Homeworld - KharakMOD Help

[ElConejo]

MOD FOR VANILLA CIV4 PLEASE

I have finally created an account here at CivFanatics after nearly two and a half years of lurking up the walls. The reason I wish to get involved here at CivFanatics is because I know that this is a hotbed of and centre for Civ4 Modding right now, (Yes, be proud ) and frankly I feel that this is the best place right now to find support for and complete a Mod idea I have had recently.

I want to make a Homeworld - Kharak Mod for Civ4. I am by NO means skilled in Modding or Civ4 Customization, which is why I have come here. I do not yet know how to make the changes or built the mod I have planned, but I know that (comparatively speaking to most mods that have already been completed or are underway) it will be a noticably easier project.

The reason why this will be a relatively easier project is because of the low level of major changes required:

-No need for 3D modeling because the storyline of Homeworld basically depicts the Kushans (after they crashed on Kharak) evolving technologically the same way as we did.

-We also should not (at least at this time) concern ourselves with the Tiidan or the exodus from Kharak, as I would like this (hopefully first) Mod to detail the life of the Kushans on Kharak from just after the Kiiths have separated all the way until the unification just before the discovery of the Kar-Toba.

-We need no new resources or new landscapes

However the project will require that we rework some of the (to my knowledge) easier parts of Civ4 to give it the face of Homeworld or Kharak. What we will need to do - at least for our first version - is highlighted below:

Project Goals:

- Custom Factions/Nations
See below

- A Kharak map
Really this can just be a simplified map with a large desert along the
equator with hospitable lands north and south of it.

- Custom "pre-named" cities based on Homeworld language

- If possible, rename the Victory Conditions (again, if possible)
Diplomatic = Age of Reason Victory
Conquest = Heresy War Victory
Space = Mothership Completion

- Custom names for wonders/projects



I am posting these, my initial thoughts, in hopes that there will be others joined in trying to help me make this mod a possibility. Let me know any thoughts you would like to see in the mod, and anyone who is able to help out with this project please post here your willingness as well as what you can offer to the project. Hopefully this will get some serious interest from some of you and we can get moving with the project at hand.

NOTE: Remember, I will be reading up on how all this is done as best I can, but for right now I dont know how to even create the most simple of changes, but given time I will be able to contribute what I can in addition to my ideas and insights on the project.

Thanks.

 

[strategyonly]

Heres a start:

 

[ElConejo]

That looks great! Right now I am reading through all of the tutorial information and help threads to get a better understanding of what I can do to edit the factions. If anyone can point me to a good thread go ahead and post it. I think that even the flags being up is a good start and I have high hopes for the project.

Strategyonly, I am going to PM you so that maybe you could email me the flags? At least at your first convienence.

I was thinking that we could have the Kiith flags be the diplomacy portraits too, because we really wont have pics of anyone except Karen S'jet. I will post a list of the 'leader names' once I have compiled a good group of them. Anyone who has anything else to contribute please do.

 

[strategyonly]

I was looking also at the "Kurdish" area just above India for a decent location for a map??

 

[ElConejo]

Leader names and Faction Starts: (Will edit as I find more names)

Kiith S'jet - Karan S'jet North

Kiith Hraal - South

Kiith Somtaaw - North

Kiith Gaalsien - North of Great Banded Desert*

Kiith Manaan - South

Kiith Naabal - Northern Ice Cap*

Kiith Paktu - Majiir Paktu South of the Great Banded Desert*

Kiith Soban - Soban the Red South

* Positive locations due to current knowledge of Kharaki history

I was wondering, is there any way to make leaders/nations predisposed to liking or disliking other leaders/nations? The reason I ask is that I would like to make the Paktu and Naabal inherent allies and the Gaalsien and the Sid inherent enemies. Once I read up on more I will be able to add that sort of stuff - but for now I'd like to just stick with the original goals for the project, I am certain we will be able to add alot of other things after that.

 

[ElConejo]

I was looking also at the "Kurdish" area just above India for a decent location for a map??

I suppose I am confused.. What do you mean?

Kharak was described as a planet which had a vast desert surrounding the equatorial line, and a few habitable landscapes to the extreme north and extreme south of the Great Desert. Some of our nations will start above the Great Desert, and some will start below. (I will find out which start where as soon as I can) We just need a map which simulates this sort of world, because we have no actual map or picture of the planet, I dont think it should be too hard making a map based on the concept.

 

[strategyonly]

I hear ya, but i was going close to the best known earth thing is all, plus here is the world : Just plain desert?? That will be hard to play on?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeworld

 

[ElConejo]

It is a desert planet, and the climate is so inhospitable to Kushan life (which seems essentially human) that they can only live on or near the poles.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharak

Well that is one of the draws to me making this and playing it out: the difficulty of working with a very limited amount of workable usable terrain or land. It is reminiscent of the popular Dune series (of which there is a in-progress mod). That particular picture is taken directly from the game, from orbit. But I was going to actually approach it slightly differently.

In that picture, it looks that there is absolutely no workable terrain, but this is flawed and unrealistic because the Kushans survived there (albeit at the extremes) so I was going to request that the map be broken down into 3rds. The top third would be the Northern region, and this would feature terrain which can be worked and used, the second (or middle) third would be the Great Banded Desert, which wraps around the entire planet and is not workable, and the third (or lower) third portion would be the Southern region which like the north could support life.

Then we would place (like in an above post of mine where I am working on this) the factions accordingly north or south of the Great Banded Desert and then let the game play its course. This is the main purpose of playing this mod: to fight your Kiith and the Greater Kushans through this horrible planet and lead them all the way to the beginning of the Homeworld game.

 

[ElConejo]

Some more considerations for the planet (found here: http://www.angelfire.com/d20/solarflare/homeworld/hwstory.html)

Kharakid Environment
Kharak is an old planet (6.7 billion years) that is nearing the end of its geological activity. Most major terrain features have been weathered down and vast deserts cover most of the world except for the polar regions. These are shielded from the encroaching sands by the three northern seas and the great Majiirian Ocean in the south. Temperatures along the Equator can approach the boiling point of water and the only life forms larger than microbes survive by burrowing deep under the sands and along sub-surface water channels or by hibernating during the hottest months. The polar regions are almost optimal for our people but the limited arable land and scarce resources has prevented our population from growing beyond 300 million people.

 

[ElConejo]

This post will be editted whenever I add something new to the Kiith setup or change something.

Most names (esp of cities) will be made up as there is simply not enough hard data about the names of Kharakian cities. Also, several clans will require custom flags if flags are not found online anywhere, seeing as only 6 of the major 8 are featured we may need to create flags of our own for the remaining major factions. EDIT: I found a suitable flag for Somtaaw here: http://forums.vugames.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/65-17431-187308-6342/somtaaw.jpg but the Hraal still do not have a flag, so we will only need to create one, and it can be simple like that of Somtaaw's. All other flags are featured here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiith

---===---

Clan/Kiith - Favorite Civic
Civilization Traits
Leader name
Faction Start
city names: (Will edit as I find more names)

:::MAJOR FACTIONS:::
Kiith S'jet - Pacifism
Philosophical, Financial
Karan S'jet-Sa*
North
City names: Ightii, Keeld, Yenthe, Seult, Seenn, Neur, Isse, Aiingu, Ochaii, Ochei,

Kiith Hraal - Caste System
Industrious, Organized
Arban Hraal-Sa*
South
City names: Frein*, Naish, Itai, Uisa, Lyek, Vesb, Diim, Juid, Yriilo,

Kiith Somtaaw - Nationhood
Aggressive, Spiritual
Teigor Somtaaw-Sa*
North
City names: Kohntala*, Hameln*, Gydeo*, Daniip, Niisnt, Elimn, Tinil, Sulmn, Ninun,

Kiith Gaalsien - Theocracy
Spiritual, Expansive
Miirpat Gaalsien-Sa*
North of Great Banded Desert*
City names: Saju-ka*, Saju-Darlim, Kar-Lluh, Orotha, Skaru, Haess-ka, Niir-Urliem, Drard, Alyea-Toba

Kiith Manaan - Free Speech
Creative, Industrious
Siima Manaan-Sa*
South
City names: Ferin Sha*, Orotha, Oshya, Kellii, Ohiine, Ymosa, Otaiiu, Uormii, Isere,

Kiith Naabal - Representation
Organized, Philosophical
Ifriit Naabal-Sa*
Northern Ice Cap*
City names: Tiir*, Epola, Aiimu, Saurd, Lhiila, Uchae, Crais, Oskelo, Enths,

Kiith Paktu - Free Religion
Creative, Expansive
Majiir Paktu-Sa
South of the Great Banded Desert*
City names: Hunon*, Abelii, Majiirian, Deiir, Oughn, Radt, Diiaw, Reih, Rakd,

Kiith Soban - Vassalage
Aggressive, Financial
Soban the Red*
South
City names: Ekelo, Kaleldu, Suriik, Inguz, Athognii, Denlor, Eldis, Iakel, Ardran,

:::MINOR FACTIONS::: TO BE ADDED LATER

Kiith Siidim - Organized Religion
Spiritual, Aggressive
Oiigel Siidim-Sa
North*
City names:

Kiith Liir - Free Trade
Industrious, Organized
Hatiim Liir-Sa
South
City names:

Kiith Kaalel - State Property
Expansive, Philosophical
Liir Kaalel-Sa*
North
City names:

Kiith Ferriil - Mercantilism
Financial, Creative
Ziiad Ferriil-Sa
South
City names:


* Positive status: locations/names due to current knowledge of Kharak history

---===---

 

[strategyonly]

How's this for a start of a map?? Look at the Mini-map.

 

[ElConejo]

It looks like a great start, the only issues I would have are 1) the Banded Desert probibly should constituite a much larger percentage of the planet's surface, and 2) is that world wrapped or an island? Seems to me we would be better using a standard or small planet size and having the desert wrap the world and have the poles habitable. I will play around with the idea once I get done with my work today thanks for all your help SO. When you get the chance do you think you could add the Somtaaw flag (in my last post) and send me the flags to my email? That would be a great help, thanks again and I'll try to post an update on how this is flying ASAP, I am currently learning ALOT about XML which I will be soon using to edit in the civs.

 

[ElConejo]

First version of the Kharak map. The Great Banded Desert makes up a big portion of the planet's surface, and I have yet to actually add the habitable regions because I want to study the Homeworld manuals over the weekend and make sure I get as "historically" accurate terrain as I possibly can.

I have thus far successfully added both the S'jet and the Gaalsien Kiiths, although leaderheads arent working (which is supposed to be simply larger versions of the flag/badge) but I am working on getting the actual Kiiths (traits and custom names) into the Mod right now using XML. Its a slow and tedius process, but it will definately be worth it in the long run as this mod is going to rock.

EDIT: BTW, I will be gone from Friday until Tuesday and probibly wont have time to check this, but I will be working on the mod away from my computer by reading up on Homeworld's backstories. Also for the sake of clarity and a cleaner thread, I will be opening a new thread once I get back and make an in-progress thread which will be more respectable and clean, I'll provide the link here when I do so. Thanks.

 

[ElConejo]

New thread up and operational, please use it for developmental help:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=189879

Thanks