Matrix Games Forums

Using the instructions in the modding guide I copied the character.txt file and images from Haree78 Battlestar Galactica mod for Shadows. It worked great in 1.9.5.0. However with the new update, I haven't gotten a single character in about 4 years of play from the beginning. I'm not sure what would have changed this?

It looks like I just got a ship captain about a month after I posted this.

I got my game set up to give me a ship captain at the start. Not to hard to mod that in so you can get custom characters. The only part I can't get to work right is the custom image. I've tried putting the pictures in characterImages folder and in the images/units/races folder but just can't get them to show up. Just get a small box with an "X" in it

I have been updating my character images as well - make sure you have them in the correct subfolder, it has changed since Shadows according to the modding manual. Its now \Customization\[Your Theme]\images\units\characters\

Cool! I'll pop them in there and see what happens.

That worked. I usually learn how to mod things by looking at existing mods. That doesn't really work when key things are changed between game versions though.

Just tried this to make everything random...

?, ?, 3, governor3.png, Human, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?

Alas, didn't work. Had all of the characters at start with "?" as their name.

Agreed. I was excited when I read that we could use "?" in the order field to randomize the order of appearance. But alas my results were the same, it didn't work.

Seems like it could be something easy to change in a future patch though. Here's hoping for the future!

ORIGINAL: tilarium

That worked. I usually learn how to mod things by looking at existing mods. That doesn't really work when key things are changed between game versions though.

Just tried this to make everything random...

?, ?, 3, governor3.png, Human, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?

Alas, didn't work. Had all of the characters at start with "?" as their name.

If you'll note from the modding guide, the question mark (?) does not work as far as replacing
or randomizing a character's name within the 'characters' text file. Should be like this:
?, John Starbuck, 3, governor3.png, Human, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?

ORIGINAL: ehsumrell1
If you'll note from the modding guide, the question mark (?) does not work as far as replacing
or randomizing a character's name within the 'characters' text file. Should be like this:
?, John Starbuck, 3, governor3.png, Human, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?

Yeah I figured they at least need a name, though all races have random names so it should pick one from characterNames.txt. Do you have to set their role also, not that it matters.

Will the ? in the order part randomize when they show up? I don't mind naming them all, but don't want them all showing up in the early stages and then reverting back to generic portrait people in the end.

ORIGINAL: AnddyiRaynor

ORIGINAL: ehsumrell1
If you'll note from the modding guide, the question mark (?) does not work as far as replacing
or randomizing a character's name within the 'characters' text file. Should be like this:
?, John Starbuck, 3, governor3.png, Human, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?

Yeah I figured they at least need a name, though all races have random names so it should pick one from characterNames.txt. Do you have to set their role also, not that it matters.

Yes, the role value needs to be set 1 ~ 9
1=Faction Leader, 2=Ambassador, 3=Colony Governor, 4=Fleet Admiral, 5=Troop General, 6=Intelligence Agent, 7=Scientist, 8=Pirate Leader, 9=Ship Captain

ORIGINAL: tilarium

Will the ? in the order part randomize when they show up? I don't mind naming them all, but don't want them all showing up in the early stages and then reverting back to generic portrait people in the end.

Yes the question mark randomizes their appearance order. Remember that the randomization applies to characters within the same role (i.e. Admiral, Agent, etc.).

This is pretty awesome news. Like I said, I don't mind naming them. I'm now in the process of making images to use as characters.

ORIGINAL: ehsumrell1
Yes the question mark randomizes their appearance order. Remember that the randomization applies to characters within the same role (i.e. Admiral, Agent, etc.).

I tried that but it wasn't quite working as I intended. I left the initial leader I wanted as "0" and then put the rest of the characters all as "?" What happened was that the game started with 5-6 of every character type including pirate leaders (in a non-pirate game). I think for some reason it ignored the usual limitation on # of characters.

ORIGINAL: ehsumrell1

ORIGINAL: tilarium
That worked. I usually learn how to mod things by looking at existing mods. That doesn't really work when key things are changed between game versions though.
Just tried this to make everything random...

?, ?, 3, governor3.png, Human, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?

Alas, didn't work. Had all of the characters at start with "?" as their name.

If you'll note from the modding guide, the question mark (?) does not work as far as replacing
or randomizing a character's name within the 'characters' text file. Should be like this:
?, John Starbuck, 3, governor3.png, Human, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?

No...
Give it a cool name
?, Data DrunkenThievingAndroid, 3, governor3.png, Human, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?

Just keep on TJ.....

Don't come crawling to me or Shark7 for Fleet Protection when DATA decides to
hit your Corellian Whiskey and Romulan Ale stores.
[:D]

(i.e. LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE!)





(DATA after locating, raiding and EMPTYING tjhkkr's Cargo Bays)

LMAO, good memories )

Every dogs has it's day [:D]

It is possible to let an Character only appear if the Race have a specific Goverment? I would like to have Willhelm as a Leader but only if the Humans get the Monarchy.

ORIGINAL: TheNiceShakturi

It is possible to let an Character only appear if the Race have a specific Goverment? I would like to have Willhelm as a Leader but only if the Humans get the Monarchy.

I'll look into that. My guess is it could possibly be done if an event is created through the game editor
concerning the races' government and the character you want to appear has a '-' instead of a '?' in
the appearance order position.