Modification How To: Please Help

Jamison · Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 12:46 am Post subject: Modification How To: Please Help

Hi all,

I love playing Red Alert 2, but I've seen mods for the game such as buildings, units, tanks, trucks, and tons other mods. I'm wondering how they are made. There was one topic, that said to take a look the rules.ini file, but I don't seem to have this file on my hard drive or on my CDRom for Red Alert 2, is there some specfic place where I can download the rules.ini file and possibly art.ini? And is there a place that can teach the basics of Red Alert 2 modifications?

Thanks,
Jamison

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Is there any easy way to make a units SHP file?

Kiith-Sa · Rocket Cyborg **Joined**: 26 Oct 2004

Download XCC mixer (GOOGLE!!!),open RA2.mix(RA2) or RA2md.mix(YR),go to local.mix and extract Rules.ini to game directory.You can also extract AI(md).ini (AI groups of units,their scripts,teams and when it makes actions ,Art(md).ini (Graphics settings of things),rmg(md).ini (Random map generator), Sound(md).ini (Sound settings).
Then download deezire ini guide from www.deezire.net and read.
Each unit needs its Art(md).ini entry,Rules entry and graphics is in vxl (units,3d objects,something like lego,Voxel Section Editor III) and shp (infantry and some units,2d frame graphics,SHP builder).
New graphics put by XCC mix editor to Ecache(md)nn.mix (nn=1-99) and ini to expand(md).mix.
Map editing:FinalAlert 2,Terrain Expansion
Ini editing:TibEd(DONT USE!!!),XCC INI Editor,Notepad,Wordpad,Word.
AI:AI editor v2

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Time will tell...
Sooner or later...
Time will tell...

Jamison · Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:12 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the great information, but I got a few problems:

1. In XCC Mixer, it does not display the names of the files. It displays there names in what appears to be jumbled numbers. So how do I know what/where local.mix is (or any other *.mix file) in RA2.mix? Which brings me to my next problem...

2. I did a search for Rules.ini (File -> Find...), and it came up with a result that was the Rules.ini file. So I extracted it, but when I put it in my RA2 directory and ran my game the computer seemed like it was doing something (loading) but it didn't do anything, I waited like 5 or 10 minutes. Why does this happen?

Thanks and please help more if you can!!

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Is there any easy way to make a units SHP file?

Kiith-Sa · Rocket Cyborg **Joined**: 26 Oct 2004

1:I dont know why this happens,it never happened to me.Try downloading whole XCC Utilities pack and XCC DLL Files.

2:Something is wrong in INI or game.If INI,delete it,if game,reinstall.
Go to Google and find Rules.INI for RA2 and RulesMD.INI for RA2YR.
Pack of all RA2 and YR INI files is on RADEN site,I think.

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Time will tell...
Sooner or later...
Time will tell...

Jamison · Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2005 7:06 pm Post subject:

Well, I figured out how to extract the correct, unmodified Rules.ini, Art.ini, AI.ini, etc. All I had to do was search for it using XCC Mixer, goto File -> Find, then type Rules.ini! And I have learned how to use Voxel Section Editor 3 (the best program ever!) and HVA Editor, and I learned how to make new units, tanks, buildings, etc by just simply reading the comments in Rules.ini, Art.ini, etc. Smile

But I don't get why my Cameos and Names of my units don't appear correct. The cameo says "Missing Cameo", and the name says "Missing:'<MYTANK>'"? Why? How can I change that?

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Is there any easy way to make a units SHP file?

Liek ZOMG X 2 · Flamethrower **Joined**: 27 Nov 2004

For the name you have to add it to the csf Name:myunit Value super fast vechile or whatever #Newbie

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Jamison · Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2005 10:53 pm Post subject:

What is the csf? Please tell me!

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Is there any easy way to make a units SHP file?

Liek ZOMG X 2 · Flamethrower **Joined**: 27 Nov 2004

The csf file is the file you modify for your missing name thing.
I think xcc mixer has a a csf editor built in. #Fade in

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Jamison · Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 12:06 am Post subject:

What is the name of the .csf file??

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Is there any easy way to make a units SHP file?

Liek ZOMG X 2 · Flamethrower **Joined**: 27 Nov 2004

Ra2.csf or ra2md.csf Smile

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Jamison · Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 4:12 am Post subject:

Thank you so much cabal901! Smile

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Is there any easy way to make a units SHP file?

AvianKnight · Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 12:06 pm Post subject:

What a fast learner. It took me a month to make my first unit.

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AvKn

Jamison · Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 7:31 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I learn things extremely fast!

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Is there any easy way to make a units SHP file?

Allied General · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 3:02 pm Post subject:

cameos are shp images a 60 x 48 pcx image, you give it a name i.e. BIGTANKICON and then in art find the art code of your unit and use Cameo= for rookie cameo and AltCameo= for veteran symbol version.

The ra2 convention is ICON for rookie icons and UICO for veteran

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Allied General · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 3:05 pm Post subject:

the main trick of successful RA/TS/RA2/YR modding is balance and uniqueness or surperb quality

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Jamison · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 3:39 pm Post subject:

I knew how to do cameos practicly from the start. Laughing

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Is there any easy way to make a units SHP file?

Allied General · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 4:37 pm Post subject:

well that was to help answer your missing cameo problem ..

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Jamison · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:22 pm Post subject:

The missing cameo problem wasn't how to make them! I figured it out now anyway!

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Is there any easy way to make a units SHP file?

AvianKnight · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 3:51 am Post subject:

GA, the trick is having all that you said, not just one or two.

Anyway, we've got a new veteran modder here Smile

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AvKn

Jamison · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 4:17 am Post subject:

Whos a new veteran modder, me? Smile

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Is there any easy way to make a units SHP file?

AvianKnight · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 3:12 pm Post subject:

I separate newbie modders from veterans simply by knowing if they can make a unit. Of course, the unit may not be good, but at least he can make it, he have experience.

Yeah, it's you. Not so veteran, but at least you do have proper modding skills, unlike people out there who simply shout, "I've got a great mod!" even though they can't even make a voxel.

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AvKn

Clazzy · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:17 pm Post subject:

I can't exactly make voxels. That doesn't stop people from making a half-decent mod.

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Jamison · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:35 pm Post subject:

I'm not exactly to good at making voxels because I always make them much to small and ugly. But I'm good with the Voxel Section Editor 3.

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Is there any easy way to make a units SHP file?

Allied General · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 3:22 pm Post subject:

actually not been able to makes voxels isn't nesseciarly a bad thing, if your mod consists of several inconsistent models with bad normals and horrible UBER weapons why bother?

Everyone specialiss.

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Jamison · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 6:31 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure I follow what your saying...

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Is there any easy way to make a units SHP file?

AvianKnight · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:10 am Post subject:

I'm telling about the one who cannot make voxels as an example, I meant people who cannot do any forms of modding at all.

Anyway, Jamison, do you already have a mod in the works?

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AvKn

Jamison · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:11 pm Post subject:

No actually. I'm still practicing making units (the SHPs). Cause, well, I'm not good at graphics, so I'm trying to get better.

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Is there any easy way to make a units SHP file?

Allied General · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:09 am Post subject:

basically i was trying to say i hope you mod is not a newbee mod made in day with SEAL Paradrops !!!! or UBER nuke damage and if you add new units, buildings, try to make the AI use them.

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