Help with medals

[SwissSubCommander]

I am working on V2.0 of my Italian Campaign for SH4
One thing I would like to add are authentic Italian Decorations.
I have found the DDS files with the images of the vanilla-medals
however I cant seem to find the text-file with the names of german Decorations.
Obviously if I am going to make the effort to change the images I would also like them to display the correct names.
Pls help :k_confused:

[jimimadrid]

I found the names in Data\Menu\menu.txt.


I do not know if this is what you want.

[ElCid97]

It depends what "medals" file you're looking for, or what "text" you're going or trying to update.

I'm guessing it's the main one in the "...\Data\UPCDataGE\UPCCrewData" folder labeled "Medals.upc" like the one with the US Fleet Boats. This one has references for the German stuff from what I saw. This affects the medals in general, but primarily the ones that you're going to see in the case when you're in port between patrols.

In this particular file, the "ID=" line and the "MedalType=" line MUST remain the same. These are hard-coded by the sim. What you change is the "NameDisplayable=" line to whatever it is you want. This will be the name that comes up when you get the award after a patrol. It's also the name that will pop up when you look at the case in the port office.

I've also seen a "Basic.cfg" file in the "...\Data\Cfg" folder, but I think that's for legacy stuff. Not sure.

If you want to modify the medals for either yourself or the crew (what you CURRENTLY have in the box/case or what you CAN GIVE the crew), then it's in the "save" folder in your "My Documents" (or whatever it's called these days) under the SH4 folder you have things in. It's the one you're supposed to delete after you install one of the main mods to get a fresh install for mod activation.

Depending on your install it will be a numbered folder in the "...\data\cfg\SaveGames" folder. Here you have to update the pertinent sections in the "CareerTrack.upc" file; specifically the line that speaks of the crew. For example, if you want one of each medal to hand out to the crew you would change the blank line from:

CrewMembersCurrentMedalsRepository=

to:

CrewMembersCurrentMedalsRepository=Purple Heart,Bronze Star,Silver Star,Navy Cross,Dist Service Medal,CMOH

For the pop-up text that comes up when you hover over the small, little things in the crew management page, the file is the "menu.txt" file in the "...\Data\Menu" folder. The lines you're looking for are 5150 to 5156, where 5150 is the "Medal" line and the rest are the lines for the six available medals. NOTE: you have to use a text editor that can tell you line numbers. I use Notepad++ for this.

The "Repository" line's medal name MUST stay the same as far as what you write there so that the proper medal shows up in the crew management page. In other words, it's the name folowing the "ID=" entry in the "Medals.upc" file. Again, it's unfortunately a line that's hard coded. In FotRSU, if you wanted to give out three (3) Asia-Pacific Campaign medals, you would write:

CrewMembersCurrentMedalsRepository=Bronze Star,Bronze Star,Bronze Star

... and you'd have three APCM's to hand out to the crew.

The display name for the crew medals themselves, however, are in the "menu.txt" file and can be anything you want. Why? No clue, but you can write whatever you want and it shows up when you hover over the medals in the Crew Management Page.

I've found a lot of this stuff working on the BuPers mod I've been working on. I'm about to post an update over there so you can get a general idea of where I'm at.

If you have any questions please let me know on that thread since you can use much of what I've found out through trial and error to convert the sim to Italian Fleet Ops (or Japanese, or French, etc.).

It just takes TIME and PATIENCE. And, :Kaleun_Cheers:

ElCid97

[jimimadrid]

For the pop-up text that comes up when you hover over the small, little things in the crew management page, the file is the "menu.txt" file in the "...\Data\Menu" folder. The lines you're looking for are 5150 to 5156, where 5150 is the "Medal" line and the rest are the lines for the six available medals. NOTE: you have to use a text editor that can tell you line numbers. I use Notepad++ for this.

ElCid97




Jorge,


you can use the normal editor for the menu.txt.
It works like the ini Files. It has a section "[STRINGS]" and keys "Blabla=" and behind the value of the Key.
The key "5151" has the value "Navy Distinguished Service Medal"

SH4 then ask for this key and get the text.
The menu.txt is used to easily change the languague for the game.


But here begins the problem as i have with the differents menu_1024_768.ini files.
How to change only these lines on an easy mode without let the people manually change their menu.txt file.
My Menumerger will not work, because it need an ini file with "different sections". The menu.text file has only "one section"([STRINGS]).

I will try to rework it, so that the future version will also take care of "one section" files.

[SwissSubCommander]

It depends what "medals" file you're looking for, or what "text" you're going or trying to update.

I'm guessing it's the main one in the "...\Data\UPCDataGE\UPCCrewData" folder labeled "Medals.upc" like the one with the US Fleet Boats. This one has references for the German stuff from what I saw. This affects the medals in general, but primarily the ones that you're going to see in the case when you're in port between patrols.

In this particular file, the "ID=" line and the "MedalType=" line MUST remain the same. These are hard-coded by the sim. What you change is the "NameDisplayable=" line to whatever it is you want. This will be the name that comes up when you get the award after a patrol. It's also the name that will pop up when you look at the case in the port office.

I've also seen a "Basic.cfg" file in the "...\Data\Cfg" folder, but I think that's for legacy stuff. Not sure.

If you want to modify the medals for either yourself or the crew (what you CURRENTLY have in the box/case or what you CAN GIVE the crew), then it's in the "save" folder in your "My Documents" (or whatever it's called these days) under the SH4 folder you have things in. It's the one you're supposed to delete after you install one of the main mods to get a fresh install for mod activation.

Depending on your install it will be a numbered folder in the "...\data\cfg\SaveGames" folder. Here you have to update the pertinent sections in the "CareerTrack.upc" file; specifically the line that speaks of the crew. For example, if you want one of each medal to hand out to the crew you would change the blank line from:

CrewMembersCurrentMedalsRepository=

to:

CrewMembersCurrentMedalsRepository=Purple Heart,Bronze Star,Silver Star,Navy Cross,Dist Service Medal,CMOH

For the pop-up text that comes up when you hover over the small, little things in the crew management page, the file is the "menu.txt" file in the "...\Data\Menu" folder. The lines you're looking for are 5150 to 5156, where 5150 is the "Medal" line and the rest are the lines for the six available medals. NOTE: you have to use a text editor that can tell you line numbers. I use Notepad++ for this.

The "Repository" line's medal name MUST stay the same as far as what you write there so that the proper medal shows up in the crew management page. In other words, it's the name folowing the "ID=" entry in the "Medals.upc" file. Again, it's unfortunately a line that's hard coded. In FotRSU, if you wanted to give out three (3) Asia-Pacific Campaign medals, you would write:

CrewMembersCurrentMedalsRepository=Bronze Star,Bronze Star,Bronze Star

... and you'd have three APCM's to hand out to the crew.

The display name for the crew medals themselves, however, are in the "menu.txt" file and can be anything you want. Why? No clue, but you can write whatever you want and it shows up when you hover over the medals in the Crew Management Page.

I've found a lot of this stuff working on the BuPers mod I've been working on. I'm about to post an update over there so you can get a general idea of where I'm at.

If you have any questions please let me know on that thread since you can use much of what I've found out through trial and error to convert the sim to Italian Fleet Ops (or Japanese, or French, etc.).

It just takes TIME and PATIENCE. And, :Kaleun_Cheers:

ElCid97

Thanks a lot. :Kaleun_Wink:
I have managed to achieve almost everything I wanted for the new Version.
Only thing I still havent figured out is how to change the default Hydrophone installed in the sub:06:
Is there any way to give myself medals through cheats to test the mod?

[SwissSubCommander]

So far so good.
I managed to change all names. :up:
Now only one thing remains.
To somehow replace the images of the medals.
I have already edited the "deco00", "AwardItems" and "Awards" files
simply pasting images of the italian Medals over the German ones.
However in the crew screen in port, there are still german medals being shown
and in my personal medals, the modded "diploma" on the right hand side shows up, but where the medal should be there is nothing :hmmm:
Any help?:06:

[ElCid97]

On lunch break, but will post more tonight.

Check here for "the menu.txt" file: ...\Data\Menu

The "citation" you read is in the "menu.txt" file near the bottom. Here's the example I have so far for BuPers:

;Original wording:
;5890=THIS IS TO CERTIFY #NEWLINE#THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES #NEWLINE#HAS AWARDED #NEWLINE##NEWLINE#The #MEDALNAME##NEWLINE#To #TITLE# #NAME##NEWLINE#UNITED STATES NAVY#NEWLINE#Commanding officer, #SUBMARINENAME##NEWLINE#This #DATE##NEWLINE##NEWLINE#For extraordinary heroism as Commanding officer of the #SUBMARINENAME# during the #PATROLNUMBER# war patrol(s) of that vessel,#NEWLINE#the Navy Board of Decorations and Medals#NEWLINE#awards the #MEDALNAME##NEWLINE#to #TITLE# #NAME#.#NEWLINE##NEWLINE#His outstanding display of leadership, devotion to duty, and aggressiveness reflect great credit upon himself, and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

;BuPers Mod updates:
5890=This is to certify that #NEWLINE#the President of the United States of America, #NEWLINE#as authorized by Executive Orders and Congressional Legislation #NEWLINE#has awarded the #NEWLINE##NEWLINE##MEDALNAME# #NEWLINE##NEWLINE#To: #TITLE# #NAME# #NEWLINE#United States Navy #NEWLINE##NEWLINE#for service as Commanding Officer, #SUBMARINENAME#. #NEWLINE##TITLE# #NAME#'s actions since taking command have #NEWLINE#been an outstanding display of leadership, #NEWLINE#devotion to duty, and aggressiveness under fire. #NEWLINE#His actions reflect great credit upon himself, #NEWLINE#the #SUBMARINENAME#, and the United States Naval Service. #NEWLINE##NEWLINE#Given under my hand this #DATE# #NEWLINE#Signed Randall Jacobs, Rear Admiral, USN #NEWLINE#Chief of Bureau of Naval Personnel #NEWLINE#Washington, D.C.

; giving medal with the germans:
5891=In the name of the Fuehrer#NEWLINE#and the Commander of the Kriegsmarine#NEWLINE##NEWLINE#I award#NEWLINE#the #MEDALNAME##NEWLINE#to #TITLE# #NAME##NEWLINE##NEWLINE##DATE#

The German portion is original to the mod, so that's the one you have to change. I kept the original US for a template by commenting out the thing. You can use both as a template for yours. Just be aware of the formatting and the punctuation for the formatting and you'll be fine.

I still need to "justify" since the thing is justified to the right hand side of the screen, but it mostly displays the way it should. I say "mostly" because the last part is also out of whack. Maybe too many lines, but not sure. It's probably somewhere in the menu_1024_768.ini file. Jimimadrid knows more about those than I do.

The crew awards (US and German) are in the "CrewSystemsManagement.dds" file located in the respective folder, namely: ...\Data\Menu\Skins\American\Gui\Layout and ...\Data\Menu\Skins\German\Gui\Layout

I'll go more in depth tonight when I can.

Regards,

ElCid97

[SwissSubCommander]

Yes, I already changed the citation.
What I mean is that the medal itself, to the left of the diploma, is not being shown :hmmm:

[ElCid97]

Ah, capito ...

While lurking around the "menu_1024_768.ini" file I found the reference for the awards. Unfortunately, I still can't figure out how to format the text.

data/menu/data/awardsitems_3.dds
data/menu/data/awardsitems_4.dds

are the two files you need to change for the German side (i.e. the Axis). This would apply to Japanese awards to add like the Golden Kite, Rising Sun, etc. These are also the ones to change for the WWI mod that some folks have been working on.

Allied awards in the FotRSU setup are in the same directory, but under the name "CaptainAwards_1" and "CaptainAwards_2" with either a "dds" or "tga" extension. Mine are "tga" since I haven't touched them. The "default" Allied/US files are the awardsitems_1.dds and awardsitems_2.dds images. These are the original files that were later updated with real medals (RUIM mod I think??).

For the items on the left hand side of the box that you click on to see what medal you want to read about, then the files are:

data/menu/Skins/German/gui/layout/Medals.tga

Oddly enough, the file is the same as the crew systems management on my installation, just that it has a different name and it looks like there are numbers there for zones and WHERE on the image to find the things. These are the small versions of the medals along the left side of the awards page.

I could be wrong on this since I'm still rummaging around things and learning, but I believe these are the images you are looking for.

Now, if someone can figure out how to format the words so that they are center-justified while still on the right hand side of the screen ...

Right now I have everything basically lining up on the right hand side of the screen, so it looks like you're reading from right to left.:hmmm:

I've been reading info on the forums more than anything else these past few weekends. I've seen entries for things from logbook entries to a sextant mod, but still haven't found anything that can help with the text of the awards other than you change the text itself (citation language) in the "menu.txt" file.

Hope what little I've been able to figure out has helped.

ElCid97

PS: What medals were you thinking of instituting? The sim has the awards hard-coded from what I've read. With wounded, for example, there's a suposed "threshold" of 40% damage. So if your sub has 40% or more damage, you earn a Purple Heart. Apparently that's why we have a Purple Heart in the updates of the awards and why there's a Wound Badge in the German version of the awards.

Haven't tested that out yet, per say, but I do have two of them in the career I was working on. One time came in with 68% hull damage and the other with a little over 50% hull damage. The Argonaut and the Tambor are built like Timex watches - take a licking and keep on ticking!

[SwissSubCommander]

https://i.postimg.cc/fTV0d9dH/Silent-Hunter4-20-01-2023-21-29-49.png

This is how far I am.
Yes I figured out that the "awardsitems_x" files are the ones that need changing.
I did edit them, simply pasting the italian medals over the corresponding german ones.
But alas! instead of a shiny medal there is only an empty background! :k_confused:

I successfully implemented them for the crew management screen

They are: - u-boat sign = distintivo sommergibili
- u-boat front clasp = distintivo della divisione atlantica
- iron cross 2. class = medaglia al valore di marina in bronzo
- iron cross 1. class = medaglia al valore di marina in argento
- german cross = medaglia al valore di marina in oro
- knights cross = croce di guerra al valor militare

[propbeanie]

Do your files match in bit depth and extension name, as the originals?

[SwissSubCommander]

Do your files match in bit depth and extension name, as the originals?
How do I check what bit depth the original has?
And how do I change it if needed?

[ElCid97]

What graphics/imaging program are you using? To check the data for the file, you would have to open it and then check the properties from there. If you need to change it, then it's part of the saving procedure. I believe that all the "dds" and "tga" files are 32-bit in format/depth, so you shouldn't have any issues there.

I'm not sure if it's a Win-7 thing, but when I right-click on a "tga" or "dds" file, the properties option only gives me generic info and nothing from the file. This is because they are 32-bit. If I do the same with a "png" or a "jpg" or another 24-bit file, I can see the size and bit depth info for them.

When modifying with GIMP (the program I use) I just make sure to NOT click on compression when it's offered for the dds files. I also agree (YES) to the option for creating mip-maps from a drop-down option. I haven't had any issues yet with this method of doing this. I'm sure there's a similar method for other imaging programs. Just the procedure for getting there may be somewhat different.

I haven't used the "tga" files yet, but I believe you DON'T want the compression option there either.

I believe if you compress the files they are then NOT 32-bit, and therefore can't be read by the sim. That was the case with flightsim files for FS9/FSX which I have considerable experience with. I don't see why this sim would be any different regarding the images/textures.

By the way, how did you get the image you posted to copy to an imaging program? I've tried Ctrl+F11 and PrintScreen, but none of them work for me. All I get is either a black box or a screen-shot of the imaging program I would be in.

Hope this helps.

ElCid97

[SwissSubCommander]

GIMP seems like a handy program.
I will try it out :up:
WHat do you mean? How I took the screenshot or how i uploaded it?

[ElCid97]

GIMP is basically an open source imaging program that allows you to work with layers and such, much like the payware ones. I figure since I'm only using it for a hobby that the price was worth it. (open source = free). :D

I'm on version 2.10.22, but it may be newer by now.

With regards to the images, I meant how to take them. Eventually I figured it out a little while ago when I started seeing several "bmp" files in the main SH4 directory that weren't there before.

I never would've thought that was the location that Ctrl+F11 would place them. I thought it was going to the save folder with the other stuff you save in-game.

Live and learn. :oops:

I'll post something once I clean them up.

Regards,

ElCid97

[SwissSubCommander]

So, progress has been made, but Im not quite there yet...
I edited the "Awardsitems 3&4" files.
I pasted every italian medal over the respective german one it should replace.
I tested this, after giving myself every medal by editing the savegame, but in the Awards-screen, the american medal wich is in "awardsitems 2" on the right hand side would show up :hmmm:
So I switched around the numbers of the files inside the menu_1024_768 file,
basically making every "awarditems 1" into a 3, every 2 into a 4 and vice versa...
When I did this, the "croce di guerra" showed up, the replacement for the german "knights cross" that sits in "awardsitems 4" on the right hand side.
Why this works is beyond me, since its basically loading a texture out of a foreign file...
Yay, an italian medal! Trouble is, it showed up for every single medal
Here is the awards-section of my menu_1024_768 file

Mat 0=data/menu/data/awardsitems_4.dds
Crop 0=0.5,0.0742188,0.5,0.851563
Mat 1=data/menu/data/awardsitems_3.dds
Crop 1=0.5,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 2=data/menu/data/awardsitems_3.dds
Crop 2=0.75,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 3=data/menu/data/awardsitems_4.dds
Crop 3=0,0.0742188,0.5,0.851563
Mat 4=data/menu/data/awardsitems_3.dds
Crop 4=0.25,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 5=data/menu/data/awardsitems_3.dds
Crop 5=0,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 6=data/menu/data/awardsitems_1.dds
Crop 6=0.25,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 7=data/menu/data/awardsitems_1.dds
Crop 7=0.5,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 8=data/menu/data/awardsitems_1.dds
Crop 8=0,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 9=data/menu/data/awardsitems_1.dds
Crop 9=0.75,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 10=data/menu/data/awardsitems_2.dds
Crop 10=0,0.0742188,0.5,0.851563
Mat 11=data/menu/data/awardsitems_2.dds
Crop 11=0.5,0.0742188,0.5,0.851563


And here are are the Awarditems 3 and 4 files respectively:

https://i.postimg.cc/pdzzX5wr/Awards-Items-3-importiert-1-0-RGB-Farben-8-Bit-Gamma-Ganzzahl-GIMP-built-in-s-RGB-1-Ebene-1024.png

https://i.postimg.cc/28GHrM4M/Awards-Items-4-importiert-2-0-RGB-Farben-8-Bit-Gamma-Ganzzahl-GIMP-built-in-s-RGB-1-Ebene-512x.png

Any assistance would be highly appreciated

[ElCid97]

This is what I'm seeing on the KSD2 install. Figured I'd use that one since it's meant for the "other" side from the beginning. My guess is that the mods for Dark Waters should be the same.

[G12 I5]
Name=Medals;CAPTAINS_LARGE_MEDALS
Type=1031;Stat bmp array
ItemID=0x12000003
ParentID=0x12000000
Pos=200,-166,256,436
Zone= 200 602 256 436 6 1 0x12000001 0.32 -0.5 0x12000003 -0.5 0.5 0 0
Materials=12
Display=2;Linear
Mat 0=data/menu/data/CaptainAwards_2.tga;PURPLE_HEART
Crop 0=0.5,0.0742188,0.5,0.851563
Mat 1=data/menu/data/CaptainAwards_1.tga;NAVY_CROSS
Crop 1=0.5,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 2=data/menu/data/CaptainAwards_2.tga;BRONZE_STAR
Crop 2=0,0.0742188,0.5,0.851563
Mat 3=data/menu/data/CaptainAwards_1.tga;SILVER_STAR
Crop 3=0.75,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 4=data/menu/data/CaptainAwards_1.tga;NAVY_COMMENDATION
Crop 4=0.25,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 5=data/menu/data/CaptainAwards_1.tga;ASIATIC_PACIFIC_CAMPAIGN
Crop 5=0,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 6=data/menu/data/awardsitems_3.dds
Crop 6=0.25,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 7=data/menu/data/awardsitems_3.dds
Crop 7=0.5,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 8=data/menu/data/awardsitems_3.dds
Crop 8=0,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 9=data/menu/data/awardsitems_3.dds
Crop 9=0.75,0.0742188,0.25,0.851563
Mat 10=data/menu/data/awardsitems_4.dds
Crop 10=0,0.0742188,0.5,0.851563
Mat 11=data/menu/data/awardsitems_4.dds
Crop 11=0.5,0.0742188,0.5,0.851563
MatFlags=0x9
TexFmt=0x0
Drag=false
BmpState=1
NeedFocus=true
SelOne=false
IdGroup=0
StatesColors=0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF

See how this compares to yours. Keep in mind that the "CaptainAwards" files are not the default, so it may look different if you're modding off the vanilla sim.

If you have these in your setup, then just change the name of the new images you did from "awardsitems_x.dds" to "CaptainAwards_x.dds" instead. The sim will load dds files before it loads tga files, so there shouldn't be any conflict.

If all else fails, just resize the Italian medals to fit over the German ones EXACTLY. I say this because I still haven't figured out the numbers for the cropping or the positioning of the images, so can't help there.

Send me a PM if you like and I'll see what I can look at sometime this week when I get the chance. Still putting finishing touches on my mod, so it wouldn't be too much to look at this in case I need to look at it later for a further "tweak" there.

On lunch. Will check later after work.

ElCid97

[SwissSubCommander]

I dont know what to do anymore :wah:
I tried everything.
As you see, in the office view the correct medal shows (the german cross wich I replaced with the golden medal of valor):
https://i.postimg.cc/tTTWK49r/Silent-Hunter4-24-01-2023-22-10-53.png

But in the awards-view I am always greeted by the cross, no matter wich medal I really have :/\\!!
https://i.postimg.cc/mk9wngSv/Silent-Hunter4-24-01-2023-22-10-59.png

[SwissSubCommander]

I tried to reduce the size of the italian medals, so that they fit inside the german ones.
Same result...:doh:

[ElCid97]

...
As you see, in the office view the correct medal shows (the german cross wich I replaced with the golden medal of valor): ...

Ah, capito.

Since my FotRSU install doesn't have any medals in the box, I wouldn't have noticed this small -- but very cool -- detail. :D I haven't gotten far enough in KSD2 or DW to earn anything.

Don't quote me on this, but I believe the medals that are in the "office" are those that are labeled as "CaptainRoom_Badges_x.dds" in the "...\Data\Textures\TNormal\tex" folder. At least for the German side. The US side is, I believe, just "badges.dds" in the same folder.

Again, I'm not sure since I haven't found anything for the configuration of the "office" like for the other stuff. Then again, I'm fairly new at this and still looking around for things.

There are also some other files I've seen while lurking for stuff. There is a "Deco00.dds" and an "insigne.dds" in the ...\Data\Menu\Data folder as well. Not sure where or how these are used, but you may want to check since I've seen them in another folder as well. In either case, they're German.

Now you're making me want to check if there's a way to add the medals back to the box for the US side. And here I was hoping to get something in "beta" out for the weekend! :haha:

Keep us posted on what you're able to find!


Definitely looking forward to this! :Kaleun_Cheers:


ElCid97


PS: Try the following in the "menu.txt" file and let me know if it works.

;Italian mod check
5891=In the name of His Magisty, King Victor Emmanuel III,#NEWLINE#Il Duce,#NEWLINE#and the Commanders of the Comando Supremo and Supermarina#NEWLINE#I award the #NEWLINE##NEWLINE##MEDALNAME##NEWLINE##NEWLINE#to #TITLE# #NAME##NEWLINE##NEWLINE#for actions as Capitano of the Royal Italian Submarine #SUBMARINENAME##NEWLINE##NEWLINE#Given this #DATE##NEWLINE#Comando Supremo, Roma, Italia

Remember to back up the original. It's all the way down in the file. If it's done properly, it should give you the citation. You can then write it any way you want keeping in mind the "format" of the #NEWLINE# for each "return" to give you a new line. Your rank is #TITLE#. Your name as you entered it into the career is #NAME#, and the name of the boat as it appears in the sim is #SUBMARINENAME#. Finally, #DATE# is the date the sim gave you the award. Not sure exactly where that's at, but it works.

Also, remember NO SPACES between ANYTHING, or it's going to get messed up. You can have them for editing to make it "read" easier, but YOU MUST remove the spaces for the final form like above. Otherwise it won't work. That's why I was having issues before with the formatting. Live and learn!

[ElCid97]

Swiss,

I found it. It took a while, but it was in a forum here at the site.

The file indeed is "CaptainRoom_Badges.dds" to change what's in the box.

Unfortunately, they are actually 3D badges that are textured by the above mentioned texture. That means that if you change the box medal's texture to an Italian one in the "CaptainRoom_Badges.dds", the Italian texture will be mapped to a 3D model of the German star in the box.

That explains why they were removed altogether from the office of the FotRSU version I'm using, it seems. At least I'm not seeing anything in there, anyway. I do see the medal in the award when I click on the box, however, just like you see the medal in the certificate in your setup.

If you know how to make a 3D model of one (GMAX, 3DStudio, Wings, Blender, etc.) and can get it into the sim somehow, then you could make the 3D model, texture it with the medal texture, then swap out the German badge for the Italian badge.

Unfortunately seems like a lot to do. That, and it's one thing to figure out what needs to be done and quite another to actually pull it off. I know S3D is used for part of the process, but not sure how or where or if you even use a particular model extension.

I feel like I know the alternator has to be changed in my car, but don't really have any clue how to actually do it.:D

Hope this helped!

Now back to coding BuPers messages for the radio traffic!

ElCid97

[SwissSubCommander]

I already edited the Captainroom-badges.
That's why in the "office"-view the correct medal is shown, inside an incorrect 3d model as you noted. The medal I have in the example above is the golden medal of valor, it replaces the "deutsches Kreuz" of the vanilla game.
I already tried this before with the u-boat sign and front clasp.
Three different medals, and every time the correct model and texture was shown in the "box"
but when I clicked on the box it always showed the croce di valor wich is pasted ontop the knights cross in Awardsitems_4.
It seems like, no matter wich medal I have, for the "medal-box-view" (when clicking on the box)
the game always loads the knights cross-texture
Wich is weird because in the menu file there are 11 items in the awards-section with each one clearly having a different crop command.
This is confusing beyond sanity, but I appreciate your help.
I'm visiting my folks in Switzerland for a few days, but I'll try your citation as soon as I get back 😎

[iambecomelife]

Not sure if anyone has resolved this issue ... has anyone ever corrected SH4's medal awarding variables? I have had problems with the same medal being awarded over and over regardless of how successful my patrol was.....I played TMO (admittedly a long time ago) and was awarded the Silver Star all the time after several successful patrols. Extremely annoying.:/\\!!

I imagine this problem will carry on if you switch out to Italian medals, because the hard-coded award criteria problems will persist.

My workaround for my WWI mod is a new system of 3d medals ... they will be visible on the sub and the player purchases medals himself with renown.

Of course players can "cheat" by editing their renown and buying every medal, but hopefully people have enough self control not to do that! :haha:

Anyway, if the repeat award problem has been resolved I would love to find out how! Thanks.

[KaleunMarco]

Not sure if anyone has resolved this issue ... has anyone ever corrected SH4's medal awarding variables? I have had problems with the same medal being awarded over and over regardless of how successful my patrol was.....I played TMO (admittedly a long time ago) and was awarded the Silver Star all the time after several successful patrols. Extremely annoying.:/\\!!

nope. never could find the logic or the variables that determine the hierarchy of the awards, for any side.:doh:

Of course players can "cheat" by editing their renown and buying every medal, but hopefully people have enough self control not to do that! :haha:

Anyway, if the repeat award problem has been resolved I would love to find out how! Thanks.

i was unaware that one could actually "buy" awards for renown. i guess it is a chicken-and-egg thing. if one earns renown from missions, one should be awarded the medals. how can one buy a different award?:hmmm:

[propbeanie]

Don't forget the bad bad Ubisoft "math": Of refits, new commands, rank, and retirements (https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=1602175#post1602175) from Ducimus, and the Patrol Rating, etc. that influences everything in SH4.

[KaleunMarco]

Don't forget the bad bad Ubisoft "math": Of refits, new commands, rank, and retirements (https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=1602175#post1602175) from Ducimus, and the Patrol Rating, etc. that influences everything in SH4.

yeah but that was more for keeping your career going and getting promoted.
medals, as you know, are a horse of a different color.

[propbeanie]

Total patrol score does matter most, but the rating does come into play somewhere also. Strange thing is, you can sink a friendly for a 10x points loss, but if you sink enough enemy and maybe grap some more points with Objective completions, you can still get medals... no charges... CapnScurvy and a few other old heads were the most knowledgeable about the subject, and I do remember hearing swear words all the way from the Cincinnati area when he was trying to format the text better of his Medals mod for FotRSU... very frustrating crapolla... such simple text-based files, of which you can't change certain lines, but there is also something borked in one of the libraries or the exe, all because of no licensing from the US military for the images... :arrgh!:

[ElCid97]

I remember reading somewhere that the "qualifications" for the medals is indeed hard-coded somewhere.

The PH was something like 40% or greater damage to the sub. The next one up was for 3 ships sunk, the next one up for 6 ships, and the next one after that for 9 ships in a certain time period.

I believe there was also another medal for 6 ships in a single action.

The other thing I remember reading is that the "points" or "credits" towards the medal were also influenced by the difficulty setting, so the "harder" or more "realistic" the settings, the "simpler" (more points/credits towards the medal) you recieved towards a particular medal.

It's scattered somewhere on the forums here, and most of the stuff I've come across is from 2009 or so. Apparently it was an Ubisoft programer that gave the info, but it was a few years after they worked on it and he was going off of memory.

I've managed to get the "text" for the award to look somewhat decent, but can't get it to center. That may be what Capt Scurvy was trying to do as well. Here's what it will look like in the mod I'm working on:


https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1418&pictureid=12957


It's an early version I managed to screenshot. The citation is all lined up on the right hand side, but I've managed to figure out how to get the stuff to at least look somewhat presentable. :03:

I'll take a screenshot of the latest "dev" version when I can. I've FINALLY removed the unwanted indentation at the bottom as well as the extra lines or spaces that have been put in by the program where I don't want them. It turns out you can't have extra spaces or the formatting goes nuts.

At least the thing now looks like a certificate should look like.

ElCid97

[iambecomelife]

Nice work with the award text ElCid97; maybe you could just type out whatever you want, save an image of the text with suitable fancy/official looking certificate image, and add that image to the .dds or .tga of the medal? Instead of using the game's fonts; I agree they are a pain (and I never liked the tan color).


nope. never could find the logic or the variables that determine the hierarchy of the awards, for any side.:doh:



i was unaware that one could actually "buy" awards for renown. i guess it is a chicken-and-egg thing. if one earns renown from missions, one should be awarded the medals. how can one buy a different award?:hmmm:

Sry should have been more clear. What I mean is, I will be implementing a system of buying medals for renown in my mod. Basically the process is, you use renown to buy awards yourself, just like how you can buy things like Alberich, better guns, or emblems. I will be implementing a new medals case and 3d awards visible in real time, so that you can actually see the medals on your sub. For WWI uboats I can use maybe the TBT or a radar station as the medals case, since those stations were never used on WWI era subs.

I tested a Bavarian military order a long time ago and it wen well - medal appeared with no problems.....was going to do some more but other things have been higher priority....right now my plan is for medals to be one of the last things worked on before release.

In my planned system you choose what awards you deserve based on patrol results, so it kind of relies on the player to be honest and not edit renown, but I suppose you could do that already, I bet most people aren't lame enough to cheat in this sort of game lol...I plan to change the stock medal award screen just to a general notification that you have been recommended for an award. Or that the higher-ups are pleased with your patrol.

Also, renown per ship limits the potential for dishonesty.... make it so 4-5 freighters allow you to purchase nothing but an Iron Cross 1st Class, whereas sinking a battleship gives you enough for the Blue Max.

Would be pretty easy to adapt to WWII time period and any nation, if all goes well.

https://i.postimg.cc/VkZZthps/14195998-1154634871249451-1561921600414849714-o.jpg