Can you "add" a new nation?

[Appleby]

Is this possible? Or is there a way of doing this simpley through some other way?

[thatguy96]

It is possible to create "new" nations by choosing a nation with similar basic experience and morale and then completely overhauling the Obat. You can edit rank and name text using notepad in order to further change how the nation appears in game. The only thing I haven't see how to do is change the flags as they appear in game, but I suspect this is hard coded somewhere.

[Double_Deuce]

IIRC the flags can be done as well.

[Appleby]

So I would have to sacrifice one of the existing nations?

[thatguy96]

Double_Deuce said:
IIRC the flags can be done as well.


Do you know how this is done?

And yes, I think that nations are hard-coded so that if you were looking to add another nation you'd have to sacrifice an existing one. Note that the "Green" and "Red" nations are easy immediate choices.

[JagdtigerPL]

Where is Byelarus ??!!

[PlasmaKrab]

JagdtigerPL said:
Where is Byelarus ??!!

In theory, Belarus is what you'll get by using the "red" OOB against Poland or Ukraine. The names should fit more or less, and after 1990-91 the equipment will be broadly coherent (maybe add some captured Russian T-64s?).

[PlasmaKrab]

More to the initial point, no nation can be added to the list, so yes, if you want to create another nation, you will have to sacrifice an existing one.
One thing cannot be changed though, that's the in-game country name and the start and end dates. These values are hard-coded and could possibly be changed only by hacking the .exe binary, at your own risk.

On the other hand, you can edit the .obf files (the Mobhack.ini file allows you to edit MOBHack's internal country list, which should be easier wen working on it), the ranks, names and the various flags can be extracted and replaced from some .lbm file in the 'graphics' folder.

[Double_Deuce]

thatguy96 said:

Double_Deuce said:
IIRC the flags can be done as well.


Do you know how this is done?


EDITED: I found them and they are some of MKSheppard's work! They are over at SZO in this THREAD (http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38508). Scroll to posts # 8, 9 and 17. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[thatguy96]

Okay, so if can be done, but how do you do it?

[RecruitMonty]

how would you go about hacking the files to change the in-game name?

[thatguy96]

That's what I want to know. I pretty much know how to change everything but the in-game name and the flags. The flags I can pretty easily guess at. Is in-game name and country stats something that's hardcoded and can't be changed?

[Mobhack]

hard coded. As are which flags get shown on the various nation pick pages (e.g. for random battles, encyclopaedia).

Green and Red are provided for user modifications, though the batlocs (which are hardcoded) for these will provide some variations (as described in the GG).

Cheers
Andy

[Martin99]

It would be possible to simply rename the nation you choose: you have to have the same number of characters though. I'm not sure if this works (as I have basically no idea how to program), but is SPMBT written in a specific language that uses lists or something like that? If you knew what code it was written in and had the relevant editor, could you rename nations with fewer or more characters in it? I'm thinking about doing some alterations myself so any response would be great

Martin

PS the SPCAMO team presumably can't release the source code? I'm assuming that you've got an agreement with SSI or whoever gave it to you not to release it? Just checking.

[Martin99]

Oh by the way if you want to do this get a Hex editor and then search for the string for "West Germany" or whatever you want to use.

[thatguy96]

As to flags, where are the flag icons for the buy screen hidden? I've found the in-game ones and the ones for menu screens during battle, but I can't seem to find the ones for the purchase screen.

[DRG]

Battle.SHP

Don

[thatguy96]

Thanks

[MarkSheppard]

Hey don, kind of dumb question, but here goes:

If someone did the work involved in creating a new nation, like doing the OBAT, creating the leader name list, and rank list, plus the flag icon, and submitted it to you, would it be considered for inclusion in the next version of the game?

[Mobhack]

You have described about 1/4 or 1/3 of the work involved in the addition of a new nation. (Assuming the OOB is solid, and fits in with the existing OOB "standards" etc). You have only done the data, there is programming to be done. This is a game, so the data is supporting but not primary, unlike a database aplication to track widgets or whatever.

One then has to do a pick list (which may need to vary with opponent), for 1950-2020, which is decidedly non-trivial.

One then has to ascertain the national batlocs, may require new ones etc, again you then need to decide what happens when particular dates, opponents etc come into play.

Then the internal data structures for air control, counter battery, leader quality, troop quality etc need doing.

Then it all has to be hooked up to UI code for battle generator, scenario editor etc.

Oh - and I am assuming there are no new SHP files for the absolutely vital "Whoflungdung Mk32" rotary muck-spreader and suchlike that the new nation needs for "fidelity" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif. That might need new SHP files (and there is only limited space, if any, for new flags in the existing UI SHP files).

Then, there is the slight problem that the UI flag space is 100% used, and we no intention to rewrite the battle generator (and several other UI pages) to support multiple pages.

Therefore, unless there is a really, truly, compelling reason to include any new nation - it will not be happening.

Cheers
Andy

[MarkSheppard]

Damn. Oh well, thanks for the great reply.