modding help requested

from Elemental Forums


Hi all,

 

I hope some of you can help me. Im a starting modder and ofcourse I want to do something that is not that easy. The way I see this game it exist out of 3 parts.

1. the variables, say the .xml files.

2. the artwork, say the icons the dxpack files etc

3. the engine. that will put it all together.

 

Now what I want is: some spell shortcut in the strategic map. I want to reproduce the quick actions from the tactical combat so I can select which spells are in the quick cast and which are not.

Issue that I am having is how? I can build the screens (can just make a copy of the current ones, rename them to ensure different handling by the game) but how do I add the workflow? With desktopx I can create an action when I click it, make it change color but not opening a new screen.

All I can see is that the main screen is nothing more than a collection of placeholders for other screens. but I cannot find how the game is putting the relationship between the placeholder, the screen it needs to show and xml file for the variables if applicable.

I have looked though the other available mods, as far as I could see neither has solved or this issue. they are all either a change / addition to the xml files or to the artwork but never to the engine.

3,307 views 2 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

The engine is off limits. It is not possible to do these sort of changes to the UI, you can only really move things around or resize things.

The engine being off-limits, we are left with XML changes, UI tweaks and skins/3d models to alter. While it may seem disheartening that the engine is doing all the interpretation, that is not to say that we can't do new things/mechanics that aren't in the standard game. It simply takes a lot of knowledge about the different parts in order to be able to do so. For example, I have in Stormworld Reliquary a consumable item that prevents a champion from suffering any injury when beaten in combat for the next 50 rounds. I also have a shield with an eye that blinks. And a larger minimap in the Large UI mod.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Unfortunate for me I can understand they dont want us to have access to the engine. Maybe they had, like the xml files, some building blocks already in place. Building blocks for which you can use the xml files to make them work.

And yes, I do understand they have given us the freedom to add a lot of things or even remove some things. But mostly I am not that interrested in changing those things. I just want to change things which I think are annoying during playing, like clicking 4-5 times to get the spell I want when I want to spam it. I just cannot believe they didnt enter it in the strategic map when they did for the tactical map. But atleast your answer makes me feel less stupid for being unable to figure it out.

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