• Home
• T3A:Online
• Tournaments & Games
• Replays
• Tutorials
• Mods
• Maps
• Downloads
• Forum
• Showcase
• Users
• Links
• Help

Quick Lists

Top Rated Popular New Updated Last Comments Users

The Basics - Command Buttons and Command Sets

Written by: Hostile

The purpose of this tutorial is to go step by step on explaining the differant command buttons, they're functions, and how they work. We will than compile these command buttons into commandsets. Command buttons are the buttons you can click into during the game to accomplish such things as buy units, purchase upgrades, purchase spells, and activate spells.

Commandsets are the list of buttons avaliable for each unit or structure to tell it what functions it can activate.

Before embarking on this challenge of learning about command buttons and commandsets, I suggest you read the beginner tutorials so that you know how to extract the INI's and use your edited INI's. They can be found at the following page Getting Started

All the tools you need to add your edit your INI files can also be found at The 3rd Age website (http://the3rdage.net) along with the other tutorials. So, let's get started.

Open up you commandbutton.ini file. I have chosen this example to start with:

              

Code

CommandButton Command_ConstructGondorFighterHorde Command = UNIT_BUILD Object = GondorFighterHorde Options = CANCELABLE TextLabel = CONTROLBAR:ConstructGondorFighterHorde ButtonImage = BGBarracks_Soldiers ButtonBorderType = BUILD ; Identifier for the User as to what kind of button this is DescriptLabel = CONTROLBAR:ToolTipBuildGondorFighterHorde Radial = Yes InPalantir = Yes ShowProductionCount = Yes End

Each button must have a unique name. So as you add new buttons to your commandbutton.ini remember this.

The second line, Command, tells the computer what function this button will have. I've compiled a list of proper commands allowed in the game. Some of these commands are hardcoded and may not need to be added to a commandset as they are built into the game.

              

Code

CANCEL_UNIT_BUILD - hardcoded CANCEL_UPGRADE - hardcoded HORDE_TOGGLE_FORMATION TOGGLE_WEAPONSET ATTACK_MOVE - hardcoded STOP - hardcoded but can be added to a commandset GUARD - hardcoded but can be added to a commandset FIRE_WEAPON - hardcoded but can be added to a commandset SPECIAL_POWER WAKE_AUTO_PICKUP BLOODTHIRSTY MONSTERDOCK OBJECT_UPGRADE EXIT_CONTAINER EVACUATE CREW_EVACUATE EVACUATE_CONTESTED - hardcoded FOUNDATION_CONSTRUCT SET_RALLY_POINT - hardcoded SELL - hardcoded but can be added to a commandset CASTLE_UNPACK CASTLE_UNPACK_EXPLICIT_OBJECT UNIT_BUILD PLAYER_UPGRADE REVIVE FOUNDATION_CONSTRUCT_CANCEL - hardcoded SPELL_BOOK PURCHASE_SCIENCE TOGGLE_NO_AUTO_ACQUIRE

There is no way I can possibly take the time or research to tell you what ever command type does. It should be self explanitory for most though. I'll start with UNIT_BUILD first and touch on a few others along the way.

              

Code

Object = GondorFighterHorde

This second line of the above command button tells the computer what object should be built as a result of this button.

              

Code

Options = CANCELABLE

The third line tells us that this choice can be canceled if we choose. Not needed if you do not want the option to be undone.

              

Code

TextLabel = CONTROLBAR:ConstructGondorFighterHorde

The fourth line describes the CSF entry (the text) that will show up to describe what the button does.

              

Code

ButtonImage = BGBarracks_Soldiers

The fifth line tells us what image we should use for the command button ingame.

              

Code

ButtonBorderType = BUILD

This gives a unique border color that tells the differance between buildin a unit and upgrading one. There other option also.

              

Code

DescriptLabel = CONTROLBAR:ToolTipBuildGondorFighterHorde

When you hover over this button it will give you a description. This is the CSF entry.

              

Code

InPalantir = Yes

Will this button show up in the Palantir? (The circular series of buttons around the portrait)

              

Code

ShowProductionCount = Yes

If you buy more than one a number will show up to tell you how many are in line to be built.

That sorta sums up the BUILD_UNIT command button. I'll go into the upgrade button at this point.

              

Code

CommandButton Command_PurchaseUpgradeGondorHeavyArmor Command = OBJECT_UPGRADE Options = NEED_UPGRADE OK_FOR_MULTI_SELECT CANCELABLE Upgrade = Upgrade_GondorHeavyArmor NeededUpgrade = Upgrade_TechnologyGondorHeavyArmor TextLabel = CONTROLBAR:PurchaseUpgradeGondorHeavyArmor ButtonImage = BGBlacksmith_HeavyArmor ButtonBorderType = UPGRADE DescriptLabel = CONTROLBAR:ToolTipPurchaseUpgradeGondorHeavyArmor InPalantir = Yes LacksPrerequisiteLabel = TOOLTIP:LackGondorHeavyArmor End<

              

Code

Command = OBJECT_UPGRADE

This should be self explanatory at this point in the tutorial.

              

Code

Options = NEED_UPGRADE OK_FOR_MULTI_SELECT CANCELABLE

This means the player needs an upgrade to be able to use this button. (Namely you have to purchase this from the armory first)

              

Code

Upgrade = Upgrade_GondorHeavyArmor

This is where you tell the computer what upgrade is needed before you can purchase this object upgrade. (This one is purchased from the armory)

Here is an example of a SPECIAL_POWER command.

              

Code

CommandButton Command_SpellBookBalrogAlly Command = SPELL_BOOK SpecialPower = SpellBookBalrogAlly Options = NEED_TARGET_POS ; Huh, you can't have this flag and a radius cursor: CONTEXTMODE_COMMAND TextLabel = CONTROLBAR:SummonBalrog ButtonImage = SBEvil_BalrogAlly ButtonBorderType = ACTION ; Identifier for the User as to what kind of button this is DescriptLabel = CONTROLBAR:TooltipSummonBalrog RadiusCursorType = SUMMON_BALROG CursorName = AttackObj InvalidCursorName = GenericInvalid End<

              

Code

SpecialPower = SpellBookBalrogAlly

This second line links it directly to the special power it refers to.

              

Code

Options = NEED_TARGET_POS

This means we are going to be placing this power on the map via a cursor.

              

Code

RadiusCursorType = SUMMON_BALROG

Now this tells it when you place it which special power cursor will we be using. When you place the Balrog ingame you notice it has an image on the map to tell you where he's going to show up.

We could go on forever talking about the parameters of every single button, but for the sake of space this should give some insight on how they work. Now onto the commandsets.

Every object has a commandset. This is the set of buttons that allows us to pick our unit commands.

              

Code

CommandSet GondorFighterHordeCommandSet 1 = Command_Guard 2 = Command_ToggleFormationGondorFighter 3 = Command_PurchaseUpgradeGondorForgedBlades 4 = Command_PurchaseUpgradeGondorHeavyArmor 5 = Command_PurchaseUpgradeGondorBasicTraining 13 = Command_AttackMove 14 = Command_Stop 15 = Command_Guard End

As you can see, your Gondor Horde can choose to guard, toggle formations, purchase upgrades, and such. Commandsets are found in the commandset.ini file. They are assigned in the object itself under the unit listing of commandset.

I hope this answers a few questions regarding commandbuttons and commandsets. Any further questions about this tutorial can be answered by coming to our forums.