Starting stats and techs

You can modify your .raceconfig file in the My Documents\Games\GalCiv2 folder.
You can add whatever starting techs you want and also modify the ability bonuses.

You can get the tech names from the TechTree.xml file.

If you do not use the preset values for ability bonuses they will not count in the setup screen. So, while using a value of 25 for Luck would subtract an ability point, using 50 would not.

It is not too difficult to set it up so that you have the bonuses you want and end up with 0 ability points overall.

If you're into modding yourself it's easy to just create your own race and adding the starting techs that you want to it.

You just need to mod the race config file. I don't know of any specific mods that have a stronger starting race. It tends to make it unfair.

This is a race that I made just as a tests once. The Tech's are at the end, as you can see I added quite a few. It was way too easy to win with this many techs but it will give you an idea of what to do. You get the names of the techs from the TechTree file

[Race Name="Trill Realm"]
[DisplayName]Trill Realm[/DisplayName]
[Alignment]1[/Alignment]
[Description]The The Trill are a militaristic race, "Superior" to the
Max! They feel that they are superior to everything, and plan to
conquer the weak and inferior, pity anyone that stands in there
way.[/Description]
[Homeworld]Sivark[/Homeworld]
[Homestar]Sivark[/Homestar]
[RaceLeader]Lord Krytor[/RaceLeader]
[ShortEmpireName]Trill[/ShortEmpireName]
[Portrait]Gfx\Race\RaceImage60.png[/Portrait]
[Logo]Gfx\Race\RaceLogo60.png[/Logo]
[SmallLogo]Gfx\Race\Small\RaceImage60.png[/SmallLogo]
[DefaultTradePortrait]Gfx\Race\Minor_Arcean_Offshoot.png[/DefaultTradePortrait]
[PoliticalParty]14[/PoliticalParty]
[RaceColor]255,0,0[/RaceColor]
[ShadowColor]0,5,41[/ShadowColor]
[UndefendedStarColor]64,64,192[/UndefendedStarColor]
[DefendedStarColor]128,128,255[/DefendedStarColor]
[SectorColor]255,0,0[/SectorColor]
[BaseColor]218,166,0[/BaseColor]
[TrimColor]144,54,23[/TrimColor]
[EngineColor]255,204,0[/EngineColor]
[InterfaceColor]255,121,0[/InterfaceColor]
[ShipStyle]3[/ShipStyle]
[ModuleStyle]3[/ModuleStyle]
[ECONOMICS]0[/ECONOMICS]
[WEAPONS]0[/WEAPONS]
[DEFENSE]0[/DEFENSE]
[SPEED]30[/SPEED]
[MORALE]25[/MORALE]
[POPULATIONGROWTH]0[/POPULATIONGROWTH]
[SOCIALPRODUCTION]0[/SOCIALPRODUCTION]
[MILITARYPRODUCTION]0[/MILITARYPRODUCTION]
[RESEARCH]0[/RESEARCH]
[INFLUENCE]0[/INFLUENCE]
[TRADE]0[/TRADE]
[DIPLOMACY]0[/DIPLOMACY]
[HITPOINTS]0[/HITPOINTS]
[REPAIR]0[/REPAIR]
[SENSORS]0[/SENSORS]
[ESPIONAGE]0[/ESPIONAGE]
[SOLDIERING]0[/SOLDIERING]
[INTERESTRATES]0[/INTERESTRATES]
[PLANETQUALITY]25[/PLANETQUALITY]
[TRADEROUTES]0[/TRADEROUTES]
[CRIME]0[/CRIME]
[CABINET]0[/CABINET]
[RANGE]0[/RANGE]
[LUCK]30[/LUCK]
[COURAGE]0[/COURAGE]
[CREATIVITY]0[/CREATIVITY]
[GOVERNMENT]0[/GOVERNMENT]
[LOYALTY]80[/LOYALTY]
[LOGISTICS]9[/LOGISTICS]
[MINIATURIZATION]0[/MINIATURIZATION]
[CustomizationPoints]12[/CustomizationPoints]
[Tech]Xeno Communications[/Tech]
[Tech]Galactic Warfare[/Tech]
[Tech]HyperDrive[/Tech]
[Tech]Xeno Engineering[/Tech]
[Tech]StellarCartography[/Tech]
[Tech]Space Militarization[/Tech]
[Tech]XenoIndustrialTheory[/Tech]
[Tech]StarshipDefenses[/Tech]
[Tech]Armor Theory[/Tech]
[Tech]XenoEconomics[/Tech]
[Tech]IonDrive[/Tech]
[Tech]ImpulseDrive[/Tech]
[Tech]UniversalTranslator[/Tech]
[Tech]Space Weapons[/Tech]
[Tech]StarshipDefenses[/Tech]
[Tech]Basic Logistics[/Tech]
[Tech]StarScanner[/Tech]
[Tech]XenoResearch[/Tech]
[Tech]Engine Coupling[/Tech]
[Tech]NewPropulsion[/Tech]
[Tech]Trill Research Institute[/Tech]
[/Race]

Try it its fun!

Thanks guys! This will be great fun tinkering with all off this. (:

QUERY: Can one put stats in the minus?
I'd like to recreate the Yautja Race (from Predator movies).
So i'd make them tough, strong military, good loyalty (honor) etc. But bad socialwise and probably economically too.

Hmm strange techs won't work. ):

Make sure you are using the ID name and not the display name.

The ID name is the one that is recognised by the game.

and of course the [ have to be changed back to <

You can't post properly with HTML

Not to mention, if you were trying to do a cut and paste with the above example, some of those techs are ones that were user created and are not a part of the original game.

Things like 'Trill Research Institute' and 'Engine Coupling' will not show up if you have not added those techs into the TechTree.xml and GC2Types.xml files beforehand.

True: Forgot to mention that! Sorry

Isw there a way to mod the # of starting points beyond the 200 or whatever it is for a custom race tech tree?

(I'd like to start with closer to 500-600 points in the tech tree when making up a race, and would rather not mess about trying to create a races tech in the xml files. It;s just be easier to increase the point value)

Isw there a way to mod the # of starting points beyond the 200 or whatever it is for a custom race tech tree?

No, the amount of points you get for abilities and techs is hardcoded, so the only way to get more techs is to edit them to be cheaper or add them as pre-researched in the race config files.

Thanks for letting me know. Another friend of mind suggested making a trainer to alter the hard coded number. If anyones interested I'll put it up for download after I finish it.

On a side note, I found if you reduce the cost of tech items so you can buy more of them, it also makes them research tons faster. (the cost value equals out to 1 point = 1 week of research time If I'm correct)