1. How would I (if it didn't already exist) add in a trait like "The Glory of Rome" (20% bonus to production when a building already exists in the capital) without changing code?
2. How am I to add, say, Sealand () with special ability of building cities on ocean tiles [that slow down foreign navies that come within 6 hexes], without changing the code?
3. We are told UUs/UBs are also being given more unique abilities rather than simple stats changes from base units/buildings. So again...unless provision for a unique ability already exists in the code how do we create a new UU/UB with a great new unique ability without changing the code?
4. ...and more to the point how does Firaxis release all these new Civs, with great new abilities, as DLC...unless all the special abilities they want to use are already in the code and available, which seems just a little too convenient, not to say prescient...without changing the code?
5. I guess it is possible these abilities are all done through LUA, but that means any special ability I might dream up is limited by the available hooks.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
(Numbers added for my convenience)
1. Let's say I wanted to base something off Glory of Rome, so that a building in a city gives some effect. The conditional flag already exists, so you can be certain that you can use it for creating new leader traits.
2. Perhaps make a UU for Sealand that's a Settler, but for its check as to its ability, make it universal. Settlers can already walk on water, so the game will check, see that it is on the proper terrain (since "water" is in the subset of "all terrain"), and let you build a city. Good luck getting hammers, though.
3. I'm not familiar enough with LUA as to how much you can modify. Consider the theoretical trait Bodyguard, which gives any military unit +50% defense if it occupies the same hex as a civilian unit. Perhaps - actually, almost certainly - you'll be able to write some conditional for military units and location, or possibly write it as a terrain bonus only your mod civ gets. You'd be amazed what you can do with simple conditional checks. For anything more complex (e.g., adding in a Moon map that is played alongside the world map for future era), you'd have to delve into the code documentation; at this point, only Firaxis knows.
4. Firaxis can always release SDK patches that expand the tools available. To reuse an example, I might not be able to make my Moon mod on day one, but after enough updates to the developer tools I very well may be able to.
5. Naturally, any modder/developer is limited by their tools available. It sounds like Civ5 will have a very flexible SDK, but it can't do everything imaginable. Nobody's going to be coding Super Mario Bros. in Civ5.
