I actually recommend that you USE the converter for the Mordheim files. But
in a way different from how it was originally intended. :-)
One of the most time-consuming things with data file authoring is all the
data entry. If you use the converter, then you don't have to re-enter
everything again. You can use the V2.x data files for that.
So I recommend using the converter to generate the basic data files. Then
go in and delete all the links from everything, which is where the V2.x
Mordheim files are out of control. Then you should be able to clean up the
converted options and items pretty easily. And then you can start building
up the units for a couple warbands by setting up all the appropriate links.
I'm guessing that this approach will save you at least 100 hours of data
entry time (based on how much raw data is in the V2.x data files). It will
also let you focus your energies on the interesting part of writng data
files instead of on data entry. :-)
There is a critical change you first need to make within the V2.x Mordheim
files before converting them. There is a unit in the file "options.mor"
that is used as the basis for EVERY other unit via inheritance. There are
two "lcmp" attributes for this unit, and they have to be replicated for
every unit in the converted files. These rules SHOULD be implemented via a
global race augmentation that defines them as "scmp" attributes that are
then shared by everything. Making this one change before running the
converter cuts the size and complexity of the converted files significantly.
Many of the rules that are generated by the converter can probably also be
ignored and re-created more effectively. So you might consider just
deleting all the rules after conversion as well. If you do, then the change
I describe above can be skipped, since you'll be deleting all the rules
anyways (which includes the hundreds of rules generated by the
inappropriate "lcmp" attribute).
Hope this helps,
Rob
At 06:50 PM 2/12/2005 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I'm a new guy who recently stepped up to the challenge of re-coding the
>army builder files for Mordheim.
>
>Given the two alternatives of tweaking the converted 2.2 files or
>re-coding them from scratch, so far I'm taking the slightly more difficult
>route, but (hopefully) ultimately more rewarding, and am trying to code
>them up from scratch.
>
>I know i'm nuts, especially since I'm not the best of coders, but I'm
>managing thus far. (Many thanks to the other coders out there, your files
>are a lot of help in showing me some useful pieces
>
>I'll probably be asking for help here and there as I get stuck.
>
>but, in the intrem,
>
>Greetings!
>-Mike Kitchenman
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rob Bowes (rob@wolflair.com) (650) 588-8252
Lone Wolf Development
www.wolflair.com