How far can you mod FE?

from Elemental Forums


I have been waiting for years to see if any company or Sierra that made "Lords of Magic" back in 1997 with Win95 systems. It doesnt play well on newer machine due to CTD. What i like to do is bring this game into FE game, of course i wanted to redo everything included the terrains, models, etcs. Can it be done? If so, how??

 

I do have experence doing modding, such as XML, C++, graphics, etcs. Wasnt sure which programs to use for modeling and other features. I remember what Keal said about when he made Fall from Heaven II from CivIV platform, he said "dont make a game that based on others that already made". Make one from scratch along with good story lines, etcs.

 

I hope they dont mind if i manage to change everything around and making it close as possible on the project i really wanted.

7,085 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

As a baseline, everything that is done in FE can currently be done as a mod in FE. You can add new units, models, factions, terraintypes, maps, stamps (pieces of maps used for random maps), buildings, quests and much, much more.

If you wish to alter mechanics (more than tweaking their numbers) or introduce new mechanics that is significantly more difficult, and in most cases you won't be able to do that. We have no access to scripts/code and changing the UI can only be done in meaningless ways. Worst of all, the AI is completely boxed up, and we can only indirectly influence its behaviour through circumstantial priority tags.

To get a good idea of what can be done through XML, I would suggest you familiarize yourself with the data/english folder which contains the data for the game. Also check out https://forums.elementalgame.com/436142/page/1/ for guides on various topics (by no means all-encompassing).

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top


Thank for the reply, i do remember when first one came out and i did some change to it. But not much though. Only problems is that when i work on this project, it require different races and different units for that races. As i remember playing the game, most units are for all races, so i hoping that can be change. It been awhile and remember alittle how they setup the codes.

 

When they mention they making this game before FE came out, it didnt come out what i was hoping for, so that why i checking to see if i can rearrange it and see how it will look and feel while playing. Not sure if you or any of you guys ever played Lords of Magic, its a very interesting strategy and roleplaying game. Mix with master of magic as well.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Redindus, reply 2
Thank for the reply, i do remember when first one came out and i did some change to it. But not much though. Only problems is that when i work on this project, it require different races and different units for that races. As i remember playing the game, most units are for all races, so i hoping that can be change. It been awhile and remember alittle how they setup the codes.

I played Lords of Magic a lot, mostly as Earth. By editing the xml you could create a game quite similar to LoM. Creating new races isn't that difficult. Some FE mechanics you would have to keep though, like settling cities and turn based combat. You could add in the humanoid units easily by locking unit designs down, ie by creating elven stafffmen and making them none editable. Also while adding new models isn't a problem you will need to find some if you want to replace all the LoM monsters.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top


Thank for the feedback guys, i will check into later when i get a chance. There no telling how long it will take me to get all this set up, if i manage to succeed doing so.