SS6.4: How to change start dates?

[The Void Boy]

To preface this, I don't mean changing between Early and Late era campaigns via the setup tool.

Is there a way to change the Early Campaign start date by editing the text files?
I tried something small by editing Descr_strat file to start the campaign on 1120 AD instead of 1100 AD. I started a new campaign and nothing. It still starts at 1100 AD no matter what I do.

[Gigantus]

That should have worked,provided you did in the data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign folder as well as the data\campaign\early\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign directory - you will however need to start a new campaign.

[Red Spot]

Does the mod come repacked or with 'file first' flag? If it is repacked you in effect have to set up a mod for modding the mod .. if that makes sense :D

[Gigantus]

Files in the world directory are originally 'unpacked' and can be edited at any time without needing the file_first line in the CFG file.

And it's Stainless Steel....

[Inardesco]

You have to open the SS launcher and then set the different time period in there and choose between Early and Late.

[Gigantus]

He doesn't want to change the era, just the date of the era, in this case the early era.

Early starts 1100, he wants 1120
Late starts 1220

[Red Spot]

Is that not the cause he can not change it? Cause some launcher resets it? (SS Launcher? They needed one of those in 1940-45 .....)

[Gigantus]

The launcher in SS actually has a function unlike the outdated 'official' launcher (unless your date referred to a mod): with it you can change a number of settings like type of AI, permanent arrows - that type of stuff. It also let's you choose between late and early campaign. It's basically a scripted shuffle, splicing, adding of files.
But you can't change the starting date, that you have to do manually. In the main AND the backup\source file.

[Inardesco]

But could it be that SS also changes the start date through script upon manual change?

Or is it simply the OP not using the readme only function?

[The Void Boy]

Ok I was able to get it done. Thanks for your help.

Now my only question is: if I set the game to start at 1120 instead of 1100 would every event still happen on their intended date or their intended year+20 years?

[Inardesco]

That depends on how those events are listed in the script.

If they are listed with years, then they will remain the same.
If they are listed with turn number, then they will happen at the turn.

[The Void Boy]

Well according descr_events, the first Lateran Council is supposed to happen on "Date 24". I assumed that meant 1124. If that means turn 24, all this may have been pointless; because I started a game and played the first 10 turns (1130) and didn't see that event at all.

[Inardesco]

That means turn yeah.

[The Void Boy]

So would tediously subtracting 20 from every event solve my problem? And if I succeed, would I have to restart?

[FizzyElf]

Originally posted by The Void Boy:

So would tediously subtracting 20 from every event solve my problem? And if I succeed, would I have to restart?

On the subject of subtracting, that could work but test one or two events first as you don't want to edit every single turn event and then the events decide not to show up. As for restart, yes, you can try to play a campaign you've already started without much issue but you probably won't see any of the edits you've made so its a good idea to start a fresh campaign to make sure your edits have the best chance of working/being seen in action.

[Gigantus]

In the script turn numbers are used, in descr_events it's years (fires in the first turn after winter). Which means events will still happen at the preset number of turns\years, just 20 years later as the start is now 20 years later.

And yes, it would be tedious work to reduce those numbers - not sure what you would do with numbers below 20, have those events take place all in the first turn? That can be massively annoying. Skipping these events isn't much of an option unless you know which ones will be referenced in the EDB or later in the script.

Note: turn 0 (zero) is the start turn.