XML editing

[mrchris]

As I got sick and tired of the AI glitching when I alter and properly set up a mod file (Using Notepad++), is there any other alternate XML editor?

What do you bigshot modders use?

[CO Valle]

Well, I'm no bigshot, but I use Dreamweaver and Notepad.

But I do not think the editor is the problem, are you sure there are no conflicts produced by your modifications?.

[mrchris]

I did not add anything, I simply edited existing units, structures and sidebar powers. The AI doesn't properly use all the units, all I saw was loads of light vehicles used and the occasional infantry but no armor/aircraft.

I changed health/buildtime/cost/damage/timer values at most to my wanting. Everything compiled fine tho.

I don't know how to check for conflicts.

I simply want cheaper units, more power output, longer superweapon timers (which doesn't appear to change when I changed them, I want a 20-30min timer) and a stronger tiberium economy (endless refinery pits, stronger and more valuable tib)

If there is an existing mod that does this, I would use it in a heartbeat.

[Kane lives]

So does editing health/attack/attack type/build time/build cost or editing anything entirely have a negative effect on gameplay,AI and other stuff?

[Sedistix]

If you attempt to modify the existing AI personalities or difficulties in any way, the game will have CTD's. Usually right away, but not always. Edit everything else to your hearts content but attempting to include the AI xml's will cause your mod to become useless.

If you want a new AI personality or difficulty you have to copy an existing one, tie all the files together (So they all reference each other perfectly) and include it with the others.

As for does anything have an effect on the AI yes it will. The AI seems to be aware of the DPS (Damage Per-Second) capabilities of most units and structures. If you for example made a unit very powerful, killing most things in one or two hits, the computer will be more apt to build them.

I made the Sonic Shockwave Tower do minimal damage and the AI decided to never build it, and instead over built guardian cannons. I cranked up the damage rate of the Sonic Shockwave tower to more then double the original values and the AI started building as many as it could manage with very few guardian cannons. If you properly balance the units and structures with their opposite equivalents it should be fine but overpower one over the rest and it might cause issues.

[Kane lives]

thanx for all the info i really really aprecciate it thx a lot:)