Artifacts Able to be Modded?

from GalCiv3 Forums

So, I really don't like to mod,  however, with the new expansion I dislike the way Stardock decided to go with artifacts where some are able to be used over and over again and others aren't.  I was looking for the .xml document that contains this information.  I'm unable to locate them with the rest of the improvements in the ImprovementDefs.xml and they don't seem to have any line item for this in ArtifactPowerDefs.xml.

This way I can see if I can make it so the ones that you can't repeat repeat, and potentially even increase the cost of each upgrade so it would be a soft cap instead of a hard cap making the artifact virtually useless other than adjacency.  All in all I like the direction it went just trying to better my game play experience.  

Originally when I thought this was a bug I posted it in bug reports, and was told that it's suppose to be this way, then I asked if they were to be modded, which Stardock did not reply my inquiry.  Any help would be appreciated.

21,284 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Did you check ArtifactImprovementDefs.xml? It is located in steamapps\common\Galactic Civilizations III\DLC\EXP4_Retribution\Game.

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Thanks @Rhonin_the_wizard that helps, however, I don't see anywhere that we can adjust how much a building costs example (3 durantium, 3000 credits ect...) Is that able to be modded?  Thanks for any assistance that you can provide.

Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

 

    <Stats>

      <EffectType>ManufacturingCost</EffectType>

      <Scope>Queue</Scope>

      <Target>

        <TargetType>Improvement</TargetType>

      </Target>

      <BonusType>Flat</BonusType>

      <Value>20</Value>

    </Stats>

 

This line controls the manufacturing/credits cost of an improvement.

 

 

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

    <Stats>

      <EffectType>DurantiumCost</EffectType>

      <Target>

        <TargetType>Improvement</TargetType>

      </Target>

      <BonusType>OneTime</BonusType>

      <Value>1</Value>

    </Stats>

 

 

This would add a durantium cost to the improvement.

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

    <Stats>

      <EffectType>Maintenance</EffectType>

      <Target>

        <TargetType>Improvement</TargetType>

      </Target>

      <BonusType>Flat</BonusType>

      <Value>1</Value>

    </Stats>

 

This controls the credits per turn maintenance.

 

 

 

You can learn a lot about modding by trying to add things to improvements/etc. by simply copying and pasting entries from similar structures you want to emulate. For example, go to ImprovementsDefs run a search for "Durantium" and you'll find a structure with the durantium cost. It's just a matter of experimentation.

Good luck.

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Thanks Gauntlet

Reply #7 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

So I've been working on this and I've gotten to a point of testing it, however, I can't seem to get the directories laid out correctly as nothing is changing either yes it worked or ending in horrible results, it's just doing nothing.

From what I understand the directory needs to match the game directory  So one creates ModFolder(with xml's in there).  That mod folder then needs to be laid out as the game folder.  So based on the game folder, I start creating sub folders in the (ModName) mod folder.

DLC ->EXP4_Retribution -> Game -> ArtifactImprovementsDefs.xml 

The one thing I don't understand is the ModdingReadme file says all mods must include ParticleScripDefs, Text, Core, Game.  I just copied the example Mod folder, which had those folders all in there.  There is nothing in those folders but they are there.  Am I missing something?

Thanks,

Reply #8 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Seilore, reply 7

DLC ->EXP4_Retribution -> Game -> ArtifactImprovementsDefs.xml 

I don't think you need the DLC and EXP4 folders, only game.

Reply #9 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Thanks again Rhonin_the_wizard.  It appears to be reading it now, I'm crashing the game, but at least it appears to be reading it.  One other question does anyone know if Duration Projects can be edited on how they continue to work cost in the game?  Thanks.

Reply #10 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Rhonin maybe you can answer this, it appears 7- 8 upgrades on the artifacts are the maximum, is this hard coded in the game that one can not upgrade a building more than 7 times?  Thanks.