can't be edited, but other things are "open" in the .txt files for editing. Open up your EUR folder and check the subfolders to get an idea.

Well I went to "all programs" on the start menu, found the folder for "paradox interactive", with a subfolder for EUR. I didn't see any data files. Would I need to reinstall the game?

 

[unmerged(92421)]

I was told that in order to mod the game, all one needs is notepad. Do you simply put in commands for the changes, or is there a file in notepad with the game data? (I don't have the game nearby to run right now).

Also, I saw that the Imperium mod extends the game time frame to 1 AUC. It it only possible to extend the time backward, but not forward?

It's possible to extend it forward it's just people seem to have judged that later dates are too hard model the politics of.

 

[Cheexsta]

Well I went to "all programs" on the start menu, found the folder for "paradox interactive", with a subfolder for EUR. I didn't see any data files. Would I need to reinstall the game?

No, you need to open My Computer (or hold the Windows key and press E on your keyboard). Find the folder in which you installed EUR (probably under Program Files -> Paradox Interactive -> Europa Universalis - Rome) and look in the folders there.

Now, what exactly do you want to mod? The folders and the files within them are very daunting at first, so it might help us to guide you if you know what you want to change.

First thing you'll have to do is get a better text editor. I know I suggested NotePad, but it's only a very basic program. I personally use TextPad, but I've also tried EditPad and UltraEdit, they're all good alternatives. They all use tabbed editing, so it's much easier to organise the workspace on your computer.

Often the easiest things to mod are in common\defines.txt and common\static_modifiers.txt - those are all things that have an immediate effect in the game. You can change things like the cost for assassinations, how long it takes for cores to be gained on provinces, or what the effects of having a war are (such as the popularity loss for your ruler, etc).

Then you can start looking at things like events. Open the Events subfolder and find an event you recognise and use that to try and understand how the event works. Every event is either a character_event, province_event or country_event - these set what's called the scope of an event, basically what the focus of the event is. They all then check triggers and, if those triggers are met, will happen in an average period of time (or mean time to happen, shortened to MTTH). The event files then determine what the effects of those events are and what options you have.

It's pretty complicated but once you have a look at a few and maybe tinker with some events you might start to get the hang of it. As I mentioned, if you have something in particular that you want to do, we might be able to guide you in the right direction.

It's possible to extend it forward it's just people seem to have judged that later dates are too hard model the politics of.

That, and the only way to extend the time later would be to edit the .exe file, which is one of the forbidden arts of modding. I'm kinda surprised that my thread several months back showing how to extend the time period by hex editing wasn't shut down...

In any case, modding the .exe is something you'll want to avoid. It'll void tech support (much like opening a TV would void its warranty) and you might cause stability issues.

 

[unmerged(176743)]

No, you need to open My Computer (or hold the Windows key and press E on your keyboard). Find the folder in which you installed EUR (probably under Program Files -> Paradox Interactive -> Europa Universalis - Rome) and look in the folders there.

Now, what exactly do you want to mod? The folders and the files within them are very daunting at first, so it might help us to guide you if you know what you want to change.

First thing you'll have to do is get a better text editor. I know I suggested NotePad, but it's only a very basic program. I personally use TextPad, but I've also tried EditPad and UltraEdit, they're all good alternatives. They all use tabbed editing, so it's much easier to organise the workspace on your computer.

Often the easiest things to mod are in common\defines.txt and common\static_modifiers.txt - those are all things that have an immediate effect in the game. You can change things like the cost for assassinations, how long it takes for cores to be gained on provinces, or what the effects of having a war are (such as the popularity loss for your ruler, etc).

Then you can start looking at things like events. Open the Events subfolder and find an event you recognise and use that to try and understand how the event works. Every event is either a character_event, province_event or country_event - these set what's called the scope of an event, basically what the focus of the event is. They all then check triggers and, if those triggers are met, will happen in an average period of time (or mean time to happen, shortened to MTTH). The event files then determine what the effects of those events are and what options you have.

It's pretty complicated but once you have a look at a few and maybe tinker with some events you might start to get the hang of it. As I mentioned, if you have something in particular that you want to do, we might be able to guide you in the right direction.


That, and the only way to extend the time later would be to edit the .exe file, which is one of the forbidden arts of modding. I'm kinda surprised that my thread several months back showing how to extend the time period by hex editing wasn't shut down...

In any case, modding the .exe is something you'll want to avoid. It'll void tech support (much like opening a TV would void its warranty) and you might cause stability issues.

Okay thanks, I found it (yay). For now, I'm actually interested in making the "first emperor" scenario start at a much earlier date, so I can try to extend the empire beyond its historical boundaries, and create something like the military situation of the later empire. I know this wouldn't have the same political situation as the empire, but that's not my focus. Anyway, I hope I can do this without much problem. Since I don't see any character files in the folder, does the game automatically apply characters to the mods that one creates?

 

[unmerged(92421)]

Characters are automatically generated when there aren't enough. At worst you'd end up with an auto generated ruler and no one else for a couple of months (although I think it'd generate a lot of other people at first too).

 

[unmerged(176743)]

Characters are automatically generated when there aren't enough. At worst you'd end up with an auto generated ruler and no one else for a couple of months (although I think it'd generate a lot of other people at first too).

When you say there "aren't enough" I guess you mean historical characters?So I take it that most of the Roman characters, like in the Senate, are auto-generated since there that many known historical figures?

 

[unmerged(92421)]

When you say there "aren't enough" I guess you mean historical characters?So I take it that most of the Roman characters, like in the Senate, are auto-generated since there that many known historical figures?

The game only reads from the history files at the beginning of the game (character wise anyway). After that any historical figures to appear are merely based on naming coincidence (or if that person's family was at the start of the game and the game happens to spawn someone from that family with that name).

 

[unmerged(176743)]

The game only reads from the history files at the beginning of the game (character wise anyway). After that any historical figures to appear are merely based on naming coincidence (or if that person's family was at the start of the game and the game happens to spawn someone from that family with that name).

I see.

 

[unmerged(176743)]

One last question: does the pattern you just described apply when you mod the game to start at a different date?

 

[unmerged(92421)]

Well yes basically, although the game reads all the history files and uses the most up to date information. Characters who have died will not be in the game, however if you start the date 1 day after the start date it'll pretty much be the same. Or a few years, as most characters will still be alive but a few borders might have changed.