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Having issues with NCF Utility? Come by and check if this can help!

Posted by on - Basic Starting a mod

How it works

When installing the app make sure it is deployed in Heroes V installation folder.

Every time the app is launched make sure it is "run as administrator" to prevent issues with core and pack deployment due to not having sufficient privileges.

Getting creature packages

When launching the app for the first time you will notice that there are no creature packs installed.
Go ahead to the online store, update the package list and select some. They will be downloaded and prepared for deployment. Currently the NCF utility supports 2 official packs Legacy and Chaos where the second one includes all creatures from the legacy pack + more. The legacy pack itself is what it says "Legacy". People that are around for a long time may remember it under the name "NCF Megapak".

online dl

Installing a core package

When the package is ready, go ahead and switch to the local repository. You will notice that the previously downloaded pack is now available but the "Install" option is disabled. This means that the NCF Utility detects that the game is not compatible with NCF. To make it such install a Core package that corresponds to the Heroes V version that you have. Core package includes all exe files for all Heroes V versions that it supports (ToTe, RC9 and RC10). If by any means they are deleted from the app storage (/NCF utility/core) you have to install the app again.

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Installing a creature package

Once core is deployed, creature pack "Install" option will become available. Select it. On the next page you will be asked to choose which creatures from the pack to install. You can select them one by one or just choose "Select all" option to use the full package. Once a decision is made select "Deploy" and wait for operation to finish.

Populating a Map with NCF creatures

Now when creatures are available they should be imported in a map. This can be done in one of two ways:

- Manually - by opening a map with the editor /found in /bin/*Editor_NCF*.exe (any exe that says NCF and Editor in its name)/.

- Automatically - by using MapMixer utility. Make sure "NCF" box is ticked. Regarding to the quantity of creatures on the map in comparison to faction owned creatures use the following options to alter the ratio (note: NCF creatures are all neutral):

Neutral reduction: Reduce chance of neutral creatures (not belonging to a faction) to be placed on map. Can be left to default setting for a 'normal' result. ChanceToPlace / townsCount / (creaNeutralReduction + 1)

mixed stacks: the % of placements that will be replaced with a mixed neutral stack.



Playing the game with NCF

Once the map is ready go ahead and open a new game through one of the NCF exes in Bin directory.
For MMH5.5 mode use mmh55_64_NCF.exe or MMH55_Utility_64_NCF.exe.
For ToTe use H5_Game.NCF.exe.

Removing NCF

If you want to remove all NCF creatures and cores, just click on the "purify" button it will remove any trace of NCF on your game.

FAQ and troubleshooting notes

Q: Package download does not complete?
A: The game/app is probably installed in the system drive so the app cannot save/deploy the file. Right click the app -> Run as Administrator will fix it.

Q: Selected a Core package but package "install" option remains disabled?
A: The game/app is probably installed in the system drive so the app cannot save/deploy the file. Right click the app -> Run as Administrator will fix it.

Q: I selected Deploy but nothing happened?
A: The game/app is probably installed in the system drive so the app cannot save/deploy the file. Right click the app -> Run as Administrator will fix it.

Q: But...
A: You did not run the app as administrator.

Q: Heroes V crashed while starting a new NCF map.
A: due to a lack of LOD files for most of the creature memory consumption will increase. Make sure that the _64 bit exe file is used.

Q: When I open the app it says that one of the packs is broken. What should I do?
A: Check if you run it as administrator. If you did and still have the issue you probably messed with the app files. Go ahead and delete the pack folder in /NCF Utility/packs/

You can either extract it again from /NCF Utility/downloads where a zip of each download is kept or just re-deploy the pack from the online store.

Post comment Comments
Guest
Guest

i can't open the editor was unable to start correctly 0xc0000096
i manage to open the next editor but when i try to create a map it just close

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dredknight Author
dredknight

What OS do you use?

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radziu93
radziu93

NFC Utility configuration does not run on my Windows 10. It did install itselt, and yes, I installed it in my HOMM V game folder, and also yes - I run it as administrator. When I try to run it still nothing happens, but after a while system asks me if the program worked properly and offers me windows error resolving tool, so I assume somehow app crashes/closes itself right after I run it. What can I do with this?

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onemorespam
onemorespam

Maybe try create shortcut and set there in properties run in compatibility mode with older versions of windows?

You should install in "Heroes 5/Tribes of the east" folder

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radziu93
radziu93

It is installed in tribes of the east directory and I tried to run it in compability mode with Windows 7, Vista and XP SP3. Still doesn't work :(

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onemorespam
onemorespam

My brothr successfully installed and run it on windows 10 so i guess you did something not correctly.
Even though we had issue when for some reason NCF was not putting its files to the game folder, installation completed but no NCF files were present in /bin or other folders
Complete reinstall to other folder helped
What we have done:
- Install HOMM5
- Patch to 3.1
- Install NCF - after this stage *NCF* .exe files should be present in /bin folder
- Run NCF and download Chaos pack
- Then install core and install Chaos pack
- Then when you run MMH55_Editor_64_NCF.exe you should see different new creatures on the panel to the right - this acknowledges everything went well
- Now you can use mapmixer utility to make creatures appear on some map

Also see comments below from Dreadknight if you use ARMG to generate maps
"Trying deleting index.bin file and RMGTemp folder in <heroes V game folder>/data and try again."

Hope this helps

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radziu93
radziu93

Well, I did it almost like you, with one diffrence. I installed "Heroes 5.5" mod before i tried to install NFC. On the mod page creators said those two mods are compatible. So I'm supppose those two mods just aren't actually compatible and nothing I can do about it..

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onemorespam
onemorespam

I laso have installed Heroes 5.5 mod before NCF so this should be cause of issue

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onemorespam
onemorespam

Few tips maybe helps someone:
- you should install this utility in "Tribes of the east" folder
- you should press "install core" button and confirm before trying to download package lists from "Online store" tab

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dredknight Author
dredknight

Spot on!

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onemorespam
onemorespam

Unfortunately i still can't get new creatures appear on the map, and after installation of packs they don't appear in the editor-> creatures ((

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dredknight Author
dredknight

Trying deleting index.bin file and RMGTemp folder in <heroes V game folder>/data and try again.

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Guest
Guest

Hi. Is there any possible way to replace some of the creatures with faction creatures?

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dredknight Author
dredknight

Hi,

NCF adds additional creatures to the ToTe faction creatures. I do not understand your question very well can you explain a bit more?

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Guest
Guest

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Guest
Guest

Also, when trying to create a map in Heroes 5 Map Editor NCF, it crashes before creating the map.

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dredknight Author
dredknight

When NCF is installed ARMG generator does not work. You have to uninstall NCF to be able to generate maps or keep a copy of the game without NCF.

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Guest
Guest

Hi, I have been trying to put down creatures on a map but it crashes.I couldn't find the NFC_Editor.exe so probably that's the problem. How can I place those creatures on a map?

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dredknight Author
dredknight

1. Create a map before deploying the Core and creatures.
2. Deploy core + creature packs
3. Use mapmixer on the map crated at point 1 to mix NCF inside.
4. Go and play!

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sphericalhorse3
sphericalhorse3

I'm do this but map was crashed. RC12a, used 64_ncf.exe
how can i fix that? Or RC 12 is not supported?

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sphericalhorse3
sphericalhorse3

Hey. I'm trying to put NCF in the game with Mapmixer, but it crasheed when i start the game in first 1-3 days. RC12a btw,start with 64_ncf exe as admin.
How can i fix this? Or RC 12 is not supported now?

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dredknight Author
dredknight

sphericalhorse3 RC12a is not supported for the moment though the issue you experience probably comes from elsewhere. Technically it should be working but the NCF Exe will be for RC11.

This project is currently in frozen development but it will be expanded at some point so stay tuned :).

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Guest
Guest

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captainLee
captainLee

hi,

Thank you for your NCF mod.
But in editor, i cannot add some new creatures to army slot. (created it, saved it and then it becomes [none] again)

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Guest
Guest

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Heros5k
Heros5k

Doesn't work anymore does it.

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