[Help Needed] Issues with Custom Medieval Backstories Mod - Shuffleable and Spaw

[John1985]

Hello Everyone,

I've been working on a custom mod for RimWorld that introduces a set of medieval-themed backstories. The goal of the mod is to provide a unique, immersive experience by disabling the default backstories and using only my custom ones.

What I'm Trying to Achieve:
Custom Backstories: I've created custom backstories for both adult and child characters, designed to fit a medieval setting.
Exclusive Usage: I want the game to only use these custom backstories and disable the default ones.

The Problem:
Errors in Spawn Categories: Despite my efforts, I'm encountering persistent errors related to missing spawnCategories. I've tried patching the game's XML files to ensure all backstories have the necessary fields, but this has led to further issues.
Default Backstories Still Active: Even after applying patches, the game continues to shuffle default backstories along with my custom ones, which is not the desired outcome.

Steps I've Taken:
XML Patching:
Added patches to ensure all backstories have spawnCategories.
Created patches to disable the shuffleable attribute for non-medieval backstories.

Testing in Game:
I've tested these patches in-game but continue to face errors, particularly related to spawnCategories.

Errors Encountered:
Multiple Config Errors: The game's debug log shows multiple errors related to missing spawnCategories and issues with applying patches.

What I'm Seeking Help With:
Community Advice: I would greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions on how to properly implement these patches. I'm especially interested in hearing from those who have successfully disabled default backstories in favor of custom ones.
Best Practices: If there are alternative methods or best practices for achieving this, I'm open to trying those as well.

Thank you in advance for any assistance or guidance you can provide. I'm really passionate about this project and would love to see it fully realized!