How do you create a civilization?

[Mannysbigtown]

The title pretty much says it all, I have little modding experience but i really want to make a Central America nation, I'm okay with making the map but having trouble knowing how to create a new country. I've seen a lot people do it but there's like no tutorials on it. so if any of you guys can please help me out, i would much appreciate it

 

[Mercury002]

Its fairly simple, you need to play around in XML files, the main files can be found in your directory:
\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Sid Meier's Civilization Beyond Earth\assets\Gameplay\XML\Civilizations
Within this you will find several different XML files but the two main ones you need are: CivBECivilizations.xml and CivBETraits.xml, these files will show all of the information that can be included, how to include it, under what table and which data set should be used (i.e. text, integer, boolean (1/0/true/false)) and may even provide some examples (alternatively you could use another civilisation created buy someone else and modify it to your purposes).

Also look for text files that include, but may all be included into one file (I personally like to separate files to make it easy for adjustments):
Cities Names - Lists the names of all the cities used.
Leader Dialogue - Sets out the text responses to civilisation interactions.
Spies Names - Names of all of the spies used.
Text - Random bits of descriptions, help, strategy and civopedia texts.

Other files also include:
Diplomacy Responses - Sets out the framework for leader dialogue texts
Leader - Sets out the leader and the flavor or bias used by the AI or automated features.
Personalities - I just use default personality
Player Colour - Sets out the colours used buy the player for this sponsor / civilisation.

Just load up modbuddy and away you go, I also use gimp (with a plugin) to create or alter any .dds image files needed but that is an option as existing icons can be used (however this can get confusing).

Hope this helps

 

[Rayki]

One tip that has greatly helped me is to download someone elses mod as an example...There is a United Kingdom Space Agency mod out there that is fully commented and will give you a great example of how to do it. Another good example if you are looking to replace leader graphics and such is The Galactic Roman Empire mod.

Another thing that can help you get the basics of what to do with an XML file is Kael's Guide to Modding Civ V which can be found by searching these forums (don't follow the tutorial though because some things have changed a lot and are no longer relevant so your mod won't work if you copy from that), what it can give you is an idea of how to form your own table data, update elements in the game and even produce your own custom art.

As stated above the best examples are the actual game files as they contain ALL elements required to create a full blown Sponsor of your own.

There is also a guy on these forums with an interesting signature at the bottom of his posts, goes by the name of whoward69, just click the links next to the little "help" guy, it's more than worth the look.

And lastly this forum has a number of posts in this subforum, in the tutorials section and occaisionally in the requests section.

Btw, I was virtually a first time modder with CivBE, I've only done some map-making and changed game graphics in the past, and I can tell you this part is easy, jut ait until you try nd do something that doesn't already exist, like a map without any water...

 

[Mannysbigtown]

thanks for helping me, about what you said, if you were to use someones mod, how do u find it and edit it in the files?

 

[Mercury002]

It should be located in your C:\Users\*NAME*\Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization Beyond Earth\MODS file once its downloaded and installed.