How ATG Mods Work

Discuss and post your mods and scenarios here for others to download.

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Tac2i
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Location: WV USA

How ATG Mods Work

Post by Tac2i »

Since new owners of ATG may not understand how mods interact with the game, I wrote up this short description to explain:

ATG has four game types:

Standard Random Game (no officers/tank models/TO&E) - generic.at2
Alt Graphics Random Game (no officers/tank models/TO&E, no climate options) - generic2.at2
A New Dawn Random Game (w/officers, tanks models and TO&E Designer) - anewdawn3.at2
Classic Random Game (old AT game) - classic.at2

--> Some Notable Mods <--

Modders create their mods by creating a new at2 game file. Some also create their own map and units graphics. These new graphics are placed in new folders within the /graphics/ folder. Some may create {name}.txt files and place in the /mods/ folder. When ATG is started it will check the /mods/ folder and if it finds .txt files there it will process them and popup a menu. If you make a selection to launch a mod from this menu, it will add a button(s) to the main game interface to launch the mod(s). If you don't select a mod menu item (press ok or cancel) then it will start ATG with its normal set of buttons. If a mod does not provide .txt files for the /mods/ folder then a player has to manually select the mod's game file from the random game creation screen or in some cases use the Load Scenario button.

Most mods are usually packaged as a single atzip file (Ormand's mod has multiple atzip files). This mod file(s) can be installed using the "Install Zip/File" button. After installing a mod it is best to close ATG and restart. The install process places all the mod's various parts in their proper location.

Mod's do not affect ATG's four basic game types or PBEM games you may have in progress. A graphic only mod could of course change the appearance of things. If you want to see what is inside an atzip file, rename to .zip and then you can open and examine its components. If you want to play another player using the mod, that player usually must also install it. One word of caution: mods are created by the player community. They can make mistakes or have bugs. If the modder has provided some kind of description or instructions, read it.

Below is an example of a mod txt file that a modder might create and place in the /mods/ folder (bomburmod1930.txt). This would create a button to launch the mod. These would be random game mods. Any other mod would be launched using the Load Scenario button. How to know which? Read the modder's instructions.

Code: Select all

Bomburmod 1930 for ATG
 atgoldscenarios/Bomburmod1930v100b.at2
 0
 modgraphics
 atgoldscenarios
 sound
 -
 intro.ogg
 
 9
 1,6,160,568,Load Scenario,3,atgoldscenarios\
 1,6,-125,568,Load Saved Game,4,savedgames\
 1,6,-415,568,Bombur 1930 Mod Game,13,Bomburmod1930v100b.at2
 1,6,-415,628,Classic Random Game,11,classic.at2
 1,6,-125,688,Editor,12,Bomburmod1930v100b.at2
 1,6,160,688,Quit,5,
 1,6,-125,628,Install Zip/File,15,
 1,6,-415,688,AdvancedTactics.org,6,http://www.advancedtactics.org
 1,6,160,628,Credits,14,
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Tac2i (formerly webizen)
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RE: How ATG Mods Work

Post by Tac2i »

Manual selection of an at2 file to base your random game on...

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RE: How ATG Mods Work

Post by Tac2i »

Some mods (scenarios) are designed to be launched using the Load Scenario button.

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RE: How ATG Mods Work

Post by Tac2i »

This might help visualize how mods do their thing. When you use the Install Zip/File button to install a mod it unzips the packaged atzip file and places its files/folders in the appropriate locations.

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