Suggestions for implementing more unit pack DLCs

[Saboteur100]

I think the mod would benefit from a little more variety in unit appearance between cultures. I've tested out a few unit packs from DLCs on a few different cultures, and I've found some that definitely could be implemented into the mod. I realize the mod is still in beta and the current unit models for some of the cultures are probably placeholders until better ones are chosen, but nonetheless, here are my suggestions:

• Northman, Hill Clansman, Crannogman: The Celtic units from the Celtic Units Pack fit the Northman culture almost perfectly. The Celtic units strike a good balance between ruggedness (the fur on the shoulders, lack of heraldry on armor) and non-ruggedness, a look perfect for Northmen if you ask me.
• Free Folk (Wildling, Skagosi, and Thenn): The Jomsvikings unit from the Warriors of Faith Unit Pack is the perfect fit for these cultures in my opinion. These all currently use the Norse units from the Norse Unit Pack, but I think the Jomsvikings have a more rugged feel (for example, more fabric/leather armor, and less chainmail), and thus fit these better in my opinion.
• Ironborn: I propose a small change for the Ironborn, and not one that requires any DLC. Currently, they use the Western culture group default unit models. I suggest that be changed to Eastern (the only real difference is the Eastern unit models don't have face-covering helmets, which don't seem to fit for the Ironborn in their current Western unit models). I would not suggest changing the Ironborn to use the Norse units from the Norse Unit Pack as some people have suggested. Just because they use Pagan mechanics doesn't mean the Norse units have an Ironborn feel. In my opinion, they most definitely do not.
• Reachman: This doesn't really need much attention, but I think that the Frankish units from vanilla CK2 (no DLC required) are a good fit for the Reachman culture, which currently uses English units like Westerman and Riverlander cultures. Frankish units aren't currently used anywhere, and thus this would just provide a little more variety.
• Mountain Clainsman: I couldn't get this to implement properly for Mountain Clansman (They were defaulting to Norman units like the rest of the Vale), but I think the Norse units from the Norse Unit Pack would fit the Mountain Clansmen.
• Ghiscari cultures: The Bektashi unit from the Warriors of Faith Unit Pack. The Hashshashin, Immortals, or Jewish Zealots units wouldn't look bad either. I might have suggested the Muslim units from vanilla CK2, but those are used for Dornish cultures, where they seem to fit just fine.
• Qarth: The Warriors of Perun unit from the Warriors of Faith Unit Pack. The Orthodox units included in this pack (Chosen of Perkunas and Varangian Guard) would also look good for Qarth, except the weapons on the unit models wouldn't display when I tested those. Alternatively, the Byzantine units from the Byzantine Unit Pack might fit, but the use of axes for the infantry in that pack is a put-off.
• Free Cities (excluding Norvos and Qohor): The Jewish Zealots unit from the Warriors of Faith Unit Pack. This is the closest I could find to a decent look for the Free Cities. The eastern Slavic units from the Russian Unit Pack also wouldn't look bad. The Warriors of Perun would look decent, but the weapon issue again exists for the Chosen of Perkunas and Varangian Guard.
• Norvos and Qohor: The Sons of Kavela from Warriors of Faith Unit Pack. This one was tough, but I picked the Finnish holy units because Norvos and Qohor seem less sophisticated than the other cities and the unit seems to look the part. I might have suggested the axe-wielding unit from the Russian Unit Pack because of Norvos' fascination with axes but those are already used in the mod for Sarnor and Ibben, where they seem to fit just fine. Any of the eastern Slavic units from that pack might actually fit, or the Jewish Zealots like I suggested for the other free cities. Alternatively, the Byzantine units from the Byzantine Unit Pack might fit these, again due to the axes and general look.

And for clarification for anyone who may misunderstand me, I am not suggesting that these be put into the mod directly (since that would be illegal), but rather only be used if the player owns the DLC in question, just like all other DLC mechanics are currently implemented in the mod.

I may update this post if I find better suggestions, or based on any replies to this thread with better suggestions.

 

[Ivashanko]

I've always wanted to use the face packs in the mod somehow as well. Could I possibly make different cultures use different face packs, and how?

 

[zonkie]

Good suggestions.

 

[Galaahd]

I had already opened a thread about it some weeks ago in this forum, and I changed the files so that northeners would use the Celtic units.

Even, you can combine elements from different sprite packs. For instance, theoretically you could make a heavy infantry unit with a norse shield, an arab scimitar and a celtic "body" for instance. Keep it in mind, there could be some excellent combinations for the cultures in game.

 

[Saboteur100]

I've always wanted to use the face packs in the mod somehow as well. Could I possibly make different cultures use different face packs, and how?

Both the portraits (face packs) and unit models are related to what graphical culture you set for each culture in C:\Users\*NAME*\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Crusader Kings II\mod\A Game of Thrones\common\cultures.

Even, you can combine elements from different sprite packs. For instance, theoretically you could make a heavy infantry unit with a norse shield, an arab scimitar and a celtic "body" for instance. Keep it in mind, there could be some excellent combinations for the cultures in game.

I didn't realize that was possible. That might actually explain why I wasn't seeing weapons for some unit models when I experimented with them in the mod, because the cultures weren't set up properly to use them. You're definitely right that that opens a lot of cool possibilities.

 

[Galaahd]

Would you be interested in collaborating for a submod, Saboteur?

 

[Saboteur100]

Alas, I appreciate the offer, but I am not really very adept at modding. Testing these out just involved copy+pasting some text from one file to another. You seem to know a bit more about it though, as you mentioned combining elements from different sprites (I would have no idea how to do that).

But it would be an awesome sub-mod if you want to make it yourself. I'd be happy to give suggestions.

 

[Arkenon]

Using the new units adds a lot of flavour I think, and I would love to see your suggestions implemented in the mod. I already use the celtic and norse units but I did not figure out how to use the "Warrior of Faith" dlc. How did you do that ?

 

[MrWeRD]

I like the idea of incorporating more DLCs into the mod, but I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere the GoT team wants to avoid relying too heavily on them. They want to make the experience between people with DLCs and those without relatively same. Either this or I'm talking out of my ass and they're gonna add in a ton of new graphics with the next update.

 

[Saboteur100]

Using the new units adds a lot of flavour I think, and I would love to see your suggestions implemented in the mod. I already use the celtic and norse units but I did not figure out how to use the "Warrior of Faith" dlc. How did you do that ?

The Warriors of the Faith unit models each have their own graphical culture, listed at the end of C:\Users\*NAME*\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Crusader Kings II\mod\A Game of Thrones\common\graphicalculturetypes. Just stick those into a culture as you would any other graphical culture. In some cases it is best to add a second_graphical_culture or be sure to keep at least the culture group's graphical culture the same in order to retain the mod's custom graphical cultures in addition to those you change/add.

I like the idea of incorporating more DLCs into the mod, but I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere the GoT team wants to avoid relying too heavily on them. They want to make the experience between people with DLCs and those without relatively same. Either this or I'm talking out of my ass and they're gonna add in a ton of new graphics with the next update.

If that's the case, it makes absolutely zero sense. If there are resources out there to visually improve the mod for people who have purchased DLC, there's no good reason not to utilize them. Besides, the current unit sprites for so many cultures feel out-of-place. I would be severely surprised if, by v1.0 of the mod, DLC unit sprites are not utilized throughout. This is assuming they don't create their own custom unit models for the mod, something that would probably be very difficult to accomplish at the same quality of the PDS-made sprites.

 

[Arkenon]

The Warriors of the Faith unit models each have their own graphical culture, listed at the end of C:\Users\*NAME*\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Crusader Kings II\mod\A Game of Thrones\common\graphicalculturetypes. Just stick those into a culture as you would any other graphical culture. In some cases it is best to add a second_graphical_culture or be sure to keep at least the culture group's graphical culture the same in order to retain the mod's custom graphical cultures in addition to those you change/add.

Thanks a lot ! Now there is finally some diversity in the East !

 

[MacComie]

So, how exactly would one go about changing the mod to use these DLC models?

 

[MrWeRD]

If that's the case, it makes absolutely zero sense. If there are resources out there to visually improve the mod for people who have purchased DLC, there's no good reason not to utilize them. Besides, the current unit sprites for so many cultures feel out-of-place. I would be severely surprised if, by v1.0 of the mod, DLC unit sprites are not utilized throughout. This is assuming they don't create their own custom unit models for the mod, something that would probably be very difficult to accomplish at the same quality of the PDS-made sprites.

That's what we were told when people asked why there weren't any retinues in the game.

 

[neale1991]

Is this being seriously considered for a submod? Sound like a fantastic idea for those who have DLC

 

[Galaahd]

So, how exactly would one go about changing the mod to use these DLC models?

You have to edit the avatar files in the gfx folder, if I recall correctly. It's quite intuitive, really. Just change the names of the single graphical files you refer too. Names of the files can be found in the DLC archives, or in the vanilla installation gfx folder.

I think you will also have to edit the .mod file and add the following lines:


dependencies = "Byzantine Unit Pack"
dependencies = "Celtic Unit Pack"
dependencies = "Military Orders Unit Pack"
dependencies = "Norse Unit Pack"
dependencies = "Russian Unit Pack"
dependencies = "Warriors of Faith Unit Pack"

At any rate, I will do it myself soon, I think. Just shoot me some PMs about what kind of combination of looks would be suited for each culture, or post it here, because besides using the celtic units for the northmen I am at a loss.

 

[MacComie]

I can't seem to find the avatar files in my /Documents/Paradox Interactive/Crusader Kings II/mod/A Game of Thrones/gfx folder, or any other gfx folder for that matter. The Celtic units seem to fit the North best, and the Ironborn are obviously Vikings. The Reach should use the Frankish models, since it is regarded as the heartland of Westerosi chivalry much like France was in the Middle Ages. Dorne should be Spanish, if the Spaniards get a separate unit pack, or you could leave them with the Arabic units they use currently. Everything else that I would change is in the OP, although I'll need to do more research into the Essosi cultures and the mountain clans of the Vale.

EDIT: Also, refer to this article for further inspiration.