Can't improve the culture ring on my starbases

I've just been living with this, since I disagree with the whole influence mechanic as it exists, but your post prompted me to check it out.

The error lies in the definition of "CulturalForumModule" within StarbaseModuleDefs.xml, which references a non-existent tech called "CulturalExchange". Since the "CulturalExchange" tech doesn't exist, you can't add this module and, since this module is a prerequisite module for further expansion of a Culture base, you're Culture base is effectively finished - no more influence modules can be added.

I've implemented the following fix, but haven't tested it yet, since I'm in the middle of a game. Here goes:

1) Open StarbaseModuleDefs.xml (it should be in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Galactic Civilizations III\data\Game)

2) Search for CulturalForumModule (it's at line 4078 in my file)

3) Scroll down to the <Prerequ> section and change the option from CulturalExchange to CulturalInfluence

4) Either save the file to a mod folder and activate mods or save it in the original folder (what the hell, it's only one line, right?)

5) Start a new game

Once you make this change, the entire Culture Ring branch for starbases should be back in the game.

I'll try it out as soon as I can, but in the meantime, good luck.

Nice catch! But until the developers push out a fix I think the updated file will have to go in the mod folder.  At some point the game was changed so that the core xml files are compiled into bin files to speed up startup, and at that point changes to the game directory xml files stopped taking effect.  Also, it will require a new game.

Thanks for catching this. I'll add it for future review and hopefully a fix.

I can improve the culture ring of my culture starbase.  It's the only thing keeping one of my planets from flipping to my neighbor.

This is a new game with the 3.7 release version.  I have all the expansions and DLC, if that makes a difference.  Also, I am playing as the Arceans, if that makes a difference.  I am not using any mods that could change starbases or their modules.

Thanks for the fast response.

I don't have a tech for Cultural forum improvement, for me the first tech that gives a culture improvement is Cultural influence wich gives the Information hub improvement.

I see in the starbase def xml file the Cultural forum also comes before Information hub.

How do I get the Cultural forum improvement?

Tried to mod the starbase def file but no success, do mods apply to saves or do i need to start a new game?

By the way on colonies i can build all the influence improvements.

NP happy to help. Thank you for making great games:)

Any idea for the missing tech for Cultural forum?

Hey roman815270,

It's a Catch-22. The Cultural Influence tech should give you both the Cultural Forum and Information Hub star base modules, but:

1) You can't build a Cultural Forum module because the required tech (Cultural Exchange) is incorrect.

2) You can't build any further influence modules based on later cultural tech because they are all predicated on the Cultural Forum module. (Which you can't build - see point 1.)

As Publius of NV points out, all .xml files are compiled into a .bin file when you start a new game. Thereafter, any saved game contains only the versions of those .xml files that were initially compiled (I'm pretty sure that includes mod folder files). Thus, changes to .xml files will not take effect until you start a new game.

Try the StarbaseModuleDefs correction in a new game and let us know what happens, eh? (Unless something bad happens, in which case we have no idea what you're talking about. Who are you? Oh, look, a velociraptor!)

LOL OK i'll try a new game with the correction and post the results.

Thank you:) 

Changed the required tech for Cultural forum to Cultural influence and started a new game but it didn't help :..( didn't show up in the tech tree and i still can't upgrade the Culture ring.

Gonna try changing the required Cultural forum to Culture ring for the Information hub see if that helps

Finally got a good start just to trash it:(

That didn't help help either.

Any ideas?

No ideas here. I'm playing a new game after implementing the change and it fixed everything.

Mind you, I started the new game after making an omelette, which I think counts as "sacrificing a chicken to the dark gods". So who knows what's really happened?

Maybe it's because i'm playing a custom race i created.

What race are you playing? 

...a custom race I created. Sorry.

Maybe double-check the steps for modifying StarbaseModuleDefs change again?

Make sure you are not editing the core file, move it to:- ...Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade\Mods\Example Mod\Game - Then edit it.

Enable Mods ingame (Settings), reboot the game and all should be good.

We have a hotpatch for this for new games:

https://forums.galciv3.com/495057/page/1/#3750002

Thanks to all that helped.

I'll start a new game and post.