Using Pythons, other tools... help!---?

[Zen]

I did a lot of scenario editing+modding for Civ II and used the tools in the expansion packs with great enthusiasm.

However, I never used Civ III enough to even want to attempt to mod.


Civ IV has rekindled my interest though in using a civ system to mod and create interesting scenarios (for me if not for my friends).

I have a good feel for the in game world builder system and am attempting to edit some of the files for that using their "manual" posted in this forum.

However, some things seem impossible to change and I have virtually no coding expertise. I usually just read things and figure out what they mean and then do "copy+paste" or "edit+paste".

so, my request is... what do you all recommend? I have not used any of the map converters in the past---although they are obviously very helpful if they work. I would love to edit unit icons, city icons, etc... as in Civ II. I would love to add specific events, as in Civ II.

How should we non-coders proceed?

thanks for your help all,

-Zen (Zen Blade)

[Zen]

any suggestions, anyone?

-Zen Blade

[Feet]

The SDK maybe what you want I guess. Should be out in January I think.

[Unspeakable Horror]

If he is a non coder what use does he have for the SDK?

However, some things seem impossible to change and I have virtually no coding expertise. I usually just read things and figure out what they mean and then do "copy+paste" or "edit+paste".

That´s what everyone does, try new numbers, see what happens...
Check the XML files, there´s a LOT that can be changed in there for Mods.

[Maniac]

But is there way to know what can be changed in XML except by reading the files and eg noticing there's some line used in a certain civics choice and then hoping that line would also work with another civics choice?

Not very userfriendly... Why not include a civ2-like scenario editor where you can see all that's moddable?

[Kidinnu]

Maniac: Because it's a lot of work?

I'm trying to write a GUI tech-tree-editor. Even that's hard enough.

Yes, I'm almost certainly recreating code that Firaxis has, so they could have done it easier - but really, they should care a lot more about tuning one game right than about making dozens of mods. And for tuning a single game, it probably makes more sense to hash it out on a couple of whiteboards or tablet PCs and have a designer tweak the XML to match.

Maniac/Zen: If you're willing to look through the Civ4 Python API you can find documentation for some things. What I did last night for my own purposes is munge over all the information in CIV4TechInfos.xml so I could try to figure out the fields.

Neat detail - they've got stuff in there not used in the game that was apparently put in for modders, like the ability to disable research of some techs. You can see this used in Desert War: some techs are listed in the tree but you can't click on them; instead (if I remember right) they're awarded by (timed) game events.

[Zen]

So, the best use of my time would be to look through the XML files for Desert War, or some of the other included mods and see what they have done.

How about for map making/altering. I don't have Python. Is the map converter useful for me? It seems easy enough to understand, but I don't have any of the python-related programs that are needed.


Thanks for the responses.

-Zen Blade