Modding Customization Points in RaceConfig.xml?

One thing... Lets say you named your race "Sol Survivors" after you created it you saved it right? Then you went and modified the xml file.. so now when you're back at the game you'd need to load the race again. The game would have what's called currentcustomrace in its memory (last custom race you played and it wouldnt have the xml changes)

hope that helps.

From what I can tell, altering the customization points does *not* work.

EDIT: And by that, I mean it's completely ignored by the program, and so you can't mod the customization points, even if you do delete the 'current custom race' file. I may be wrong, though:/

Yeah I've had no luck in either memory editing programs or that file. Modding is supported with this game, so I hope the devs will tell us how to do this.

There is a file that does seem to work, but it works for EVERY race which I don't like. That's the ablility point cost one in the same folder.

Changing the ability costs, as Spectrum Knight suggests, does seem to work (I've not checked it extensively, but the couple of things I did change seemed fine.). I can find no way of changing the starting bonus values for races (Eg the Drengin get a 100% ship HP bonus), so I'll presume I'm missing something. Political parties work ok, but I overloaded one for messing around purposes and the game asploded repeatedly when I got to the customise race screen.

(I should note, also, that when I created a party which worked fine, but was still hilariously overpowered, the AI had the wit to use it as well.)

Try to modify ability cost to 1 or 0

I'm still working on the Mods folder, but once I have that operational, you will be able to change any of the data files and graphics without messing up your installation.   I'll also write a modding guide. 

Hi to all,
I’ve done this and works for me but the problem is that other races can access to 0 cost abilities. There are other file to cheat (user\my documents\my games\galciv2\CurrentCustomRace0.raceconfig) I’ve modified attributes like research rate and I assigned starting technologies from other races but I think the game autocorrects most of values. I tried to modify race points and no success.
CustomizationPoints> 10 /CustomizationPoints> I suspect that isn’t the order to change them
I tried to modify sol system to have 12 planets but there are a limit of 5 but I upgraded Earth to 1000 class. I added Venus planet but I lost saturn. Now I'll try to put 2 moons on Mars (Phobos & Deimos) and Jupiter I'll try to put 4 (Europa, Ganimedes, Cailixto, IO)

Best regards,

I believe I have a much better workaround than 0 cost. Assign a negative cost to an ability in AbilityBonuses.xml . That way you can take an ability and it gives you back points for it. For example, I modified the Economics ability so that the Masterbonus gives a -5 cost, making me have 15 points.

Link

I can't seem to find the AbilityBonuses.xml in my Data/English folder. Am I missing something?

jaja gives a -5 cost it a good trick I'll try to put -50 in one ability but if you try "my documents\my games\galciv2\CurrentCustomRace0.raceconfig" and add a race point you lost the file’s value modifications and gets the original ones plus the ability
For example if you have 200 % of research and use the racepoints you get 30% instead of 200 % I’ve tried to put 200 in each ability and I think that works on speed and range. I don’t play too deep in game, yet.
I'll try your methode becasue a 200% abilities can spoil the fun of the game

Best regards,