A Guide To Descr_Model_Battle.txt
By SubRosa
The Descr_Model_Battle.txt file (or DMB for short) is located in the RTW\\Data folder, and it is a very important file in editing and creating units.
What it does is set the models and textures that every unit uses, even the horses.
Here is an example of what you will see in this file:
| type | barb_scythian_noblewoman |
| skeleton | fs_hc_archer, fs_hc_swordsman |
| indiv_range | 40 |
| texture | scythia, data/models_unit/textures/barb_noblewoman_scythia.tga |
| model_flexi_m | data/models_unit/barb_noblewoman_high.cas, 8 |
| model_flexi_m | data/models_unit/barb_noblewoman_med.cas, 15 |
| model_flexi | data/models_unit/barb_noblewoman_low.cas, 30 |
| model_flexi | data/models_unit/barb_noblewoman_lowest.cas, max |
| model_sprite | scythia, 60.0, data/sprites/scythia_barb_scythian_noblewoman_sprite.spr |
| model_tri | 400, 0.5f, 0.5f, 0.5f |
Now we will break it down line by line.
Type – This is the Soldier Name for the unit found in
Export_Descr_Unit.txt.
Skeleton – This is the skeleton(s) associated with the model. The skeletons are listed in Descr_Skeleton.txt. The first skeleton listed is for the primary weapon, and the second for the secondary weapon (if the unit has one).
Models that are used in multiple units may have alternate skeletons. Generals are an example of this rare circumstance. In this case the first skeleton listed is the Infantry skeleton, and the following skeletons must be identified by a keyword. Example:
| skeleton | fs_dagger |
| skeleton_horse | fs_hc_swordsman |
| skeleton_elephant | fs_forest_elephant_rider |
| skeleton_chariot | fs_chariot_sword |
| skeleton_camel | fs_hc_swordsman |
The skeleton is important because it determines what animations the model will use. From standing at ease, to walking, running, fighting, etc… So you want to get the correct skeleton for your unit otherwise it will look very strange. For example, if you use a cavalry skeleton on an infantry unit, it will stand in a crouch with its legs apart, and its feet will not move when it walks forward.
Here is a list of all the skeletons used in the game, including what kind of unit they are for, and an example of a unit in the game that uses it:
| fs_chariot_sword | chariot, sword | Scythed Chariot Crew |
| fs_chariot_archer | chariot, bow | British Light Chariot Archer |
| fs_hc_swordsman | cavalry, sword | Head Hunting Maiden |
| fs_hc_archer | cavalry, bow | Scythian Horse Archer |
| fs_hc_spearman | cavalry, spear | Barbarian Cavalry |
| fs_hc_javelinman | cavalry, javelin | Numidian Cavalry |
| fs_semi_fast_archer | infantry, bow | Archer Warband |
| fs_archer | infantry, bow | Chosen Archer Warband |
| fs_dagger | infantry, dagger | Peasant |
| fs_semi_fast_dagger | infantry, dagger | Wardog handler |
| fs_slow_spearman | infantry, spear | Poeni Infantry |
| fs_spearman | infantry, spear | Barbarian Infantry |
| fs_semi_fast_spearman | infantry, spear | Hillmen |
| fs_javelinman | infantry, javelin | Hastati |
| fs_semi_fast_javelinman | infantry, javelin | Peltast |
| fs_slinger_new | infantry, slinger | Mercenary Rhodian Slinger |
| fs_2handed_berserker | infantry, 2-hand club | Berserkers |
| warband_dhaxe | infantry, 2-hand axe | Chosen Axemen |
| fs_slow_swordsman | infantry, sword | Chosen Swordsmen |
| fs_swordsman | infantry, sword | Naked Fanatic |
| fs_semi_fast_swordsman | infantry, sword | Woad Warriors |
| fs_forest_elephant_rider | elephant | Elephant Crew |
| fs_big_elephant_rider | elephant | Armored Elephant Crew |
| fs_standard_bearer | infantry | Standard Bearer |
| fs_camel | mount | Camel |
| fs_indian_elephant | mount | War Elephant |
| fs_african_elephant | mount | Cataphract Elephant |
| fs_forest_elephant | mount | Elephant |
| fs_indian_giant_elephant | mount | Cheat Oliphants |
| fs_fast_horse | mount | light horse |
| fs_medium_horse | mount | medium horse |
| fs_horse | mount | heavy horse |
| fs_cataphract_horse | mount | Cataphract Horse |
| fs_dog | animal | Wardog |
| fs_pig | animal | Incendiary Pigs |
| fs_bird | animal | crow (not implemented) |
| fs_deer | animal | deer (not implemented) |
Indiv_range – This is the range in meters at which the game will render each individual soldier in a unit.
Texture – This is the skin that is associated with the model. Where the model is a 3-dimensional wireframe, the skin is the graphic pasted over it. Each model may have multiple textures associated with it. This is done when identical units of multiple factions use the same model. Such as with Barbarian Cavalry for example. Each texture must begin with first the faction owning it, then with the path and name of the texture itself, starting with the Data folder.
While .dds files are used for textures, it is not necessary to have the .dds at the end of the filename here. The game will find it anyway. For example, the actual texture file of the unit at the top is barb_noblewoman_scythia.tga.dds, but it is only necessary to enter barb_noblewoman_scythia.tga here.
Model_flexi_m – This is only used for models with a small number of weighted vertices. You will rarely see this.
Model_flexi_c – This is only used for a flexi model which contains per-vertex colors. Again, it is very rarely used.
Model_flexi – This is by far the most commonly used type of model. What this (and the other model_flexi_x lines) do is specify what model to use with the unit. Each unit will typically have up to four models, and the game swaps from one to the other depending on the level of distance (lod), using lower resolution models when further away to reduce the load on the processor. They are listed from nearest (top) to the farthest (bottom).
As with the texture, the path of the model file must be provided. It is followed by a comma and then a number. The number tells the game the maximum distance to use the model from. Max means the maximum distance.
Model_mesh – (Optional) This is an uncommon line, with a number for the range to use animated mesh frames for the model.
Model_sprite – This is an optional line, telling the game to use a sprite. You can learn more about generating sprites here. The first number listed is the distance at which the sprite will be used. It is then followed by the path and file name of the sprite file. Note that only the .spr file is listed here.
Model_tri – Another optional line, this tells the game to use a triangle rather than a model or sprite. The first number indicates the distance to use the triangle at. It is followed by three floating point numbers in the range 0.0f – 1.0f which indicate colors Red, Green, Blue to use for the triangle.
That is it. Something to watch out for with models and skins is that if a skin is associated with a model in a modeling application such as 3ds Max, the model will always look for that skin and use it, regardless of what you list here. If it cannot find it the game will crash with an error message saying it cannot find the file.
