Helping with Civilopedia

[westamastaflash]

I was wondering if the mod team needed help with the civilopedia. I've noticed many places where it seems to need some cleanup and links. I'd like to volunteer to help clean it up, who should I talk to?

 

[Caradoc]

Me too. I'm good at editing and proofreading.

 

[xienwolf]

I've been thinking about checking what Kael and the team thought about bringing someone onto the team exclusively for Civlopedia work (since they probably cannot do much XML so wouldn't actually be sacraficing programming time for asthetics). But as I would want the position and don't completely have time right now I haven't spoken up


Anyway, if nobody replies, or if you just want to get started, go to C:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\Beyond the Sword\Mods\Fall from Heaven 2 025\Assets\XML\Text and you can start looking at exactly what you are asking to do (I imagine for now you would only do the English, and possibly one other language). Once you flesh out a fair chunk of it you could even upload the file as a personal mod for people to grab if still nobody has replied with more/better details.

I imagine there is more to the Pedia than this one file, but it is what I could find for now, and does get your info in there.

 

[westamastaflash]

..snip...
I imagine there is more to the Pedia than this one file, but it is what I could find for now, and does get your info in there.

Thanks. I was already looking at the file and for the most part, everything seems to be relatively easy to change.

A few pieces seem to be a bit more difficult - the entries for spells have a short description that is programmatically generated, but I tested the [LINK=literal] tag and I think it will work. I've always been annoyed that the spell says "adds the dance of blades promotion" but I couldn't jump right to the promotion to see what it does!

Also there seems to be a bug with links where the tech name and civic it enables are the same - On the Agriculture tech page, clicking "enables agriculture" simply loads the same page repeatedly instead of taking you to the civic page.

 

[CXDamian]

There may be omissions or generic terms in some of the items references as well.

All of the text is stored in assets/xml/text/CIV4GameText_FFH2.xml
Each item should refer its civilopedia text with <Civilopedia>TXT_KEY_item_PEDIA</Civilopedia>

qq: does it improve/impact performance to have all of the references in one file? I always assumed it was done for convenience, but was wondering if there was another motive.

 

[Nikis-Knight]

It is easier to see the all the text if you open the FfH2 editor in the FfH2 folder. By all means, post any problems you have. As for anyone devoting themselves to it full time (or well, much time at all at the moment), so much gameplay and content is always changing that it has been a low priority so far.
After we get details of shadow phase nailed down it will be more worthwhile to fill out the civlopedia. Same situation with the AI.
Again, though, if you see errors feel free to post them; it's often surprisingly hard to see errors in your own writing since you know what it is supposed to say and fill it in with your mind.

 

[xienwolf]

Hrm, never paid much attention to the first folder of the mod. The excel is nifty, though supposedly has too many rows or columns somewhere for 2003 to handle. But seems a much nicer/quicker way to do the editing.

Out of curiosity, I noticed that for some units there is a Unit_Strategy entry, and for others there is not. Were one to add in a row with a Strategy entry for them, would ALL the neccessary fields update and it would start to show up? (well, I guess I can test this myself soon as I get time and answer my own question...)

 

[westamastaflash]

...for anyone devoting themselves to it full time (or well, much time at all at the moment), so much gameplay and content is always changing that it has been a low priority so far.

I agree with that, but there were some things that I was able to fix pretty easily that made it much easier for me to use, at least. With just a few changes i was able to get all the "short descriptions" for summons and promotion granting spells to link to the unit summoned / promo granted in the pedia - this should be able to carry over to later versions. Now I can quickly see the stats of the unit that i'll get if i pick Law II, for example.

Sadly I do not have Excel '07 (at home *or* at work) so I'll be editing xml directly or using a xml editor. I'll try openoffice but i don't know, does that work?

 

[mervvyn]

I think someone said (probably Kael) that you can't use macros in open office, which would defeat the point unfortunately.

 

[wilboman]

@westamasta: Handy, good job. I've been annoyed about that myself at times.

 

[Nikis-Knight]

I think someone said (probably Kael) that you can't use macros in open office, which would defeat the point unfortunately.

oh, yeah I guess if you are going to edit code you'd need to do it to the XML. If you want to edit the content, you could do it in the editor, then save and post that file itself.

 

[Kael]

I think someone said (probably Kael) that you can't use macros in open office, which would defeat the point unfortunately.

The new version of OpenOffice can use macros (the old one couldnt), unfortunatly it is limited to 256 columns for spreadsheets

 

[TSteamer]

I also volunteer to help create/proofread/edit the civilopedia. I just need someone to point me in the right direction at first.

I would also like to offer any creative writing services that may be needed for world content and/or background. The existing content and its depth is simply amazing!

I can provide a sample of my writing if the team is interested or complete a small test-sample task. Is there a head writer?

I'd just like to give something back for this great mod!

 

[wilboman]

If you see any spell, building and promotion entries without flavour texts, I think Kael had a drive going to get them all filled out by our loyal fans a while back.

 

[TSteamer]

If you see any spell, building and promotion entries without flavour texts, I think Kael had a drive going to get them all filled out by our loyal fans a while back.

I've seen lots of spell and promotion ones that I would love to sink my teeth into. Although, I want to be sure there wont be a contest and/or that I'm not stepping on anyones toes in writing something up. Just let me know!

 

[wilboman]

Ask Kael, but I think the "help us fill out the small flavour" option is open. Just don't muscle in on hero and civ territory - that makes us writing team folks jealous