MSMD: How to Create a Mod (video demo)

[PizzaPlatypus]

how big does the flag have to be?
also here is the code:

<CivilizationArtInfo>
      <Type>ART_DEF_CIVILIZATION_AGATEAN_EMPIRE</Type>
      <Button>art/Interface/Buttons/Civilizations/Abutton.dds</Button>
      <Path>art/Interface/Buttons/Civilizations/Abutton.dds</Path>
      <bWhiteFlag>0</bWhiteFlag>
    </CivilizationArtInfo>

path is the same because I haven't got a file just for the flag yet.

 

[The_J]

Normal flag size is 128*128. Bigger will bring the game to crash, smaller will look ugly.
Using the button will work, but it might look strange, with e.g. wrong colours.

 

[Jazzy]

Hi. I've been trying to add a Leader to my newly made mod, just as the instruction video showed me, but with no succes. There is no extra Leader visible in the civilopedia (or in a custom game). Has something changed since this thread was made? Is there anything I should add/change? Thanks!

 

[The_J]

Welcome to CFC .

Different things have changed since the video was made, e.g. 2 addons have been release and the game has been patched, but in the end you could easily see these changes if you just apply common sense.

So, 2 questions to your problem:
- Did you check the civilopedia? Does it appear there?
- Is this the first change you're making, or did anything else already work before?

 

[Jazzy]

Thank you, The_J.

To answer your questions:
- I did check it, it does not appear there.
- It's the first change. I just created a new mod (via instructions in the video) and the only change I made was (trying to create) a new Leader.

 

[Chandrapal]

great tutorial bro....thanks

 

[The_J]

- It's the first change.

Okay, then it might be a problem with the cache.
Try holding down shift during loading your mod (or disable caching in the BtS main .ini, if you want to change more), maybe that solves the problem.


Short explanation: If you start Civ, most of the files will get temporary stored in the cache, so that Civ can start faster. That means, if you after a start close it and then do some changes, it might be that Civ loads the files from the cache because it's faster, and these files are then still the standard game files.

 

[warwarwar]

This is the begining of the MSMD series. What I hope is a helpful demo of easy steps to create a Civ4 mod. The audience I am aiming for are all those who would like to make a mod but believe it is to technically challenging. By viewing the steps to do it I am hoping that people realize that it really only takes a few minutes to make a simple mod (and from there they can tweak to their delight).

This forum has tons of fantastic articles on specific processes but I think its hard for new modders to really put all the instructions together in a way that allows them to get started. Once new modders have a foot up with these lessons I hope they go on to make mods and dig into the more detailed guides here on the forum.

Step 1:
How to Create a Mod

Step 2:
How to Add a Leader (segment 1/3)
How to Add a Leader (segment 2/3)
How to Add a Leader (segment 3/3)

Step 3:
How to Add Text

Step 4:
How to Add Audio (segment 1/2)
How to Add Audio (segment 2/2)

Step 5:
How to Add a Civilization (segment 1/2)
How to Add a Civilization (segment 2/2)

If you are having problems with the screen going red while watching the video, it is because your computer is running out of virtual memory. Take note of where you are in the video, refresh your browser and jump back to that point and you should be fine. Sorry for the inconveinance, Abode Captivate isn't the best tool in the world (if you guys know of a better screen capture tool let me know).

 

[Cr0wz]

These videos are useful...thanks! kitty smiles! :3

 

[dataskywalker]

Hey Kael, where can I find that button template that you used in your leaderhead vid in the Civ files? Or something similar?

 

[mjcarvan]

I tried creating a mod on steam and i followed all the directions but every time i try to load it, it says invalid mod directory. is this correct: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\sid meier's civilization iv beyond the sword\Beyond the Sword\Civ4BeyondSword.exe" mod=/mjsmod

 

[The_J]

If this currently your only problem, then i suggest skipping this step.
Use one of the mod launchers, e.g. this or this one to start your mod.


And welcome to CFC .

 

[Xygodread]

im new to this forum and a noob to this type of coding and have some questions for you Kael on modding if you have time that is lol too many questions to post here right now so please message me so i dont clutter your thread thanx

 

[The_J]

I guess that will not happen .
If you have tons of questions, then open a new thread in the main forum please .

And welcome to CFC .

 

[Army of Scouts]

First off, hi everyone! I'm trying to mod and I'm on the part where I try to make a leader but it wont let me save. It says "make sure the file is not in use" . well I don't see how it could be in use since the game isn't running. The file is Civ4ArtDefines_leaderhead.xml. Can Anyone tell me what's wrong?
I'm running windows 7 and editing with notepad++ if that matters...

 

[The_J]

Welcome to CFC .

Are you making the edits with admin rights? Because windows 7 does not allow you to save anything in the program files folder if you don't have these rights.

 

[Army of Scouts]

Yes!! Thanks The_J that worked. Now I can do it. I feel like an idiot too because on the first video, I did run as Admin and it worked but that was the exact problem for the second video. Thanks again.

OK. My next question might sound silly, but I want my leader to look like Charlemange (same everything but with red borders and red flag/same symbol). So I created my leader with Art_Def_Leader_(my name) and Copy/pasted Charly's button, nif, etc. and the next step in the video is to load the mod and see if it worked. My name shows up, but nothing else in the civolopedia.

Is there a way for me to be The King of Burgers? I don't really like having a non-moving image but if that's what I have to do, I'll do it.

 

[The_J]

If you really see nothing -> a black screen, then something is going wrong with one of the folders in the linked Art_Def_Leader_(my name). Double check if you maybe forgot something there.

----
But that might not even be needed. If i understand you right, then you want another Civ flag, yes, and want to have Charlemagne in exactly the way he already is, right? Then you can direclty use ART_DEF_LEADER_CHARLEMAGNE in the LeaderheadInfos.xml and you don't have to modify ArtDefines_leader.xml.

 

[Army of Scouts]

What I would like to do is have the look of charlemagne but name him "Mike" and leave charlemagne the leader just the way he is as leader of The Holy Romans, but have Mike leader of my nation exactly like charly but named Mike.

No black screen though.

How can I "directly use ART_DEF_LEADER_CHARLEMAGNE" and name him Mike? After all, I created ART_DEF_LEADER_MIKE and just copy/pasted his attributes. I double checked and they match correctly. When I load the mod My name appears in the civilopedia But no Info or pictures.

If I understand you correctly, I can have the same ART_DEF leaderhead point to to two different leaders? How would it know who is Charly and who is mike with out editing the xml?

To put it simply, I want the leader of my civ to look like Charlemagne and be named Mike. Is that possible? What should the xml look like for Mike?

Thanks in advance you've been a big help!!

 

[The_J]

No black screen though.

...what did you see in the civilopeda? You said "nothing" before.

If I understand you correctly, I can have the same ART_DEF leaderhead point to to two different leaders? How would it know who is Charly and who is mike with out editing the xml?

How would you with your method ?
But yes, that's possible.

To put it simply, I want the leader of my civ to look like Charlemagne and be named Mike. Is that possible? What should the xml look like for Mike?

Sure possible ....ah....wait...

what i read out ouf your comments here is, that you're missing 50%.
In ArtDefines_Leaderheads.xml there is ONLY art, nothing else.
Actual leader definitions and their values are in Assets\XML\Civilizations\LeaderheadInfos.xml. And there you can link your leader to already existing art, and there you also give it his name.