What is possible?

from Elemental Forums

I haven't been reading every post to come through on the mod board so I have a few questions as to what is and isn't going to be possible to mod:

  1. I know there is a spell effect editor (or something of that nature) - will we be able to add our own PNG sprites to be used as particles within the editor?
  2. GUI modding: what extent can the GUI be modded? Are we simply talking position / graphics changes or can entirely new components be added like a paper-doll system (http://www.virtualreality.ca/images/diablo3inventory.jpg) ?
  3. How are spells (and their game-based effects) going to work? Can we add entirely new spell effects like: spawning illusions of a target that don't deal damage; making non-flying units temporarily flying with air magic; an enchantment that makes a unit invulnerable to large amounts of damage, but vulnerable to low amounts of damage; etc ?
  4. Can we change unit stats (intelligence, wisdom, etc) by removing some entirely? Changing what they do?
  5. Can the tactical battles be modded to include new systems such as: an initiative system similar to Heroes of Might and Magic or other unique systems?
4,156 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

So does no one know? Any developers out there able to answer my question?

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

As the game isn't out yet, no, no one has any definative answers for your questions. And the devs are almost certainly too busy finishing the day 0 update and such to answer questions.

The interface can apparently be changed with DesktopX, but no one knows how much.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

One thing we really need to see is a fairly comprehensive mod guide in order to be able to fully understand what can and can't be done. From poking around the beta there is the ability to add spells (done a couple to test things out) and make items. There are spells and items that change stats now so I would say that is a safe bet. I'm hoping this goes from great game to great tool kit myself. Personally I'm hoping to be able to move to hexes instead of squares at some point.

B)  

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

I'm waiting for the finished game before I consider if or when I'll be modding something. Even after I get the game I'll spend probably a lot of time playing it to get the general understanding of the mechanics, and while doing so playing around with the mod tools.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

According to the devs, mostly anything should be possible if you have the required coding knowledge, which is in Python. The GUI should be modable with desktopX but I remember reading somewhere that they (devs) needed to release the API for desktopX (forgot what these letters mean -.-; ) in order to modify the current UI. I attempted to change some GUI's by switching the pictures for my own using desktopX, and it didn't do anything.

It looks to me like everything you are asking for should probably be doable, but it won't be as easy as modifying XML. Of course I'm no pro in this so I could most definetly be wrong. But yeah just like you I'm interested in modifying some stats, and adding some new screens to the game.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Tiberonmagnus, reply 4
Even after I get the game I'll spend probably a lot of time playing it to get the general understanding of the mechanics, and while doing so playing around with the mod tools.
End of Tiberonmagnus's quote
Totally agree.

Quoting Civfreak, reply 5
According to the devs, mostly anything should be possible if you have the required coding knowledge, which is in Python.
End of Civfreak's quote
And that the devs have exposed the proper things to Python.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting kyogre12, reply 2
As the game isn't out yet, no, no one has any definative answers for your questions. And the devs are almost certainly too busy finishing the day 0 update and such to answer questions.

The interface can apparently be changed with DesktopX, but no one knows how much.
End of kyogre12's quote

 

In Beta4 I have added plenty of spell effects, nothing major, mostly acid spells for the earth books. From what I have seen it is a very good system, I hope the effect editor is easy to use.