Modding Portal

Welcome to Modding on the TWC Wiki

All the Total War Series games are modifiable to an extent, but the ease, scope and manner of possible modifications varies between the games. The popularity of the modifications has contributed to the Total War games' ongoing success.

This page is not the place to find modifications, please refer to each individual game portal or Category:Mods for that, here you will find links to advice on how to make your own modifications.

• On TWC each game has its own Modding Workshop section and sections where mods can be posted and discussed, additionally;
• TWC Downloads provides a categorised hosting facility for mods and tools, files up to 100mb can be hosted directly on TWC, larger files hosted off-site can be linked to from the download pages.
• TWC's Mod Register is available to provide basic information about a mod together with useful links and a permission statement.
• Modders can apply for Hosted Forums by contacting lolIsuck & Dismounted Feudal Knight.

Warscape Engine Modding Overview

TW Engine 3 with the graphic engine "Warscape" has been used for Total War titles from Empire: Total War to Total War: Three Kingdoms, there are similar tools and principles used in modding these games. Some, but not all, of the games benefit from Assembly Kit tools released by CA.

• Official CA Warscape Modding Tips - at totalwar.com
• Where to Start Guide - at totalwar.com

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Three Kingdoms Modding

See:

• Three Kingdoms Modding Workshop - on TWC, and the Tools, Tutorials and Resources section

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Thrones of Britannia Modding

See:

• Thrones of Britannia Modding Workshop - on TWC, and the Tools, Tutorials and Resources section

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Warhammer I & II Modding

Warhammer benefits from an Assembly Kit released by CA, view the quick start guide for Terry here. Please note that due to the Games Workshop licensing Warhammer has a more restrictive EULA for modding than the other titles, search "Modding Terms" here.

Find further information:

• Total War: Warhammer - Modding Index - on TWC Wiki
• Warhammer Mod Workshop - on TWC, and the Tools, Tutorials and Resources section

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Attila Modding

Main Links

• Attila Mod Workshop on TWC

Tutorials and Resources

• Modder's Hub Resources and tutorials
• Changing Settlement Position - Tutorial
• Custom building creation - Tutorial and video
• Mod Manager - Tool for launching multiple mods.
• MedieFire features - Resource for simulating some Steam Workshop mechanics.
• Removing clouds - Tutorial on how to remove tactical view obscuring clouds.
• Models for Attila - Tutorial on how to implement external unit models into Attila.
• Campaign Map - Resource for editing the campaign map with AORs and unit resources.

Essential Tools

• Pack File Manager
• Attila Assembly Kit
• SaveParser for Attila

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Rome II Modding

Main Links

• Rome II Mod Workshop on TWC

Useful Links

• Official CA modding tips and tutorials
• Tools, Tutorials and Resources on TWC

Tutorials and Resources

• Modding Guide for Novices
• Assembly Kit
• Model Resource Packs Tunic by Stealth4Health

Tools

• Schema Editor
• Mod Manager
• Script Extender
• Rome II Unit Editor
• Pack File Manager
• Esf Editor

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Shogun 2 Modding

Main Links

• Shogun 2 Mod Workshop on TWC

• Tools, Tutorials and Resources

• TWS2 Modding Tools - List on Wiki

Tutorials and Resources

• WARNING: Editing multiplayer stats
• Tool and Tutorial Index

Tools

• ESF Editor 1.4.8
• Pack File Manager 1.6.6 (beta)
• Pack File Manager 1.6.6 (beta)

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Modding NTW

Main Links

• Napoleon: Total War Workshop on TWC
• NTW Modding on the Wiki

  Modding Tutorials for Napoleon: Total War

  Modding Tools for Napoleon: Total War

Useful Tutorials

Basic Tutorials

• How to make a mod
• Getting Started - Modding for Newbies
• Warscape Modding Primer
• Guide for Creating New Units (For Newbies)
• Beginner's Guide Installing ESF Editor

General Tutorials

• Editing STARTPOS.ESF analysis and modification
• Groupformations Warscape Battle Formations
• Adding custom battlefield to campaign
• A Beginner's-Guide to Scripting
• How to Create a Custom Unit - A Complete Guide

Useful Resources

• Official RAW Database Table (XML, XSD)
• Official CA Q&A thread - XML and XSD modding
• List of all Lua functions used by NTW
• Script-o-Rama 2 (UPDATED 16/06/13)
• Scripting Commands
• UI Layout file documentation
• The great DB Database

Essential Tools

• Pack File Managers: PFM 3.5.2 | PPM Multiple Versions
• StartPos Editors: Esf Total Editor | Edit SF | Easy Esf
• Mod Manager
• Save Parser
• W.A.L.I Possible application
• User Script & Preferences Editor
• Easy DB Editor
• Scripting And Debug Toolkit v1.1
• NTW Data Checker v1.4
• HIBAM Editor: Map & Historical Battle editor

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Modding ETW

Main Links

• Empire: Total War Workshop on TWC

  Tools, Tutorials and Resources

• ETW Modding on the Wiki

  ETW Modding Tutorials

  ETW Modding Tools

  ETW Modding Resources

Useful Tutorials

Basic Tutorials

• Getting Started - Modding for Newbies
• Warscape Modding Primer
• Guide for Creating New Units (For Newbies)
• Beginner's Guide Installing ESF Editor

Startpos Modification Tutorials

• Editing Starpos.esf Analysis and Modifications (Hybrid startpos.esf
• Advanced Startpos Changes
• How to add new building slots upgrading cities
• How to unlock non-playable and emergent factions

General Tutorials

• How to mod the AOR (area of recruitment) of a unit
• Naval Modding
• How to add new building chains
• A Beginner's-Guide to Scripting
• How to Create a Custom Unit - A Complete Guide

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TW Engine 2 Overview

TW Engine 2 was used for Rome: Total War and Medieval II: Total War, there are similar tools and principles used in modding these games - the methods for changing the campaign map are almost identical and many text files such as export_descr_buildings.txt and export_descr_units.txt which control unit recruitment are also almost identical

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Modding Medieval II: Total War

Overview

The campaign map for M2TW can be modified by altering .tga image files and text files. Unit recruitment, character traits, diplomacy and many other aspects can be modified by changing text files. Battlemap unit models and settlement structures can be edited via Milkshape and user created tools.

Main Links

• M2TW Mod Workshop on TWC
• M2TW Modding on the Wiki

• M2TW Modding Tutorials
• M2TW Modding Tools
• M2TW Battle Map Modding
• M2TW Campaign Map Modding

Recent/Important Modding Information

• Projectile release point changer A tool on how to change the projectile's release point when the bowmen are on the walls.
• List of non functional script terms An updated resource on non-functional script terms.
• Starting Steam Mods the easy way A tutorial with all the ways to start mods via Steam.

Essential Tools

• M2TW Update 1.5, 1.3 & 1.2
• CA .cas exporter
• M2TW Docudemons
• Geomod A resource to start modding on a bare but fully functional mod of your own.

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Modding Rome: Total War

Overview

The campaign map for RTW can be modified by altering .tga image files and text files. Unit recruitment, character traits, diplomacy and many other aspects can be modified by changing text files. Battlemap unit models and settlement structures require 3dsMax to edit.

Main Links

• RTW Modding Workshop on TWC
• RTW Modding on the Wiki

• RTW Modding Tutorials
• RTW Modding Tools
• RTW Campaign Map Modding
• RTW Text Files

Recent/Important Modding Information

• Starting an RTW mod by .bat
• EDU-matic Unit Balance Generation System
• The Complete EDU guide

Essential Tools

• PAK Extractor (by Vercingetorix) to access RTW packed files.
• CAS Importer/exporter for 3ds max (by Vercingetorix) for 3D modelling.
• Photoshop DDS plugin - to open texture files.

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TW Engine 1 Overview

TW Engine 1 was used for Shogun: Total War and Medieval: Total War.

• Medieval/Shogun Discussion Including Modding