So, how do you go about modding this game if it won't even launch correctly after any sort of manipulation?



I'm trying to change the fleet sizes in the sharedassets file. But now the game won't launch, just hangs at the endless space art screen.



Or are we supposed to make custom xml files or something? Someone help me out please, I'm completely new at this.

you corrupted your assest file, due to the encoding method used on the files, the exact number of characters must preserved in a file. 10.3 is exactly 4 digits, and 9 is 1 digit therefore you can modify 10.3 to 20.5 etc or 1234. While 9 can only be modified using 1 through 9. same goes for alpha characters

use a good xml editor that has track changes and a character counter is my tip, saves a ton of time debugging.

I prefer notepad++ but then again thats me



When it comes to crashing:



If bytes are same you have probably added lines or removed lines from some section... that asset file can be quite a cranky. Too many lines in 1 section = crash, too many bytes = crash



if you are new to editing that file and don't have patience just edit some numbers you are quite sure.



For example following mod won't cause any problems (but then again ruins custom races so yeah, maybe it's bad example)









TraitEconomy01Norm1

!TraitEconomy01Alt1,!TraitEconomy01Alt2,!TraitEconomy01Alt3





%TraitEconomy01NormDescription









TraitEconomy01Norm2

!TraitEconomy01Alt1,!TraitEconomy01Alt2,!TraitEconomy01Alt3





%TraitEconomy01NormDescription









TraitEconomy01Norm3

!TraitEconomy01Alt1,!TraitEconomy01Alt2,!TraitEconomy01Alt3





%TraitEconomy01NormDescription











TraitEconomy01Alt1

!TraitEconomy01Norm1,!TraitEconomy01Norm2,!TraitEconomy01Norm3





%TraitEconomy01AltDescription









TraitEconomy01Alt2

!TraitEconomy01Norm1,!TraitEconomy01Norm2,!TraitEconomy01Norm3





%TraitEconomy01AltDescription









TraitEconomy01Alt3

!TraitEconomy01Norm1,!TraitEconomy01Norm2,!TraitEconomy01Norm3





%TraitEconomy01AltDescription













TraitEconomy02Norm1

!TraitEconomy02Alt1





%TraitEconomy02NormDescription









TraitEconomy02Norm2

!TraitEconomy02Alt1





%TraitEconomy02NormDescription









TraitEconomy02Alt1

!TraitEconomy02Norm1,!TraitEconomy02Norm2





%TraitEconomy02AltDescription













TraitEconomy07Norm1





%TraitEconomy07NormDescription



%TraitEconomy07Norm1TooltipEffect1

%TraitEconomy07Norm1TooltipEffect2















TraitEconomy09Norm1





%TraitEconomy09NormDescription













Reason it doesn't cause problems is because in games eyes you are keeping that file exactly same.



Instead mod like: