HOW TO: Modding the Issues (adding/editing)

from PolMach Forums

Ok this is part 3 of my tutorials, focusing on adding and editing issues

(sorry to any admins, I am trying not to spam the forums, just trying to get the information some people are looking for out in the public)

 

As usual, First lets find the files that we need to edit:

The file can be found here:

64bit default: [C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\The Political Machine 2012\Data\English\Maps\USA]

32bit default: [C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\The Political Machine 2012\Data\English\Maps\USA]


The file that you are looking for is called: MainIssues.PM2issuesXML <Open this in notepad or notepad++


If you have read part 2, you will already have seen this file.

in this tutorial we will be looking at how to edit the first of the issues, but this can be done with any of the issues in the file.

 

so here is the first bit we need to look at editing:

Code: xml
  3. &lt;Tag&gt;CHRISTIANNATION&lt;/Tag&gt;
  4. &lt;Display&gt;A Christian Nation&lt;/Display&gt;
  5. &lt;Image&gt;Family&lt;/Image&gt;
  6. &lt;Icon&gt;Gfx\Issue_Images\Issue_Family_Pos.png&lt;/Icon&gt;
  7. &lt;Description&gt;Religious conservatives look to restore the nation to the Christian values they see as eroding all around them. Liberals see this as a thinly veiled assault on the seperation of church and state.&lt;/Description&gt;
  8. &lt;Default_Party_Importance PartyID="Left"&gt;5&lt;/Default_Party_Importance&gt;
  9. &lt;Default_Party_Position PartyID="Left"&gt;-4&lt;/Default_Party_Position&gt;
  10. &lt;Default_Party_Importance PartyID="Right"&gt;5&lt;/Default_Party_Importance&gt;
  11. &lt;Default_Party_Position PartyID="Right"&gt;6&lt;/Default_Party_Position&gt;
  12. &lt;Default_Party_Importance PartyID="Indy"&gt;5&lt;/Default_Party_Importance&gt;
  13. &lt;Default_Party_Position PartyID="Indy"&gt;0&lt;/Default_Party_Position&gt;

 

To begin with, the Tag name is a reference name, this can be changed to anything you want, for ease its best to change it to something relevant to the issue.

 

like this: <Tag>GAMING</Tag>

 

the next section is how it will display in game, when the issue comes up, so by default we get this:

<Display>A Christian Nation</Display>

 

and in our example we can change this to:

 

<Display>Gaming</Display>

 

 

After you have edited that basic information, you can change the picture and the Icon, this is something I haven't yet tried, but I would assume that you simply place the icon in the [\Gfx\Issue_Images\] Folder.

 

Next is the description, which is self explanatory, just delete the text in the field, and put in your description of the issue as a replacement.

For information on changing the importance of the issue to parties, and in states, please return to the second part of the PART 2 of the tutorial, Called HOW TO: Modding the parties.

14,380 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from PolMach Forums Top

Ok, Lets deal with adding a new issue into the game.

Be aware that adding too many issues to the game, with the limit of 100 points, will spread the views quite thin, so you might end up with all your characters having low views. Also, Only custom characters by default will have views on these topics. The Pre-Made Characters will have no stat on them, you can still give speeches and ads on them, but they will be classed as "no formal view" on the issue.

Anyway, lets go:

again we need to get ourselves to the issues file.

64bit default: [C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\The Political Machine 2012\Data\English\Maps\USA]

32bit default: [C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\The Political Machine 2012\Data\English\Maps\USA]

the file is called: MainIssues.PM2issuesXML < you need to open this in Notepad or notepad++

once you have the file open, you need to scroll right down to the bottom of the document:

underneath </issue> on the final issue, you need to add your new issue:

here is the format of a new issue

Code: xml
  3. &lt;Issue&gt;
  4. &lt;Tag&gt;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ISSUETAGNAME</span></strong>&lt;/Tag&gt;
  5. &lt;Display&gt;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Display name for issue</span></strong>&lt;/Display&gt;
  6. &lt;Image&gt;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Image</span></strong>&lt;/Image&gt;
  7. &lt;Icon&gt;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">gfx\Issue_Images\Image.png</span></strong>&lt;/Icon&gt;
  8. &lt;Description&gt;<strong>This is your description</strong> &lt;/Description&gt;
  9. &lt;Default_Party_Importance PartyID="Left"&gt;<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#</strong></span>&lt;/Default_Party_Importance&gt;
  10. &lt;Default_Party_Position PartyID="Left"&gt;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">#</span></strong>&lt;/Default_Party_Position&gt;
  11. &lt;Default_Party_Importance PartyID="Right"&gt;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">#</span></strong>&lt;/Default_Party_Importance&gt;
  12. &lt;Default_Party_Position PartyID="Right"&gt;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">#</span></strong>&lt;/Default_Party_Position&gt;
  13. &lt;Default_Party_Importance PartyID="Indy"&gt;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">#</span></strong>&lt;/Default_Party_Importance&gt;
  14. &lt;Default_Party_Position PartyID="Indy"&gt;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">#</span></strong>&lt;/Default_Party_Position&gt;
  15. &lt;/Issue&gt;

you will need to edit the underlined/bold bits in this layout, I have added one or two issues, but haven't tried using a custom icon, but I cant see a reason it wouldn't work.

Happy Modding

More to come soon...

 

Reply #2 from PolMach Forums Top

Very nice! Currently, copying these files into a new folder with all the other campaign details you want to add/alter is recommended so that you can swap out which data you want to use if you want to play a game with a whole new scenario is recommended, right? Then you can replace them with the vanilla version as you see fit. Or is there some other way to have different scenarios at this time?

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Reply #3 from PolMach Forums Top

At the current time there is no way of having more than one Scenario, I am working on it at the moment to see what I can get. So it is recommended you make a backup of any files you are editing or replacing.

Reply #4 from PolMach Forums Top

I have never done any sort of modding to a game before, and am really not sure if I should start.  

Anyways, for someone who really don't know their way around this process, is it pretty easy to do?  Would it be better to add issues, or edit current issues?  If I make a mistake, how would I fix it?  

If anyone could help me with answers here, I would appreciate it.  I see one enormous issue that's missing from the game, and a few issues are in it that seem silly they were included. lol

Thanks in advance. 

Reply #5 from PolMach Forums Top

Before you start editing or adding, just copy your file somewhere, like your desktop, as a backup, and then edit the file in your folder like normal.

 

It is well worth modding if you think there is something missing. Editing is definitely easier, because you don't have to deal too much with the xml format. but with the guide above, adding a new issue is pretty much as easy as editing one.

 

if you have any trouble, send me a private message and i'll do what I can do to help

 

Reply #7 from PolMach Forums Top

Ok, I tried it.  

 

I tried just a simple edit, as opposed to creating a new issue.  I also saved the file before I started, and then afterwards.  

 

It didn't work. 

Reply #8 from PolMach Forums Top

hmm. copy and paste the xml file and send me a private message with it in,

 

Reply #10 from PolMach Forums Top

I created 50 plus additional issues. Do you think its too many and that could crash the game? Or is it some error, like not placing the new issues in the same vertical pattern in notepad?

Any ideas?

Reply #11 from PolMach Forums Top

Hey, Sorry I've not been around, been preparing for University at the end of this week...Scary stuff. 50 new ones is probably too many, but i haven't tested it. But if they aren't looking the same as the default ones, they won't work.