I hadn't noticed this... but then again I wasn't looking for it.
I'll try and keep a lookout for it and let you know.
Perhaps this can be MOD as you suggested.

-- Skeeve

Thanks a lot I will try

Hint: It is always better to create a scenario structure through the editor and when you do any file alts, to place them in that directory structure and check and play your modifications though the scenario option. You can also place any new graphics within that structure. If you want to see the directory structure, take a look at the structures of the scenarios that shipped with the game.

1. In Buildings.txt, add the following entry - cut and paste an existing one and make your changes.

############################################################

IMPROVE_FORUM {
DefaultIcon ICON_IMPROVE_FORUM
Description DESCRIPTION_IMPROVE_COURTHOUSE
EnableAdvance ADVANCE_ETHICS

PrerequisiteBuilding IMPROVE_COURTHOUSE

ProductionCost 1400
Upkeep 5
LowerCrime -0.15
}

IMPORTANT NOTE;
You need to leave the line of text
Description DESCRIPTION_IMPROVE_
to something that is already in the game. I believe it is a holdover from CTP1, but if you change that line to your new addition, it will not work. At least I haven't been able to get it to work. It does not affect gameplay though.

------------------------------------------
2. Next go to uniticon.txt and add the following entry. Again, cut and paste an existing entry and make your changes.

ICON_IMPROVE_FORUM { FirstFrame "UPIP205L.TGA" Movie "NULL" Gameplay "IMPROVE_FORUM_GAMEPLAY" Historical "IMPROVE_FORUM_HISTORICAL" Prereq "IMPROVE_FORUM_PREREQ" Vari "IMPROVE_FORUM_STATISTICS" Icon "UPIP205L.TGA" LargeIcon "NULL" SmallIcon "NULL" StatText "IMPROVE_FORUM_STATISTICS" }

The line of copy that appears in that entry, called
UPIP205L.TGA
is the name of a graphic file, which needs to be created by a graphics program and placed in your default/graphics/pictures folder. Harlan has put together a collection of images that is available onsite which is a must-have for anyone who wants to modify by adding anything in the game. It has just about every type of image you may need.

Simply copy one of those images into the proper folder mentioned above, and make sure you give it the same name as your entry in uniticon.txt.

Or you can use an existing graphic already in the game, by using that graphic's existing file name for your entry.

------------------------------------------
3. Go to the BuildingBuildLists.txt file and make the following entry to the catagory that your improvement falls into.

Building IMPROVE_FORUM

This will assure that the AI will have it as part of its lists when it 'decides' what to build.

------------------------------------------
4. Next go to the
gl_str.txt file and make the following entry

IMPROVE_FORUM "Forum"

------------------------------------------
5. Next make your entry in the
GreatLibrary.txt

This can also be cut and pasted from a similar entry.

[IMPROVE_FORUM_PREREQ]
Requires:
ATABASE_ADVANCES,ADVANCE_ETHICS>Ethics

Cost: {BuildingDB(Building[0]).ProductionCost} ATABASE_CONCEPTS,CONCEPT_PRODUCTION>Production
Upkeep: {BuildingDB(Building[0]).Upkeep} ATABASE_CONCEPTS,CONCEPT_GOLD>Gold
[END]

[IMPROVE_FORUM_STATISTICS]
[END]

[IMPROVE_FORUM_GAMEPLAY]
Gives:
{BuildingDB(Building[0]).LowerCrime}% ATABASE_CONCEPTS,CONCEPT_CRIME>Crime
[END]

[IMPROVE_FORUM_HISTORICAL]
[END]

And it should be ready to test/play...

Thie directions are similar for adding advances/wonders/governments and units - though each one has files that you need to be aware of.

Advances - additional changes in
Advance.txt
AdvanceLists.txt

Governments - additional changes in
govern.txt
strategies.txt

Units - additional changes in
Units.txt
UnitBuildLists.txt
newsprite.txt

Wonders - additional changes in
wondermovie.txt
Wonder.txt
WonderBuildLists.txt

There are a lot of leftover files from CTP1 in the shipped game which have no bearing on what you need to do. But do take a look at the files for the Alexander scenario to see what files need to be altered. I found that was the best way to get a handle on it.

quote: Originally posted by hexagonian on 03-09-2001 03:56 PM IMPORTANT NOTE; You need to leave the line of text Description DESCRIPTION_IMPROVE_ to something that is already in the game. I believe it is a holdover from CTP1, but if you change that line to your new addition, it will not work. At least I haven't been able to get it to work. It does not affect gameplay though.

Although it in no way affects gameplay, you can make your own descriptions available by editing junk_str.txt, just copy the format there and make you own descriptions.

eg.
Improve.txt

code:

---

DESCRIPTION_IMPROVE_FISHCAKES

---

junk_str.txt

code:

---

DESCRIPTION_IMPROVE_FISHCAKES   "junkstring_DESCRIPTION_IMPROVE_FISHCAKES"

---

I've no idea why this is even here, let alone why it works, but there it is.