Modding

[rider]

Sorry for the so general heading but I could think of nothing better. And since this is such a silly topic (of which normal people wouldn't even speak of) I didn't want to commence a search.

Anyways, is it possible to create a mod for M&B without playing the game? My home computer crashes immediately when I run this game (and many others, never had the idea what was up to it) but I'd like to practice a few modding things. So, can I successfully try to mod M&B when I have the game installed but don't run the game?

[Narcissus]

I assume it would be possible, but bug removing and such would be nearly impossible.

Even a simple, simple mod often needs several test runs for bug squashing.  When you have to send and receive your mod back and forth and rely on bug reports to figure out what caused those bugs and fix them ...

Just my thoughts,

Narcissus

[rider]

Okay, thanks for replying.

But in general this is possible? Good...

Then the only thing that is certain is that no mistakes can be done (impossible for me ).

[Narcissus]

Best place to start would be at the Unofficial Editing Tools.  Armagan has several threads (I believe its up to ten now) in there that walk you through the steps needed.

I'm still not 100% certain that you will be able to mod it, I'm just assumming you could.

Good luck,

EDIT: Fixed the link for reasons of pride.

Narcissus

[rider]

The link doesn't work somehow for me.

But I'll find it still. Just wanted to let you know.

[Cymro]

http://"http://forums.taleworlds.net/index.php/board,22.0.html"

That's why. You need to brush up on those forum skills, Narcissus

[Narcissus]

That's why. You need to brush up on those forum skills, Narcissus

Wow ... alot rustier than I thought.

Thanks for pointing him in the right direction.

Narcissus

[Hellequin]

Note, however, that the Unofficial Editor (one of the things discussed on that board) is not recommended, nor supported for any current version of M&B.  I presume he's talking about Thorgrim's Map Editor, BRFEdit, and so forth.

Personally I would (and recently did) start with Winter's module system docs.

But really, without a computer able to run M&B even stripped down, you're going to have a terrible, painful, discouraging time of it, dude.  The system requirements are really not that high for modern hardware; if you keep scrounging, you can probably locate a computer able to run M&B for under two hundred fifty bucks (or its equivalent).  Put it this way: flipping burgers until you can afford the necessary upgrades, then modding, will probably get you to anything resembling a decent mod at least as fast as struggling along modding 'blind.'

[rider]

I didn't say my computer isn't able to play it. It is very well able to play it and some more modern games (not M2TW nor SH2 but I think you got the general idea).

The problem is in that that when I start M&B (or most other games) the computer starts thinking and then freezes with the screen all black. I have no idea why that is so...

[Hellequin]

Ahh.  Hmm.  Weird indeed.  You could try calling up your nearest geek friend and trading him a flat of Jolt if he can make your machine run M&B...

[rider]

Well, I could try that but I believe that he (or she) couldn't get through this.

[Tat]

Well, reistall the ****** with a fresh XP or whatever  your choice of OS is . . .

Might be a bithc the first time, if you've never done something like this before - I did my first with my 80486 from IBM back in the days (yes I'm not just old, I'm gargantuan, ancient and dusty) and I can tell you this much, it's a LOT easier now . . .  Basically you're required to be able to read and understand English (or whatever language you're installing through) and use a mouse
And once you've gone through the painstaking work of it once, it's even easier the next time . . .  All you need is some drivers, copies of the software you're using and some spare time (say 2 hours max) . . .
I usually format the disk first, after having repartitioned it, to make it totally fresh . . .

In fact you can probably fix the problem by simply doing a repair - boot up from the XP cd and choose repair . . .
If that don't work, try upgrading to the newest drivers for your various hardware and well, otherwise the above reinstall should fix anything . . .

Alternatively sell it to an idiot and buy a new one 

[maw]

two words:

graphics card

(or three words: graphics card driver).

had very similar problems, so thats my reccomendation. either get a new card or put in a different driver. prolly need the new directx whatever that is.

and if you can create a mod without playing it, ya should friggin' be playing Big Blue for a million dollars. as you pucnch stuff through python/editor/text whatever, you check the changes to see if they work.

after all you wanta practice modding... how would you know if you learned anything? maw

[rider]

You make good points it seems.

And I have decided not to begin with M&B modding, wait until someone buys me (or I'll buy myself) a new computer and then create everything I want in the newest possible M&B version.