Originally Posted at the BtS Info Center
More game mechanics have been exposed to XML and Python, making it possible to do things that you couldn’t previously do with just Civ4. You can now completely alter the look of the interface, and have civilization-specific graphics for the same unit.

Is it just me, or does this seem like one of the biggest leaps forward in BtS? This sounds like the most promising feature in the whole expansion. Perhaps an editor is even on the horizon, if not by Sid and crew, at least by modders, since this would make it much easier.

Yeah, the only downside to this is that it will probably make it harder to update a mod for BtS...

But I think the tradeoff in moddability will be worth it.

Cheers,
ripple01

and have civilization-specific graphics for the same unit.
I never noticed that part before... i wonder if they are going to do anything with it in the main game?

I would like that very much, like in Total Realism. Maybe this means they've also implemented civ-specific great people??? :mischief:

So we can get different looking swordsmen for each Civ who have the exact same functions without having to clone the unit (with unnecessary Civilopedia entries and possibly memory issues to boot) and turn them into "unique" units?

Kewl.

[edit] For more content: I believe the modding will still be ultimately code-based, but maybe with a few more thingamajiggers accessible.

I would like that very much, like in Total Realism. Maybe this means they've also implemented civ-specific great people??? :mischief:

that keeps you out of the job!

my hope is they reduce some XML files to make it easier moddable.

Not really, 'cause I'm sure they wouldn't do it "right". :D

As I understand it, there will be more XML files, or else they will get bigger, because they're exposing more features to XML to make it easier to mod.

Well supposedly some of the scenarios included with BtS are supposed to be greatly different in both looks and gameplay compared to standard Civ so I guess they would be good examples of what could be done with modding in BtS.