User Guide

ADVANCED CUSTOMIZATION
APPENDIX 4
207
EDITING TEXT FILES
Many basic rules of Alpha Centauri are set out in plain text files, which you
can modify with any text editor. (These files also let you customize the mes-
sages and quotes in the game, to humorous or dramatic effect.) You can, for
example, eliminate the extra cost for prototypes (or hike it to 200%), or add
an attack bonus for non-artillery units attacking the enemy from a higher ele-
vation, or completely re-arrange the starting abilities of a faction.
Important rules files are alpha.txt, and the files for the individual factions;
believe.txt, gaians.txt, hive.txt, morgan.txt, peace.text, spartans.txt and
univ.txt. All the diplomatic language in the game can be found in script.txt.
These can all be found in the game’s root directly on your hard drive.
There’s not room to describe all the available options here, but the designers have
done their best to make it reasonably easy to modify these files, even for non-pro-
grammers. Many sections have an entry that describes the function of that section.
If you feel the urge to tinker, have fun. However, a few rules of caution are in
order before you start tweaking the game rules:
• Plain text only. Never, ever, ever save in any other format but plain text.
Otherwise formatting characters get in which screw things up. You might
not even want to open the file in anything other than a plain text editor, to
minimize the chances of unwanted formatting.
• The changes you make do change the game. Don’t be surprised if a rela-
tively minor alteration turns out to have a major effect on game balance.
• YOU TWEAK AT YOUR OWN RISK. If you somehow manage to break the
game through file tweaking, you should uninstall the game and delete any
remnant files. Our Tech Support department cannot help you if you have
deliberately tweaked the game.
• Save everything. Before you start messing with the rules files, put the orig-
inal files, plus any saved games you want to keep (look for files with the .sav
suffix) in a separate directory.