Shadow Realm - removing the dependency on Decodence RMG

[Hiliadan]

As discussed at several occasions, part of the development team of the SR Community Expansion thinks Decodence RMG Integration should be disentangled from the main expansion as it brings unbalanced structures and the surface area Autumn and Tundra climate cannot be controlled in the settings.

greyHaunt made some tests to disentangle it by removing the dependencies on Decodence RMG Integration in the SR RMG Integration mod. The results were:
- the game launches just fine
- RMG maps can be generated with the Shadow layer
- it crashes sometimes but it may be unrelated to the lack of dependency because it also does not crash most of the time, and the errors in the log seem to be ones we already know

Please note, the following mods were used in the tests:
\DECODENCE [76561198006276058]\ (prio:12)
\MOVEMENT ORDERS FIRST [76561198098360181]\ (prio:0)
\NEUTRALIZE MANA NODE [76561198172718939]\ (prio:0)
\SHADOW REALM RMG [76561197999770111]\ (prio:15)
\SHADOW REALM [76561197999770111]\ (prio:14)

Here is what he got in the log (I added some comments in italics):

Crash:

Spoiler

[16:27:36][FE_AdvancedRandomGame]Generating new GameID
[16:27:42]Launching session
[16:27:47]Generating random level with seed: 2982058303.
[16:27:56][ERROR]Source object must be set. Destination object must be set if 'To Closest Road' is disabled.
[16:27:56][ERROR]Setting "Visit - Decodence - Wicked Flames of Graugh" is invalid.
[16:27:56][ERROR]The object path settings must be valid.
[16:27:56][ERROR]RMG Generation Pass is invalid: Shadow Realm - Visit Structure Paths.
[16:27:56][ERROR]RMG Settings Generation Pass List is invalid: Shadow Realm (Structure).[this seems to be a new issue, probably related to the removal of Decodence RMG: I assume that Visit - Decodence - Wicked Flames of Graugh is defined in Decodence RMG or some of the links to it are defined in Decodence RMG. The issue is probably in Shadow Realm - Visit Structure Paths and Shadow Realm (Structure) in the RMG .rpk]
[16:27:56]RMG Zone Settings: Land (Zones)
[16:27:56]RMG Terrain Settings: Land (Terrain)
[16:27:56]RMG Structure Settings: Land (Structure)
[16:27:56][ERROR]Source object must be set. Destination object must be set if 'To Closest Road' is disabled.
[16:27:56][ERROR]Setting "Visit - Decodence - Wicked Flames of Graugh" is invalid.
[16:27:56][ERROR]The object path settings must be valid.
[16:27:56][ERROR]RMG Generation Pass is invalid: Shadow Realm - Visit Structure Paths.
[16:27:56][ERROR]RMG Settings Generation Pass List is invalid: Shadow Realm (Structure). [same issue as above]
[16:27:56]RMG Zone Settings: Shadow Realm (Zones)
[16:27:56]RMG Terrain Settings: Shadow Realm (Terrain)
[16:27:56]RMG Structure Settings: Land (Structure)
[16:27:56]Release device called
[16:28:13]Released device - 17152 references left
[16:28:13]ResetDevice result: 0
[16:28:14][ERROR]Assertion failed: "(FOverlay->GetGeoType() != eHexLGGeographicType_Land)||FOverlay->GetAllowObjects()" [this one seems new]
[16:28:21]Message: Structure on invalid terrain detected: Visit - Shadow Portal Entrance. Position: (51,5).
[16:28:21]d:\source.aow.steam\aow\aowc\source\LevelGenerator/World/HexLGStrategicWorld.cpp(80): (click to open) [these three lines are known, cf. https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/shadow-realm-–-closed-beta-tests.1119321/ "It's complaining that a Shadow Portal Entrance is being placed on a Land hex which isn't allowed to have structures on it (specifically, the "AoW LevelGen - Overlay" for the hex has gotten Allow Objects set to false)." That seems to be causing the crash (as it does in the "entangled version". So the crash seems unrelated to Decodence RMG]
[16:28:21]
[16:28:21]Release device called
[16:29:01]Released device - 17154 references left
[16:29:01]ResetDevice result: 0
[16:29:02]Release device called
[16:32:15]Released device - 17152 references left
[16:32:15]ResetDevice result: 0
[16:32:16]Release device called
[16:32:23]Heap: RMG Heap - Leaking memory! (Allocations left: 734)
[16:32:23]Report for heap RMG Heap:
[16:32:23]max system bytes = 12124160
[16:32:23]system bytes = 12124160
[16:32:23]in use bytes = 4414688
[16:32:23]

Without crash:

Spoiler

[16:43:47]Generating random level with seed: 2676582648.
[16:43:53][ERROR]Source object must be set. Destination object must be set if 'To Closest Road' is disabled.
[16:43:53][ERROR]Setting "Visit - Decodence - Wicked Flames of Graugh" is invalid.
[16:43:53][ERROR]The object path settings must be valid.
[16:43:53][ERROR]RMG Generation Pass is invalid: Shadow Realm - Visit Structure Paths.
[16:43:53][ERROR]RMG Settings Generation Pass List is invalid: Shadow Realm (Structure).
[16:43:53]RMG Zone Settings: Continent (Zones)
[16:43:53]RMG Terrain Settings: Continent (Terrain)
[16:43:53]RMG Structure Settings: Continent (Structure)
[16:43:53][ERROR]Source object must be set. Destination object must be set if 'To Closest Road' is disabled.
[16:43:53][ERROR]Setting "Visit - Decodence - Wicked Flames of Graugh" is invalid.
[16:43:53][ERROR]The object path settings must be valid.
[16:43:53][ERROR]RMG Generation Pass is invalid: Shadow Realm - Visit Structure Paths.
[16:43:53][ERROR]RMG Settings Generation Pass List is invalid: Shadow Realm (Structure).
[16:43:53]RMG Zone Settings: Shadow Realm (Zones)
[16:43:53]RMG Terrain Settings: Shadow Realm (Terrain)
[16:43:53]RMG Structure Settings: Continent (Structure)
[16:43:53][ERROR]Assertion failed: "(FOverlay->GetGeoType() != eHexLGGeographicType_Land)||FOverlay->GetAllowObjects()"
[16:44:02]Message: Structure on invalid terrain detected: Visit - Shadow Portal Entrance. Position: (40,13).
[16:44:02]d:\source.aow.steam\aow\aowc\source\LevelGenerator/World/HexLGStrategicWorld.cpp(80): (click to open) [same issue as above, the funny thing is that here it doesn't crash]
[16:44:02]
[16:44:02]Heap: RMG Heap - Leaking memory! (Allocations left: 373)
[16:44:07]Report for heap RMG Heap:
[16:44:07]max system bytes = 4915200
[16:44:07]system bytes = 4915200
[16:44:07]in use bytes = 1951808
[16:44:07][STATE -] SYSTEM: GAME_LOBBY
[16:44:08][STATE +] SYSTEM: GAME_OPEN
[16:44:08]Opening Game Session
[16:44:08]Game Session - Setup
[16:44:09]Release device called
[16:44:09]Released device - 17139 references left
[16:44:09]ResetDevice result: 0
[16:44:10]Game Session - Load
[16:44:10]Game Session - Open
[16:44:10]===============================================================
[16:44:10]Setting random seed 0x7929c9f3
[16:44:10]===============================================================
[16:44:10][WORLD_ACTIVATE]HUD for (null) shown!
[16:44:10]Game Session - Ready
[16:44:11][INFO][TM][CON2]Connected (35.169.20.42:443)
[16:44:11][Steam] OnUserStatsReceived
[16:44:11][Steam]Received stats and achievements
[16:44:11][Steam] OnUserStatsReceived
[16:44:11][Steam]Received stats and achievements
[16:44:11][STATE -] SYSTEM: GAME_OPEN
[16:44:11][STATE +] SYSTEM: GAME_READY
[16:44:11]Game Session - Start
[16:44:11][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:44:11][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:44:11][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:44:11][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210 [this seems to be new although I wonder whether it's just a bug we missed in the entangled version of the SR? Probably an issue with SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT in the settings of the structure]
[16:44:11]Round 1 started!

[...]

[16:48:20][FE_LobbyState]Generating new GameID
[16:48:25]Launching session
[16:48:27]Generating random level with seed: 257771939.
[16:48:31][ERROR]Source object must be set. Destination object must be set if 'To Closest Road' is disabled.
[16:48:31][ERROR]Setting "Visit - Decodence - Wicked Flames of Graugh" is invalid.
[16:48:31][ERROR]The object path settings must be valid.
[16:48:31][ERROR]RMG Generation Pass is invalid: Shadow Realm - Visit Structure Paths.
[16:48:31][ERROR]RMG Settings Generation Pass List is invalid: Shadow Realm (Structure).
[16:48:31]RMG Zone Settings: Land (Zones)
[16:48:31]RMG Terrain Settings: Land (Terrain)
[16:48:31]RMG Structure Settings: Land (Structure)
[16:48:31][ERROR]Source object must be set. Destination object must be set if 'To Closest Road' is disabled.
[16:48:31][ERROR]Setting "Visit - Decodence - Wicked Flames of Graugh" is invalid.
[16:48:31][ERROR]The object path settings must be valid.
[16:48:31][ERROR]RMG Generation Pass is invalid: Shadow Realm - Visit Structure Paths.
[16:48:31][ERROR]RMG Settings Generation Pass List is invalid: Shadow Realm (Structure).
[16:48:31]RMG Zone Settings: Shadow Realm (Zones)
[16:48:31]RMG Terrain Settings: Shadow Realm (Terrain)
[16:48:31]RMG Structure Settings: Land (Structure)
[16:48:31]Heap: RMG Heap - Leaking memory! (Allocations left: 1128)
[16:49:23]Report for heap RMG Heap:
[16:49:23]max system bytes = 26804224
[16:49:23]system bytes = 26804224
[16:49:23]in use bytes = 7732488
[16:49:23][STATE -] SYSTEM: GAME_LOBBY
[16:49:24][STATE +] SYSTEM: GAME_OPEN
[16:49:24]Opening Game Session
[16:49:24]Game Session - Setup
[16:49:25]Game Session - Load
[16:49:25]Game Session - Open
[16:49:25]===============================================================
[16:49:25]Setting random seed 0x8c04188c
[16:49:25]===============================================================
[16:49:25][Steam] OnUserStatsReceived
[16:49:28][Steam]Received stats and achievements
[16:49:28][Steam] OnUserStatsReceived
[16:49:28][Steam]Received stats and achievements
[16:49:28][WORLD_ACTIVATE]HUD for (null) shown!
[16:49:28]Game Session - Ready
[16:49:28][INFO][TM][CON6]Connected (54.87.114.171:443)
[16:49:28][STATE -] SYSTEM: GAME_OPEN
[16:49:28][STATE +] SYSTEM: GAME_READY
[16:49:28]Game Session - Start
[16:49:28][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 125
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 125
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 125
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 125
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:49:30][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:49:31][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:49:31][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:49:31][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:49:31][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:49:31][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:49:31][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:49:31][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:49:31]Round 1 started!

[...]

[16:50:48]Launching session
[16:50:51]Generating random level with seed: 3887661466.
[16:50:57][ERROR]Source object must be set. Destination object must be set if 'To Closest Road' is disabled.
[16:50:57][ERROR]Setting "Visit - Decodence - Wicked Flames of Graugh" is invalid.
[16:50:57][ERROR]The object path settings must be valid.
[16:50:57][ERROR]RMG Generation Pass is invalid: Shadow Realm - Visit Structure Paths.
[16:50:57][ERROR]RMG Settings Generation Pass List is invalid: Shadow Realm (Structure).
[16:50:57]RMG Zone Settings: Land (Zones)
[16:50:57]RMG Terrain Settings: Land (Terrain)
[16:50:57]RMG Structure Settings: Land (Structure)
[16:50:57][ERROR]Source object must be set. Destination object must be set if 'To Closest Road' is disabled.
[16:50:57][ERROR]Setting "Visit - Decodence - Wicked Flames of Graugh" is invalid.
[16:50:57][ERROR]The object path settings must be valid.
[16:50:57][ERROR]RMG Generation Pass is invalid: Shadow Realm - Visit Structure Paths.
[16:50:57][ERROR]RMG Settings Generation Pass List is invalid: Shadow Realm (Structure).
[16:50:57]RMG Zone Settings: Shadow Realm (Zones)
[16:50:57]RMG Terrain Settings: Shadow Realm (Terrain)
[16:50:57]RMG Structure Settings: Land (Structure)
[16:50:57]Release device called
[16:52:25]Released device - 17370 references left
[16:52:25]ResetDevice result: 0
[16:52:26]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:52:26]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:52:26]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:52:26]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:52:26]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:52:26]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:52:26]Release device called
[16:53:31]Released device - 17370 references left
[16:53:31]ResetDevice result: 0
[16:53:32]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:53:32]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:53:32]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:53:32]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:53:32]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:53:32]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:53:32]Release device called
[16:54:20]Released device - 17370 references left
[16:54:20]ResetDevice result: 0
[16:54:20]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:54:21]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:54:21]Release device called
[16:55:01]Released device - 17370 references left
[16:55:02]ResetDevice result: 0
[16:55:02]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:55:03]Scene not ready: HeroIconViewerScene_994
[16:55:03]Heap: RMG Heap - Leaking memory! (Allocations left: 2511)
[16:55:28]Report for heap RMG Heap:
[16:55:28]max system bytes = 51970048
[16:55:28]system bytes = 48300032
[16:55:28]in use bytes = 17066672
[16:55:28][STATE -] SYSTEM: GAME_LOBBY
[16:55:30][STATE +] SYSTEM: GAME_OPEN
[16:55:30]Opening Game Session
[16:55:30]Game Session - Setup
[16:55:30]Game Session - Load
[16:55:30]Game Session - Open
[16:55:30]===============================================================
[16:55:31]Setting random seed 0xa1c29903
[16:55:31]===============================================================
[16:55:31][Steam] OnUserStatsReceived
[16:55:34][Steam]Received stats and achievements
[16:55:34][Steam] OnUserStatsReceived
[16:55:34][Steam]Received stats and achievements
[16:55:34][WORLD_ACTIVATE]HUD for (null) shown!
[16:55:35]Game Session - Ready
[16:55:35][INFO][TM][CON8]Connected (35.169.20.42:443)
[16:55:35][STATE -] SYSTEM: GAME_OPEN
[16:55:35][STATE +] SYSTEM: GAME_READY
[16:55:35]Game Session - Start
[16:55:35][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:40][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:40][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:40][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:41][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:55:41][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:41][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:41][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:55:41][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:41][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 125
[16:55:41][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:41][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 125
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 125
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 125
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 125
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:55:42][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 125
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 125
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:43][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:55:44][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:44][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:44][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'FICKLEMERMAID_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 144
[16:55:44]Round 1 started!

In conclusion: disentangling the two seems possible and not too disruptive!

 

[HousePet]

Okay, we are either using a non-SR version of the Wicked Flames of Grauth, or I added the wrong one to a pathing list.

Good work.

 

[Rodmar18]

So, do we still need Decodence RMG to play a scenario with Shadow Elves? To play the SR campaign?

 

[Refineus]

I created a second RMG and I'm currently seeing the difference between the original mod with Decodence applied in the background and a separate mod which has not decodence RMG attached.

It's very devious to sort out, but I hope to clean out all passes, structures and such from unnecessary stuff this week. I see some problems that is screwing up things between the Shadow RMG mod and main content which is fixable.

In general it's like an advanced copy and paste between two mod editors, but it's the only way at least for me who go by double screens to see result.

 

[HousePet]

I wish you brain well in this mind numbing task.

 

[Hiliadan]

So, do we still need Decodence RMG to play a scenario with Shadow Elves? To play the SR campaign?

Yeah, Decodence RMG was never necessary to play the campaign. Neither is SR RMG (which is useful only for RMG maps).

Looking forward to your progress Refineus. Reading back my first post, it seems only a very limited number of things need to be added to a mod without the dependency on Decodence RMG for it to work properly. So maybe another way to do it would be to start from the current mod, remove the dependency, save, then open a 2nd screen and compare to the mod with the dependency?

 

[Refineus]

The problem when just removing the decodence RMG is that I cannot see what was removed. There is bunce of hidden stuff that is grey. Especially when something is modified and modified again in shadow RMG. It does not update. In the process I might discover something quirky by doing this. Which I did already

 

[Refineus]

Okey. I will start working on the main branch this week disentangling the Decodence RMG mod and making a back up of current version somewhere.

A reason why I created a second clone of an RMG mod from scratch was to compare a bare version without Decodence RMG to know what I'm actually doing.

There are a few bugs from Decodence RMG mod creating some issues. That mod, in particular, is built on an older version of Age of Wonders 3 where for example Oyster Reef does not exist in that mod when it was created. By using Decodence Rmg mod it removes this structure from ever spawning as its priority is higher than the base game reverting its updates from AoW III with changes made to specific parts of the RMG further back in time to 2016. If we keep the changes we made on top of Decodence RMG mod we will also keep changes from Decodence RMG mod unless things are updated correctly after the package been removed.

In general, there are a few oddities, but nothing too scary, Several weight groups of structures in the Shadow Realm are based on structures that do not exist in the Shadow Realm. What the result is to weight it correctly against a similar structure that actually exists in the realm is hard to predict at the moment.

 

[HousePet]

If you can, keep a look out for anything involving Shadow Terrain Decorations. There is an error in there somewhere that causes one of the crashes on generation.

 

[Refineus]

If you can, keep a look out for anything involving Shadow Terrain Decorations. There is an error in there somewhere that causes one of the crashes on generation.

I will do my best. I been comparing mods side by side to spot inconsistencies and I will see if I noticed a terrain issues somewhere.

This Autumm terrain was added three times in a weight group for example that would in my theory increase the amount of Autumm generated 3 times more than any other terrain upon generation of RMG one of many side effects with this mod.

In general there is a few structures missing and that is Mithril Mine. I will try to weight this against flowrock quarry and Crystal tree.

Then water Sites in Shadow Realm and those on Surface will be weighted against new and old water sites.

 

[Refineus]

In general, all those bugs displayed in the logs in the first post is the following:

Wicked of the Flames is not generated = Depends on decodence rmg
All water sites start to appear again inside the shadow realm and generate themselves in the "void".

The logs complain that there is no unit sets available etc
[16:55:35][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:40][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:40][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210
[16:55:40][ERROR]Failed to generate any units from unit category 'SHIPVORTEX_GROUP_CAT', with a value of 210

This weekend I will structure new passes. The decodence rmg is very heavily integrated.

Another problem is that no sites except for Shadow weed and normal vanilla sites appear in the shadow realm.
Also same for all dwelling that they also appear again in the shadow realm.

I tried with the following mods:

Decodence Map (steam)
Shadow Realm mod (steam)
The last working Shadow RMG before my edits

 

[Refineus]

In general, I stumble with the disentanglement of the Decodence RMG. I simply need to clean everything and sort of start a new mod in order to really do this.

However, I have edited a version that simply successfully overrides the Decodence changes with all four mods intact. When we update the main branch the following things will happen:

- Autumm and Tundra is no longer generated.
- Foundry and Tomb of Les Mighty (unsure about the name?) no longer generates on the map.
- Wicked flame of Graunth spawns one version for surface (red) and one version for Shadow Realm (blue)
- Mithril mine will spawn in the Underground. In every map, generated there was at least 2-3 or three in every map far from each other.
- Raven holme will spawn in both surface and shadow realm. The building will adjust itself automatically on the shadow realm terrain to blend in with the terrain.
- Circus Tent still spawns. I think it's possible to disentangle in the same way as other buildings. Its however weighted with the Inn.

A few notes I have not touched anything else related to the previous updates. I discovered however following:

- Shadow Gates still spawn in water, in mountains and hidden in dense vegetations. I tried some things resulting in no difference.
- Shadow Weed spawns sometimes in clusters of 3, sometimes there is like 6 or 15 other shadow weed very close to each other.
- Shadow Gates some times spawns next to each other and connectors on the corresponding surface/underground as well.

- This is displayed in the log.
[11:33:33][ERROR]Assertion failed: "(FOverlay->GetGeoType() != eHexLGGeographicType_Land)||FOverlay->GetAllowObjects()"
[11:34:05]Message: Structure on invalid terrain detected: Visit - Shadow Portal Entrance. Position: (81,4).

 

[Refineus]

Okay, so I have finally managed to create a non "Decodence RMG" mod that is bug-free and is in the same current state as the one uploaded at steam.

I believe in march when I cleaned up everything in the mod editor I will have a version of the Shadow RMG mod that only depends on Decodence Map Content and Shadow Realm mod content

 

[Rodmar18]

I believe in march when I cleaned up everything in the mod editor I will have a version of the Shadow RMG mod that only depends on Decodence Map Content and Shadow Realm mod content

When done, what if players activate Decodence RMG on top of these? (presumably because they want to keep the possibility to toggle SR RMG on/off, for some reason). Will it be superseded, or will it supersede SR RMG? Or worst?

 

[HousePet]

SR RMG should still overwrite.

 

[Refineus]

When done, what if players activate Decodence RMG on top of these? (presumably because they want to keep the possibility to toggle SR RMG on/off, for some reason). Will it be superseded, or will it supersede SR RMG? Or worst?

Don't know. Have not tried yet.

Still in the process of fixing a new version. So far I fixed floating treasury chest from spawning on the ground in the Shadow Realm.

I generated an XL map with Shadow Realm and Underground it seems to work.

However a few concerns.

1. Water seems to be relative and generate against the void.
2. Wetlands and Beach hexes also generate against the void. Which is not so appealing.
3. Building seems to favour the edges against the void more than necessary.
4. Then a few paths generate weirdly with wetland paths and beach hexes. See map by sparrowdale.

Except for floating chests, there is not so much difference over the steam version.

 

[HousePet]

Yeah I need to give it another big adjustment.
I spent a lot of time trying to get the water site placement to stop being silly, and didn't really get very far. So I didn't get around to trying to fix the paths at all.

 

[Rodmar18]

However a few concerns.

1. Water seems to be relative and generate against the void.
2. Wetlands and Beach hexes also generate against the void. Which is not so appealing.
3. Building seems to favour the edges against the void more than necessary.
4. Then a few paths generate weirdly with wetland paths and beach hexes.

Yeah I need to give it another big adjustment.
I spent a lot of time trying to get the water site placement to stop being silly, and didn't really get very far. So I didn't get around to trying to fix the paths at all.

I like these maps, and although non optimal, I don't find the placement of void to be too much obfuscating and immersion-breaking. Think about how terrain and buildings can be set against impassable water (high cliffs, etc).

As for beaches/barrens, void is an overlay derived from water if I'm not wrong; couldn't you have a special terrain/overlay derived from barrens that would behave like beaches against void hexes? We could name it "fringe" or "liminal", and it would get a hefty movement cost because shadows become more solid there, if possible to discriminate from true barrens.

Another silly thought: if Shadow Realm is a climate, and void is an overlay that appears only on Shadow Realm climate, then you end with void behaving like water, and barrens/wetlands behaving the same relative to void as to water. But what if you made void yet another climate (with but one overlay: void)? Or is it the case already? I mean, is (any overlay on) Artic climate behaving anything specially relative to (any overlay but water on) Temperate climate, for instance?

 

[Refineus]

It's done. I removed the dependency of Decodence RMG mod successfully.

Only three mods required.

I updated the main acp file of the content here.
D:\Dropbox (AOW III content)\AoW3-Shadow-Realm-expansion\mods\RMG

Feel free to work on the mod now HousePet

I might start to assist little on the Shadow Realm when I got time

 

[HousePet]

Well done.
I'm still working on another little project that got a bit bigger than I intended, but it is almost done.