Banner Creation Guide 3: Creating extra banner sets

[Paul59]

As we have seen, there are only 7 banners sets in the standard game. You can add extra sets. I am not sure if there is a limit to this, but I have added 40 to the next version of the TT Mod, and I haven’t broken the game yet!

http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtop ... 77&t=88573

To add new sets we need to edit those two mysterious text files that I mentioned in the Introduction.

http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtop ... 92&t=88649

1) Banner.txt
This file sits in the Data/Battle/Banners folder. Open it and you will see this:

[Banner1]
BANNER Flag_00
INDEX 1
TEX UnitFlags_00_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner2]
BANNER Flag_01
INDEX 2
TEX UnitFlags_01_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner3]
BANNER Flag_02
INDEX 3
TEX UnitFlags_02_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner4]
BANNER Flag_03
INDEX 4
TEX UnitFlags_03_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner5]
BANNER Flag_04
INDEX 5
TEX UnitFlags_04_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner6]
BANNER Flag_05
INDEX 6
TEX UnitFlags_05_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner7]
BANNER Flag_06
INDEX 7
TEX UnitFlags_06_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner8]
BANNER Flag_07
INDEX 8
TEX UnitFlags_07_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner9]
BANNER Flag_08
INDEX 9
TEX UnitFlags_08_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner10]
BANNER Flag_09
INDEX 10
TEX UnitFlags_09_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner11]
BANNER Flag_10
INDEX 11
TEX UnitFlags_10_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner12]
BANNER Flag_11
INDEX 12
TEX UnitFlags_11_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner13]
BANNER Flag_12
INDEX 13
TEX UnitFlags_12_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner14]
BANNER Flag_13
INDEX 14
TEX UnitFlags_13_Diffuse@.dds

Basically this file allocates an index number to each banner model and texture. So for every banner that you want to add to your mod, you will need to add an extra data chunk to the banner.txt file.

As an example if you wanted to add one more banner set (two banners), the chunk that you add would be this:

[Banner15]
BANNER Flag_14
INDEX 15
TEX UnitFlags_14_Diffuse@.dds

[Banner16]
BANNER Flag_15
INDEX 16
TEX UnitFlags_15_Diffuse@.dds

The only things you need to remember are:
a) The chunks are all in number order.
b) The Index number is always the flag number + 1

When you have finished save your edited Banner.txt to your mods Data/Battle/Banners folder.

2) BannerSideIDs.txt
This file sits in the Core folder. Open it and you will see this:

[Banner1]
SIDEID 32 74

[Banner2]
SIDEID 32 74

[Banner3]
SIDEID 8 23 35 44 48 50 52 57 82 84 86 90 91 92

[Banner4]
SIDEID 8 23 35 44 48 50 52 57 82 84 86 90 91 92

[Banner5]
SIDEID 3 7 9 10 11 12 28 34 38 41 42 49 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 70 73 78 79 81 94 95

[Banner6]
SIDEID 3 7 9 10 11 12 28 34 38 41 42 49 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 70 73 78 79 81 94 95

[Banner7]
SIDEID 0 1 4 13 14 16 18 19 21 22 26 30 31 37 39 40 43 46 53 54 55 65 66 67 68 69 71 72 255

[Banner8]
SIDEID 0 1 4 13 14 16 18 19 21 22 26 30 31 37 39 40 43 46 53 54 55 65 66 67 68 69 71 72 255

[Banner9]
SIDEID 2 5 6 20 24 25 27 29 33 36 45 47 56 83 85 87 88 89 93

[Banner10]
SIDEID 2 5 6 20 24 25 27 29 33 36 45 47 56 83 85 87 88 89 93

[Banner11]
SIDEID 17 51

[Banner12]
SIDEID 17 51

[Banner13]
SIDEID 15 75 76 77 80

[Banner14]
SIDEID 15 75 76 77 80

This is a list of the Banner Index numbers, NOT the flag texture numbers, and the Sidenames that use those banners.

So the first chunk is for Banner Index 1, which refers to flag texture number 00. It has Sidenames numbers 32 (Romans) and 74 (Byzantines) allocated to it.

A full list of the current Sidename numbers is here:

IDS_SIDENAME_10,"Gallic",
IDS_SIDENAME_11,"German",
IDS_SIDENAME_12,"German/Gothic",
IDS_SIDENAME_13,"Graeco-Bactrian",
IDS_SIDENAME_14,"Greek",
IDS_SIDENAME_15,"Hunnic",
IDS_SIDENAME_16,"Illyrian",
IDS_SIDENAME_17,"Indian",
IDS_SIDENAME_18,"Indo-Greek",
IDS_SIDENAME_19,"Jewish",
IDS_SIDENAME_2,"Alan",
IDS_SIDENAME_20,"Kushan",
IDS_SIDENAME_21,"Lysimachid",
IDS_SIDENAME_22,"Macedonian",
IDS_SIDENAME_23,"Numidian",
IDS_SIDENAME_24,"Palmyran",
IDS_SIDENAME_25,"Parthian",
IDS_SIDENAME_255, "Rebel",
IDS_SIDENAME_26,"Pergamene",
IDS_SIDENAME_27,"Persian",
IDS_SIDENAME_28,"Pictish",
IDS_SIDENAME_29,"Pontic",
IDS_SIDENAME_3,"Ancient British",
IDS_SIDENAME_30,"Ptolemaic",
IDS_SIDENAME_31,"Pyrrhic",
IDS_SIDENAME_32,"Roman",
IDS_SIDENAME_33,"Sarmatian",
IDS_SIDENAME_34,"Scots-Irish",
IDS_SIDENAME_35,"Seleucid",
IDS_SIDENAME_36,"Skythian/Saka",
IDS_SIDENAME_37,"Slave Revolt",
IDS_SIDENAME_38,"Spanish",
IDS_SIDENAME_39,"Spartan",
IDS_SIDENAME_4,"Antigonid",
IDS_SIDENAME_40,"Syracusan",
IDS_SIDENAME_41,"Thracian",
IDS_SIDENAME_42,"Gothic",
IDS_SIDENAME_43,"Lydian",
IDS_SIDENAME_44, "Arab",
IDS_SIDENAME_45, "Atropatene",
IDS_SIDENAME_46, "Bithynian",
IDS_SIDENAME_47, "Georgian",
IDS_SIDENAME_48, "Libyan",
IDS_SIDENAME_49, "Ligurian",
IDS_SIDENAME_5,"Armenian",
IDS_SIDENAME_50, "Moorish",
IDS_SIDENAME_51, "Mountain Indian",
IDS_SIDENAME_52, "Nabataean",
IDS_SIDENAME_53, "Campanian",
IDS_SIDENAME_54, "Bruttian/Lucanian",
IDS_SIDENAME_55, "Apulian",
IDS_SIDENAME_56, "Kappadokian",
IDS_SIDENAME_57, "Caucasian",
IDS_SIDENAME_58, "Ostrogothic",
IDS_SIDENAME_59, "Visigothic",
IDS_SIDENAME_6,"Bosporan",
IDS_SIDENAME_60, "Gepid",
IDS_SIDENAME_61, "Vandal",
IDS_SIDENAME_62, "Frankish",
IDS_SIDENAME_63, "Romano-British",
IDS_SIDENAME_64, "Anglo-Saxon",
IDS_SIDENAME_65, "Etruscan",
IDS_SIDENAME_66, "Samnite",
IDS_SIDENAME_67, "Latin",
IDS_SIDENAME_68, "Umbrian",
IDS_SIDENAME_69, "Italian Hill Tribe",
IDS_SIDENAME_7,"Caledonian",
IDS_SIDENAME_70, "Galatian",
IDS_SIDENAME_71, "Kyrenean",
IDS_SIDENAME_72, "Thessalian",
IDS_SIDENAME_73, "Lombard",
IDS_SIDENAME_74, "Byzantine",
IDS_SIDENAME_75, "Avar",
IDS_SIDENAME_76, "Bulgar",
IDS_SIDENAME_77, "Hephthalite",
IDS_SIDENAME_78, "Slav",
IDS_SIDENAME_79, "Welsh",
IDS_SIDENAME_8,"Carthaginian",
IDS_SIDENAME_80, "Turkish",
IDS_SIDENAME_81, "Breton",
IDS_SIDENAME_82, "Assyrian",
IDS_SIDENAME_83, "Kushite",
IDS_SIDENAME_84, "Elamite",
IDS_SIDENAME_85, "Egyptian",
IDS_SIDENAME_86, "Babylonian",
IDS_SIDENAME_87, "Cimmerian",
IDS_SIDENAME_88, "Urartian",
IDS_SIDENAME_89, "Median",
IDS_SIDENAME_9,"Dacian",
IDS_SIDENAME_90, "Hebrew",
IDS_SIDENAME_91, "Cypriot",
IDS_SIDENAME_92, "Phoenician",
IDS_SIDENAME_93, "Mannaean",
IDS_SIDENAME_94, "German/Ostrogothic",
IDS_SIDENAME_95, "German/Visigothic",

So, to add an extra banner set to the list, all we do is add another two chunks of text to the end of the list, change the Banner number in the brackets to our new index numbers, add our nations SideID number, and deduct that SideID number from it’s original position in the text file. If you don’t delete the SideID number from it’s original location the game will read that first and ignore your new banners.

For example, in the TT Mod I have given the Byzantines a unique new set of flags, numbered 14 and 15. The new banner Index numbers are therefore 15 and 16. So I add this to the end of the BannerSideIDs.txt:

[Banner15]
SIDEID 74

[Banner16]
SIDEID 74

I then remove the SideID number 74 from under [Banner1] and [Banner2].

When you have finished just save the BannerSideIDs.txt to a safe location, do not overwrite the file in the games Core folder!

The Mods structure does not recognize a Core folder, but just save the edited BannerSideIDs.txt to your mods main folder.

Then create your new banner in your graphics editor, as I showed you in Part 2:

http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtop ... 92&t=88650

You will also need to create a new .s4f and .txt file with the same number as your new banner texture.

For instance, if you are creating a new banner by amending UnitFlags_10_Diffuse.dds, you must create a new .s4f file using Flag_10.s4f, and then rename both files to your new banner number. If you do not do this, and use a different .s4f file the textures will not match the 3d device on the top of the generals banner, and will look quite ugly.

You then need to modify the internal Diffuse texture reference of the .s4f file. You can do this in two ways:

1) If you have the Archon Tool, you can open the .s4f file with that, and simply change the Diffuse texture reference to the new number. You will have to request the Archon Tool from Richard Bodley-Scott.

2) You might be able to modify the texture reference by opening the .s4f with Notepad++. Search for the word "Diffuse", and it will take you to the right place, then just change the number to the new banner number. You must keep the number of characters the same, so unfortunately your banner numbers cannot go beyond 99 using this method. I know this works with the older Battle Academy engine games, so it might work with FOG2.

Save the .s4f file, you might need to uncheck "Read only" in the Properties to do this.

It is not necessary to change the Normal and Spec texture references, so it is not required to create new Normal and Spec .dds files either.

The .txt file can be created by just copying and pasting the original .txt file for the banner that you amended, and renumbering it to match the new .s4f and texture files.




Good luck!

[rbodleyscott]

Great guide Paul.

Thanks.

[jomni]

Thanks. Finally.

[Latro]

Hello Paul,

I'm struggling with the new banners I'm trying to create.
All units are carrying the general's banner and the alpha channel doesn't seem to work.

Any ideas?

[Paul59]

Hello Paul,

I'm struggling with the new banners I'm trying to create.
All units are carrying the general's banner and the alpha channel doesn't seem to work.

Any ideas?

Hi Latro,

It sounds like you have what I call the "Long Banner problem".

I described how to solve it in this thread:

https://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewto ... 92&t=88515

If you need a more detailed explanation just let me know.

regards

Paul

[Latro]

copied all files from vanilla/banner to my mod/banner plus all ttmod/banner ones.
copied banner_11 sf4, txt, spec, diffuse and normal files as new files, edited the diffuse ones.

Still no luck

[Paul59]

copied all files from vanilla/banner to my mod/banner plus all ttmod/banner ones.
copied banner_11 sf4, txt, spec, diffuse and normal files as new files, edited the diffuse ones.

Still no luck

So let me just confirm, the banner that you have modified is UnitFlags_11_Diffuse@.dds?

Probably the best thing is that I pm you my email, and then you can send me your mod folder. I does not need all the vanilla and TT mod files though, delete them before you email it to me, otherwise the attachment will be way too big.

[Latro]

Oops.
Too late, sent you the entire thing..
Want me to send again?

[Paul59]

Thanks Latro,

I think I have solved your problem, please see the email I sent you.

It has highlighted to me that I did not describe how to exactly create a new banner .s4f file, so I have amended my first post in this thread with the necessary instructions.


cheers