Modifying Glest

The default game provides sample tech trees, factions, tilesets, and maps which users can explore and experiment with. General game elements are listed below.

Introduction

Glest has three main components: maps, tilesets, and tech trees. To play a game the user may select any combination of map+tileset+tech tree.

XML files

Glest uses XML files and folders for tileset, tech tree, resource, faction, upgrade and unit definitions, as well as parameters for projectile particles and splash particles. These files can be viewed with any internet browser/file manager and edited with any text editor.

Image files

Glest uses graphic files for textures and icons. Currently 24-bit BMP and 24 or 32 bit TGA files are supported. The tga files must be uncompressed. A free and powerful TGA image editor is here. Make sure to press save as when your image is complete- you will be given the option of RLE compression. Select no.

3D files

Glest uses its own 3d format for 3d models, models can be exported from 3dsmax or Blender.

• Modeling with 3DSMax
• Modeling with Blender

The textures for the 3d models are in separate files. These must be uncompressed tga-files with origin in lower left-hand corner. The file names of these .tga texture files should be lower case, otherwise you'll get unix/windows case sensitivity problems!!

Maps

Maps are single files, that define bi-dimensional matrices of cells, each cell has the following attributes:

• Height. From 0 to 20
• Surface type. There are 5 surface types, and the map editor numbering system indicates the type of texture, the texture file itself depends on the tileset.
• Object. A cell can have an object or not, there are 10 types of objects, object models depend of the tileset, but objects 1 and 2 are trees, 3 is stone, 4 and 5 are bushes, objects from 5 to 9 can be anything and 10 is an invisible blocking object.
• Resource. Resources can be placed on cells. objects and resources cannot share the same cell at the same time. Resources depend on the Tech Tree.

Maps also define some other things such as start locations for each player, map size, altitude factor, and water level. Maps cannot define the placement of units or buildings. Maps may be edited with the Glest Map Editor. To play maps created with the editor, just place the .gbm file into the Glest map folder.

Tilesets

Tilesets define the surface textures, object models and some other parameters. Every tileset is a subfolder within the tileset folder of the Glest game directory. In this subfolder there must be a xml file with the same name of the folder, this file defines the location of every texture and model and some other parameters.

• Note: Tech trees can use objects as resources. The difference is that 3d models for objects are defined on the tileset while resource 3d models are defined on the tech tree.

• Tileset Hints

Tech Trees

Tech trees define factions, resources, units, and upgrades for a game. Every tech tree is a subfolder of the tech folder of the game. In this subfolder are located:

• A xml file with the same name of the folder, in this file are defined the initial resources for the players.
• A resources folder, in this folder are placed all the resources of the tech tree, as well as its 3d models. Each resource is in a separate subfolder with an xml file defining its parameters.
• A factions folder, in this folder are placed the factions for the game, every faction has its own folder, inside this folder there must be:
  • A xml file with the same name of the faction folder that defines the starting units for this faction.
  • An units folder, in this folder are placed all the units for this faction. Each unit is in a separate subfolder with an xml file defining its parameters.
  • An upgrades folder, in this folder are placed all the upgrades for this faction. Each upgrade is in a separate subfolder with an xml file defining its parameters.

File Structure

• techs
  • tech_name
  • common - (optional: Common UI elements used by numerous units)
  • factions
    • faction_name
      • units
        • unit_name
          • images
          • models
          • sounds
        • unit_name.xml
      • upgrades
        • upgrade_name
          • images
        • upgrade_name.xml
      • faction_name.xml
  • resources
    • resource_name
      • images
      • models
      • resource_name.xml
  • tech_name.xml

Creating your own game

The Glest Engine supports a wide array of unit types that surpass the medival theme if you have a will to model, and convert the files, you can make your own game.

Faction editing

Copy the magitech folder to a place where you wont lose it(in case you mess up the game) then modify the techs by picking the units that you want the models of, and the article, and splash file you want. then open the XML's you wanted at the g3d files rename it to the models path, at the Commands section modify it to the image path, and your unit is done to edit the tech tree( lets say we wanted to add guns we would open the magitech XML and add the line attack type gun and we could have a gun to attack,

Menu editing

The Glest engine allows the menu to be changed in your dat/core/menu folder there is a section for the models a textures folder and a XML the xml configures the menu rotation, and the particles. The models folder contains the models for the menu. Lets say we wanted a blank start screen we would rename a blank g3d(located in the tileset under the name none) and copy it to the menu models directory and rename it menu_main. to change the loading screen, logo, and button open the textures folder and modify them to the extent you want.

Real-Time Content Editor

MOGware (video demonstrations)
"I don't know if you are happy with the typical method for getting content such as textures and models into the game, but with MOG, we have made it so it is a one-click process to go from your source (content) editor to the game. This happens while the game is running, so you are able to adjust textures or models, hit a button, then click over to the running game and see the old swap out for the new in realtime. MOG is free for individuals or small teams."

Glest Modder Survival Kit

A work in progress version of the glest modder survival kit is available at the Glest Website.

Questions

• How is the airship death animation set-up? Did the devs use 3DS Max? How was it done?

• How can I make a part of a model's texture to change color when I change faction (turn to red/blue/green/yellow)?

In 3dsmax: select your model-->right click-->properties-->user defined-->write 
"CustomColor=True" (only what's in the parentheses). By doing this the model will 
use the alpha channel for the faction color.
In general: transparency ( alpha channel ) is shown as the team color in the game.
- Create a texture, for the whole model or for a part of it.
- Make sure the background of the texture is black.
- On the texture where you want the team color to show, color it white.
- Using gimp: Select your texture -> Layer -> Transparency -> Color to Alpha... -> 
  Color should be set to white, if not, click on it -> Click OK
- Fire up the G3D viewer, select the different "custom colors" from the pull-down.

• I made a building that can heal units, but when add the command heal and write <move-skill value="false" /> (so it won't move) it says unknown command. So how can I make the building not to move but heal the units surrounding it ?

• How can I make new commands/skills, like the marketplace exchanges rock and wood to gold or a unit to camouflage itself ?
• How can I export 3ds max particle systems into glest?
  • The export plug-in can't export particle systems.
• How to make projectiles (like arrows) to go in an arc and pull a line after it (like airplanes do)?
  • This can be set in the in the units particle project! particle projector
• How to make a projectile to come out of the dragons mouth not from it's stomach (middle of model)?
  • This can be set in the in the units particle project! here --> <offset x="-0.3" y="0.5" z="1"/> for more info see particle projector
• Would it be possible to change the construction model based on how many villagers are currently working on it?
  • Yes
• Can I limit the number of villagers possible to work on a certain building?
  • No
• Is it possible to change the rain sprite to snow?
  • The rain no, but you can change the snow sprite in glest_game\data\core\misc_textures
• How do I make the nights brighter?
  • In the /glest/tilesets/forest directory, open forest.xml with text editor. Search for <moon-light and increase numbers for colors (greater number=brighter). Save. A;; tilesets can be edited in this manner.

• Is it possible to make different units in a building simultaneously?
  • No, they are on a work queue basis

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