I've wiped every file for GalCivIII off my system, done a complete uninstall, and reinstalled. I made sure to clear out EVERY file I could locate (Did a search on my C drive for anything with "Gal" in it). Now, when I make changes to:
StarSystemDefs.xml, PlanetDefs.xml, and PlanetTraitDefs.xml
They simply aren't reflected in the game. I've changed the files in both the main GalCivIII directories AND the Crusade directories. It's literally like I haven't changed anything when I start the game.
Are you putting the altered file in the MyGames...MOD directory? Several folks have said changes to files in core directory do not take. I have modded all three files you cite and it's working fine
And when you start the game, you do mean a new game, correct? The XML is only apparently read at the start of the game, so it won't make a change to a game in progress.
If you're altering core files, they're binned for quicker load times. You either have to manually recreate the bin files, which there are batch jobs for, or delete them and have the game recreate them on startup.
Now that is very good information.
The binned files is the smoking gun I was looking for. I was modifying core files and restarting the game. I will try it in the Mod folders. Thank you for the information everyone!
OMG!!! I was thinking it might be something like this b/c I saw all the .bat files in the Tools folder at one point, but I'm extremely sarcastic and pessimistic by nature so I didn't dare get my hopes up lol, and I was/am still too busy working on my private mod to be able to stop and check them.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FINDING THIS!!! Okay Stardock/Brad: I'm officially not mad at you anymore. *hugs*
Just fyi guys, the reason being able to mod the Core files REALLY matters (well the reason I care about anyway - not sure if there are other reasons too heh), is b/c it allows you to use Mods in Multiplayer. You just zip up all your mod files beforehand like an official download version, send the mod zip to your friend/s, have them also Core install it, and THEN start a MP game.
In my case at least I wouldn't be playing GalCiv3 AT ALL if this weren't possible, and discovering it is the reason we came back to the game last winter after a 1.5-year break.
It would seem that the reason they don't want you modding the bin files is due to multiplayer as well. But it looks like you will be able to do what you want for you and your friends, it'll just be a bit more work.
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