Gaining some control over ElementalDefs.xml

I don't think you can only change certain aspects of the elementaldefs. i.e. leave only certain aspects in as opposed to all of the file. I tried that before and I got many bugs.

With the goal of being modular, I don't want anyone changing the ElementalDefs unless they are adding to it. The mods I make before release will of course be core mods, but I am not aiming to allow that kind of mod to work with anyone else's. I honestly don't even know all the changes I have made to the file. It would take some time to compare it to the backup copy.

Since they change 20 values in the file every patch, it's a good idea to keep track of changes you make to it. Just sayin'.

Anyway, some files just straight up are not possible to make modular. Sometimes you just have to accept that. TerrainTypes.xml is another such example.

Though I try very hard not to, it seems impossible to make any substantial mod without changing something in the core files or in the ElementalDefs.

Is it possible to put just the changed tags in the ElementalDefs file in the mods folder rather than putting the entire file?  I tried that once and I kept getting crashes though, admittedly, it might have been due to my changes.

You have to keep the whole file intact, changes or not, but you can put it in the mods folder and it works. putting only a few tags has some weird effects

Weird file. I tried a single external tag change and promptly crashed the game. So much for trying to control it. Carry on.

you can modify anything in it just you cannot delete anything from it and you can have it in mods and it works fine