To make a new race (different from faction), you need three things. These things are connected to each other on a deep level.
The three files you'll want to copy from are CoreRaceConfigs.xml, CoreRaceTypes.xml and CoreUnits.xml.
CoreRaceConfigs.xml contain the factions. Each faction belongs to a specific race. If you want to make a new race, you must also make a new faction.
CoreRaceTypes.xml contains the races.
CoreUnits.xml contains the units that belong to a race. Here you'll find templates for custom sovereigns, unit designs, shopkeepers and more.
Beginning at the top of the hierarchy, here's an example of a RaceType. I will bold certain sections and add comments behind them to express important notes.
<RaceType InternalName="Race_Type_Altarians"> <!-- the InternalName is the unique identifier for races. You'll need to change this to something new -->
<DisplayName>Men</DisplayName>
<RaceClassification>Men</RaceClassification>
<UnitScale>1.0</UnitScale>
<UnitSkinColor>215,150,100</UnitSkinColor>
<UnitHairColor>155,110,75</UnitHairColor>
<MaleUnitType>Generic_Sovereign_Altarian_Male</MaleUnitType> <!-- Here you see the RaceType linking to several UnitTypes. -->
<FemaleUnitType>Generic_Sovereign_Altarian_Female</FemaleUnitType>
<GenericUnitType_Male>Generic_Altarian_Male</GenericUnitType_Male>
<GenericUnitType_Female>Generic_Altarian_Female</GenericUnitType_Female>
<GenericUnitType_Other>Generic_Henchman</GenericUnitType_Other>
<TraderUnitType>TraderTest</TraderUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Henchman_Bard</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Henchman_Shieldman</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Henchman_TorchBearer</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Peasant_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Peasant_Altarian_AI</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Pioneer_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Archer_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Archer_Altarian_AI</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Archer_Altarian_AI2</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Archer_Altarian_AI3</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Archer_Altarian_AI4</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Horseman_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Horseman_Altarian_AI</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Defender_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Defender_Altarian_AI</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Defender_Altarian_AI2</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_SpearMaiden_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Spearman_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Catapult</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Scout_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Light_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Light_Altarian_AI</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Medium_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Medium_Altarian_AI</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Medium_Altarian_AI2</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Medium_Altarian_AI3</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Medium_Altarian_AI4</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Medium_Altarian_AI5</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Medium_Altarian_AI6</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Heavy_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Heavy_Altarian_AI</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Mage_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Magic_Light_Altarian_AI</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Magic_Light_Altarian_AI2</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Magic_Medium_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Magic_Medium_Altarian_AI</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Magic_Heavy_Altarian</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI1</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI2</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI3</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI4</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI5</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI6</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI7</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI8</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI9</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI10</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI11</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI12</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI13</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI14</StartingUnitType>
<StartingUnitType>Unit_Altarian_AI15</StartingUnitType>
<SageUnitType>Sage_Altarian</SageUnitType>
<ShopkeeperUnitType>Shopkeeper_Altarian</ShopkeeperUnitType>
<MusicTheme>WanderersHome</MusicTheme>
</RaceType>
Next up is the UnitTypes that belong to a race. The file is now CoreUnits.xml. In the RaceType above I bolded the Generic_Sovereign_Altarian_Male so let's go find that in CoreUnits.xml:
<UnitType InternalName="
Generic_Sovereign_Altarian_Male"> <!-- again the internalname has to be something unique and new if you are making a new race. Keep in mind this InternalName has to be mirrored in the RaceType as it is above.-->
<DisplayName>Altarian Sovereign</DisplayName>
<Class>Sovereign</Class>
<CreatureType>Champion</CreatureType>
<RaceType>
Race_Type_Altarians</RaceType> <!-- this serves no specific purpose other than to show what Race the unit belongs to in-game in Unit Details-->
<CanBeDesigned>0</CanBeDesigned>
<Gender>Male</Gender>
<HasWages>0</HasWages>
<IsSovereign>0</IsSovereign>
<HasEssence>1</HasEssence>
<GameModifier>
<ModType>Resource</ModType>
<Attribute>Unrest</Attribute>
<Value>-10</Value>
<Provides>-10% Unrest in the city this unit is in</Provides>
</GameModifier>
<GameModifier>
<ModType>Player</ModType>
<Attribute>AbilityBonus</Attribute>
<StrVal>A_FactionPrestige</StrVal>
<Value>0.5</Value>
<PerLevel>1</PerLevel>
<Provides>+0.5 Faction Prestige per Level</Provides>
</GameModifier>
<LevelMilestone InternalName="L1">
<Level>1</Level>
<UnitStat_Accuracy>75</UnitStat_Accuracy>
<UnitStat_CombatSpeed>22</UnitStat_CombatSpeed>
<UnitStat_ChanceToCrit>1</UnitStat_ChanceToCrit>
<UnitStat_HitPoints>15</UnitStat_HitPoints>
</LevelMilestone>
<SelectedAbilityBonusOption>Blood_Altarian</SelectedAbilityBonusOption> <!-- this is the bloodline given to this unit, for belonging to a race -->
<SelectedAbilityBonusOption>TrainHenchmen</SelectedAbilityBonusOption> <!-- this trait is given freely to all male sovereigns of this race -->
<Equipment>K_Male_Head_01</Equipment>
<Equipment>Sovereign_Warrior_Hair</Equipment>
<Equipment>Basic_Pants_ID2</Equipment>
<Equipment>Warrior_Boots_ID2</Equipment>
<Equipment>Sovereign_Warrior_Shirt_Pleated_ID1</Equipment>
<AIMilitaryStrategy>Swordsman</AIMilitaryStrategy>
<AnimationPack>MaleSovereignAnimationPack</AnimationPack>
<AnimationParticleEffect>HeroPoseFront,_Particle_Ceresa_02,0.0,-2.0,0.0,1.0,EffectAttach</AnimationParticleEffect>
<BattleAnimationBehavior>Melee</BattleAnimationBehavior>
<ClothMapScale>1.6</ClothMapScale>
<ClothPoseIndex>0</ClothPoseIndex>
<CutSceneDataPack>ReliasCutscenePack</CutSceneDataPack>
<EyeTexture>gfx\Eyes\blinks\eyeblink_m2_brwn.png</EyeTexture>
<InfoCardBackground>BG_KingdomRugged</InfoCardBackground>
<ModelPath>Gfx\HKB\Units\K_Male_Mesh_01.hkb</ModelPath>
<ModelScale>1</ModelScale>
<MovingSFX>TEMP_KnightMarching1</MovingSFX>
<OnHitParticleName>Bloody_OnHit</OnHitParticleName>
<SkeletonPath>Gfx\HKB\Units\K_Male_Skeleton_01.hkb</SkeletonPath>
<SoundPack>SoundPack_Generic_Male</SoundPack>
<TacticalModelScale>1.5</TacticalModelScale>
<Texture_Skin>K_Male_Freckles_Texture_01.png</Texture_Skin>
<UnitModelType>KingdomMale</UnitModelType>
</UnitType>
As you saw, the RaceType had a lot of UnitTypes. You'll need to make all those up to populate your faction with the various necessary unittypes. Also note the large number of _AI designs (players do not see these designs, they are limited to AI only).
So, now you have a Race and all the different UnitTypes that are needed for the race. Now all you need is to make a faction out of it.
From CoreRaceConfigs.xml we pull this
<RaceConfig InternalName="
KingdomOfAltar"> <!-- again, unique name needed -->
<DisplayName>Kingdom of Altar</DisplayName>
<Description>**snipped**</Description>
<LorebookIntroText>**snipped**</LorebookIntroText>
<AIPersonality>AI_General</AIPersonality>
<Capital>Athica</Capital>
<City>Avalan</City>
<City>Tylan</City>
<City>Denara</City>
<City>Keeran's Hold</City>
<City>Mirthrandra</City>
<City>Farcross</City>
<City>Staidenheart</City>
<City>Larrenstree</City>
<City>Seera's Pass</City>
<ShortName>Altar</ShortName>
<LeaderName>Lord Relias</LeaderName>
<PopulaceName>Men</PopulaceName>
<Alignment>Good</Alignment>
<FactionAllegiance>Kingdom</FactionAllegiance>
<SelAbilityBonusOption>
Wanderlust</SelAbilityBonusOption> <!-- faction bonuses, link to CoreAbilities.xml)
<SelAbilityBonusOption>
Heroic</SelAbilityBonusOption>
<EntityID>1</EntityID>
<MusicTheme>Altar</MusicTheme>
<DefaultCityWallSet>CityWalls_Fence</DefaultCityWallSet>
<NewCityHubType>CityHub1</NewCityHubType>
<CapitalHubType>CityHub1</CapitalHubType>
<RaceClassification>Men</RaceClassification>
<RaceDisplayName>Men</RaceDisplayName>
<RaceInternalName>
Race_Type_Altarians</RaceInternalName> <!-- this is the XML that links your Faction to your Race. The InternalName has to mirror your RaceType's Internalname.-->
<ChooseFactionBack>Faction_Background_Altar.png</ChooseFactionBack>
<UnitScale>1</UnitScale>
<UnitSkinColor>215,150,100</UnitSkinColor>
<UnitHairColor>155,110,75</UnitHairColor>
<UnitClothing1Color>120,25,20,255</UnitClothing1Color>
<UnitClothing2Color>78,60,55,255</UnitClothing2Color>
<UnitMetalColor>145,145,145,255</UnitMetalColor>
<BuildingPrimaryColor>165,145,130</BuildingPrimaryColor>
<BuildingSecondaryColor>75,60,50</BuildingSecondaryColor>
<BuildingRoofColor>90,15,10</BuildingRoofColor>
<ZoneOfControlColor>200,0,0</ZoneOfControlColor>
<BuildingStyle>KingdomStyle</BuildingStyle>
<TechTree>TechTree_Amarian</TechTree>
<EnvironmentTerrainType>2</EnvironmentTerrainType>
<NonBuildableEnvironmentType>DeadEnvironment</NonBuildableEnvironmentType>
<PreferredLogoType>KingdomCrest2</PreferredLogoType>
<SovereignUnitType>
Sovereign_Relias</SovereignUnitType> <!-- this is redundant, do not be fooled. Who rules what faction is decided by the Sovereign's UnitType. Ex: UnitType Sovereign_Relias has this: <FactionToLead>KingdomOfAltar</FactionToLead> -->
</RaceConfig>
The big hurdle, obviously, is making up all the UnitTypes for your race. That's why Impinc's faction creator tool is so powerful - it does all this for you. But if you don't want to use it, I would suggest that you simply copy a RaceType, copy all the UnitTypes that belong to it, then copy a RaceConfig(aka Faction). Then change the internalnames so they link properly between the three. Then you can start tinkering with the fine details.
