Hello everyone.

In this tutorial I'll go over exactly what you want to do if you're not big on modding and unaware how to use the Pack File Manager to make edits and such but really dislike something I've made. Like a helmet you hate or crest you find overkill. Etc. You can remove it and proceed having fun.

Mod in question is my new one = https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1549646017 So you can tailor it to fit your needs if you dislike anything I've included.

I'll be attaching a document at the end that I've made containing a long list of everything I've used in my mod. ID's used to insert into the variant files. Its not a super well detailed list. Just enough to give myself an overview of the most important stuff. Prototype stuff lol but hey. It gives you a clear idea of what is going on and a 98 % overview of helmets and crests that I've used ( there are more that I didn't include nor list because I disliked them. Small and simple stuff.)

Anyway. Lets begin :)

Step Nr 1: Get the shogun 2 pack file manager. I use 5.0.2 version which is probably outdated but thats just what I use. First extract the pack file manager from the zip folder and put it somewhere you like. I just have a folder called " Modding Tools". Then you want to run the program called = PackFileManager.exe

First time you run this program you'll be asked to sort out the pathfinding. A box will appear for each total war game. If you only want to edit Shogun 2 = Just decline rome 2, atilla etc etc and accept Shogun 2. Then navigate to the library = Computer - C files- program 86 - Steam - steamapps- common - shogun 2- data. And done. You will only be asked to do this 1 time. It remembers thereafter.

Step Nr 2: Have a clear overview of these 3 things.
1- Mods always go into your data folder in your shogun 2 directory in Steam.

2- Beware modding variant mesh files for too long because in my experience it eats a lot of memory and can suddenly crash your program. I dunno why but it happens. So after every 2-3 edits, I recommend you save. Its a bit tedious but it might be my version of the program causing these issues. Either way, saving often is a good idea : )

3- Finesse. Make sure that you insert the correct text without spaces infront or behind when editing. A simple spacebar click can make the entire mesh unreadable. So be aware of what you copy / paste and such. Double checking is a good idea.

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Okay. Lets get to an example thatll detail everything you can replicate:

----------------------------Finding the mod and files using the Manager------------------------------

Step Nr 3: I want to edit my mod. The antler helmet looks like♥♥♥♥♥♥ What was Ben thinking. I'm a samurai. Not a ♥♥♥♥ing deer. ( Joking ofc. Antlers are ♥♥♥♥ing awesome! SANADA!)

- Open Pack File Manager.

- click on Files

- Click on Open and then click on the mod you want to edit. In this case = TheShogunsFinestSamuraimod.pack

Good. Now you'll see the some files appear in the upper left area of the manager.
TheShogunsFinestSamuraimod.pack
And below it a + box. Click that to see more files.

Now you'll see stuff like:
battleterrain
db
UI
Variantmodels

You ONLY need variantmodels. So leave the rest alone. -- Lets continue.

Click on the little box again for models and then again for Units.
Then you'll see a long row of unit names appear. Ashigaru, bla bla. At the bottom of this long list is where my units are.

So we scroll to the bottom now.

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-------------------------- Time to actually make the edit to the unit.-----------------------------------

Then you'll see the following units that you will want to make edits to.

You can see their names to figure out which are what. For instance:
Samurai_inf_bow_hero_soldier_unit_variant is the Bow Hero.

Now. We want to remove the Antler crest from its helmets. We do this by doing the following part:

left click on No Dachi hero (because bow dont have antlers)

Click " Continue" if you get an error message.

Then youll see all the parts of the unit. Arms, crests, hands, heads, helmets etc. ALL of these contain small edits you can add to or remove easily. Good stuff.

Now, you''ll left click on Crests
Then you'll see another long list appear with names and stuff that makes no sense.
NOT TO WORRY... because I'll upload a link to a document that has most of what I use. I say most because some things I just memorized but its only 1-2 % of the stuff. So dont worry.

For removing antlers we want to scan for the ID called =
variantmodels\unitparts\japan\crests\achievment_crest16\mesh

To the right of the Mesh ID youll see a similar one that ends with Texture. Both are necessary to make edits work. Just some extra info.

So. How do we delete this? easy. You right click on the ID and then say:
"Remove Texture and Mesh Reference"

And tada. Antlers are removed.
Then you gotta left click on another unit for instance = yari Hero. And you'll see the No dachi unit change its color from White to RED. That means a change has happened. Then you know you can save it. And you save your changes by clicking on File and selecting Save.

The End. Congratulations.
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EXTRA INFO. If you ever decide to make a small change or add new things you must be aware of 1 little thing.

ALWAYS right click and select Add Mesh and Texture Reference. EVEN if you dont need it. WHy ? because the manager is good at not recognizing changes made to existing references.

So if you got an id called = Bla bla bla AntlerX, But you need it to be called bla bla bla Antler.
WITHOUT the X ... then upon trying to save the mod, you'll see no change. Its annoying.

You can always avoid this reset from happening if you just add a new texture and mesh reference. You can just remove it afterwards.
What matters is that the manager registers that a change has happened. Turning the unit file from White to RED. Thats the important part.

And yeah. Thats it. The document Ill upload here will show you all sorts of ID's so you can edit in or remove stuff easily. Therefor not having to get annoyed by possibly designs I've made and asking me to remove them.

Most prominently. The big golden Maedate helmet. It fits Tokugawa quite well, BUT it screws with every other clan because it doesn't adapt its color to that of Takeda ( red) or Date ( blue)



But yeah. The helmet ID is in the document here = https://www.mediafire . com/file/rl1rrpui8bh2whu/List_over_ID%27s_for_Elite_Mod..txt/file

NOTE = I had to put space between mediafire and punctuation and com because it was censoring the link.

It contains a few personal details and reminders haha. So you can laugh at that. Hardly professional. Made this simultaneously as I was modding.


Happy modding everyone. Let me know if you have any questions.

I'm not a professional modder. I'm just a casual editor that figured out some cool stuff but I can try to help :)