Custom starting ships!?

Swapping my stock Drengin ships for custom stock...

from GalCiv3 Forums

Hello,

 

I have been searching, but have been unable to find any info that addresses this specific question. 

 

I have created a custom faction and would like to get rid of the stock Drengin ships. I'd like to swap the survey ship and tiny scout with designs of my own, but using the same equipment.

 

Does anyone, anywhere have some advice/info on this?

 

 

7,654 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Start a game, with any settings. Build the ships you want in the builder, exit that game. Start a new game with the settings you wish, and your designed ships will be there.

Your ship designs carry over from game to game.

If you want to make a new design without equipment and then when you save it click the 'save as template' button, you can use that ship base later to design and equip it like you would the core ship base designs

EDIT: You will sometimes find your computer opponents using your designed ships as well.

 

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top




I have created a custom faction and would like to get rid of the stock Drengin ships. I'd like to swap the survey ship and tiny scout with designs of my own, but using the same equipment.

 

Does anyone, anywhere have some advice/info on this?

 
 
End of quote

 

Basically what you need to do is replace the ship reference in a file called shipclassdefs.xml.

 

That file is full of entries like this:

 

<!-- Begin Ship -->

<ShipClass>
<InternalName>DrenginStartingScout</InternalName>
<DisplayName>DrenginStartingScout_Class_Name</DisplayName>
<Description>DrenginStartingScout_Dec</Description>
<ThumbnailOverride>Temp_Drengin_Scout_Alpha_01.png</ThumbnailOverride>
<ShipDesign>Drengin_Scout_01T</ShipDesign>
<AIShipClass>Scout</AIShipClass>
<StrategicIcon>Scout</StrategicIcon>
<StaticBlueprintDef>ScoutStaticBlueprint</StaticBlueprintDef>
</ShipClass>

 

The two bolded lines determine where the game looks for the 'ship template' (i.e. what the design looks like). The italisized line is where the game looks for what parts need to be on it.

 

If you go in to your ship designer in-game, design a ship and save it as a Template, then you'll be able to link to that template's name (instead of Drengin_Scout_01T), and the game will proceed with using your custom-designed ships. If you want it to have different components,  you have to edit the blueprint file referred to in the italic line.

 

The process for modding this is explained in detail in this post: 

https://forums.galciv3.com/465834/ 

Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Thank you both for the replies,

 

I made an attempt and failed first time, so I'll probably try again later. I've never edited xml (or really modded) before, so the obvious issue is that I just need to learn how.

 

Still, would be a great little note for future patches/updates if the devs could add in a feature that greatly simplifies this process for every-day-Joe who just wants to whip up a custom race with starting units that reflect their design philosophy.