Since mipen has left Rimworld modding I have been given permission to update his Backstories Core mod. For download, see the attachment. I only recompiled the old source code against the new version, I haven't done any excessive testing to confirm it works, so do let me know if there are issues. Here is the original OP post:
Quote from: mipen on March 26, 2015, 05:58:39 AM
Description:
This mod adds a new def type - BackstoryDefs! These let you write your own backstories which are then added into the game! The mod itself is just a framework to add the new backstories, but I will post download links to backstories written by others and myself for you to add to your game. Also added by this mod are NameDefs, which let you add custom names to the game, and PawnBioDefs, which let you add custom unique bios for pawns, which means that you can group two backstories together and they will only appear on one pawn in a game, letting you create unique stories for pawns.
How to:
To create your own backstory, install the mod, then open the .zip file inside the defs folder, called Templates. Extract the BackstoryDefTemplate.xml into the BackstoryDefs folder, then open it. I have detailed how to go about making your own backstory inside this template file, so just follow through that :) If you need some points of reference, then open the CoreBackstoryDefs.xml and look at the backstories I have written. To add your own in-game name, extract the NameDefTemplate to the NameDefs folder. I have written how to make your own name inside this file, so just follow the hints.
A basic understanding of xml coding will be greatly beneficial for doing this, so if you don't know anything at all about xml, I would suggest doing some basic tutorials on the internet to get yourself familiar with it. It would also help you with other mods :D
If you write a really good backstory and want to submit it to me to be in a backstory package, feel free to do so! :)
No screenshots here, as there isn't really anything to show.
Thank you to Tynan for giving permission for backstories to be modded in :D
QuoteBackstory Downloads:
Linked here are some backstory packages written by others and myself:
CoreBackstories (https://www.dropbox.com/s/882md4u2n9g7btk/CoreBackstories.rar?dl=1)
Yogscast Names (https://www.dropbox.com/s/6thrnfr13bc57m6/YogscastNames.rar?dl=1)
Backstories by Andouce (https://www.dropbox.com/s/kp87c1uj2o5fplu/BackstoryDefs%20-%20A%20Backstories.rar?dl=1)
Backstories by Igabod (https://www.dropbox.com/s/qpd1tzpkky8uzcv/IggyBackstories.rar?dl=1)
Backstories by Mokona (https://www.dropbox.com/s/49lfy2bt8j0ltw9/MokonaBackstoryDefs.rar?dl=1)
Backstories by MarvinKosh (https://ludeon.com/forums/index.php?topic=18615.msg205776#msg205776)
[attachment deleted by admin - too old]
Just want to make sure I've done this right, I'm supposed to create a Defs folder within the structure of the mod and put the other folders within the Zips in that, correct?
(https://i.gyazo.com/074ec88f81581c4bc19aaa644f41c1b5.png)
Quote from: bewby on April 10, 2016, 04:11:03 PM
Just want to make sure I've done this right, I'm supposed to create a Defs folder within the structure of the mod and put the other folders within the Zips in that, correct?
(https://i.gyazo.com/074ec88f81581c4bc19aaa644f41c1b5.png)
Yes, that folder structure looks correct
Alright good, just in case anyone else grabs this up, the archive does not already have a Defs folder made, so if you grab this and the extra backstories and such from the original post you need to create a Defs folder within the mod folder and extract the other archives into that folder so it looks like my screenshot above.
Awesome thanks for updating this!
Neato! If I wanted to make a mod with an entirely new set of backstories (no core backstories), is there a way to use this to disable them?
Aw, sweet. Thanks for the update!
Quote from: Umbral Reaver on April 11, 2016, 12:42:35 AM
Neato! If I wanted to make a mod with an entirely new set of backstories (no core backstories), is there a way to use this to disable them?
You can set which spawn categories appear for each faction in the faction defs. You could probably set them to use custom categories like civil_custom, raider_custom, tribal_custom, to prevent them from spawning with vanilla backstories, then make your own using these tags.
Vanilla backstories would still show up on slave traders though, since they'd still use spawn category "slave". Only way to change that would be to make a new custom StockGenerator_Slaves in C# where you point it to a new category but that would require much more advanced knowledge whereas the faction spawns can be done in XML only.
So, in plan to make backstories with translation support? :)
I don't quite understand how to make a unique backstory that one doesn't want spawning on anyone.
EDIT: I just figured out PawnBios. Whoops.
Quote from: skyarkhangel on April 11, 2016, 04:44:15 AM
So, in plan to make backstories with translation support? :)
Aren't def-injected translations already supported?
I wasn't really planning on adding much to this mod, seeing as I'm only maintaining it in mipen's absence it doesn't seem "right" to me to make any sweeping changes. At most I'd maybe add support for custom non-unique names in addition to unique names, i.e. you can add a first name John, last name Smith and the name will generate combinations like John Howell, Zurine Smith, etc. rather than only the one specific combo.
So I'm getting an issue with PawnBioDefs that the game can't crossreference the listed backstory into the bio? I don't quite understand what I did wrong.
Edit: Found the issue! I didn't actually give names to my NameDefs.
You should probably remove the main download in the original post. Bound to confuse some people ::)
Hey there! If it's okay, I wrote up some pawn bios and I've attached them to this post.
Note that the backstories are tied to the specific pawn bios, so you'll only see them when that pawn is rolled, or if you use Prepare Carefully (I think it would work for that, don't quote me on that).
[attachment deleted by admin - too old]
Quote from: MarvinKosh on April 13, 2016, 07:59:47 PM
Hey there! If it's okay, I wrote up some pawn bios and I've attached them to this post.
Note that the backstories are tied to the specific pawn bios, so you'll only see them when that pawn is rolled, or if you use Prepare Carefully (I think it would work for that, don't quote me on that).
Added a link to the OP. If anyone else decides to share some backstories they wrote feel free to post them and I'll link them.
This keeps causing my mods to crash and not load. I can't figure out the issue.
Sorry, i just dont understand how to use it, and i am pretty bad at english language. I would appreciate if you could make more detailed information :) thank you for understanding
I'm trying to get this mod running after never succeeding on the last alpha, and I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong/where I can find the proper download link? Because the "CoreBackstories" zip doesn't contain the PawBioDefs at all. I got this mod running on A10 or 11 without ever touching the NameDefs and PawnBioDefs by using the mod together with EDB Prepare Carefully, but I'm not having any luck, even after creating new folders as one of the earlier commenters demonstrated. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Realized I was downloading the wrong link, so pls disregard that last post, but I now can't get the mod to play nice with others, I think because I'm not supposed to manually add the missing Defs folder, although the mod doesn't work without it either. Still messing around so I might get it, but tbh, a few screenshots demonstrating how the folders and files should be organized would be greatly helpful, despite what the original modder thought.
No luck still with getting the mod to work :-\ I can't create a new Defs folder within the mod (both before and after extracting the templates, tried both) without disrupting the other mods, and the mod doesn't seem to work when I just leave the BackstoryDefs folder out among the other folders (textures, assemblies, etc.). Like I said before, I just need this to work with EDB Prepare Carefully, as it has on previous updates. I appreciate the effort you've put in to upkeep a good mod, and I hope to get some help with dealing with this.
You need to extract the templates that are inside the mod folder, see the post below the OP for the exact folder structure. If you had it working for previous versions then simply follow the exact same procedure, nothing about the mod itself changed.
Judging from the original thread, there were a few ppl on the last page with same problem as me who never got a response. Not trying to be difficult, it's only a game after all, but I've been following the guidance of the earlier screenshots, and even completely reinstalled the mod, created the Defs folder within the mod folder all over again, and then extracted the folders from Templates into the newly made Defs folder. I even extracted the NameDefs and PawnBioDefs this time too, even though they are irrelevant to my plans. I honestly couldn't tell you what I did differently back in A-whenever to make it work, but manually creating a Defs folder within the Backstories mod folder only seems to make the mod unusable, and while the mod will run if I extract the three defs folders to the main backstories mod folder, the actual backstories I created don't appear among the others on EDB PC, regardless of how I arrange the mods on Mod Order.
Hi Plurnt,
I've just added the beta version of Prepare Carefully to my mods list and I was able to get the backstories I created to show up, even on a random roll.
Any chance you could share your backstories files so we can take a look?
Can you add multiple backstory defs or just one?
Quote from: TheLunatic889 on April 18, 2016, 12:44:07 PM
Can you add multiple backstory defs or just one?
Multiple
Quote from: Plurnt on April 17, 2016, 07:48:43 PM
Judging from the original thread, there were a few ppl on the last page with same problem as me who never got a response. Not trying to be difficult, it's only a game after all, but I've been following the guidance of the earlier screenshots, and even completely reinstalled the mod, created the Defs folder within the mod folder all over again, and then extracted the folders from Templates into the newly made Defs folder. I even extracted the NameDefs and PawnBioDefs this time too, even though they are irrelevant to my plans. I honestly couldn't tell you what I did differently back in A-whenever to make it work, but manually creating a Defs folder within the Backstories mod folder only seems to make the mod unusable, and while the mod will run if I extract the three defs folders to the main backstories mod folder, the actual backstories I created don't appear among the others on EDB PC, regardless of how I arrange the mods on Mod Order.
There is SOMETHING finicky about the mod, as I had this same issue and it seems to crop up randomly at times. Make sure all the defs are valid. I'd suggest you delete all the templates and any you created, and just use one of the sets provided to test at first. If that works, you can add yours back in. Also, it seems that you need to restart the game completely for any change in the defs to take effect (I think?).
Just reloading your mods (enter Mods screen, leave) will work for refreshing def changes. At least in A13, anyway.
Quote from: MarvinKosh on April 23, 2016, 05:27:05 AM
Just reloading your mods (enter Mods screen, leave) will work for refreshing def changes. At least in A13, anyway.
I know it's supposed to, but for some reason this mod only works for me by completely quitting and reloading. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Quote from: Mendoksou on April 23, 2016, 05:49:00 PM
Quote from: MarvinKosh on April 23, 2016, 05:27:05 AM
Just reloading your mods (enter Mods screen, leave) will work for refreshing def changes. At least in A13, anyway.
I know it's supposed to, but for some reason this mod only works for me by completely quitting and reloading. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
That is how it's supposed to be. the mod refresh thing is NOT the way do it. You have restart whenever you install a mod.
I was having problems with this but it's important to note that you should delete the blank templates from the Def folders before installing.
Quote from: Plurnt on April 17, 2016, 07:48:43 PM
Judging from the original thread, there were a few ppl on the last page with same problem as me who never got a response.
Having the same problem. Could not get the mod to load with PawnBioDefs added; was only able to get mod to load without any Names or PawnBios added. After deleting those folders, I can get the mod to function and for my custom backgrounds to be displayed in game, but not with custom Pawns or even Names, which is odd. The error message I got said there was no Backstories.NameDef (but the xml says defName?) matching a name that was NOT the name I had listed under defName for the Pawn in PawnBioDefs
Hey there!
That error means that there isn't a defined NameDef for the pawn you want to put in the game.
If for example you had a bio like this one:
<PawnBioDefs>
<PawnBioDef>
<defName>MVK_Shadow</defName>
<childhoodDef>MVK_Sleeper</childhoodDef>
<adulthoodDef>MVK_Burglar</adulthoodDef>
<gender>Either</gender>
<name>
<first>Sam</first>
<last>Ellison</last>
<nick>Shadow</nick>
</name>
</PawnBioDef>
</PawnBioDefs>
you would need an XML file in NameDefs which looks like this:
<NameDefs>
<NameDef>
<defName>SamEllisonShadow</defName>
<first>Sam</first>
<nick>Shadow</nick>
<last>Ellison</last>
<genderPossibility>Either</genderPossibility>
</NameDef>
</NameDefs>
As you can see, the defName in this file is a string with no spaces consisting of the character's first name, last name, and nickname (if they have one).
The reason for this is that when you make a PawnBioDef you're actually reserving the name and backstory combination for one character alone (unless you use Prepare Carefully in which case you can choose whatever you like) so there must be a unique defName otherwise the backstories aren't locked.
Quote from: NoImageAvailable on April 15, 2016, 03:46:47 AM
Quote from: MarvinKosh on April 13, 2016, 07:59:47 PM
Hey there! If it's okay, I wrote up some pawn bios and I've attached them to this post.
Note that the backstories are tied to the specific pawn bios, so you'll only see them when that pawn is rolled, or if you use Prepare Carefully (I think it would work for that, don't quote me on that).
Good afternoon, I have a few questions! the first question and you will be able to update this mod (Mechanical Defence 2)? And the second question will be able to help me with how to update (Mechanical Defence 2) to alpha 13
Added a link to the OP. If anyone else decides to share some backstories they wrote feel free to post them and I'll link them.
I noticed the new animal handling skill isn't included. Is there a way to add that in? It would be much appreciated. ;D
Since I can multiple backstories in one file, is this correct?
Quote<BackstoryDef>
<defName>Waffen SS</defName>
<title>Waffen SS</title>
<titleShort>Waffen SS</titleShort>
<baseDescription>NAME has been sent to both the Eastern Front against the Soviets and the Western Front against the Allies. Being infamous and notorious for firing on prisoners and civilians, NAME has become extremely battle-hardened, being capable of taking on thousands of hostile troops alone.</baseDescription>
<bodytypeMale>Hulk</bodytypeMale>
<bodyTypeFemale>Hulk</bodyTypeFemale>
<slot>Adulthood</slot>
<skillGains>
<li>
<defName>Melee</defName>
<amount>6</amount>
</li>
<defName>Shooting</defName>
<amount>8</amount>
</li>
<defName>Research</defName>
<amount>5</amount>
</li>
<defName>Crafting</defName>
<amount>3</amount>
</li>
</skillGains>
<spawnCategories>
<li>Civil</li>
<li>Raider</li>
</spawnCategories>
</BackstoryDef>
<BackstoryDef>
<defName>SAS Commando</defName>
<title>SAS Commando</title>
<titleShort>SAS Commando</titleShort>
<baseDescription>NAME has been part of the British SAS Commando Squad for years and has shown utter brutality against hostile forces such as the Wehrmacht.</baseDescription>
<bodytypeMale>Hulk</bodytypeMale>
<bodyTypeFemale>Hulk</bodyTypeFemale>
<slot>Adulthood</slot>
<skillGains>
<li>
<defName>Melee</defName>
<amount>6</amount>
</li>
<defName>Shooting</defName>
<amount>8</amount>
</li>
<defName>Research</defName>
<amount>4</amount>
</li>
<defName>Crafting</defName>
<amount>4</amount>
</li>
</skillGains>
<spawnCategories>
<li>Civil</li>
<li>Raider</li>
</spawnCategories>
</BackstoryDef>
</BackstoryDefs>
Some questions :
1) Is the format correct?
2) Is the </BackstoryDefs> between the 2 backstories supposed to stick together or have one blank in between?
3) Is the spawn categories (Civil, Raiders) in the correct format?
Is this forum dead?
Quote from: JimmyProvince on June 02, 2016, 08:52:05 PM
Is this forum dead?
no and yes you can have multiple backstories in one file.
Quote from: Dragoon on June 04, 2016, 08:18:44 PM
Quote from: JimmyProvince on June 02, 2016, 08:52:05 PM
Is this forum dead?
no and yes you can have multiple backstories in one file.
Thank God you replied! Can you help me check this? It's the ENTIRE XML file. It doesn't work for me for some reason.
Quote<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<BackstoryDef>
<!--Body types:
Undefined
Thin
Hulk
Fat
Male
Female-->
<!--Character references:
NAME = character name
HE = will place he/she depending on characters gender
HIS = will place his/her depending on characters gender
HECAP = will place capitalised he/she depending on characters gender
HISCAP = will place capitalised his/her depending on characters gender
-->
<!--Spawn Categories:
Civil
Raider
Slave-->
<!--
WorkDisables:
None
Intellectual
ManualDumb
ManualSkilled
Violent
Caring
Social
Scary
Artistic
Crafting
Cooking
Firefighting
Cleaning
Hauling
PlantWork
Mining
-->
<!--
Slot:
Adulthood
Childhood
-->
<!--
Skillgains:
The amount is the number to be added or subtracted from that skill. The range for this number is -20 to 20, do not go outside this range.
defNames:
Construction
Growing
Research
Mining
Shooting
Melee
Social
Cooking
Medicine
Artistic
Crafting
-->
<BackstoryDef>
<defName>WaffenSS</defName>
<title>Waffen ss</title>
<titleShort>Waffen ss</titleShort>
<baseDescription>NAME has been sent to both the Eastern Front against the Soviets and the Western Front against the Allies. Being infamous and notorious for firing on prisoners and civilians, NAME has become extremely battle-hardened, being capable of taking on thousands of hostile troops alone.</baseDescription>
<bodytypeMale>Hulk</bodytypeMale>
<bodyTypeFemale>Hulk</bodyTypeFemale>
<slot>Adulthood</slot>
<workDisables>
<li>None</li>
</workDisables>
<skillGains>
<li>
<defName>Melee</defName>
<amount>6</amount>
</li>
<li>
<defName>Shooting</defName>
<amount>8</amount>
</li>
<li>
<defName>Research</defName>
<amount>5</amount>
</li>
<li>
<defName>Crafting</defName>
<amount>3</amount>
</li>
</skillGains>
<spawnCategories>
<li>Civil</li>
<li>Raider</li>
</spawnCategories>
</BackstoryDef>
<BackstoryDef>
<defName>SASCommando</defName>
<title>Sas commando</title>
<titleShort>Sas commando</titleShort>
<baseDescription>NAME has been part of the British SAS Commando Squad for years and has shown utter brutality against hostile forces such as the Wehrmacht.</baseDescription>
<bodytypeMale>Hulk</bodytypeMale>
<bodyTypeFemale>Hulk</bodyTypeFemale>
<slot>Adulthood</slot>
<workDisables>
<li>None</li>
</workDisables>
<skillGains>
<li>
<defName>Melee</defName>
<amount>6</amount>
</li>
<li>
<defName>Shooting</defName>
<amount>8</amount>
</li>
<li>
<defName>Research</defName>
<amount>4</amount>
</li>
<li>
<defName>Crafting</defName>
<amount>4</amount>
</li>
<li>
</skillGains>
<spawnCategories>
<li>Civil</li>
<li>Raider</li>
</spawnCategories>
</BackstoryDef>
<BackstoryDef>
<defName>USSoldier</defName>
<title>Us soldier</title>
<titleShort>Us soldier</titleShort>
<baseDescription>NAME has been sent to both the Pacific to fight against the Japanese and Europe against Germany and Italy. After seeing much combat, a massive invasion would be just a skirmish for HIM.</baseDescription>
<bodytypeMale>Hulk</bodytypeMale>
<bodyTypeFemale>Hulk</bodyTypeFemale>
<slot>Adulthood</slot>
<workDisables>
<li>None</li>
</workDisables>
<skillGains>
<li>
<defName>Melee</defName>
<amount>6</amount>
</li>
<li>
<defName>Shooting</defName>
<amount>6</amount>
</li>
<li>
<defName>Crafting</defName>
<amount>4</amount>
</li>
</skillGains>
<spawnCategories>
<li>Civil</li>
<li>Raider</li>
</spawnCategories>
</BackstoryDef>
<BackstoryDef>
<defName>RedGuard</defName>
<title>Red guard</title>
<titleShort>Red guard</titleShort>
<baseDescription>Being part of the Red Guard (Worker's Militia) of the Soviet Union in the Second World War, NAME has proven to be ruthless against foreign invaders such as the Wehrmacht during the Battle of Moscow.</baseDescription>
<bodytypeMale>Hulk</bodytypeMale>
<bodyTypeFemale>Hulk</bodyTypeFemale>
<slot>Adulthood</slot>
<workDisables>
<li>None</li>
</workDisables>
<skillGains>
<li>
<defName>Melee</defName>
<amount>8</amount>
</li>
<li>
<defName>Shooting</defName>
<amount>4</amount>
</li>
<li>
<defName>Crafting</defName>
<amount>5</amount>
</li>
</skillGains>
<spawnCategories>
<li>Civil</li>
<li>Raider</li>
</spawnCategories>
</BackstoryDef>
</BackstoryDefs>
Yeah, this is the ENTIRE file. Any errors?
Quote from: JimmyProvince on June 05, 2016, 01:54:26 AM
<BackstoryDef>
Well one thing I noticed in you have backstorydef in the top instead of backstorydefs. I looked over some of your backstories but I don't know if I got everything tell me if it still doesn't work.
Do you mean all the <BackstoryDef>s or just one? If you mean all, do I have to change all of them from <BackstoryDef> to <BackstoryDefs>?
Nawww this forum is definitely dead.
You'll have to change your first <BackstoryDef> to <BackstoryDefs> is what he meant.
Just the first?
YES!
I installed this mod according to the order directly under the OP but none of the backstories appear under Prepare Carefully. I've already tried reinstalling it (both the mod and the whole game itself), creating a new world with each fresh reinstallation, and entering and exiting the mod screen to refresh it. What am I doing wrong?
[attachment deleted by admin - too old]
I can't tell honestly. I noticed the name at the top says core backstories instead of backstories core did you change it or did you create that folder? (I know it sounds dumb to ask, and changing the name should not have any affect but I have to ask you never know :/)
Is this being worked for A14? I'm looking to possibly do a stream/recorded series, and I'd like to be able to change up the names and backstories lists before I start up.
Would really appreciate someone to update this, got around 20 backstories i want to add, but I don't know enough about coding to update myself.
mipen, the original author and CCL dev, has integrated this into CCL!
The next release of CCL (v0.14.1) will have this functionality.
Fantastic! :)
Quote from: 1000101 on July 18, 2016, 11:40:22 PM
mipen, the original author and CCL dev, has integrated this into CCL!
The next release of CCL (v0.14.1) will have this functionality.
Does this mean there will not be an a15 release that does NOT depend on CCL?
Yes, that's what it means.
Additionally, it doesn't appear that this function of CCL is being worked on (I could be wrong), despite there being some areas that I'm really hoping will be improved.
I tried to copy a backstories-folder from the hardcore sk mod
into my own little mod, but it did not work.
Without the backstories-mod and without CCL, IS such even possible?
I mean, without writing a DLL?
(i currently do not know how the hardcore sk mod does it)
That I couldn't tell you; I don't know if the modder is watching this thread anymore, either. You could ask in the CCL thread, but they're a bit busy at the moment. Your best bet might be to create a new thread, where other skilled modders might be able to point you in the right direction.