HOW TO: Add a civic option to your game

Ralendil · Nov 7, 2005

Modifications: XML files
Files needed:

\Assets\xml\gameinfo\CIV4CivicInfos.xml
\Assets\xml\text\CIV4GameTextInfos_Objects.xml
\Assets\xml\text\CIV4GameText_Civilopedia_CivicsReligion.xml
\Assets\xml\text\CIV4GameText_Strategy.xml
\Assets\xml\text\CIV4GameTextInfos.xml

Purpose: Adding until 5 civic options to your game.

Introduction:

Ok... First you have to know that without making some modifications to the interface you will be able to add one line of civic option. By one line I mean one politic, one legal, one labor, one economic and one religious option.
Adding two lines will create some conflict with the pictures (I haven't tested it

).

Basically it is easy. All civic are built on same schema. So you can copy paste one and make some changes (like you want a new politic option you copy the hereditary rule section).

Off course you have to make some changes. Well let's talk about the file. First, all options begin with the line <CivicInfo> and end with the line </CivicInfo>. We take as exemple the Hereditary rule.

1. The entries in the main file CIV4CivicInfos.xml

<CivicOptionType>CIVICOPTION_GOVERNMENT</CivicOptionType>
The type of the civic option. Possible entries are: "CIVICOPTION_GOVERNMENT" ; "CIVICOPTION_LEGAL" ; "CIVICOPTION_LABOR" ; "CIVICOPTION_ECONOMY" ; "CIVICOPTION_RELIGION"
<Type>CIVIC_HEREDITARY_RULE</Type>
The valor that will use the game to refer to this civic option. This is only a valor, don't search a reference of this in the file you will never find it . You have to put a different name for each civic option, and never have 2 same names for two differents civic options.
<Description>TXT_KEY_CIVIC_HEREDITARY_RULE</Description>
This line refers to the description that will be used in the game. You can find these descriptions in the file \Assets\xml\text\CIV4GameTextInfos_Objects.xml.
Nota you can specify an entry that already exist.
<Civilopedia>TXT_KEY_CIVIC_HEREDITARY_RULE_PEDIA</Civilopedia>
The civilopedia entry that will be used in the game. The texts are in the file \Assets\xml\text\CIV4GameText_Civilopedia_CivicsReligion.xml.
Nota as above you can specify an entry that already exist.
You can disable the civilopedia reference by replacing the line by this: <Civilopedia/>.
<Strategy>TXT_KEY_CIVIC_HEREDITARY_RULE_STRATEGY</Strategy>
This refer to the advice displayed when you discover the civic option.
You can find these advices in the file: \Assets\xml\text\CIV4GameText_Strategy.xml.
Nota as above you can specify an entry that already exist.
<Button>,Art/Interface/Buttons/Civics/Hereditary_Rule.dds,Art/Interface/Buttons/Civics_Civilizations_Religions_Atlas.dds,3,3</Button>
This is the button that will be used in the civic option pannel when you choose an option. Simple way is to use an existing one. Copy one of the line and use it for your own civic option.
<TechPrereq>TECH_MONARCHY</TechPrereq>
The technology needed in order to see the civic option avalable.
The list of the technologies can be found in this file: \Assets\XML\Technologies\CIV4TechInfos.xml
<iAnarchyLength>1</iAnarchyLength>
Anarchy or no anarchy ? Possible options are: "0" ; "1"
<Upkeep>UPKEEP_MEDIUM</Upkeep>
The upkeep of the civic option. Possible options are: "UPKEEP_LOW" ; "UPKEEP_MEDIUM" ; "UPKEEP_HIGH" ; "NONE"
<WeLoveTheKing>TXT_KEY_CIVIC_WE_LOVE_DESPOT</WeLoveTheKing>
Nota: I put this line here even if it is the last line of a civic option, cause this is part of the important entries you have to pay attention of.
Here something important. For all CIVICOPTION_GOVERNMENT you have to specify a "We love the king" sentence. You can find these sentences here:
\Assets\xml\text\CIV4GameTextInfos.xml

The civic option that don't use the WeLoveTheKing sentences (all not CIVICOPTION_GOVERNMENT) will use this line instead: <WeLoveTheKing/>

The other entries will make your civic option different of the others. Here you have to test a little and see the impact of the game...

Code:

			<iAIWeight>0</iAIWeight>
			<iGreatPeopleRateModifier>0</iGreatPeopleRateModifier>
			<iStateReligionGreatPeopleRateModifier>0</iStateReligionGreatPeopleRateModifier>
			<iDistanceMaintenanceModifier>0</iDistanceMaintenanceModifier>
			<iNumCitiesMaintenanceModifier>0</iNumCitiesMaintenanceModifier>
			<iExtraHealth>0</iExtraHealth>
			<iFreeExperience>0</iFreeExperience>
			<iWorkerSpeedModifier>0</iWorkerSpeedModifier>
			<iImprovementUpgradeRateModifier>0</iImprovementUpgradeRateModifier>
			<iMilitaryProductionModifier>0</iMilitaryProductionModifier>
			<iBaseFreeUnits>0</iBaseFreeUnits>
			<iBaseFreeMilitaryUnits>0</iBaseFreeMilitaryUnits>
			<iFreeUnitsPopulationPercent>0</iFreeUnitsPopulationPercent>
			<iFreeMilitaryUnitsPopulationPercent>0</iFreeMilitaryUnitsPopulationPercent>
			<iGoldPerUnit>0</iGoldPerUnit>
			<iGoldPerMilitaryUnit>0</iGoldPerMilitaryUnit>
			<iHappyPerMilitaryUnit>0</iHappyPerMilitaryUnit>
			<bMilitaryFoodProduction>0</bMilitaryFoodProduction>
			<iMaxConscript>0</iMaxConscript>
			<bNoUnhealthyPopulation>0</bNoUnhealthyPopulation>
			<bBuildingOnlyHealthy>0</bBuildingOnlyHealthy>
			<iLargestCityHappiness>0</iLargestCityHappiness>
			<iWarWearinessModifier>0</iWarWearinessModifier>
			<iFreeSpecialist>0</iFreeSpecialist>
			<iTradeRoutes>0</iTradeRoutes>
			<bNoForeignTrade>0</bNoForeignTrade>
			<iCivicPercentAnger>0</iCivicPercentAnger>
			<bStateReligion>0</bStateReligion>
			<bNoNonStateReligionSpread>0</bNoNonStateReligionSpread>
			<iStateReligionHappiness>0</iStateReligionHappiness>
			<iNonStateReligionHappiness>0</iNonStateReligionHappiness>
			<iStateReligionUnitProductionModifier>0</iStateReligionUnitProductionModifier>
			<iStateReligionBuildingProductionModifier>0</iStateReligionBuildingProductionModifier>
			<iStateReligionFreeExperience>0</iStateReligionFreeExperience>
			<YieldModifiers/>
			<CapitalYieldModifiers/>
			<TradeYieldModifiers/>
			<CommerceModifiers/>
			<CapitalCommerceModifiers/>
			<SpecialistExtraCommerces/>
			<Hurrys/>
			<SpecialBuildingNotRequireds/>
			<SpecialistValids/>
			<BuildingHappinessChanges/>
			<FeatureHappinessChanges/>
			<ImprovementYieldChanges/>

Here I can't describe all lines (it would take a lot of time). Basically you have a lot of exemples in the civic options that already exist. Some things are not used at the moment by the civic option of the vanilla game.

2. Adding a civic option

Now time to show you

.

Don't pay attention to the bonuses I have putted, I would advice you strongly to not use this civic option added to a vanilla game without any balancing of it

.
In the translation you will see some strange entries like German / Italian etc... It is cause I am not speaking so many languages

. So it works for French and english games... but anyways It is to show you an exemple...

--------------------[ Open File ]--------------------
\Assets\XML\Units\CIV4UnitInfos.xml

--------------------[ Find ]--------------------

Code:

	<WeLoveTheKing>TXT_KEY_CIVIC_WE_LOVE_MONARCH</WeLoveTheKing>
		</CivicInfo>