There also may be an issue with cloud storage. Be sure to turn this off for this game when doing modding. It seems to keep the files you delete, sometimes it keeps these files even after you have deleted them.

So question - I just add:

        <ProductionRequirement>
            <Type>Resource</Type>
            <Attribute>Faith</Attribute>
            <Value>10</Value>
        </ProductionRequirement>

To the UNIT?

N/A

N/A

Is there a way to mod champions so that the cannot use accessories or mounts?

Is it possible to make an armor that has different apperance based on gender?

Most armors already do this. Armor appearance is based on UnitModelType and males and females have different modeltypes, ex <UnitModelType>TarthanMale</UnitModelType>. ArtGameItem.xml is where this is set.

I don't get what you're saying here...?

You've lost me.  Are you saying that is how the game currently works?

Because if so, that's not right.

This is correct.  But it's got nothing to do with your own level.  If you reach the first 3 fame milestones, and your Sov is still level 1, it doesn't matter... you will get a level 1 then 3 then 5 champion.  Likewise if you get to level 7 in the first few turns somehow.... then after that you reach the first 3 fame milestones, you will still get a level 1, 3 and 5 champion.

The tag you are looking for is

<IsUniqueButBuildable>1</IsUniqueButBuildable>

<CanBeDesigned>0</CanBeDesgined> Removes that unit from the design list entirely.

Look at the unit "Unit_BoundHoarder" for more details.

This unit cannot be designed, but it can be built. Not sure if you can fix the party size as I've not experimented, but I think you have the right idea with the <GroupingType> tag.

If the tag <IsStartingUnitType>1</IsStartingUnitType> is set then you should also include another file denoting the RaceType that can use the creature

<RaceType InternalName="RACETHATCANUSETHATCREATURE">
    <StartingUnitType>INTERNALNAMEOFYOURUNIT</StartingUnitType>
</RaceType>

I've added units with my Female Henchmen mod. It has most everything you need to add a unit to the game. It creates a new unit model type, gives the correct clothes for design and shows up to be edited. There are limitations with FE:LH that I was unable to get it to work the way I would have hoped, but it should give the general idea on adding a unit.

I've messed with the <LayeredMusicGroups> tags a bit (found in CoreLayeredMusic.xml in the /English folder), and have had partial success writing a custom file for a faction.  As an example, I pointed the game at Fjull's theme (placing the music the LH/Layered Music Folder that is next to the Mods Folder, so not the core Layered Music folder), and this music plays every time I visit the shop with that faction:

 
  <LayeredMusicGroup InternalName="ItemShop_Theme1">
    <MusicLayer InternalName="FG">
      <FileName>11_Fhjull_Theme</FileName>
      <Volume>70</Volume>
    </MusicLayer>
    <MusicLayer InternalName="BG">
      <FileName>11_Fhjull_Theme</FileName>
      <Volume>80</Volume>
    </MusicLayer>
  </LayeredMusicGroup>

I think research is also working more or less correctly.  However, the other themes are a bit more random, so I'd only hear them every once in a while.  To be clear, I have my 'faction specific layered music file' in the Mods folder, with the music in the LegendaryHeroes/Layered Music folder(not the core/Layered Music folder) for the Layered Music Groups, so since it's firing some of the time at least, I *think* it should work from here.  It just may be that Elemental has the playlist set on random...

I'd be interested in what others here have figured out r.e. naming conventions and such for the Layered Music tags.

While I'm here, I've made a custom cutscene file, which is partially working, and I've also made a couple of custom effects graphics.  Most of my 'new' backgrounds aren't showing up though, although my Sov Picker background of choice does show up when selecting a new Sov.  The game is a bit stubborn about finding the rest of these though.  In the cutscene.xml and similar files, graphics  are actually 'addressed' in the relevant tags, eg gfx/backdrops/KingdomHall.png or whatever.

So my question is, has anyone figured out the 'proper' way to point to files that are placed in the Mods folder, in those few instances where the game asks for directions?  Sure I COULD ask people to place them in the core folders, but I like keeping things simple when possible...

Steam burying things inside the Steam folder makes addressing from the 'top' a little more tricky, so I'm wondering how the game knows where to find the mods folder, so I can use the same addressing protocol.

And of course, everyone's E:LH install will be a little different.  My install is on my F: Drive, and I'm sure that while many will have theirs on the C: drive, well you get my point. 

There are several ways to ensure a faction obtains a specific hero... not sure if it is possible to specify the exact level of the hero. What exactly did you have in mind? Were you thinking that once you reach a certain fame point this particular faction will get Whoseit at level 9... that can be done just not in a clean fashion. Or you could do a solution using spells in the game and summon the hero and you have control over when and how the hero is summoned. Each of these will probably require you to create a faction specific resource.