Mon May 16, 2016 12:07 am
johandenver2, the database contains all the information you listed in your second post and is the best official reference. You should be able to find the current database linked from the stickied post on the CW2 Mods forum. Don't let the word "database" scare you off, it's just an Excel spreadsheet.
Forgive me if I'm telling you something you already know or understand. Also, there is probably a different, more correct way of explaining what I'm about to, but I'll try to help anyway. The way I think of it, the model files are the elements that comprise the building blocks. The unit files reference the model files, and without at least one valid model a unit file doesn't work. A unit file can refer to several models (I don't know what limits there are, if any). Models do not refer to units.
The models you referenced were created to separate different types (elements) of line infantry. Some models have an upgrade path that references yet another model, and sometimes even a 3rd model upgrade. I haven't seen a chart that shows the progression for each model. Anyway, the stats between different types of models of similar types (say, line infantry) might differ slightly, and that's how the game keeps track of it.
The famleader, famline values are the way the game classifies the family of model. Family is what the game uses to decide build/replacement cost. The numbers in the unit file (I'm assuming that is what you were referencing) next to the family compute the number and type of families used by the unit, and links them to the model. I had an understanding of famleader, which is a little different, but it's been awhile. The families will (usually) correspond to the types of models referenced by the unit.
"Customnames=", a developer or possibly a beta tester could probably tell you more officially, but I *think* the unit file custom name will take precedence. It's been awhile since I messed with the game files so I can't be sure. But unit files taking precedence makes the most sense, since the same model files can be referred to multiple times by different unit files.
The brigades can be all over the map. One NY brigade might have one conscript element, one regular line infantry element, and one light artillery element. Another NY brigade only differs in that it has two regular line infantry instead of mixed conscript/regular.
The force pool: yes it can be modded, but it's usually done through scripting and event files. I think the scenario and event files will override the values that are in the unit(?) files.
I hope this helps somewhat.
-jm