CoreSovereigns.xml File Does Not Change Anything?

from Elemental Forums

Perhaps I don't understand how to mod the game, but I did manage to successfully change equipment cost.

I opened the CoreSovereigns.xml file.  I wanted to make sovereigns regenerate their mana faster.  There is a line in each pre-made sovereign and the generic sovereigns that sets the mana regeneration value to 1.  I changed it to 3 and saved over the core sovereign file (well, first I tried to save it in the units file in my Users/MyDocument/MyGames/Elemental/Units folder, but that didn't work, so I'm skipping ahead). 

I loaded the game, started a new game, and noticed it had no effect.

So, then I changed the strength on a couple of sovereigns (something you can see without starting a game).  No effect.

Then I just inserted the word "test" into the back story section of a few sovereigns.  No effect.

What does this file do if changing the values in it changes nothing?

And, more importantly, if I want to change these base sovereigns (especially mana regeneration), how do I do it?

This game isn't very easy to mod, especially compared to a Paradox game.

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Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Mana regeneration appears to be a disabled stat. You'd probably need to re-enable to code for it in, I believe, CoreAbilities.XML. I don't know if it works or not.

P.S. This is probably one of the easiest games to mod I've played since Oblivion.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Paradox games are significantly easier and more intuitive to mod.

You keep mentioning this re-enabling thing, but I have no idea how to do it. I also think you are viewing mana regeneration as a special ability (which is what is contained in CoreAbilities.XML).

Plus, even if Mana Regeneration is not enabled, that doesn't explain why NO change to the CoreSoveriegns file alters the game in any way, including small things like Sovereign names, background text, or strength/intelligence/etc.

Plus Mana Regeneration does work.  You regenerate 1 per turn, just like the Sovereigns file says.  That could be coincidental I guess.  These files are not explained at all anywhere, so I'm not sure why you view this game as easy to mod.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Was able to raise  Lady Procipinee inteligence from 15 to 30

Do you have mods enabled under options?

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

I've never played any of the Paradox games so I don't know how easy they are to mod.

Which Paradox game is easy to mod? I know GalCiv2 is easy to mod, it's just like Elemental (and a Stardock game). Mount and Blade is another game I've played... and it is NOT easy to mod at all. Anyways, I don't want to debate this, lets get to your problem.

 

Modding Elemental requires a few rules:

1. Don't try to modify any Core files

2. Use either the Mods directory or the Units directory for implementing mods

3. Start a new and fresh game, savegames don't work

4. Some detective work

Regarding Mana Regen, I believe the game sets it's regen at 1 by default in one of the other files (CoreDef.xml maybe?) but the reason your not seeing any change to it is because it is disabled in the CoreUnitStats.XML file:

    <!--<UnitStatType InternalName="UnitStat_ManaRegen">
        <DisplayName>Mana Regeneration</DisplayName>
        <DisplayNameShort>MGEN</DisplayNameShort>
        <Description>Unit regenerates this amount of mana per turn.</Description>
        <Icon>ManaRegen_Stat_Icon.png</Icon>
        <Hidden>0</Hidden>
        <AffectPerLevelUpPoint>1.0</AffectPerLevelUpPoint>
    </UnitStatType>-->

A "<!--" means that it is disabled.

My advice for you, if you want to get it to work, is to make a Mod.XML file in the "Units" folder. Place the above code into it (with ALL the necessary coding), removing the "<!-- -->", then make a copy of the CoreSovereigns.XML, place it into the "Units" folder, and try making your sovereign modifications there.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting jscott991, reply 2
Paradox games are significantly easier and more intuitive to mod.

You keep mentioning this re-enabling thing, but I have no idea how to do it. I also think you are viewing mana regeneration as a special ability (which is what is contained in CoreAbilities.XML).

Plus, even if Mana Regeneration is not enabled, that doesn't explain why NO change to the CoreSoveriegns file alters the game in any way, including small things like Sovereign names, background text, or strength/intelligence/etc.

Plus Mana Regeneration does work.  You regenerate 1 per turn, just like the Sovereigns file says.  That could be coincidental I guess.  These files are not explained at all anywhere, so I'm not sure why you view this game as easy to mod.
End of jscott991's quote

Yes.

Bizarre.  I've been playing with this file for hours without success.

James,

I appreciate your help.  I just don't understand a lot of the terms of art you keep using.  What is "all the necessary coding?"  I created an XML file called mod, used the text you pasted, removed the little thing you said to remove, but what other coding is necessary, because it didn't work.

I did get the CoreSovereigns file to work.  Yay!  I increased the intelligence and it showed up.  So now its just a matter of getting the regeneration to work.

Also, that coding is NOT in my CoreUnitStats.XML file in any form.  Where did you find that disable mana regen coding?

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting jscott991, reply 5


I appreciate your help.  I just don't understand a lot of the terms of art you keep using.  What is "all the necessary coding?"  I created an XML file called mod, used the text you pasted, removed the little thing you said to remove, but what other coding is necessary, because it didn't work.
End of jscott991's quote

It's not working because you need to declare the file. Remember that your using XML to mod this game, it'll do wonders to understand how XML coding works. I had no idea until I started modding this game but its easy to learn.

You'll need to put this at the beginning:

<PlayerAbilityTypes>
    <DataChecksum NoParse="1">
        <Ignore>DisplayName,DisplayNameShort,Description,Icon</Ignore>
        <Translate>DisplayName,DisplayNameShort,Description</Translate>
    </DataChecksum>

and put this at the end:

</PlayerAbilityTypes>

... Of the file

Also, for coding, I suggest using Notepad++ for the XML coding. It's absolutely perfect for this stuff.

Quoting jscott991, reply 5
I did get the CoreSovereigns file to work.  Yay!  I increased the intelligence and it showed up.  So now its just a matter of getting the regeneration to work.
End of jscott991's quote

Congrats! Your well on your way to modding now.

 

P.S. The coding for mana regen is in between "Experience to next level" and "Health Regen" in my file. I'm looking at it right now, lol.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

So this is what I have:

 

<PlayerAbilityTypes>

    <DataChecksum NoParse="1">

        <Ignore>DisplayName,DisplayNameShort,Description,Icon</Ignore>

        <Translate>DisplayName,DisplayNameShort,Description</Translate>

    </DataChecksum>

<UnitStatType InternalName="UnitStat_ManaRegen">

        <DisplayName>Mana Regeneration</DisplayName>

        <DisplayNameShort>MGEN</DisplayNameShort>

        <Description>Unit regenerates this amount of mana per turn.</Description>

        <Icon>ManaRegen_Stat_Icon.png</Icon>

        <Hidden>0</Hidden>

        <AffectPerLevelUpPoint>1.0</AffectPerLevelUpPoint>

    </UnitStatType>-->

</PlayerAbilityTypes>

 

Edit: This crashes the game. :)

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting James009D, reply 6

 

P.S. The coding for mana regen is in between "Experience to next level" and "Health Regen" in my file. I'm looking at it right now, lol.
End of James009D's quote

Ignore this.  Found it.

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

I think I got it work, in that the language is correct, but it has no effect on mana regeneration.

I tried this text in Mod.XML:

PlayerAbilityTypes>
    <DataChecksum NoParse="1">
        <Ignore>DisplayName,DisplayNameShort,Description,Icon</Ignore>
        <Translate>DisplayName,DisplayNameShort,Description</Translate>
    </DataChecksum>
<UnitStatType InternalName="UnitStat_ManaRegen">
        <DisplayName>Mana Regeneration</DisplayName>
        <DisplayNameShort>MGEN</DisplayNameShort>
        <Description>Unit regenerates this amount of mana per turn.</Description>
        <Icon>ManaRegen_Stat_Icon.png</Icon>
        <Hidden>0</Hidden>
        <AffectPerLevelUpPoint>1.0</AffectPerLevelUpPoint>
    </UnitStatType>
</PlayerAbilityTypes>

The game does not crash, but even with every sovereign in the CoreSovereigns.XML file set to 3.0 regeneration (and I know this is working because Procipinee has a 19 intelligence and it shows up that way), regen is still 1 per turn.

My next attempt was to save a copy of the entire CoreUnitStats.XML file in my Units directory and then remove the <!-- and --> from around the Mana Regen text.  That did not crash the game either, but it also had no effect.

I'm stumped.  I've wasted my Elemental time trying to get this to work without any success at all.  :)

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

Hmmm, I was hoping that was the solution but perhaps its elseware :(