Removing Units

Why would you want to remove units? Well the basic problem is the hard coded limits imposed by the game engine. For RTW and BI you can only have 500 units in export_descr_unit.txt and 255 models in descr_model_battle.txt, that might sound like a lot but can run out quite quickly, especially if you don't share the battle models between factions as the vanilla game does.

Before attempting any of these alterations make sure you have a back up of the original files.

Removing Redundant Units Only

Barbarian Invasion has many completely unused units in descr_model_battle.txt that can be removed to reclaim more of the 255 max slots. Rome Total War is also likely to have some redundant units, CA tended to leave in preliminary units and put the actually used units later on in the files, the comments in the file sometimes explain this.

Start at the top of descr_model_battle.txt note (copy) the 'type' line eg:

type	merc_veteranii

check export_descr_unit.txt, descr_mount.txt and descr_character.txt to see if that type is used as either the soldier type (EDU), model type (DM) or battle model (DC), if it isn't you can delete or comment out the DMB section for it.

If it is used in export_descr_unit.txt but you know you won't be using that particular unit in your mod you can delete its descr_model_battle.txt entry anyway but you must also delete the corresponding export_descr_unit.txt entry.

If you delete any EDU entry you must also check descr_strat.txt, descr_mercenaries.txt, descr_rebel_factions.txt and export_descr_buildings.txt and delete any corresponding entries

Removing Maximum Numbers of Units

The above system of basically removing one unit at a time is very time consuming, if you are attempting a total conversion and know all units need to be replaced you may as well start by removing all possible units. If you are replacing all 21 factions you will need to add in individual units for some areas such as generals and captains - but if you aren't using all 21 slots removing unnecessary variation amongst battle map generals will save you some space.

Amending Files

descr_mercenaries.txt

It is necessary to have a descr_mercenaries.txt file but it doesn't need to have any content at all. To remove all unit references open file, select all, delete all and save completely empty file with descr_mercenaries.txt name.

descr_rebel_factions.txt

Any rebel faction used in descr_regions.txt needs to be set up with a valid unit in this file. However you can reduce the number of units used to 1, by reducing each rebel factions entry to, for BI:

rebel_type			Celts //Celts
category			peasant_revolt
chance				0					
description			Celts
unit				merc veteranii

using only 1 unit per entry and using the same unit throughout.

descr_character.txt

Can be reduced to using only one DMB reference for battle model for all generals and captains, just pick one of existing ones and copy into all battle model slots, eg.

so if existing has:

faction romans_senate
dictionary 15
strat_model sm_roman_general
battle_model roman_general
battle_equip gladius, chainmail shirt helmet and rectangular shield

faction macedon
dictionary 2
strat_model sm_greek_general
battle_model greek_general
battle_equip gladius, chainmail shirt helmet and rectangular shield

keep one and change all generals and captains afterwards to same thing, eg use : battle_model roman_general throughout so

faction macedon
dictionary 2
strat_model sm_greek_general
battle_model roman_general
battle_equip gladius, chainmail shirt helmet and rectangular shield

You can also use the same battle_model entry for all the captains.

export_descr_buildings.txt

delete, or comment out, but delete is easier absolutely every recruit line in EDB, you can leave in agent lines for diplomat etc, recruit lines for boats only, but take out upgrade bodyguard line as well.

fairly obviously this isn't going to leave you with a working campaign until you add more units!

descr_strat.txt

To make sure you can load campaign to test you need a clean descr_strat.txt file, go through every army and just give them one unit, it doesn't matter what it is and ownership doesn't matter, it will if you try and fight an actual on map battle but you shouldn't be doing that anyway until you've added other units back.

so if you have:

character Decius Maxentius, named character, leader, age 60, , x 95, y 71
traits GoodCommander 1 , PoliticsSkill 2 , GoodAdministrator 2 , Austere 1
ancillaries doctor
army
unit roman generals guard cavalry early exp 0 armour 0 weapon_lvl 0
unit roman hastati exp 3 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit roman hastati exp 3 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit roman princeps exp 3 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit roman princeps exp 3 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit roman velite exp 3 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit roman velite exp 3 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0
unit roman triarii exp 3 armour 1 weapon_lvl 0

just make it

character Decius Maxentius, named character, leader, age 60, , x 95, y 71
traits GoodCommander 1 , PoliticsSkill 2 , GoodAdministrator 2 , Austere 1
ancillaries doctor
army
unit roman generals guard cavalry early exp 0 armour 0 weapon_lvl 0

and give everyone else including non Romans the same unit.

descr_lbc_db.txt

if existing example is

faction macedon
model roman_peasant 40
model greek_female_peasant 60

faction egypt
model egyptian_male_peasant 40
model egypt_female_peasant 60

just go through giving everything same model eg

faction macedon
model roman_peasant 40
model roman_peasant 60

faction egypt
model roman_peasant 40
model roman_peasant 60

this means you aren't going to have any variety in your city views unless you add other units back in.

Mounts and Boats

So far these are left in game, if really desperate they could possibly be reduced, but you will need some replaced with new models anyway so it may be better to leave them as is.

Who's Left?

Hopefully through the above you made list of which units / models you have kept. You should now have only:

Unit from descr_rebel_factions.txt EDU and DMB entry

Unit from descr_strat EDU and DMB entry

Peasant unit from lbc_db.. EDU and DMB entry

General and captain entry from descr_character.txt DMB entry only

also leave in all boat entries from EDU and all mount entries in DMB

export_descr_unit.txt and descr_model_battle.txt

Find all of the above entries that are still in use and cut and paste them to the top of the relevant file (check you know which soldier model is used in DMB for every unit you are leaving in EDU), and then delete all of rest of entries from export_descr_unit.txt and descr_model_battle.txt... ....cross fingers, pray and launch game to see if it still loads - use -show_err on shortcut, and don't try fighting battles on battle map unless you do a bit more sorting out by giving the re-used units texture entries for all the factions.

At least now you should have lots of space for your new units,
happy modding!

External Links

Barebones unit files by Roman_Man#3 for RTW v1.5 see here.