First steps to create a new mod/scen for a newbie

[Caesar Maximus]

Hello!

I finally got Civ4 and I'm very confused. At first I was (stupidly, I know! ) horrified by the small number of things that WorldBuilder could do, but then I realized that MUCH more could be done...
I edited much CIV2 and CIV3, but here is much different: I'd love to edit CIV4 but... I really do not know "where to put my hands", or where to begin!

I understood there are many XML files (I can edit them with Excel, cant I?) that contains infos like the old Rules.txt did.
But they are full of informations I cannot understand! Where I shall begin?

I tought this "things-to-do-order"
-generic rules
-civs
-techs
-units
-buildings
-other...

Is this order correct?
What I must edit to begin?
Thanks a lot...

 

[Thasis]

Realy there is no pre-set order. It all depends what your planning on editing, and what your planning to do.

 

[Ploeperpengel]

Yes, best is to start with an idea what you want to do and then try to find a tutorial for that. As editor notepad++ I think is good. There's link somewhere in the Tutorials. excel don't know about

 

[Mackster]

i find it useful to keep a running log of changes/ideas as i mod. Also, don't expect everything to work first time, there are always annoying spelling mistakes etc that crop up and muck up everything!

 

[jojoweb]

Hi !

Civ 4 is frightening ! But, like Civ 2 ans Civ 3, we will learn step by step. (Arf my english is declining...).

So, To learn and to custmomise Civ 4 you Need :

-Software : Notepad ++ (or less), GIMP or Photoshop, and a DDS converter (DTXBmp is very Good). Notepad ++ will help you to modify XML files. Photoshop (or an equivalent) will permit you to creates buttons (but not other graphic files), and DDS Converter is needed to convert your graphic files (your buttons) into the Civ 4 Pictures file.

-An Idea : Personaly, i begin with some things i had prepared for Civ 3 in last monthes. You can do everything you want, and it is better to prepare your future work. Like with Civ 3, the better way to learn is to create. You can put on text files, all your ideas, classified by item (Technologies, Civilisations, etc...). Not to much.

-And, use the tutorials posted here, they are very Good. When you need a new Civ, go to the "Create a new Civ " Tutorial. I know, it is logic, but i just say that to insist about the quality of the tutorials. They are not extremly complete. But, you don't need, in a first time, to understand all the things you can modify.

So, don't panic, and begin step by step. Modding Civ 4 require more patience because you can be discouraged a lot of times. But finally things become more and more clear as one goes along.

Bye