Where can I find the Kingdoms.xml file?

To Create a Custom Faction:

1. First, go to "C:\??\Elemental\data\English" and look up the "CoreRaceConfigs.XML" file for reference.
2. Create a NEW .XML file under "C:\Users\??\Documents\My Games\Elemental\Race".
3. Basically copy the CoreData of ONE faction and modify it. Good luck!

These are from the "SovereignTalents.XML" file, if you want to try and use them to give the heroes some flavor. They're divided broadly into two categories, Sovereign and NPC, dont know what effect that will have on which characters can use them.

There dosnt seem to be any second-level skills, unless the game automatically makes them itself using the ones in the SovereignTalents.xml file as a baseline. There shouldnt be anything prevent you from making abilities and histories yourself though.

NPC

• NPC_CityProduction1 : Boosts a city's production by 10%.

• NPC_CityFarming1 : Boosts a city's food production by 20%.

• NPC_SpellPtProduction1 : Produces 1 arcane knowledge point per turn.

• LoreMaster_SpellPtProduction1 : Produces 1 arcane knowledge point per turn.

• NPC_ResearchProduction1 : Produces 1 technological knowledge point per turn.

• Tutor_ResearchProduction1 : Produces 1 technological knowledge point per turn.

• NPC_GoldProduction1 : Produces 2 gildar per turn.

• Ironeer_MetalProduction1 : Produces 0.1 metal per turn.

• Archivist_ResearchProduction1 : Produces 1 technological knowledge point per turn.

Sovereign

• Sovereign_Ability_Research_Brilliant : Produces 1 technological knowledge point a turn without the aid of a city

• Sovereign_Ability_Diplomacy_Diplomatic : Increases perceived value of what you trade.

• Sovereign_Ability_Logistics_Organized : Armies lead by the sovereign move at the sovereign's speed.

• Sovereign_Ability_Enemy_Morale_Intimidating : Decreases enemy morale in combat.

• Sovereign_Ability_Enemy_Morale_Cowardly : Increases enemy morale in combat.

• Sovereign_Ability_Ally_Morale_Leader : Increases morale of friendly army in combat.

• Sovereign_Ability_Ally_Morale_Cruel : Lowers morale of army.

• Sovereign_Ability_Health_Hardy : Bonus to sovereign's hit points.

• Sovereign_Ability_Movement_Tracker : Sovereign gets an extra move.

• Sovereign_Ability_Movement_Clumsy : Sovereign will randomly get fewer moves per turn.

• Sovereign_Ability_Starting_Position_Naturalist : A mine is near sovereign's starting position.

• Sovereign_Ability_Starting_Position_Outcast : No champions are located near the starting position.

• Sovereign_Ability_Spell_Buying_Stupid : Increased cost of learning spells.

• Sovereign_Ability_Battle_Retreat_Stubborn : Sovereign may not retreat from a battle that goes badly.

• Sovereign_Ability_Recruitment_Blunt : Cost to recruit allies increased.

• Sovereign_Ability_City_Prestige_Insane : Prestige of any city the sovereign is in is decreased.

• Sovereign_Ability_Children_Ugly : Fewer children.

• Sovereign_Ability_Construction_Inefficient : Construction penalty in stationed city.

• Sovereign_Ability_SpellPoints_Meditative : Produces 1 arcane knowledge point a turn without the aid of a city.

• Sovereign_Ability_Battle_Attack_Daring : 3% chance that a sovereign's attack will avoid defense ratings.

Found it.

CoreLogos.xml

So, does this mean there won't be a more user friendly form of custom faction creation for the final game? Or am I reading too much into it? I'm fine with editing XML, but... It lacks panache. One of my favorite parts of GalCiv 2 was imagining new alien species and running them through the creator to see how they'd pan out...

Any feedback would be much appreciated on this.

Same.

Thanks for the guide Folcik009, quite helpful.

It does sound like there will be more tools released in the future for modding.  That Faction Creation Tool does look like it will be in the release, especially since they already have a CustomizeFactionScene.xml file in the CutScenes folder.  They are also working on a coat of arms creation tool as well though not sure if we'll see that on release.  There's also been mention of Item, Quest, and Effects editors as well.

Thanks

Yeah, I've been considering making more female characters, especially ones that are more attractive. I've also been planning out some "personality traits" for a next release of the Abilities Mod to make marriage possibly more interesting (eventually).

for some reason my hero isn't appearing in the game, please help, is there something I'm doing wrong?

    <UnitType InternalName="Lady Azula">
        <DisplayName>Champion</DisplayName>
    <UnitDisplayName>Lady Azula</UnitDisplayName>
        <Quote>'For the spirits I will endure, for the people I scrifice'</Quote>
        <Backstory>Far beneath the withered planes of the world, Lady Azula discovered her call to do far greater things than dig. A mining expedition on the eastern side of the Skarps had Lady Azula and a dozen other men toiling for years. With no family, home, or drive to adventure, the humble miner spent long days digging downwards and restful nights under the sky gazing upwards. One morning, as the stirred dust hung heavy in the small tunnel, Lady Azula uncovered a relic of the Cataclysm. Accidentally touching this innocuous crystal, visions pierced her mind of dusty wastes brought to life by her touch. From that day Lady Azula worked to discover herself and the great powers beheld in that vision.</Backstory>
        <ModelPath>Gfx\HKB\Units\K_Female_Mesh_01.hkb</ModelPath>
        <SkeletonPath>Gfx\HKB\Units\K_Male_Skeleton_01.hkb</SkeletonPath>
        <EyeTexture>gfx\eyes\blinks\eyeblink_f3_brwn.png</EyeTexture>
        <AnimationPack>FemaleSovereignAnimationPack</AnimationPack>
        <MountedAnimationPack>MountedSoldierAnimationPack</MountedAnimationPack>
        <MovementType>land</MovementType>
        <BobbingFrequency>0.0000</BobbingFrequency>
        <ClothPoseIndex>5</ClothPoseIndex>
        <InfoCardBackground>BG36_HighlvlShop</InfoCardBackground>
        <InfoCardBackgroundFlipped>0</InfoCardBackgroundFlipped>
        <CanBeDesigned>0</CanBeDesigned>
        <MovingSFX>TEMP_KnightMarching1</MovingSFX>
        <LevelMilestone InternalName="">
            <Level>1</Level>
            <UnitStat_Attack>0.0000</UnitStat_Attack>
            <UnitStat_Charisma>12.0000</UnitStat_Charisma>
            <UnitStat_Constitution>8.0000</UnitStat_Constitution>
            <UnitStat_Defense>0.0000</UnitStat_Defense>
            <UnitStat_Dexterity>8.0000</UnitStat_Dexterity>
            <UnitStat_ExpToNextLevel>20.0000</UnitStat_ExpToNextLevel>
            
            <UnitStat_HitPoints>0.0000</UnitStat_HitPoints>
            <UnitStat_Intelligence>12.0000</UnitStat_Intelligence>
            <UnitStat_ManaRegen>0.0000</UnitStat_ManaRegen>
            <UnitStat_Sight>2.0000</UnitStat_Sight>
            <UnitStat_Strength>8.0000</UnitStat_Strength>
            <UnitStat_Wisdom>12.0000</UnitStat_Wisdom>
      <UnitStat_CombatSpeed>2</UnitStat_CombatSpeed>
        </LevelMilestone>
        <Equipment>K_Female_Head_05</Equipment>
        <Equipment>Fallen_Teased_Hair</Equipment>
        <Equipment>DarkWizardFemaleRobeID2</Equipment>
        <Equipment>Basic_Wraith_Skirt_ID1</Equipment>
        <Equipment>TightBoots_Dark</Equipment>
        <Equipment>Staff</Equipment>
        <Color_Clothing1>25,70,111,255</Color_Clothing1>
        <Color_Clothing2>35,35,35,255</Color_Clothing2>
        <Color_Metal>145,145,145,255</Color_Metal>
        <Color_Skin>160,115,75,255</Color_Skin>
        <Color_Hair>35,35,35,255</Color_Hair>
        <Texture_Skin>K_Female_Thinbrows_Texture_01.png</Texture_Skin>
        <Texture_Eyes>gfx\eyes\blinks\eyeblink_f3_brwn.png</Texture_Eyes>
        <Gender>Female</Gender>
        <UnitModelType>KingdomFemale</UnitModelType>
        <SelectedAbilityBonusOption>History_Royalty</SelectedAbilityBonusOption>
        <UnitDisplayName>Lady Azula</UnitDisplayName>
        <Class>Adventurer</Class>
        <NPCTalentValue>1</NPCTalentValue>
        <SpawnRating>1</SpawnRating>
        <NPCSpawnLikelihood>p00</NPCSpawnLikelihood>
        <SelectedAbilityBonusOption>Dominate</SelectedAbilityBonusOption>
        <NPCRecruitmentText>I need gildar to continue the search for my brother. For %d I'll join your faction, and together, search for Rilohi.</NPCRecruitmentText>
        <Backstory>Azula is a good hearted soul who consistently finds herself in strange company. She was born with a twin brother who has since vanished into the night without a trace. Lilohki is a caring priestess who sows the seeds of hope everywhere she goes but takes none for herself. Deep down, she knows she will never see her brother again and is slowly losing faith in the very concept of 'hope.'</Backstory>
    </UnitTypes>

I was browsing the files and in an attempt to find out "what goes", I let my text editor collect all occurrences of UnitStat_.

This list has a few mroe entries than yours but not all will necessarily work. "Mana Regen", for instance, is apparently commented out in another file but in theory, it's there.

A_UnitStat_Attack
A_UnitStat_CombatSpeed
A_UnitStat_Defense
A_UnitStat_Essence
A_UnitStat_HitPoints
UnitStat_Assassination
UnitStat_Attack
UnitStat_AttackRange
UnitStat_BluntDamage
UnitStat_BluntDefense
UnitStat_Charisma
UnitStat_CombatSpeed
UnitStat_Constitution
UnitStat_CounterattackMultiplier
UnitStat_CuttingDamage
UnitStat_CuttingDefense
UnitStat_Daring
UnitStat_Defense
UnitStat_Dexterity
UnitStat_Dodge
UnitStat_Essence
UnitStat_ExpToNextLevel
UnitStat_Experience
UnitStat_HealthRegen
UnitStat_HitPoints
UnitStat_Intelligence
UnitStat_ManaRegen
UnitStat_Morale
UnitStat_Moves
UnitStat_PierceDamage
UnitStat_Reputation
UnitStat_Sight
UnitStat_Strength
UnitStat_StructuralAttack
UnitStat_TacticalHealthRegen
UnitStat_TacticalManaRegen
UnitStat_TacticalMovementCostMultiplier
UnitStat_Wisdom

Do we know any more on how to get make a created hero more likely to spawn... I am finding ti difficult to test any heros I make atm and would be nice to know how to get them to spawn 100% of the time.

On NPCSpawnlikelihood, is that 800%, 80.0% or 8.00%?

And on the NPCTalentValue, is that 1 Gilder?

Inquiring minds, want to know.