Medieval II: Total War - Modding Index

Total War Modding
	Indexes to Tools, Tutorials & Resources by Game:; Three Kingdoms \| Warhammer I, II & III \| Attila \| Rome II \| Shogun 2 \| Napoleon: Total War \| Empire: Total War \| Medieval II: Total War \| Rome: Total War & Remastered ; Cross Platform Information:; Modelling, Textures and Graphics - Modding Index
	Main Categories for Other Modding Pages on the Wiki:; M2TW Modding Category \| RTW Modding Category
	Modding Workshops on TWC:; Troy \| Three Kingdoms \| Brittania \| Warhammer I, II & III \| Attila \| Rome II \| Shogun 2 \| Napoleon \| Empire \| Medieval II \| Rome \| Rome Remastered \| Medieval I
Other Wiki Sections: Total War Center \| Total War Series \| Total War Mods \| TWC Wiki

Tutorials, resources and tools for modding Medieval II: Total War:

For master list of modding tools (e.g. model exporters) see M2TW Modding Tools (to be merged here)

See also M2TW Modding Tutorials Category for tutorials contained on this Wiki.

You are welcome to edit this page, please read these notes for guidance:-

When adding subject areas please use this layout.

When adding items please keep to existing format with the type of article first;

Tutorial = extensive tutorial or guide, step by step how to mod something etc.
Answer = short piece on minor topic or answer to frequently asked question.
Resource = lists of things that work in-game, docudemons, templates, downloads of helpful starting set-ups etc.
Tool = modding tools, for extracting, modifying, verifying, re-packing etc.

If you remove a link because an item is superseded, shown not to work, etc. please copy the link to the discussion page and note your reason for removal.

Items marked in bold are likely to be widely useful and form a good starting point on the subject. Items marked in italics may be of limited use, due to missing images or being superseded by later articles.

General Information

Tutorial - Crashes and how to fix them - by uanime5

Mod-folder Set-up and Resources

The recommended starting point for any new Medieval II: Total War mod is to use a Bare Geomod folder as the base, this provides the modder with a fully functional mod-folder that already incorporates bug-fixes for the vanilla game.

Tutorial - How to Set up M2TW for modding - by Alpaca
Tutorial - How to Add Multiple Campaigns (aka provincial campaigns) - by Alpaca
Answer - Using .cfg and .bat files - .org Research Wiki
Answer - Using mod switch without bat file - by ShellShock
Resource - Creating a World - Bare Geomod - by gigantus
Resource - Creating a World - Using Kingdom Campaigns as Mod Base - by gigantus
Resource - Mod Folder Installer - by Alpaca
Resource - Basic Kingdoms Mod folder - by gigantus - superceded by Bare Geomod

Unpacking

Modders will normally need to unpack the base game to access the original files. Sounds and animations remain packed within the unpacked file structure, see sections below for unpacking them.

Units

Unit Cards

Making unit cards could also be treated solely as a 2D Graphics issue, but most mods choose to use renders of the unit model in animation pose.

Tutorial - Making unit cards for M2TW using Milkshape and Photoshop - by Marcus Orentius
Tutorial - How to make Unit Cards for Mounted Units - by Caesar Clivus - addendum to Marcus Orentius's tutorial - images missing
Tutorial - Making a unit card - easy and fast method - by Rafkos - doesn't need 3d program
Tutorial - Unit Cards TWC Wiki Article

Unit Flags/Banners

Resource - Battle Banner Templates - by B. Ward

Unit Stats and Abilities

Tutorial - A Beginner's Guide to the Export_Descr_Unit - by Mythic_Commodore
Answer - Creating a World - Functional Grape Shot - by Gigantus
Answer - Addressing the AI Precursor Bug - by z3n - fix for javelin/throwing units
Answer - More Artillery Pieces in a Unit - by Trajan
Answer - How to make crossbowmen rate of fire slower - by asiJa
Answer - The Holy Banana of Jerusalem (Projectile) - by Aranruth
Answer - How to use weapon upgrades sensibly - by Taiji
Answer - How to: Improve cavalry charges - by Krieg_Boy

Formations

Mapping (Campaign Map)

Tutorial - Introduction to Mapping Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 - by GrnEyedDvl (Written for M2TW but also applicable for RTW) (Link to MapClass files)
Tutorial - Making a New Campaign Map - by Myrddraal (written for RTW but mostly applicable for M2TW)
Tutorial - How I Make My Maps - by BDH (covers use of satellite data - written for RTW but applicable for M2TW)
Tutorial - Adding a New Region - by Xerces
Tutorial - Creating a World - Adding detailed Regions - by gigantus
Tutorial - Creating a World - Adding permanent Stone Forts - by gigantus
Tutorial - Nakharar's Basics: Descr_strat - by Nakharar
Answer - DIY corrected regions map - by Spur
Answer - Zeph's Adding Regions To Any Faction Tutorial - by Zephrelial
Answer - Errabundi's Rebels Right in Place (RRiP) - by Errabundi
Resource - Map Editing for AI Path-Finding Problems - by nikolai1962 research project
Resource - Stripped Down Map - by Alpaca
Resource - Vanilla Map Settlement Position Numbers - by Nem Godslayer

Strat Models

Tutorial - Forts: Everything you need to know about permanent, stone and/or buildable forts - by UraniumAtom
Answer - Creating a World - Replacing Strat Models - by Gigantus
Answer - How to: Change Fort model on Campaign and Battlemap - by Göteborgare images missing

Campaign Elements

Cultures

Tutorial - Adding A New Culture - by uanime5

Factions

Tutorial - Creating a World – Adding a new Faction - by Gigantus - pdf manual with resources
Tutorial - Creating a New Faction using Saxons and Normans - by selenius4tsd
Tutorial - Adding a New Faction from Nothing - Step by Step Guide - by DukeofSerbia
Tutorial - Adding a new Faction - by gigantus - pdf download
Tutorial - Example of Transforming a Faction into Another - by Zymran
Tutorial - How to create an emerging faction - by Swagger
Tutorial - How to create an emerging faction with Barons Alliance script - by Polpolgio
Tutorial - Guide to Emergent Factions in M2TW - TWC Wiki Article
Answer - Bwians guide to changing a factions name - by Bwian
Answer - More money for all factions - by Amorphos

Characters

Tutorial - Creating a World - Replacing Strat Models - by gigantus
Tutorial - Creating a World – Character portraits, creation and use - by gigantus
Tutorial - How to add new models different for each faction (for the campaign map) - by =NF= Vasileios_the2nd
Tutorial - Hero Abilities - by ackrite26
Answer - Creating a World - Killing characters multiple ways - by Gigantus
Answer - Creating Hyper-Extended Family Trees - by Lopus
Answer - Making a Family Tree With an Under Age Faction Heir or Leader - by TNZ
Answer - How to force male offspring and more than four children - by Furin
Answer - HowTo: Custom Portraits - by antirelic

Agents

Tutorial - Working Patriarch & Redesigned Bishops - by gracul
Answer - Creating a World - Faction Limits for Agents - by Gigantus
Resource - Guide to Game Mechanism Behind Assassins - TWC Wiki Article

Traits, Ancillaries and Attributes

Tutorial - Beginners Guide to Coding Traits - by Alpaca
Tutorial - Beginners Guide to Triggers & Monitors - by Alpaca
Tutorial - How To: The Ancillary Guide - by Swagger
Tutorial - Leader traits with faction-wide effects - by gracul
Answer - How piety works and how to activate the alternative piety mode - by Hellenikon
Resource - List of Character Attributes - supplied by CA, posted by Epistolary Richard

Names

Tutorial - Guide to Modding Character Names - by deRougemont
Tool - Name Verifier - by tornnight
Tool - Name Converter - by gigantus

Buildings and Settlements

Tutorial - A Guide to Export_Descr_Buildings.txt - by Mythic_Commodore
Tutorial - How to Make New Buildings - by Mythic_Commodore
Tutorial - Mines - by EarendilElenthol
Tutorial - A Guide To settlement_mechanics.xml - by Tsarsies
Answer - Converting Huge Cities to Castles - by severdhope

Army/Unit Recruitment

Tutorial - Using Era System to Recruit Units - by DukeofSerbia
Tutorial - Creating a World - Advanced recruiting with event counters - by Gigantus
Answer - Creating ZoR (Zone of Recruitment) and Recruiting Mercenaries from Buildings - by TWoxy
Answer - Giving Units and Buildings the Free Upkeep Ability - by Soulghast
Answer - Legion-Names for M2TW - by Amon Amarth 930

Diplomacy

Answer - Using toggle_demeanour to mod diplomacy - by alpaca

Religion

Tutorial - Adding A New Religion - by uanime5
Tutorial - How to add a religion - by geeko
Tutorial - Nakharar's Basics : Religion - by Nakharar
Answer - How To: Change Faction Religion and Church - by Dragon Tex

Guilds and Missions

Tutorial - Guide to Guilds - by DarkKnight
Tutorial - Guide to Missions - by DarkKnight

Events

Events can also be added via Scripting:

Tutorial - How To Add Historical Events - by selenius4tsd
Answer - descr_events file for modified time-scale - by foolfromhell
Answer - for people who want to use gunpowder right away - by Axe-Battler

Battle Maps

Custom Maps

Environment

Battle Map Structures

Tutorial - Creating a World - Stone Forts on the Battle Map - by Gigantus
Tutorial - Forts: Everything you need to know about permanent, stone and/or buildable forts - by UraniumAtom
Tutorial - How to add teutonic castles to all the east european factions both in strat and battle maps. - by Ishan - images missing - see .worldpkgdesc - M2TW for updated info
Tutorial - World Collision Entry alterations - by Makanyane
Tutorial - Battlemap Building Textures - by Makanyane needs updating for IWTE
Resource - Permanent Stone Forts for SS6.3 Late Campaign - by Rozanov

AI

(this might be split into CAI/BAI)

Tutorial - Understanding MTW2/Kingdoms.exe Pathfinding, XML and the AI - by z3n
Tutorial - Basics of Battle AI and Pathfinding - by z3n
Tutorial - AI Personalities - by z3n
Tutorial - Invade and Defend Decisions - by z3n
Tutorial - [1] - by CavalryCmdr on Total War Heaven
Answer - Know how about invasions and Ai-horde-mode behavior - by Userpro

Scripting

Tutorial - Alpaca's Script-O-Rama - by Alpaca
Tutorial - MTW2 Battle Scripting - by z3n
Tutorial - Creating a World - Disasters and the add_events command - by Gigantus
Tutorial - Creating a World - Building and maintaining unique Buildings - by Gigantus
Tutorial - Tutorial for a Garrisonscript - by weissnicht
Tutorial - The placement of units, Coded and Scripted - using various commands - by Archaon
Tutorial - How to implement a field-cost script - by Amon Amarth 930
Tutorial - Yes/No Event Tutorial - by Swagger
Tutorial - How to create a complex religion change script - by Polpolgio
Answer - Make a settlement a power centre for training special units - by Ishan
Answer - Scripted unit recruitment pool replenishment - by Epistolary Richard
Answer - Scripting based on Difficulty and AI/Player - by tornnight
Answer - The use of destroy_units in the campaign script - by Gorrrrrn
Answer - How to spawn family members via script - by OfficerJohn
Answer - Creating a script to give all the names you want to a settlement - by Polpolgio

Sounds

Tutorial - Extracting sounds - by Arakorn
Tutorial - How to Extract the Sound Files - TWC Wiki Article
Tool - SoundExtractor v1.2 - by Withwnar

Voices

Tutorial - How to create a new accent - by Aikanár
Tutorial - How to change the accent of a faction using vanilla accents - by IZob
Tutorial - Unit voices and Unique voice overhauls - by Ngugi
Answer - How to remove the "Our units are under attack!" speech - by BM309K58SMERCH

Effects

Answer - How to Add Missing sounds in the Greek firethrower units - by Ishan
Answer - How to add missing SFX sound for stakes in your mods - by Ishan
Tool - Release of the EVT mod tool - by Tellos Athenaios

Music

Tutorial - El Monstero's Definitive Guide to Modding Med 2's Music - by El Monstero29
Tutorial - How to Add Your Own Music to M2TW - by Trajan
Resource - Royalty Free Music - by GrnEyedDvl
Resource - Remixed Medieval Music - by Reimu Hakurei

UI

Tutorial - Everything you ever wanted to know about banners! - by Bwian - covers strat map banners and faction icons
Tutorial - Adding a New Faction Symbol - by Alpaca
Tutorial - How to make new info cards - by headsh0ts
Tutorial - Creating and Adding New 2d Building Art with GIMP (For Beginners) - by Mank
Tutorial - Alletun's Eyecandy Tutorial (loading screens and menu) - by Alletun - images missing
Tutorial - Changing Faction Icon - by AliAS - images missing
Tutorial - Vanilla faction symbols: How to make one yourself - by Glowbal - images missing
Tutorial - Guide for editing Army Banners (strat-map) - by Tsar Stefan Dusan IV - images missing
Answer - How to Get Rid of Faction Borders on the Mini Map - by Icefrisco

Menu and Loading Screens

Answer - 31 factions without the Faction Select screen crashing - by uanime5 - attachments missing

Videos

Tutorial - Creating your own Menu Background video - by Neige
Answer - How to add own video into the game - by AliAS

Text Descriptions

For general information about all text areas, for unit descriptions see Units section, etc:

Console Commands and Config Preferences

Adjustments that can be made via in-game console commands or in players .cfg preferences instead of in modded files:

Answer - How To: Enable year and season display - by Alpaca
Answer - How to Disable Green Arrows and Unit Banners - TWC Wiki Article
Answer - How to Unlock all Factions - TWC Wiki Article

Tool Support and Format Research

Miscellaneous

Tutorial - Creating a World - Named Forts - by Gigantus - involves placing permanent forts and using script spawned agents
Tutorial - Cinematic Editor Tutorial - by major - video guides missing
Tutorial - Nakharar's Basics: Resources - by Nakharar
Tutorial - Nakharar's Basics: Rebels - by Nakharar
Answer - Increased Movement Points(Cavalry, Infantry and/or Siege) - by spanish_emperor - see also How to fix siege units slowing down your armies - by Serious J
Answer - Changing the Counter from Turns to Years - TWC Wiki Article
Answer - Changing the Number of Years per Turn - TWC Wiki Article
Answer - How to Remove the Pope - TWC Wiki Article
Answer - How to make a movie from battle replay - by Eyeswater
Answer - Miniscript to hide/unhide stratmap-ui whilst ingame - by Userpro
Resource - alpaca's odds and ends - by alpaca

YOU can help us improve this Wiki! ~ Look for ways to help and editing advice. ~ If you need further advice, please post here.

Total War Modding
Indexes to Tools, Tutorials & Resources by Game: Three Kingdoms \| Warhammer I, II & III \| Attila \| Rome II \| Shogun 2 \| Napoleon: Total War \| Empire: Total War \| Medieval II: Total War \| Rome: Total War & Remastered Cross Platform Information: Modelling, Textures and Graphics - Modding Index
Main Categories for Other Modding Pages on the Wiki: M2TW Modding Category \| RTW Modding Category
Modding Workshops on TWC: Troy \| Three Kingdoms \| Brittania \| Warhammer I, II & III \| Attila \| Rome II \| Shogun 2 \| Napoleon \| Empire \| Medieval II \| Rome \| Rome Remastered \| Medieval I
Other Wiki Sections: Total War Center \| Total War Series \| Total War Mods \| TWC Wiki