Do we still need a Civ IV editor like Civ III?

Do we still need a point and click editor like Civ III had, but for Civ IV?
I spent about 15 minutes and wipped up a quick little dynamic advanced XML editor already. Before I spend any amount of time continuing onto the harder part of making a nice point and click front end for everything, I would like to know if this is still something that is needed by many people. It is not a trivial task, but one I am willing and able to undertake if it is desired.

The one I might continue (if so desired and/or needed by others as will be seen by this poll) will dynamically create the GUI (Graphical User Interface - i.e. the point and click stuff like check boxes, menus, etc. - think CivIII editor) for any valid Civ4 XML. It dynamically creates the GUI on the fly allowing for even Modded XML files to be loaded, viewed and editted with a ncie user interface. It has two modes - advanced which gives direct access to the XML files, and Designer mode with point and click stuff like the CivIII editor for the average Joe.

I am taking this poll because there may be something people are using, or they are just not interested in having something like this any more. So, let me know!

Speaking as someone who is rather involved in editing civ 3 and playing civ 4 at the moment, I would say that I would not consider getting involved with civ 4 modding until a decent editor program was made. Many of the people still involved in civ 3 modding would say the same. That's not to say the XML and Python etc. capacities of civ 4 are not welcome, but that many people are not willing to attempt a mod with them.

I would assume that most people who are already involved with modding civ 4 would have little use for an editor, since they must already have an idea of how to manipulate the code below.

Keroro said:

Speaking as someone who is rather involved in editing civ 3 and playing civ 4 at the moment, I would say that I would not consider getting involved with civ 4 modding until a decent editor program was made. Many of the people still involved in civ 3 modding would say the same. That's not to say the XML and Python etc. capacities of civ 4 are not welcome, but that many people are not willing to attempt a mod with them.

I would assume that most people who are already involved with modding civ 4 would have little use for an editor, since they must already have an idea of how to manipulate the code below.

Click to expand...

i'd like it, since the new one is really hard for me to figure out. on the other hand, it would take a lot of effort, and i have been able to find help in these forums to do just about everything i would do anyway. in civ2, i was comfortable enough with the rules.txt, but that was back in the easy days.

Wow that says it. The vast majority wish the great options menu from CIv3 was still available, instead of having to wait for a mod to match a certain criteria of personal prefence.

Im surprised the level of people who were unaware they could adjust corruption levels back then. THose that understood the BIC are still playing both games. Its a great tool

There's actually already free XML editors out there.

I still prefer good old Notepad, though. I'm old school.

I still havent figured out all there is to edit with the world builder but I still dont know how to create a map without first starting a game. Running pure vanilla I have to start a game before I can go in and edit a world which I find a little odd. Then Im stuck with the civs that were randomly picked for that world. Im sure Im doing something wrong.

So far it looks like I won't be wasting my time...that's good I agree that there are a lot of free XML editors available. I even have XML Spy 2007 Ent. Ed. that I use...but it is just a cumbersome waste of time to find, modify and validate everything by hand when I know I could just check a box. So, that is what I am going for with this project - user ease (I hate validating the XML - since they use the Microsoft schemas instead of industry standard W3C XML schemas with the proper .xsd file extension my head hurts validating this stuff because my normal editors throw fits when I try to use the Microsoft stuff).

I remember back when I used to play Civ III a lot, I made quite a few custom maps, because the editor was easy to understand/use. Every time I go into Civ IV and decide I want to create a map, I'm discouraged because I don't understand many of the concepts of editing the XML and whatnot. An easier editor would be much appreciated

am ok with the xml free editors but i would have preferred that the game had an editor like Civ 3 but way more advanced so yes an easier editor would be very helpfull and usefull and very appreciated too

Civ IV can be edited? I didn't know that. I knew that Python allowed mods to be made, but I'm not any kind of programmer. I don't even know how to open Python, let alone how to modify it.

I would prefer a Civ IV editor so that I can take one of the great mods out there and put my own stamp on it if you like. I want easy editing and easy addition, sort of like the tick and flick of C3C where the editor allowed you to set up units to do various things, etc, fairly easily. Without it I will just be playing MaxRiga Mod without any real idea of how to change a few of the things that annoy me.

Sorry this is out of nowhere , I looked up Civ3 in Wikipedia. I found that a sub contracted devloper hired on only for Conquests, (dropped for CIv4)was an award winning US military combat stratgey developer! I wonder if / Break away Games had anything to do with the improved editer from Ptw. I bet for sure they had a hand in making those Conquest scenarios vastly supieror to those ones that were included in Warlords.

Just a thought

I don't do modding so I don't need one. The modders are the folks that might need an editor. I do use world builder though, is that considered an editor? That is enough of an editor for my needs.

Ben: No, I don't have plans on doing a map editor at this time. This would be soley for the XML files. The XML files decide things such as:

-- minimum population required for a "we love the king day"

-- setting the button image or a keyboard hotkey to "fortify" a unit

-- the time it takes for a worker to build a road

-- whether a unit can steal plans, or be invisible to the other players

-- set a unit's power

-- edit the civilipedia

-- modify wonders

...and other such things. The XML's manipulate pretty much almost everything. It doesn't do maps, program AI, or make buttons for you, as far as I have seen.

It was not very difficult for me to understand XML code. However, when I edit XML, I afraid I might delete some impornant parts of the code, and not be able to restore it. So, my option is that the game certainly needs an XML editor.

WE NEED A GOOD EDITOR!, not the one in the game now, worldbuilder. Civ III's editor was great and I think Firaxis should add one in the next expansion
without a doubt

Yes, please do add an editor that can be used similar to C3C, Firaxis if at all possible...

No, the Civ3 editor couldn't even do some of the key things that the Civ2 rules.txt and events.txt files could do.