How To Change The Symbols Of A Faction

By SubRosa

Are you creating a new faction, but do not want to use the original symbols that came with it? Or are you just tired of using the ones that came with the game and want something different? This article will show you what files you need to replace in order to change every instance of faction symbols in the game.

This is not a tutorial on creating new artwork however. You can learn how to do that by reading SrJamesTyrrel’s excellent article here. Once you have created your new artwork, or found existing files you want to use (many mods take the symbols from BI or Alexander and import them into RTW for new factions) you will be ready to start.

The Loading Screen

We will start with the symbol you see in the center of the screen every time you begin a campaign or resume one from a save. This is the largest symbol used, so if you are using new artwork it is best to start here and resize it to use elsewhere.

Go to the RTW\\Data\\Loading_Screen folder. You will find the faction logos in here for all factions. They are named in the following convention: symbol128_{faction name}.tga (do not use the {brackets} they are only to denote that the internal name of your faction goes there). Each is a 128 x 128 pixel file in the .tga format.

Also note that RTW\\Data\\Descr_Sm_Factions.txt has a line for each faction that points to the file to use for its logo. If you are using a mod:switch folder, do not add your mod folder into the path listed there, otherwise it will not display. Just leave the path as normal.

The Campaign Selection, Multiplayer, & Custom Battle Screens

Now we will change the symbols you see when you select a faction in the Campaign and for Custom Battles. There are two folders they are stored in.

  • RTW\\Data\\Menu\\Symbols\\FE_buttons_24
  • RTW\\Data\\Menu\\Symbols\\FE_buttons_48

Each folder has four files that have to be replaced. They are the selection buttons you see in these screens. Each is used for a different state of the button. Those in the FE_buttons_24 folder must be 30 x 30 pixels and be in the .tga format. They are used in the Multiplayer Faction Selection Screen, on the left hand side. They are named as follows:

  • symbol24_{faction name}
  • symbol24_{faction name}_grey
  • symbol24_{faction name}_roll
  • symbol24_{faction name}_select

Those in the FE_buttons_48 folder must be 59 x 59 pixels and also in the .tga format. These are used in the Campaign Faction Selection screen, and on the right side in the Multiplayer and Custom Battle selection screens. The files are named in similar fashion:

  • symbol48_{faction name}
  • symbol48_{faction name}_grey
  • symbol48_{faction name}_roll
  • symbol48_{faction name}_select

Note that for the Roman factions there are two sets of files. The game uses those named romans_brutii.tga, romans_scipii.tga, romans_julii.tga, and romans_senate. It does not use the ones simply named brutii.tga, etc…

The Strat Map UI

Go to the RTW\\Data\\UI\\Roman\\Interface folder. If you do not see the UI folder, you have to first extract the game files with the Pak Extractor, which you can find here. There are four .tga files there. Edit them to replace existing faction’s symbols with your own.

  • Sharedpage_01.tga
  • Stratpage_02.tga

Captain Symbols

The symbols used in the lower left corner of the UI are also stored in the pack files. You can unpack them as noted above. When
unpacked they are in the RTW\\Data\\UI\\Captain_Banners folder. They are named captain_card_[faction].tga.

Again, remember that you must name the
Roman factions romans_brutii.tga, romans_scipii.tga, romans_julii.tga, and romans_senate, not simply brutii, scipii, etc…

There is
also a set named captain_portrait_[faction].tga, which is used when you look at a Captain-led army’s details scroll. Finally there
are more files in the RTW\\Data\\UI\\Captain_Banners\\Dead folder for dead captains on the Battle map.

Banners On The Strat Map

The symbols on the Strat Map banners are in the RTW\\Data\\Banners folder. They are in a number of files named symbols1.tga.dds – symbols8.tga.dds. There are four banners in each file.

They are referred to in RTW\\Data\\Descr_Sm_Factions.txt, in the “standard_index” line. The number given there points to the standard in the files. The numbering starts at 0 in the upper left corner of the first file, then goes to the upper right, to the lower left, and then finally to the lower right. So for example, the Gauls have a Standard Index number of 10, so their symbol is in the lower left corner of Symbols3.tga.dds

If you are using mod:switch you must also edit the Data\\Descr_Standards.txt file to make the path of the file you edited point to your modded folder. Just add “../{my_mod_folder}/data/” to the beginning of the path. For example, in ATW (whose mod folder is named “amazon”) it looks like this:


factions
symbols				../amazon/data/banners/symbols1.tga
symbols				banners/symbols2.tga
symbols				../amazon/data/banners/symbols3.tga
symbols				banners/symbols4.tga
symbols				banners/symbols5.tga

The banners that appear on an empty city on the strat map can be found in the RTW\\Data\\Models_strat\\Textures folder and are named #Banner_Symbol_[Faction].tga.dds. Their models are in RTW\\Data\\Models_strat folder and are named Symbol_[Faction].cas. The .cas files used for each faction are set in the “symbol” line of RTW\\Data\\Descr_Sm_Factions.txt. However, you will only need to edit this or the .cas files themselves if you are creating a totally new model for the banners. To just change the symbol on the regular banners you need only change the .tga.dds file. However, if you are using a mod:switch you must also copy the .cas files to your mod folder.

Banners On The Battle Map

For the battle banners, go to the RTW/Data/Models/Textures folder. There are three files for each faction you need to replace:

  • {Faction}.tga.dds
  • Standard_{Faction}_Ally.tga.dds
  • Standard_Routing_{Faction}.tga.dds

Next edit RTW\\Data\\Descr_Banner.txt. Go to the lower half, and find the faction in question, and change the paths of all your new banner files by adding the following the beginning of the file name: “../{my_mod_folder}/data/”

So for my amazon mod it goes from this:


faction				pontus
standard_texture	models/textures/standard_pontus.tga
rebels_texture		models/textures/standard_eastern_rebels.tga
routing_texture		models/textures/standard_routing_eastern.tga
ally_texture		models/textures/standard_pontus_ally.tga

To this:


faction				pontus
standard_texture	../amazon/data/models/textures/standard_pontus.tga
rebels_texture		models/textures/standard_greek_rebels.tga
routing_texture		../amazon/data/models/textures/standard_routing_amazon.tga
ally_texture		../amazon/data/models/textures/standard_pontus_ally.tga

The Rebels_Texture line does not need to be changed.

Banners On City Walls

Finally, for the banners that appear on a city’s walls in the battle map, you can find the files in the RTW\\Data\\Models_Building\\Textures folder. They are named ##Standard_[Faction].tga.dds

You must also edit RTW\\Data\\Descr_Building_Battle.txt. You can find a section specifing the banners used for each faction near the top, under the line ##standard_julii.tga. You do not have to add in a mod:switch path here, however, I found I had to change the filenames to make the game see the new banners.

For example, to change the banners for pontus, romans_brutii, and romans_scipii in ATW I had to change the filename listed here as well as change the name of the actual file in the RTW\\Data\\Models_Building\\Textures folder to that they point to as well.


	##standard_julii.tga
	{
		romans_julii		##standard_julii.tga
		romans_brutii		##standard_sarmatian_brutii.tga
		romans_scipii		##standard_amazon_scipii.tga
		romans_senate		##standard_senate.tga
		macedon			##standard_macedonia.tga
		egypt			##standard_egypt.tga
		seleucid		##standard_seleucid.tga
		carthage		##standard_carthage.tga
		parthia			##standard_parthia.tga
		pontus			##standard_amazon.tga

That is it! You now have all new banners for your faction.