how do i edit the settlement mechanics file?

[Skouser]

descr_settlement_mechanics is an xml file so i cant edit it, how do i get round this in order to edit it?

[Time Commander Bob]

Open it with notepad.

[Skouser]

also what does increasing/decreasing the numbers actually do?

[DarkKnight]

Anything SIF adjusts income, anything SOF adjusts order, anything SPF adjusts population rate. Use common sense to figure out what factor of those three above are being adjusted.

[Phoenicia]

Anything SIF adjusts income, anything SOF adjusts order, anything SPF adjusts population rate. Use common sense to figure out what factor of those three above are being adjusted.

If i change the timescale in order to keep close to the original game
Should i need to change only SPF, or SIF and SOF also ?

[Lusted]

You only really need to adjust the spf values, the sif ones can be lowered slightly if you dont change building costs, and sof only really matter if your changing how each factor affects unrest.

[Phoenicia]

You only really need to adjust the spf values, the sif ones can be lowered slightly if you dont change building costs, and sof only really matter if your changing how each factor affects unrest.

Thanks a lot!!!
I was trying to figure out over and over the effects of modifying this file, and my head was becomming totally messed up!!!

Now it is really clear.

[Skouser]

thanks guy, but also what does the pip number do? and decreasing it decreases or increases pop rate/money/order?

and what happens if i chage the min/max?

lastly if it doesnt have city_modifier_value, (for example squalor) then does it mean i can't change the modifier for squalor?)

thanks for listneing too my noobyness

[Phoenicia]

thanks guy, but also what does the pip number do? and decreasing it decreases or increases pop rate/money/order?

and what happens if i chage the min/max?

lastly if it doesnt have city_modifier_value, (for example squalor) then does it mean i can't change the modifier for squalor?)

thanks for listneing too my noobyness

For the pip number if you decrease it it will decrease the rate of pop/money/order.

For the min/max i have no idea

The last one, i would say that it is used to have a different modifier in castle and city.
otherwise it is the same for both.
but it is just my guess, i'm not sure at all for the last one.

[DarkKnight]

and what happens if i chage the min/max?

Min would be the minimum value that the pip value has to be and max would be the maximum that the pip value can be. For example:

      <factor name="SPF_SQUALOUR">
         <pip_modifier value="0.8"/>
         <pip_min value="0"/>
         <pip_max value="32"/>

In this case if you increased the pip min value, all settlments would have to have at least (what ever value you set) squalor affecting population. If you lowered the pip max value then the maximum amount of squalor would decrease.

lastly if it doesnt have city_modifier_value, (for example squalor) then does it mean i can't change the modifier for squalor?)

city_modifier is just the pip modifier for cities only, not castles. Just like there is a castle modifier for castles only, not cities. If there is no city_modifier_value and you want to change the value for cities only, I believe you can just add it in.

[Phoenicia]

Thanks Darknight for making everythig clear!!

I have a question as i'm not sure i'm doing things right.
I set timescale to 1.5years=1turn.
so if i want to keep the original ratios should i lower all SPF pip_modifiers by 0.25 ?

I also lowered SIF pip_modifiers by 0.2.
I'm playing with Russia, and it is the 1st time with Russia so i don't know if it is a hard faction with money but i'm really having a hard time with money(i'm the 18th financial power!!!).
So i wonder if 0.2 is not too much reduction ?

In his post below Lusted said "the sif ones can be lowered slightly if you dont change building costs "
but maybe i did too much.
How much would you reduce it to keep approximatly the original settings ?

[AndariusHaliusScipio]

I very much am interested in a response to Phoenicia's question about the ratio of the modifiers to the timescale.

I have it down to 0.5 years per turn. Should I then lower all my pip_modifiers by 0.75?