Need Modding Help.

[selene1998]

Ok, I know this sounds like a lot to ask but I would be grateful if somebody would give me step by step directions on how to create a mod... I have no idea how to (except for the modding tutorials that have been unsuccessful) but I just have good ideas...well at least I think they are good. So basically I need somebody to help me through modding step by step by step.

 

[The_J]

Welcome to CFC .

Tell us which tutorials you've tried, and at which point you couldn't go further. That's probably the easiest point to start here.

 

[Baldyr]

Yeah, "modding" is somewhat broad for what you aim to do. Are you interested in changing the graphics, maybe tweaking the game rules or values, adding more "stuff" (units, techs, buildings), or what?

Also, there are layers to this modding thing, and you probably wanna start off with something easy, rather than hard-core hard-coding of the game engine itself. And you can probably get by without being able to do all of it, for whatever the purpose of your modding is.

Do you know any programming, at all? Do you know what XML is? Do you know what the World Builder is? What about a scenario (or a World Builder Save file)?

 

[selene1998]

Ok, I tried one of Kael's... i think it is the first one if you go to modding tutorials and I got stuck at when he right clicked on the Civ(IV) shortcut and went to properties....from there he changed the target which is grayed out for me...I tried another one which told me to change the XML document on notepad but when I tried to save it my computer told me "access is denied" (i do not know if it my computer or what I am doing). And to answer Balfyr's questions... I do not know any programming...I think I know the basics of what XML are.... and I know what World Builder is...I might not know what a World Builder Save File is but I think I have a pretty good idea.

 

[need my speed]

Well, what do you want to do? Anything concerning the XML, which is probably what you want to do and what is strongly advised to begin with for you and every new modder, can be found on the Modiki or with Google, but you'll probably understand most of it, if not everything, right away. So, use common sense (thus, if you want to modify a unit, search for a file concerning units (Civ4UnitInfos, or something like that)), and you can do a lot. Tutorials on this forum can help you with things like adding new units, or doing some more advanced stuff besides changing some values (but that requires knowledge of Python or C++ (I believe)).

 

[The_J]

Ok, I tried one of Kael's... i think it is the first one if you go to modding tutorials and I got stuck at when he right clicked on the Civ(IV) shortcut and went to properties....from there he changed the target which is grayed out for me...

Skip this part. A desktop icon is not necessary. If you want to load your mod, use one of the fine utilities in our forum, e.g. this or this here.

I tried another one which told me to change the XML document on notepad but when I tried to save it my computer told me "access is denied"

You have Windows Vista or Windows 7, right?
Then you can't save into the program files directory without any problems.
Instead of opening files there in the normal way, you have to execute it with admin rights (rightclick, execute as [or something similar]), then it should work.

 

[vincentz]

@ OP : Assuming 1998 is your birth year, you might want to start at the very basics.

Try installing a simple mod and look at the file structure. Dont try the megamods or anything like that, but instead one that changes a very few things.

Modding in civ4 consists of 4 elements : XML, Python, SDK and Graphics.

The easiest to start out with is XML. Start by changing a few values such as strength or cost for a unit. It is found in the Civ4UnitInfos.XML. Again look how other (simple) mods do it.

 

[XStationCube]

You have Windows Vista or Windows 7, right?
Then you can't save into the program files directory without any problems.
Instead of opening files there in the normal way, you have to execute it with admin rights (rightclick, execute as [or something similar]), then it should work.

Actually, it is possible to save into the the Civ 4 directory with no problems or Admin rights needed. To do this right click on the Civ 4 directory in your Program files, and click "Properties." Next, go to the "Security" tab, click on "Edit," and in the new window that opens, select "Users" from the list. With Users highlighted, simply check "Full control" in the check box below the "Allow" column, and click "OK." Now, the system will run through and set the new security information for all the files in the directory. After that's done, you can now freely alter files in you Civ 4 directory without having to confirm the operation with Admin rights.

 

[The_J]

Now i only have to find out where to put that info so that i can find it again when the next person asks .

Thanks for the description .

 

[selene1998]

Ok thanks for the help so far but lets start with the basics...one on one help would be nice but I suppose I can find these myself but... I would like to ... change: leaders, units, and civilizations names...change unit power...leader's personality... and eventually flag.

 

[Baldyr]

selene1998, depending on the specifics of the unit power thing you might be able to get everything done by editing the XML and working with the graphics of things. No programming required.

 

[selene1998]

Good because I did not plan on doing any programming...but still I dont know how to change a units combat strength such as a praetorian...change its strength from 8 to 20... not that I would be that dramatic but you get the point.

 

[Baldyr]

selene1998, why not give the Modiki a try?

 

[The_J]

You have to explain how to use it .

Create a mod folder (-> new folder in C:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Civ4\BtS\Mods), then copy the BtS\Assets\XML\Units\UnitInfos.xml (in which is most of the infos from the units stored) to the same place in your mod (-> create all these subfolders in your mod).
Then open the file (rightclick, open with notepad or wordpad), search the praetorian (just the text search for praetorian). Then take a look at the modiki for this file, and what the values mean, or use common sense and your knowledge about Civ4 .
The praetorian has a strength of 8, right? There's only one 8 in the whole praetorian entry, it's there:

<iPower>8</iPower>

You see, that's the strength, naming it "power" makes sense.
Change the value to 20, and the praetorians will have a strength of 20.
Save the file, and you're done on this part .

 

[selene1998]

I have tried that but when I go into my mod I created and build a praetorian its still an 8....

 

[The_J]

Did you follow the explanation by XStationCube?
If yes (or if you don't have WinVista/7), then please post a screenshot where you've exactly put the file. Maybe we can see where the problem is.

 

[selene1998]

Ok, I figured it out by my self... i>combat<i or something like that was 8.... Now for the next task...How do I change its name for example if I want to change a Praetorian to a Abc...

 

[Dancing Hoskuld]

Ok, I figured it out by my self... i>combat<i or something like that was 8.... Now for the next task...How do I change its name for example if I want to change a Praetorian to a Abc...

The name displayed in game is controlled by the <Description> tag which usually contains a value like TXT_KEY_UNIT_ROME_PRAETORIAN. This links to a text file. Search through the files in the Assets/XML/Text folder for TXT_KEY_UNIT_ROME_PRAETORIAN and replace the name in the language texts with what you want.

 

[God-Emperor]

Then open the file (rightclick, open with notepad or wordpad), search the praetorian (just the text search for praetorian). Then take a look at the modiki for this file, and what the values mean, or use common sense and your knowledge about Civ4 .
The praetorian has a strength of 8, right? There's only one 8 in the whole praetorian entry, it's there:

<iPower>8</iPower>

You see, that's the strength, naming it "power" makes sense.
Change the value to 20, and the praetorians will have a strength of 20.
Save the file, and you're done on this part .

As he already discovered, that is not the case. There is one other value that is an 8:
<iCombat>8<iCombat>

iCombat is the units ground combat strength.
iPower it the amount the unit adds to the civ's military power rating

Frequently the two have the same value, be not always. Axemen, for example are combat 5 but power 6. Units that get big bonuses get a little extra in their power rating.

 

[selene1998]

OK so I suppose that instead of looking into units I should start at the top of the ladder and go down... so I would like to start with making a completely new civilization with its own leaders, units, and buildings and a preset map...like earth on rhyes and fall...I may want to know how to make unique traits and technology(may want own civics).