New Mortal Engines Mod

[Miningmanic7]

hi all I'm miningmanic7,

I wish to make a mod for the novel Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
For info see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Engines_Quartet this gives info on book

This is dificult because the main concept is that the cities move around eating each other this would be hard as we have to Change cities into Units.

My skill in modding is not good enough to do this so i need to recruit a team to help design and create the files

I will need someone that maybe can

1. understand Modding quite well
2. be able to edit XML files
3. Can develop Leaderheads
4. be able to use Most tools
5. Is looking for a challenge
6. has read the books

but genreally you just need to be interested in making the mod , you don't need to have any of the above skillds but it would be useful

The mod would be made for Civ4 BTS patch 3.19 (the most modern one)

yours needing-helpingly Miningmanic7

 

[Baldyr]

Mere XML modding is not sufficient for altering the behavior of cities. Something like this requires changes to the SDK - a big overhaul of how cities work - and that is written in the C++ language. So you basically need the enlist the help of a professional programmer, or at least one of the most experienced modders around.

 

[Miningmanic7]

and how would i do that

 

[Baldyr]

How to do programming? You study it. How to enlist a programmer? For free? Unless your wealthy you might as well study programming yourself.

 

[The_J]

Baldyr!!!

Okay, so first: Welcome to CFC, Miningmanic7 .

What Baldyr wants to say is that moving cities is a really big task. It's nothing what Civ4 provides, and you would have to add it, which is not really easy, maybe not even doable at all. It requieres C++ programming, which is already not that easy for a beginner, even when you have no idea about XML, which is compared to C++ coding a piece of cake.

So, the advice here: Do first some XML work. You'll probably not be able to understand some of the essentials of the C++ coding, if you don't understand how the game reads the data, because that's sure a thing which definitely has to done somewhen.

But don't hesitate. No one begins as pro. Everyone here has been a beginner, and we have people here who have never programmed before, and are now able to do stuff, which other people have to study for.
But you need time. This is not a job of 1 or 2 days. Rather months, but there's a good chance you can do it .

 

[Miningmanic7]

do yu know how to use c++ programming

 

[The_J]

No, i only had a beginners class in it, and never got really into it (but into other languages).
But that i can't do it at the moment (i sure could, if i had some time) doesn't mean that you can't do it .

 

[Baldyr]

But there is no real need to study it then, or what? One can get result by copy-pasting stuff and hoping for the best? Others will sort out any mess you manage to create?

The fast way to getting any programming work done is to actually study programming. Pick up a textbook, study it. Read up on the modding tutorials. Ask the stupid questions here once you know what to ask for. You'll finish way faster than by avoiding learning anything at all. Thats my opinion, anyway.

And I realize I'm speaking to deaf ears and that I'm waay out of line, once again.

 

[Voyhkah]

Hello!

I've just started SDK, but I can give you some hints:

• Look at some XML tutorials! There are some great ones around.
• Read Head First Programming! I can't stress this enough! This book TOTALLY changed my life, and taught me Python. I never would have gotten where I am withough it.
• Use the Modki! The modki is the Civ4 Modding Wiki. It has huge databases of information, most of it on XML, but some Python and SDK stuff also. It also includes a huge list of tutorials (Although some are missing).
• Take it slow. Don't push yourself.
• Try making a few modcomps first. Don't plunge right in.
  [When you get good enough to want to learn SDK, here's a good tutorial.
• And most importantly, if you have a problem, don't hesitate to ask! (No matter how stupid it may sound) These forums are here for a reason!

Art will be really hard for you, unless you learn to create art (Really recommended, although I just don't have the knack). For help, there's this guy called /]rchon who seems interested in making Steampunk stuff, he might be able to help you.

 

[Asaf]

When you get good enough to want to learn SDK, here's a good tutorial.

But to first set up the whole SDK thing - look at my tutorial for compiling the DLL (the older tutorials are not really updated with regards to setup. Xienwolf's tutorial is still an excellent tutorial to modifying the C++ code itself.)

 

[Voyhkah]

But to first set up the whole SDK thing - look at my tutorial for compiling the DLL (the older tutorials are not really updated with regards to setup. Xienwolf's tutorial is still an excellent tutorial to modifying the C++ code itself.)

Right. I don't know how I forgot that.

Nice catch.

 

[Voyhkah]

So how's XML coming along?

 

[PizzaPlatypus]

I've modded a program in C++ but never something from scratch it's very complex.

 

[Voyhkah]

I've modded a program in C++ but never something from scratch it's very complex.

PizzaPlatypus! I'm impressed!