Modifying MegaGlest

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Glest enthusiasts are encouraged to experiment with, and explore, new design concepts using the Glest game engine. Glest itself is a full game engine, and mods, including new techtrees, tilesets, and maps. These new elements can then be used in game to play, and can create the feel of an entirely new game.

Introduction

Glest has three main components: techs, tilesets and maps.

XML files

Glest uses XML files and folders for tileset, tech tree, resource, faction, upgrade and unit definitions, as well as parameters for projectile particles and splash particles. These files can be viewed with any internet browser/file manager and edited with text editor.

Image files

Glest uses graphic files for textures and icons. Currently 24-bit BMP and 24 or 32 bit TGA files are supported. The tga files must be uncompressed. A free and powerful TGA image editor is gimp. Also, please note that RLE compression is not supported, and must be disabled when saving. MegaGlest and GAE support additional formats such as PNG.

3D files

Glest uses its own 3d format for 3d models, models can be exported from 3dsmax or Blender.

• Modeling with Blender
• Modeling with 3DSMax
• Modeling with Other Modelling Tools

The textures for the 3d models are in separate files. These must be uncompressed tga-files with origin in lower left-hand corner. The file names of these .tga texture files must be lower case. Upper case will cause unix/windows case sensitivity problems!!

Tilesets

Tilesets define the surface textures, object models and some other parameters. Every tileset is a subfolder within the tileset folder of the Glest game directory. In this subfolder there must be a xml file with the same name of the folder, this file defines the location of every texture and model and some other parameters.

• Note: Tech trees can use objects as resources. The difference is that 3d models for objects are defined on the tileset while resource 3d models are defined on the tech tree.

• Tileset Hints

Tech Trees

Tech trees define factions, resources, units, and upgrades for a game. Each tech tree is a subfolder within the tech folder of Glest game directory. In this subfolder are located:

• A xml file with the same name of the folder, in this file are defined the initial resources for the players.
• A resources folder, in this folder are placed all the resources of the tech tree, as well as its 3d models. Each resource is in a separate subfolder with an xml file defining its parameters.
• A factions folder, in this folder are placed the factions for the game, every faction has its own folder, inside this folder there must be:
  • A xml file with the same name of the faction folder that defines the starting units for this faction.
  • An units folder, in this folder are placed all the units for this faction. Each unit is in a separate subfolder with an xml file defining its parameters.
  • An upgrades folder, in this folder are placed all the upgrades for this faction. Each upgrade is in a separate subfolder with an xml file defining its parameters.

File Structure

• techs
  • tech_name
  • common - (optional: Common UI elements used by numerous units)
  • factions
    • faction_name
      • units
        • unit_name
          • images
          • models
          • sounds
        • unit_name.xml
      • upgrades
        • upgrade_name
          • images
        • upgrade_name.xml
      • faction_name.xml
  • resources
    • resource_name
      • images
      • models
      • resource_name.xml
  • tech_name.xml

Faction editing

• Copy the Magitech folder to a place where you wont lose it(in case you mess up the game) then modify the techs by picking the units that you want the models of, and the article, and splash file you want. then open the XML's you wanted at the g3d files rename it to the models path, at the Commands section modify it to the image path, and your unit is done to edit the tech tree( lets say we wanted to add guns we would open the magitech XML and add the line attack type gun and we could have a gun to attack,

Menu editing

• The Glest engine allows the menu to be changed in your dat/core/menu folder there is a section for the models a textures folder and a XML the xml configures the menu rotation, and the particles. The models folder contains the models for the menu. Lets say we wanted a blank start screen we would rename a blank g3d(located in the tileset under the name none) and copy it to the menu models directory and rename it menu_main. to change the loading screen, logo, and button open the textures folder and modify them to the extent you want.

Maps

Maps are single files, that define bi-dimensional matrices of cells, each cell has the following attributes:

• Height. From 0 to 20
• Surface type. There are 5 surface types, and the map editor numbering system indicates the texture type, the texture file itself depends on the tileset.
• Object. A cell can have an object or not, there are 10 types of objects, object models depend of the tileset, but objects 1 and 2 are trees, 3 is stone, 4 and 5 are bushes, objects from 5 to 9 can be anything and 10 is an invisible blocking object.
• Resource. Resources can be placed on cells. objects and resources cannot share the same cell at the same time. Resources depend on the Tech Tree.

Maps also define some other things such as start locations for each player, map size, altitude factor, and water level. Maps cannot define the placement of units or buildings. Maps may be edited with the Glest Map Editor. To play maps created with the editor, just place the .gbm file into the Glest map folder.

FAQ

How can I make a part of a model's texture to change color when I change faction (turn to red/blue/green/yellow)? In 3dsmax: select your model-->right click-->properties-->user defined-->write "CustomColor=True" (only what's in the parentheses). By doing this the model will use the alpha channel for the faction color. In general: transparency (alpha channel) is shown as the team color in the game.

• Create a texture, for the whole model or for a part of it.
• Make sure the background of the texture is black.
• On the texture where you want the team color to show, color it white.
• Using gimp: Select your texture -> Layer -> Transparency -> Color to Alpha... -> Color should be set to white, if not, click on it -> Click OK
• Fire up the G3D viewer, select the different "custom colors" from the pull-down.

How can I export 3ds max particle systems into glest?The export plug-in can't export particle systems.

Is it possible to change the rain sprite to snow?The rain no, but you can change the snow sprite in glest_game\data\core\misc_textures

How do I make the nights brighter?In the /glest/tilesets/forest directory, open forest.xml with text editor. Search for <moon-light and increase numbers for colors (greater number=brighter). Save. A;; tilesets can be edited in this manner.

Is it possible to make different units in a building simultaneously?No, they are on a work queue basis

See Also

Glest Tools