This is a modding guide for those who wish to create thier own Starter Systems for thier custom factions. I will try to explain the Replace method and the Append method.
I am going to assume you know how to edit and create XML documents.
Replace Method
First and for most make copys of the StarDefs.xml, StarSystemsDefs.xml, PlanetDefs.xml & PlanetArtDefs.xml and place them in the ExampleMod/Game folder(Or create you own Mod folder) located in ...Documents/My Games/GalCiv3/Mods. You will then add the below code to the top of each file.
Step One: Creating the Star
Open StarDefs.xml and locate this line: <!--Fixted Sytem Stars--> . We are going to start our code underneath this:-
<Star> <InternalName>FedStar</InternalName> <DisplayName>Sol</DisplayName> <ObjectType>Star</ObjectType> <Type>YellowStar</Type> <ArtDefine>SunArt</ArtDefine> <SFXDefine>STAR_AMBIENT</SFXDefine> </Star>
Save the File.
Step Two: Creating the Planets
Open PlanetDefs.xml and locate this line: xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="../Schema/PlanetDefs.xsd"> . We are going to start our code underneth this:-
<Planet> <InternalName>PlanetMercuryFED</InternalName> <DisplayName>Mercury</DisplayName> <PlanetType>Dead</PlanetType> <PlanetClass>0</PlanetClass> <ArtDefine>MercuryArt</ArtDefine> </Planet> <Planet> <InternalName>PlanetEarthFED</InternalName> <DisplayName>Earth</DisplayName> <PlanetType>Habitable</PlanetType> <PlanetClass>16</PlanetClass> <ArtDefine>EarthArt</ArtDefine> </Planet> <Planet> <InternalName>PlanetVenusFED</InternalName> <DisplayName>Venus</DisplayName> <PlanetType>Habitable</PlanetType> <PlanetClass>12</PlanetClass> <ArtDefine>VenusArt</ArtDefine> </Planet> <Planet> <InternalName>PlanetMarsFED</InternalName> <DisplayName>Mars</DisplayName> <PlanetType>Habitable</PlanetType> <PlanetClass>7</PlanetClass> <ArtDefine>MarsArt</ArtDefine> </Planet> <Planet> <InternalName>PlanetJupiterFED</InternalName> <DisplayName>Jupiter</DisplayName> <PlanetType>GasGiant</PlanetType> <PlanetClass>0</PlanetClass> <ArtDefine>JupiterArt</ArtDefine> </Planet>
Step Three: Creating the Planet Art Defines
Open PlanetArtDefs.xml and locate this line: <!-- PlanetArtDefs.xml --> . We are going to start our code underneth this:-
<ArtDefine> <InternalName>VenusArt</InternalName> <Radius>18</Radius> <RotationSpeed>-0.06</RotationSpeed> <ModelFile>gfx/planets/planet_globe_with_seams.sdf</ModelFile> <AxisTilt>0.5</AxisTilt> <AtmosphereTextureFile>Planet_Atmosphere_Clouds_Generic_Yellow_L.dds</AtmosphereTextureFile> <BaseLayerTextureFile>Planet_Base_Rock_Generic_02_Merged.dds</BaseLayerTextureFile> <BaseLayerGradientFile>Planet_Base_Brown_Gradient_01.png</BaseLayerGradientFile> <AltLatGradientTextureFile>Planet_Generic_Continent_Gradient_Yellow_01.png</AltLatGradientTextureFile> <PolarCapTextureFile>Planet_Cap_Generic_Lava_01.dds</PolarCapTextureFile> <BaseLayerDiffuseColor> <Red>255</Red> <Green>255</Green> <Blue>102</Blue> <Alpha>255</Alpha> </BaseLayerDiffuseColor> <EmissiveColor> <Red>255</Red> <Green>255</Green> <Blue>153</Blue> <Alpha>255</Alpha> </EmissiveColor> <PolarCapTintColor> <Red>255</Red> <Green>204</Green> <Blue>204</Blue> <Alpha>255</Alpha> </PolarCapTintColor> <AtmosphereColor> <Red>255</Red> <Green>255</Green> <Blue>102</Blue> <Alpha>255</Alpha> </AtmosphereColor> <PolarCapSize>0.2</PolarCapSize> <ContinentSqueezeFactor>0.2</ContinentSqueezeFactor> <BaseGloss>0</BaseGloss> <BaseSpecularIntensity>0</BaseSpecularIntensity> <BaseMetal>0</BaseMetal> <TerrainGloss>0</TerrainGloss> <TerrainSpecularIntensity>0</TerrainSpecularIntensity> <TerrainMetal>0</TerrainMetal> <ShadowBuffer>0.1</ShadowBuffer> <Ambient>0.05</Ambient> <HaloIntensity>0.5</HaloIntensity> <HaloEffect> <RotationSpeed>5</RotationSpeed> <FadeSpeed>4</FadeSpeed> <MinIntensity>0.7</MinIntensity> <MaxIntensity>1</MaxIntensity> <Alternating>false</Alternating> <Scale>1.15</Scale> </HaloEffect> <HaloEffect> <RotationSpeed>2</RotationSpeed> <FadeSpeed>2</FadeSpeed> <MinIntensity>0.2</MinIntensity> <MaxIntensity>0.7</MaxIntensity> <Alternating>false</Alternating> <Scale>1.25</Scale> </HaloEffect> </ArtDefine>
Step Four: Building the System
Open StarSystemDefs.xml near the top of the file locate this line: <InternalName>FactionStart</InternalName> . We are going to star our code on the line underneath this:-
<StarSystem> <InternalName>FedSystem</InternalName> <DisplayName>Sol F</DisplayName> <Description>Federation Home System</Description> <OrbitLane> <LaneType>Star</LaneType> <!-- We place the Star we made here --> <Body> <BodyType>UnaryStar</BodyType> <BodyDef>FedStar</BodyDef> </Body> </OrbitLane> <OrbitLane> <LaneType>DeadZone</LaneType> <!-- We place the dead planets we made here --> <Body> <BodyType>Planet</BodyType> <BodyDef>PlanetMercuryFED</BodyDef> </Body> </OrbitLane> <OrbitLane> <LaneType>HabitableZone</LaneType> <!-- We place the habitable Planets we made here --> <Body> <BodyType>Planet</BodyType> <BodyDef>PlanetEarthFED</BodyDef> <IsHomeworld>true</IsHomeworld> <Position>5</Position> </Body> <Body> <BodyType>Planet</BodyType> <BodyDef>PlanetVenusFED</BodyDef> </Body> <Body> <BodyType>Planet</BodyType> <BodyDef>PlanetMarsFED</BodyDef> </Body> </OrbitLane> <OrbitLane> <LaneType>NoRandom</LaneType> <!-- We place the Gas Giant planets we made here --> <Body> <BodyType>Planet</BodyType> <BodyDef>PlanetJupiterFED</BodyDef> </Body> </OrbitLane> </StarSystem>
Thats it! Boot up the game and see your newly created system!
Append Method
You will need to create four new xml documents and name them however you wish, it is however common practice to keep your files similar to how SD do thier's, eg :- MyMod_StarDefs.xml. You will then have to place these in the ExampleMod folder (or create you own) and place the below code in the corresponding files. This Method will only work for factions that you have created via xml.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes" ?><StarListxmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="../Schema/StarDefs.xsd"> <!--Fixed System Stars--> <Star> <InternalName>FedStar</InternalName> <DisplayName>FedSystem_Name</DisplayName> <ObjectType>Star</ObjectType> <Type>YellowStar</Type> <ArtDefine>SunArt</ArtDefine> <SFXDefine>STAR_AMBIENT</SFXDefine> </Star>
</StarList>
Always remember that the Internal Name has to be Unique for every Star you create. We will save this as a new xml document: MyMod_StarDefs.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes" ?><PlanetListxmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="../Schema/PlanetDefs.xsd"> <Planet> <InternalName>PlanetMercuryFED</InternalName> <DisplayName>Mercury</DisplayName> <PlanetType>Dead</PlanetType> <PlanetClass>0</PlanetClass> <ArtDefine>MercuryArt</ArtDefine> </Planet> <Planet> <InternalName>PlanetEarthFED</InternalName> <DisplayName>Earth</DisplayName> <PlanetType>Habitable</PlanetType> <PlanetClass>16</PlanetClass> <ArtDefine>EarthArt</ArtDefine> </Planet> <Planet> <InternalName>PlanetVenusFED</InternalName> <DisplayName>Venus</DisplayName> <PlanetType>Habitable</PlanetType> <PlanetClass>12</PlanetClass> <ArtDefine>VenusArt</ArtDefine> </Planet> <Planet> <InternalName>PlanetMarsFED</InternalName> <DisplayName>Mars</DisplayName> <PlanetType>Habitable</PlanetType> <PlanetClass>7</PlanetClass> <ArtDefine>MarsArt</ArtDefine> </Planet> <Planet> <InternalName>PlanetJupiterFED</InternalName> <DisplayName>Jupiter</DisplayName> <PlanetType>GasGiant</PlanetType> <PlanetClass>0</PlanetClass> <ArtDefine>JupiterArt</ArtDefine> </Planet>
</PlanetList>
Remember that the Internal Names for your planets have to be Unique for each Planet you create. We will save this as a new xml document: MyMod_PlanetDefs.xml
The game already has existing art for Mercury, Mars, Earth and Jupiter so we have used the art defines for them in the Planet code above. However Venus has no art dfine so will will have to make one for it. (You can use existing art for any planet or create new art for any planet)
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes" ?><PlanetArtListxmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="../Schema/PlanetArtDefs.xsd"><!-- Created with the Gal Civ 3 Editor --><!-- PlanetArtDefs.xml -->
</PlanetArtList>
Remember to keep the Internal name unique for each Planet art define you create. We will save this as a new xml document: MyMod_PlanetArtDefs.xml. You will reference this in the PlanetDefs.xml:-
<ArtDefine>VenusArt</ArtDefine>
We need to create a system for our Star and Planets. In the Planet code above we defined Mercury as a Dead World so we will place this planet in the DeadZone of our system. We defined Mars, Venus and Earth has Habitable Planets so they will be placed in the HabitableZone. And finaly Jupiter we defined as a GasGiant so we will place this in the 'OuterZone' (NoRandom).
We will create a new SystemGroup for our system, this InternalName has to be Unique so we will call it MyFactionsMain
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes" ?><StarSystemListxmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="../Schema/StarSystemDefs.xsd"><!-- Created with the Gal Civ 3 Editor --><!-- StarSystemDefs.xml --> <!-- System Group --> <StarSystemGroup> <InternalName>MyFactionsMain</InternalName> <StarSystem> <InternalName>FedSystem</InternalName> <DisplayName>FedSystem_Name</DisplayName> <Description>FedSystem_Dec</Description> <OrbitLane> <LaneType>Star</LaneType> <!-- We place the Star we made here --> <Body> <BodyType>UnaryStar</BodyType> <BodyDef>FedStar</BodyDef> </Body> </OrbitLane> <OrbitLane> <LaneType>DeadZone</LaneType> <!-- We place the dead planets we made here --> <Body> <BodyType>Planet</BodyType> <BodyDef>PlanetMercuryFED</BodyDef> </Body> </OrbitLane> <OrbitLane> <LaneType>HabitableZone</LaneType> <!-- We place the habitable Planets we made here --> <Body> <BodyType>Planet</BodyType> <BodyDef>PlanetEarthFED</BodyDef> <IsHomeworld>true</IsHomeworld> <Position>5</Position> </Body> <Body> <BodyType>Planet</BodyType> <BodyDef>PlanetVenusFED</BodyDef> </Body> <Body> <BodyType>Planet</BodyType> <BodyDef>PlanetMarsFED</BodyDef> </Body> </OrbitLane> <OrbitLane> <LaneType>NoRandom</LaneType> <!-- We place the Gas Giant planets we made here --> <Body> <BodyType>Planet</BodyType> <BodyDef>PlanetJupiterFED</BodyDef> </Body> </OrbitLane> </StarSystem> </StarSystemGroup></StarSystemList>
Remember to keep each Systems, InternalName unique for every system you create. We will save this as a new xml document: MyMod_StarSystemDefs.xml.
If you wanted to have Asteroids in you newly created system we would add them in the same Lane as Jupiter. So Jupiters Lane would look like this:-
<OrbitLane> <LaneType>NoRandom</LaneType> <!-- We place the Gas Giant planets we made here along with any asteroids we require--> <Body> <BodyType>Asteroid</BodyType> <BodyDef>NormalAsteroid</BodyDef> <Position>0</Position> </Body> <Body> <BodyType>Planet</BodyType> <BodyDef>PlanetJupiterFED</BodyDef> </Body> </OrbitLane>
Step Five: Creating the Text Entries
You will notice that I used Tags for the Display Names and Descriptions these tags point to a Text.xml, now, you need not do this, You can Just type in your system name and description if you want rather than using Tag's like I did (FedSystem_Name & FedSystem_Dec).
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes" ?><StringTableListxmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="../../Schema/Lib/StringTable.xsd"><!-- Created with the Gal Civ 3 Editor -->
<!-- FACTION SYSTEMS -->
<StringTable> <Label>FedSystem_Name</Label> <String>Sol</String> </StringTable> <StringTable> <Label>FedSystem_Dec</Label> <String>The Federation Capitol system, containing a class 16, a class 12 and a class 7 world.</String> </StringTable>
</StringTableList>
We will save this as a new xml document: MyMod_SystemText.xml.
Because we defined a new SystemGroup name this system will not display in the available start systems list that is in the ingame faction creator. You will have to manualy create a faction using xml and enter this system as the factions "HomeSystem".
Hi, any idea what the difference between a NoRandom lane and the Outer/Dead lanes is? My initial guess would have been that NoRandom can't have strategic ressources, but starting a couple of times with the terran home system proofed that wrong:
- I got durantium in the asteroids which are in a NoRandom lane- I never got thullium from the dead world Mercury in the "DeadZone" lane
Other stuff that does or doesn't do things:
<StarSystem> <InternalName>MinorSystem</InternalName> <DisplayName>MinorSystem_Name</DisplayName> <Description>MinorSystem_Dec</Description> <OrbitLane> <LaneType>Star</LaneType> <Body> <BodyType>UnaryStar</BodyType> <BodyDef>YellowStar</BodyDef> </Body> </OrbitLane> <OrbitLane> <LaneType>DeadZone</LaneType> <MinPlanets>0</MinPlanets> <MaxPlanets>1</MaxPlanets> <!-- These two make a planet sometimes appear and sometimes not in the DeadZone these planets have a chance to become a thullium deposite depending on your settings--> </OrbitLane> <OrbitLane> <LaneType>HabitableZone</LaneType> <!-- Planets in this zone can turn into habitable worlds due to events, e.g. pirate colony (seen it happen with gold in the Iridium system after conquering it)--> <Body> <BodyType>Planet</BodyType> <BodyDef>Arb</BodyDef> <IsHomeworld>true</IsHomeworld> <Position>0</Position> <!-- Fix the position of the body created, position 0 is in the bottom left corner of the hex-ring--> </Body> </OrbitLane> <OrbitLane> <LaneType>OuterZone</LaneType> <MinPlanets>1</MinPlanets> <MaxPlanets>2</MaxPlanets> <!-- For some reason I never got planets in the OuterZone when starting with an Arbsystem, in theory gas giants here can be Promethium, too--> <Body> <BodyType>Asteroid</BodyType> <BodyDef>NormalAsteroid</BodyDef> <Position>0</Position> <!-- For asteroids this marks the position of the first asteroid, the number of asteroids is random and dependent on your game settings (e.g. 2-6 for abundant)--> </Body> </OrbitLane></StarSystem>Premade planets don't seem to be able to be converted into strategic ressources. Despite numerous tests saturn, jupiter and mercury never turned into a strat ressource at the start (gas giants -> promethium, dead worlds -> thullium).
I hope this was helpful additional information for someone. Feel free to augment your guide with it.
Handy info, I dont think I need to augment my guide since your info is in post 2 it is like an apened
Thank you for this Horemvore.
@ zuPloed - NoRandom = No random planets btw.
Ah, good to kno, thanks.
This still leaves one question open: why I never got planets in the OuterZone when I started in the arb system :/
Bump.
If this xml is tossed in with a system generated custom civ xml, does it have any effect? That is, can it be distributed along with steam workshop civs?
Not ATM
I have found elsewhere on the forums that the PlanetArtDefs.xml entries- the ArtDefines- determine what class the planet can be set to. However, there was also talk of other planet map files and then random continents... I can't seem to find anything in the ArtDefines fields that state what the planet class actually is for any non-random planets. I also don't see anything different between planets that seems to correspond to class in the ArtDefines.
But those map files... I had to get a program to open .DDS but I have one and all they are seem to be fuzzy blue-violet shapes all over the place. Some files appear to be actual graphics of continents and stuff.
How do I make sense out of all of this to make a custom planet? Like, to hold more or less usable tiles, or more tiles that can eventually be terraformed? What do these colors have to do with tile availability?
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