Character Creation Steps

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Guide to creating characters in Princes of Darkness Mod.

Canon Characters

  • Edit \history\characters\POD_Splat_Subsplat_Characters.txt
  • Currently, most characters (particularly vampires) have sequential Character ID Numbers inherited from POD for CK2.
  • Consult the POD for CK3 Character List (still regularly updated)
  • CK3 now allows Character ID numbers to be any combination of alphanumeric, and we have started listing them by splats such as: POD_fae_character_1000, POD_werewolf_character_1, or POD_fomori_character_1
  • In some cases, certain blocks of Character ID numbers have been reserved for work, such as Sidhe Noble Houses
  • What is most important is that each character has a unique (alpha numeric) Character ID.
  • Immortal characters should have a trait that gives immortality, such as a splat trait, or the "immortal" trait.
  • Immortal characters should additionally in an effect get add_character_flag = "immune_to_disease"
  • Characters should have a gender, sexuality, culture and religion. Examples:
    • female = yes
    • sexuality = bisexual (sexuality is not required. If left blank, the game will assign one at random with weight according to game rules)
    • culture = "vlach"
    • religion = "viahumanitatis"

Canon Character Attribute Limits

  • Have a very good canon reason with citation if a single attribute (again excluding prowess) is higher than 20
  • If an attribute does not have an assigned value, a random low value will be assigned after game start

Canon Character Traits

  • Canon characters may have 3 or 4 personality traits, usually 3.
  • Canon characters are not limited to only their 3 clan discipline traits. They might not have all 3 clan discipline traits either, to add some variety.
  • Canon characters with third tier positive congenital traits are very rare.
  • Canon characters with fourth tier education traits are very rare.
  • Canon characters with fifth tier education traits are extraordinarily rare. Only a few should exist in the mod and they are usually "dead" (in torpor, in Arcadia, etc...)
  • Unless you want random traits to be added: disallow_random_traits = no
  • Splat, Clan, Generation are all traits. Typically they are added in an effect some time after the characters birth. Example:
    • add_trait = "vampire"
    • add_trait = "caitiff"
    • add_trait = "vampgeneration12"

Canon Character Names

  • Edit \localization\english\names\character_names_POD_l_english.yml
  • Duplicate names will cause an error in the error log.

Canon Character Nick Names

  • In history file: give_nickname = nick_the_bold
  • Edit \common\nicknames\POD_nicknames.txt
  • Edit \localization\english\nicknames_POD_l_english.yml

Canon Character Lore

  • Edit \common\scripted_guis\POD_lore_guis.txt
  • Edit \events\POD_schemes\POD_investigate_events.txt
  • Edit \localization\english\event_localization\schemes\POD_investigate_l_english.yml

Canon Character Ages older than 1200 years

  • In the history files, characters can not have a birth earlier than 1.1.1
  • It is best to put 20 years between generations of characters.
  • A child can not be older than parent. This includes sire/childe relationships.
  • To add more years, edit \common\script_values\POD_true_age_values.txt
  • Unless there is an earlier death needed for a specific reason, characters deaths are represented like so:
	3000.1.1 = {
		death = {
			death_reason = death_disappearance 
		}
	}

Canon Character Dynasties and Houses

  • For Dynasties, edit: \common\dynasties\POD_dynasties_splat.txt
    • Example: \common\dynasties\POD_dynasties_vampire_canon.txt
  • For Houses, edit: \common\dynasty_houses\00_POD_splat_dynasty_houses.txt
    • Example: \common\dynasty_houses\00_POD_vampire_dynasty_houses.txt
  • For Localization, edit: \localization\english\dynasties\POD_dynasty_names_l_english.yml

Canon Character Coats of Arms

  • For Dynasties/Houses edit \common\coat_of_arms\coat_of_arms\POD_dynasties_Splat_COA.txt
    • Or edit \common\coat_of_arms\coat_of_arms\POD_houses_Splat_Subsplat_COA.txt
  • To added COA for landed titles, edit \common\coat_of_arms\coat_of_arms\02_POD_landed_titles_COA.txt
  • To find or add POD specific colored emblems (Charges), explore \gfx\coat_of_arms\colored_emblems\
  • If you add a new specific colored emblem, consider adding it to \gfx\coat_of_arms\colored_emblems\50_coa_designer_emblems.txt

Canon Character Bookmarks

  • Space is limited in the 1230 Bookmarks, Karde should land patron characters there, unless you are working on a new sub-bookmark. A new splat bookmark is collective developer discussion.
  • Edit \common\bookmarks\bookmarks\POD_bookmarks.txt
  • Edit \localization\english\bookmark\bookmarks_POD_l_english.yml
  • New titular titles can be created by editing:
    • \common\landed_titles\POD_00_landed_titles.txt
    • \localization\english\titles_POD_l_english.yml
  • To cause existing landed titles to change their names and coat of arms based dynamically on the bookmark, edit: \events\POD_title_flavorization_events.txt
  • To avoid flooding the error log, every bookmarked character must have a .dds file at \gfx\interface\bookmarks\
  • Example: bm_1375_patronwar_bookmark_patronwar_adrahasis.dds
  • The file is a blank single pixel file, what matters is there is a file existing with the character's bookmark reference.

Canon Character Portraits/DNA

  • Portrait Integration
  • Edit \common\dna_data\PoD_subsplat_gender_DNA.txt. Example: PoD_brujah_female_DNA.txt
  • When a character has DNA and are listed in a bookmark, while in game from console you can run the command "dump bookmark portraits" to generated DNA for bookmark portraits.
  • The clothing a character is wearing when "dump bookmark portraits" is run, is the clothing they will have in the bookmark file.
  • When generated, those portraits can be found as files with the name of the bookmark character probably someplace like C:\Users\Your User Name\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Crusader Kings III\common\bookmark_portraits\
  • Example: C:\Users\Your User Name\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Crusader Kings III\common\bookmark_portraits\bookmark_warofprinces_abetorius.txt
  • Sometimes, the error log will complain about duplicate statements in the bookmark_warofprinces_charactername.txt file. You can edit the file to remove duplicated line entries, usually the first one appearing in the file can be removed.
  • To set a character, dynasty or house clothing colors edit: \common\scripted_effects\POD_visual_style_effects.txt
  • To keep a particular age appearance for an immortal character, inside an effect use the command "set_immortal_age = "
    • Example "set_immortal_age = 18"
    • Do not set immortal age to lower than 18, because characters get "adult" events based on their chronological age, not their immortal age appearance.
  • Inside an effect you can set flags in a character's history entry to set their hair style, beards, clothing and other monster portrait features.
  • Some popular flags are:
    • add_character_flag = "has_scripted_appearance"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_portrait_no_crown_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_portrait_no_hat_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_no_beauty_trait_makeup_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_portrait_male_hair_indian_01_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_no_beard_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_portrait_male_beard_sub_saharan_01_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_clothing_male_iberian_christian_low_nobility_2_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_portrait_monster_double_fangs_teeth_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_fp1_big_cloak_flag"
  • For Tzimisce and Nosferatu to avoid going through the random visual effects being applied to portraits, use these respective flags:
    • add_character_flag = "had_POD_character_tzimisce_looks"
    • add_character_flag = "had_POD_character_nosferatu_looks"

Patron characters

  • Edit \history\characters\POD_Vampire_Patron_Characters.txt
  • All Patron characters get the "patron" trait.
  • Immortal characters should have a trait that gives immortality, such as a splat trait, or the "immortal" trait.
  • Immortal characters should additionally in an effect get add_character_flag = "immune_to_disease"
  • Characters should have a gender, sexuality, culture and religion. Examples:
    • female = yes
    • sexuality = bisexual (sexuality is not required. If left blank, the game will assign one at random with weight according to game rules)
    • culture = "vlach"
    • religion = "viahumanitatis"

Patron Character Request Forms

Patron Character Attribute Limits

  • Attribute total (excluding prowess) of no higher than 60
  • No single attribute (again excluding prowess) should be higher than 20
  • If an attribute does not have an assigned value, a random low value will be assigned after game start

Patron Character Traits

  • Patron characters may have 3 or 4 personality traits
  • Patron characters at 1230 potentially get 1 advanced discipline trait
  • Patron characters at 1375 Patron War bookmark may get a 2nd or even 3rd advanced discipline trait
  • If Patron characters get additional traits for 1375 Patron War, remove them shortly after so they are not overpowered in 1510 Birth of Sect bookmark
  • Patron characters may get more XP for levelled lifestyle traits for the 1375 Patron War bookmark
  • Patron characters may have secrets or revealed secret traits. Suggestion is to have them start as secrets.
  • Unless you want random traits to be added: disallow_random_traits = no
  • Splat, Clan, Generation are all traits. Typically they are added in an effect some time after the characters birth. Example:
    • add_trait = "vampire"
    • add_trait = "caitiff"
    • add_trait = "vampgeneration12"

Patron Character Names

  • Edit \localization\english\names\character_names_POD_l_english.yml
  • Duplicate names will cause an error in the error log.

Patron Character Nick Names

  • In history file: give_nickname = nick_the_bold
  • Edit \common\nicknames\POD_nicknames.txt
  • Edit \localization\english\nicknames_POD_l_english.yml

Patron Character Lore

  • Edit \common\scripted_guis\POD_lore_guis.txt
  • Edit \events\POD_schemes\POD_patronlore_events.txt
  • Edit \localization\english\event_localization\schemes\POD_patronlore_l_english.yml
  • Patron Lore description should include this as the first line:
This character was created by one of our supporters and isn't an official part of the [WoD|E].\n\n

Patron Character Ages older than 1200 years

  • In the history files, characters can not have a birth earlier than 1.1.1
  • It is best to put 20 years between generations of characters.
  • A child can not be older than parent. This includes sire/childe relationships.
  • Gently discourage characters older than 1200 years. If they insist...
  • To add more years, edit \common\script_values\POD_true_age_values.txt
  • Unless there is an earlier death needed for a specific reason, characters have deaths of:
	3000.1.1 = {
		death = {
			death_reason = death_disappearance 
		}
	}

Patron Character Dynasties and Houses

  • Gently encourage patrons to have independent dynasties
  • If a patron character wants to be part of a canon dynasty or house, it is allowed.
  • If a patron character is linked to a canon character, ideally it should be an unimportant canon character.
  • If a patron character wants to be sired by an important canon character, they should be very low in the succession order.
  • For Dynasties, edit: \common\dynasties\POD_dynasties_splat.txt
    • Example: \common\dynasties\POD_dynasties_vampire_patrons.txt
  • For Houses, edit: \common\dynasty_houses\00_POD_splat_dynasty_houses.txt
    • Example: \common\dynasty_houses\00_POD_vampire_dynasty_houses.txt
  • Edit \localization\english\dynasties\POD_dynasty_patrons_names_l_english.yml

Patron Character Relationships with other Characters

  • A patron character can have any sort of relationship with another patron character, as long as the patrons involved consent.
  • A patron character should not have relationships with important canon characters at the 1230 or 1510 bookmarks

Patron Character Coats of Arms

  • For Dynasties/Houses edit \common\coat_of_arms\coat_of_arms\POD_dynasties_patrons_COA.txt
  • To added COA for landed titles, edit \common\coat_of_arms\coat_of_arms\02_POD_landed_titles_COA.txt
  • To find or add POD specific colored emblems (Charges), explore \gfx\coat_of_arms\colored_emblems\
  • If you add a new specific colored emblem, consider adding it to \gfx\coat_of_arms\colored_emblems\50_coa_designer_emblems.txt

Patron Character Bookmark

  • Space is limited in the 1230 Bookmarks, only Karde should land patron characters there. At this point, landing characters in Europe or the Middle East is unlikely.
  • Patrons appear as bookmarked characters only in the Patron War Bookmark
  • Edit \common\bookmarks\bookmarks\POD_bookmarks.txt
  • Edit \localization\english\bookmark\bookmarks_POD_l_english.yml
  • Only Antediluvian tier patron characters appear in the top Patron War bookmark: bm_1375_patronwar
  • Other tier patron characters (and antediluvians as well) appear in the Sub-bookmarks for Patron War divided by Clan/Splat
  • Landed Ranks depend on Patron Tier
    • Antediluvian: Emperor, marked Easy difficulty
    • Methuselah: King, marked Medium difficulty
    • Ancient: Duke, marked Hard difficulty
    • Elder: Count, marked Very Hard difficulty
    • Ancilla: Baron
    • Neonate/Thinblood: Unlanded courtiers
  • New titular titles can be created by editing:
    • \common\landed_titles\POD_00_landed_titles.txt
    • \localization\english\titles_POD_l_english.yml
  • To cause existing landed titles to change their names and coat of arms based dynamically on the bookmark, edit: \events\POD_title_flavorization_events.txt
  • To avoid flooding the error log, every bookmarked character must have a .dds file at \gfx\interface\bookmarks\
  • Example: bm_1375_patronwar_bookmark_patronwar_adrahasis.dds
  • The file is a blank single pixel file, what matters is there is a file existing with the character's bookmark reference.

Patron Character Portraits/DNA

  • Portrait Integration
  • Edit \common\dna_data\PoD_patrons_DNA.txt
  • When a character has DNA and are listed in a bookmark, while in game from console you can run the command "dump bookmark portraits" to generated DNA for bookmark portraits.
  • The clothing a character is wearing when "dump bookmark portraits" is run, is the clothing they will have in the bookmark file.
  • When generated, those portraits can be found as files with the name of the bookmark character probably someplace like C:\Users\Your User Name\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Crusader Kings III\common\bookmark_portraits\
    • Example: C:\Users\Your User Name\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Crusader Kings III\common\bookmark_portraits\bookmark_patronwar_abhartach.txt
  • Sometimes, the error log will complain about duplicate statements in the bookmark_patronwar_charactername.txt file. You can edit the file to remove duplicated line entries, usually the first one appearing in the file can be removed.
  • To set a character, dynasty or house clothing colors edit: \common\scripted_effects\POD_visual_style_effects.txt
  • To keep a particular age appearance for an immortal character, inside an effect use the command "set_immortal_age = "
    • Example "set_immortal_age = 18"
    • Do not set immortal age to lower than 18, because characters get "adult" events based on their chronological age, not their immortal age appearance.
  • Inside an effect you can set flags in a character's history entry to set their hair style, beards, clothing and other monster portrait features.
    • add_character_flag = "has_scripted_appearance"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_portrait_no_crown_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_portrait_no_hat_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_no_beauty_trait_makeup_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_portrait_male_hair_indian_01_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_no_beard_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_portrait_male_beard_sub_saharan_01_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_clothing_male_iberian_christian_low_nobility_2_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_portrait_monster_double_fangs_teeth_flag"
    • add_character_flag = "POD_fp1_big_cloak_flag"
  • For Tzimisce and Nosferatu to avoid going through the random visual effects being applied to portraits, use these respective flags:
    • add_character_flag = "had_POD_character_tzimisce_looks"
    • add_character_flag = "had_POD_character_nosferatu_looks"
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