Masterfile & modding question...

[leastonh1]

Hi,

After reading some of the threads here and playing with the editor, can I just check that my understanding of something is correct please?

Let's say I want to create a new gfx pack for a scenario. Rather than force the player to mess around, am I right in thinking that I can simply copy the existing masterfile (thereby creating a new one) and use that as the template for a new mod?

Cheers,
Jim

[Vic]

yes you can do that.
 
you can also load the masterfile (by load scenario and browsing .masterfile file types) and save it under a different name.
 
kind regards,
Vic

[leastonh1]

Great. Thank you Vic [:)]

[PDiFolco]

Ah thanks, I didn't had understood yet  how masterfiles were created/edited... They work as scenarios and are editable in the same way :!!
Brillant design ...

Does this means that if I want to "mod" the datafile, because I want less lethal arty, uber german tanks, [:D], or whatever, I can automatically change the values in all the scens (thos using the ptmaster file w/o overwrites) by just editing it ?

That would be just greaaat ! [8D]

[tweber]

A scenario file calls a masterfile to get all the unit and terrain data.  So, changing the masterfile changes all scenarios that use the masterfile.  However, you should be careful when playing around with a masterfile.  If you delete a location or unit or terrain type that is on the map, the scenario will not run properly.  I would definitely save your masterfile in a safe place before messing around with it.
 
Also, with events, there are lots of ways to tailor scenarios without changing the masterfile.  I would recommend looking at that first.

[PDiFolco]

Tweber,
I agree with you - my idea was to make some sort of "updated/tweaked" master file for more historicity (at least IMO historicity) and be able to use it for multiple scenarios.
 
I'm still not clear about one thing : how is a scen linked to a given masterfile ? [&:]

[Vic]

ORIGINAL: PDiFolco

Ah thanks, I didn't had understood yet  how masterfiles were created/edited... They work as scenarios and are editable in the same way :!!
Brillant design ...

Does this means that if I want to "mod" the datafile, because I want less lethal arty, uber german tanks, [:D], or whatever, I can automatically change the values in all the scens (thos using the ptmaster file w/o overwrites) by just editing it ?

That would be just greaaat ! [8D]

yes.. but be wary with what your change. for example dont just delete light forest landscapetype because that would screw up all scenarios that use that masterfile. You can change the name of light forest to for example: woodlands. Or change the sprite or the stats.

kind regards,
vic

[GJK]

Just to be sure: I assume that the file named "masterlog.mlc" is the "masterfile" that is referenced here? I want to make a copy and tuck it away in a safe place in case I get carried away in the editor.

[PDiFolco]

Huuh no, it's the file called generic.ptmaster in Scenario folder. It's editable with the editor, just open it as a "scenario" (which it is, it even has a map - sort of ! [:D])

[GJK]

Probably asked and answered elsewhere but I'll be lazy and ask again - what happens if I mod/alter my masterfile and I play a pbem game with someone who has not changed their masterfile in the same way (or isn't sharing a copy of my masterfile)?

[Vic]

the masterfile is only read upon loading of the scenario. it is not loaded anymore after start of play, in subsequent loading of saved games.

[kram]

Please Vic can you explain in detail how it's possible to make a new masterfile, maybe with some screenshot, as in your tutorial about making a new simple scenario?
Thanks and bests regards.

[PDiFolco]

kram
It looks pretty simple : for a starter, just copy the generic.ptmaster file (in /Scen folder) to "whatever".ptmaster.
Launch game, load "scenario", change the file ext in the file selection dilaog to .ptmaster , then select "whatever".
 
Click edit, you're editing a masterfile !
Change whatever you want - say hp of Infantry from 100 to 200 just as an example, then save.
 
Now load any WW2 scenario (they use the standard masterfile), edit it, go to "settings", there's a line called "master file" : there you can change the masterfile used and set it to your "whatever" masterfile.
If you save (not sure you should !), now you've a scenario using your modded masterfile . [:)]
 
Pretty cool for modding imho [8D] !
 

[kram]

Thanks PDiFolco.

[Vic]

you can also load the masterfile in the editor and save it under a differentname.ptmaster
 
you can also make a new scenario and save it as a masterfile.
 
kind regards,
vic

[Max 86]

ORIGINAL: Vic

you can also load the masterfile in the editor and save it under a differentname.ptmaster

you can also make a new scenario and save it as a masterfile.

kind regards,
vic

This is a very important distinction.

If you want to just create a scenario, click on create a scenario but realize that if you want to make "global" changes to all scenarios based on the masterfile, load scenario generic.ptmaster and edit away.

The masterfile is basically a template with "default" data entered. When you click on Create Scenario you are opening a version of the masterfile and doing a "Save As" function with another file name such as Stalingrad.pt2

Is that a fair description?.

[Vic]

Warning: Just do not change you default.ptmaster like that because it will affect all scenarios comming with the game since they all use this masterfile.