Grandpa's Grumblings

There are only a few files in the gui folder directly.  Most of the files are found in the two sub-folders, flash and maps. This article describes the res_mods/0.7.x/gui/flash directory and some of the files that it includes.

But first, let’s take a look at what is in the gui folder.

• avatar_input_handler.xml – defines the zoom levels on the map.  Used for the Zoom Map mode
• gui_colors.xml – defines colors used on the battle screen, mostly OTM markers.
• messenger.xml – defines the after battle messages you see in the garage.  This one shows them in different colors depending on outcome.
• minimap.xml – defines colors and actions on the minimap

Here is an example of the directory listing.

• battle.swf – is the main program to display the other files during a battle.  It defines location of other components.
• BattleArtefactButtons.swf – displays the artifacts or equipment components
• Battleloading.swf – displays the teams while loading the battle information.  Mod doesn’t mirror the icons, so that my vehicle icons by Grepa show correctly.  I use Grepa’s clear color, F.S.R icons, discussed in more detail in Maps article.
• BattleMessenger.swf – chat screen
• BattleShellCooldownButton.swf – shows reloading of shell, includes larger text in all shell areas and custom shell icons.
• crosshair_panel_arcade.swf – normal sight
• crosshair_panel_sniper.swf – zoom to sniper mode
• crosshair_sniper.swf – crosshair for both sniper and arcade mode
• crosshair_panel_strategic.swf – Artillery
• crosshair_strategic.swf – Artillery
• crosshair_panel_postmortem.swf – After our killed
• DamageIndicator.swf – indicates where you are taking damage on the tank, the mod show damage as red, hits that bounce as yellow.
• DamagePanel.swf – from Zayaz’s Battle Screen mod.  Shows tank indicator and then moves the HP indicator down under the ammo and artifact bar.  Makes it easier for me to see.
• DebugPanel.swf – Marsoff’s mod, adds the clock
• PlayersPanel.swf – Grepa’s mod for removing the mirror effect of vehicle icons.  Shows player name, tank, and vehicle icon.
• ScopeShadow.swf – can remove the shadow, or display it in various levels of opaqueness
• ServiceMessageItemRenders.swf
• StatisticsForm.swf
• TankIndicator.swf
• TrainingInfoForm.swf
• TrainingOwnerInfoForm.swf
• VehicleMarkdersManager.swf – displays the custom Over Tank Markers

Files for Specific Mods

• BattleTimer.swf – used by DAR Strategic Crosshair sights for shell loading and time to target display
• DARGunSettings.xml – used to define the DAR Strategic Croshairs
• DPData.xml – used by Zayaz Battle Screen to define the DamagePanel text
• IconLibrary.swf – used with messenger.xml for icons within the messages
• OTMData.xml – used to define the Over Tank Markers
• TL.txt – used for some damage panel definitions

Battle Screen

I hope this helps to explain some of the mod files within the gui directory. Next will be the Maps directory..

Most of these mods are done by a player named MAS629.  He does great work and they come from the Russian web sites.  I have only compiled them, did not do any of the modding work. There are screenshots of his work following the text.

Content mods are all static.  Meaning that once loaded, they do not change in game. But these are high definition, so they may increase loading time or decrease FPS rate in game.  I use them on a laptop occasionally, but have never tested to see if they do cause FPS issues.  Some have a different model that the game, for example the trucks have cargo.

First of all let’s take a look at what is in the content directory. You will see the following sub-directories:

• Environment: Contains structures and vehicles seen in the environment of the game.  mostly vehicles, but also buildings and signs, etc.  In my mods, I only do the vehicles.  There are texture mods that modify all the structures and are used for low FPS computers to enhance loading.  I use those on my laptop, but they are not included here.
• Interface: This is where the hangar (garage) mods go.  I have two included in the compilation, they are the US Army premium hangar and the US base hangar. The US base hangar is decorated with recruiting posters from WWII.
• Military: Military static vehicles.  Here I have included the two versions of the motorcycle and the willy’s jeep.
• Railway: This is the mod that got it all started.  It makes the railway cars much easier to see.  In normal game, I was constantly bashing into railway cars since they were so hard to see.  With this they are not.

Environment

Interface

Military

Railway

Download Content Mods

A minor modification of Drongo’s clean hangar to add 7th AD clan emblems and a few more embellishments.

Download Here

This is a brief description of audio mods and the audio directory within World of Tanks.

Most important thing to remember is to copy your entire World_of_Tanks/res/audio directory to res_mods/7.2/audio prior to modding. Then install all mods into the res-mods/7.2/audio folder.  Change 7.2 to the current version of WoT.

Now for what’s in the directory.

For this example we will be discussing directory contents and an audio mod that is a compilation of various mods. It has the in-game voice and GUI sounds from Modern Warfare mod, the hits and weapons sounds from an older mod, and the vehicle sounds from the FHV3.6 mod, using the Tiger tanks sounds. It can be downloaded here.

There are two sets for each file, .fev and .fsb files.  One is the queue for events in WoT, the other is the actual sound files. When you install a mod, there should be two files with the appropriate extensions.

• Ambient files are the sounding sounds, wind, rain, birds, arty explosions, aircraft sounds, etc.  In the mod it plays aircraft and other sounds of the battlefield
• GUI files are the sounds for the gui interface, countdown clicks, the notification sound when someone clicks Attention to and Targeting, etc.  The mod changes this to radio traffic between the air observation platform and the ground artillery, so instead of a beeping sound you hear actual wartime radio traffic. When your loader has reloaded a shell, he says “UP” or some form of UP, sometimes “re-up”, sometimes “batter-up”.
• Hits files are the sounds of your projectile hitting an object, either another tank or some object in the environment.  The modified sounds are more realistic.
• Horns files to best of my knowledge are no longer used.
• Ingame_voice files are the notifications from your crew.  The mod uses the voices and commands adopted by US M1A2 crews.  When you hit a tank, but do not destroy it, the crew says “re-engage” when you destroy it the crew says “cease fire”. I found this to be easier to track within game, not as much chatter from crew and once you recognize the commands, they become very familiar. Another good voice mod is the Duke Nukem mod.  It is very adult oriented, but adds plenty of flavor and humor to the game.
• Music files are just that in game music.  There are many mods out there to change the music, but I kind of like the in-game stuff.
• Objects files are sounds of objects being destroyed or banked into.
• Vehicle files are engine and other sounds associated with the vehicles.  The sounds in the mod are from FHV3.6 and are based on a Tiger tank.  I find them just a little deeper with a background transmission noise.  Lower level tanks have that rattling sound.  In all they are better than the stock stuff in my opinion.
• Weapons files are the sounds of weapons being fired.  The modified files are more realistic.

There are various other mods out there, in fact the FHV3.6 mod has GUI, hits, weapons, and vehicles included.  Duke Nukem is a good “adult” voice mod, and I found numerous music mods, check out the NA forums under Modifications for more.

This article was to just give an overview of the AUDIO Folder and how to mod.  It is not meant to be in-depth or inclusive.  Hope it helps..

My Audio Compilation

• GUI Sounds: From Modern Warfare Sounds Mod.  It has the “Up”, “Re-Up”, and “Batter Up” sounds for reloaded.  Has the actual radio calls for Attention to Sector notifications.
• In-game voice: The Team Fortress 2, “Heavy” character sound track.  Russian accent, but nice work. Start of game; Die Cowards, Here I come, Hide Cowards, Its coward killing time, Kill them all, good idea. When you hit a tank; Boom, Your no match for this. When you miss a tank; Its not possible, Aww.  When you are hit; Help, AWWG, This is not good. When you kill a tank; Why do they send babies to fight, Die Coward.
• Music: Uses the Noble Platoon music mod for battle ground sounds. Game has 1940s music in hangar and at start of game.  During game music is replaced with battle sounds; machine guns, random rifle fire, artillery sounds, aircraft flying over and strafing.
• Vehicles: Using Noble Platoons vehicle mod, version 4b, continental engine sounds.  Has the Maybach for German tanks, continental for American, and the sounds of tracks.  He also has a version for the allison engine, but I prefer he continental sound. May need to go into settings and lower vehicle volume, I did and it sounds better.
• Hits and Weapons: Not sure where I got this one, but it vastly improves all the weapon firing sounds and the hits on a tank.

Download here.

This is an additional download.  It is an xml file that turns on the enemy identification (enemy spotted) notice in version 7.3.  Has the Russian saying “Time to hide coward” or “Time to run coward” when an enemy is spotted by another tank on the map.

Spotting

Some sound file links…

Team Fortress Sounds

Duke Nukem Sound Mod

Nobleplatoon’s Vehicle Sounds

I just found this skin on the Russian web site (Drongo-Lab.Ru) and love it.  It’s the best skin mod I have ever seen. It was done by a player with the in-game name of Torsys. If you look closely in the last snapshot, in front of the M18, you will see a modified PZFW IV and a STUGIII.  Both with side skirts and the IV has skirts on the turret.  These are also skins and mods by Torsys.

DOWNLOAD