Total War: Warhammer 3 Custom Units Guide

Overview

This guide details the process of creating custom units for Total War: Warhammer 3 mods, focusing on adapting existing units and managing tables, models, icons, and database entries with practical workflow advice and key modding considerations.

Choosing and Designing the Custom Unit

• Decide if your custom unit closely follows or differs from existing game units.
• Base design choices on personal preference, intended faction, and desired gameplay balance.
• Use reference units (e.g., Chameleon Stalkers) for stats, models, and conceptual direction.

Creating and Importing Models and Textures

• Modify existing unit models in a 3D editor; minor changes include adding weapons or adjusting body parts.
• Customize heads for randomization, considering graphical settings that may limit visible variants.
• Import models into the game using Rusted Pack File Manager and link with appropriate variant mesh definitions.
• Prepare and import UI icons, matching style and theme; multiple icon sizes are needed for various UI contexts.

Setting Up Database Tables

• Work through database tables alphabetically or by using templates from previous units.
• Key tables to edit include audio/voiceover, battle entities (movement, size, type), and building units allowed (recruitment buildings).
• Assign appropriate attrition immunities and military generator unit quality.
• Set unit animations in culture-to-battle animation tables, ensuring proper faction animation support.

Configuring Land Units and Main Units Tables

• Use reference units for baseline stats and descriptions.
• Set primary weapons and audio types by creating new weapon entries if necessary.
• Assign appropriate attributes and groupings from source units.
• Ensure main units table includes proper linking, campaign caps, UI group icons, and unique indexes.

Weapon, Projectile, and Visual Linking

• Create new entries for melee and missile weapons, ensuring correct audio, visuals, and stats.
• Edit projectile tables for ranged units, including damage types and visual/audio effects.
• Use UI bullet point tables for unit descriptors seen by players.

Campaign and Faction Integration

• Edit unit-to-custom-battle-permission and grouping military permission tables for campaign and custom battle availability.
• Check variant tables for model scaling and variation, using reference units for parameters.
• Properly name and link all unit references across tables for consistency.

Editing Localization and Text

• Add or edit relevant localization keys for unit names and descriptions (on-screen and concealed).
• Prepare language files under local packs for display in various languages.

Managing Attributes and Abilities

• For unique attributes, use unit attributes and unit attributes to groups junction tables.
• For abilities, configure unit abilities and unit special abilities tables, then link to units via land units to unit abilities tables.
• Use reference guides for advanced ability handling, such as unlock levels and custom mechanics.

Recommendations / Advice

• Use consistent naming conventions for ease of reference and troubleshooting.
• Reference existing similar units for smooth integration and to avoid balance issues.
• Consult community guides, such as those by Chrysoir, for clarification on intricate modding tables.
• Clean up unused or duplicate entries before finalizing the mod to avoid conflicts.

Questions / Follow-Ups

• Check if additional tables are needed when adding new abilities or attributes specific to your unit.
• Consider requests for multi-language support based on user feedback.