Modding: Events

Event basics

Every game Event requires text for descriptions and choices, an illustration plus an XML-file to put it all together. The latter might be confusing to do at first, but this section explains the structure and syntax in detail so you can start creating your own in-game encounters. By far the easiest way to make one is to copy an existing Event and modify it to your needs instead of starting from scratch. Notepad++ or similar editor is highly recommended (set language to XML to get color-coded tags).

Bare minimum you’ll need:

• Name of the event
• Initial description text
• One choice and its button text
• Description of the outcome
• Event illustration (16:9 image, resolution 960x540 PNG format or character: 960x960 PNG format)
• Event XML file named “Eventnamehere.event”

You can create simple Events such as survivors coming over to ask for food or more elaborate ones with several different options and outcomes. Triggers enable you to tie the event to a specific time of day, building present in the colony and so on. Various content options allow you to tweak sound and 3D models attached to the situation.

Events can:

• Give, take or exchange resources
• Give more colonists (but not take away)
• Add conditions to incoming or existing colonists (Injury, Radiation Sickness etc.)
• Affect the colony’s overall Happiness.

The basic XML structure might look something like this:

  <lists />
    <events>
      <event setup and choices />
      <event result 1 />
      <event result 2 />
      <event result 3 />
    </events>

All ID’s with a hashtag # refer to a text in localization file, which are converted to an actual text string in-game. Example: <button text_key="#EVENT_EXAMPLE_GO" /> could convert to a button reading “Let the colonists go”

XML structure

Here’s an abbreviated example event with bolded parts explaining in detail what each of them does. The full document is shown after this one with the same color-coding to help you visualize it easier.

LISTS: First, list all the resources and possible random event results.

<list_data> 
   <Resource list name> 		List of resources
       <Resource types used> 		Type and quantities of the resources
   </Resource list name>
   <Colonist list>			List of new colonists
       <Colonists you might receive>	Gender, age and conditions of the colonist(s)
   </colonist_list>
   <Event list name> 			List of random outcomes
       <Positive event /> 		ID of the positive outcome
       <Negative event /> 		ID of the negative outcome
   </Event list name>
</list_data>

INITIAL SETUP: Then, set up what the player sees in the notification, what text the initial description uses, different choices, illustration and other parameters such as triggers, 3D models and sound assets.

<events>     
   <Event ID> 				Unique ID for localization/text
       <Event content /> 		Various parameters for refining the event
       <Triggers /> 			When and why the event is triggered, usually how many days have passed, the time of day and that Gate is built
           <choice 1> 			First choice the player can take
               <Button text />         Text on the button
               <Load result />         Which result is loaded after pressing the button
           </choice>
           <choice 2> 			Second choice the player can take
               <Button text />          Text on the button
               <Load result />          Which result is loaded after pressing the button
           </choice>
 </event>

RESULTS: Finally, create results for the choices a player makes

<Positive result> 			Text and content of the result
   <Result 1 content /> 		Parameters of the result
       <choice 1> 
           <Button text /> 		 Button text in once the event is over
           <Load result /> 		 Results of this outcome
       </choice>
</event>

<Negative result>
   <Result 2 content />
       <choice 2>
           <Button text />
           <Load result />
       </choice>
</event>

<Decline result>
   <Result 3 content />
       <choice 3>
           <Button text />
           <Load result />
     </choice>
</event>

</events>
 End tag

Full example document (Example.event)

And this is what it looks like once done. Pay close attention to the syntax, starting/closing tags and the structure.

<list_data>
   <resource_list name="EVENT_EXAMPLE_RESOURCES_01">
       <resource type="Metal" min="3" max="5” /> Which resources and how many are given or taken
       <resource type="Parts" min="2" max="3" />
 </resource_list>
   <resource_list name="EVENT_EXAMPLE_RESOURCES_02">
       <resource type="Tools" min="1" max="1" />
       <resource type="Medicine" min="1" max="1" />
 </resource_list>
   <colonist_list name="EVENT_EXAMPLE_01">
       <colonist age="25" gender="male" conditions="Injured"/>
       <colonist age="44" gender="female"/>
 </colonist_list>
   <event_list name="EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_RESULTS">
       <event_id id="EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_POSITIVE" />
       <event_id id="EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_NEGATIVE" />
   </event_list>
</list_data>

<events>
   <event id="EVENT_EXAMPLE_01" timeout="480" cooldown="9600">  How long the event is available and when can it reappear (in seconds)
   <content   header_key="#EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_NAME" 
              desc_key="#EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_DESC" 
              image_name="Event_Example" 
              soundevent_id="Example" 
              notification_header_key="#EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_NOTIFICATION_HEADER" 
              notification_desc_key="#EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_NOTIFICATION_DESC" 
              visual_object_type="Group" />
              <trigger type="DaysPassed" min="10" max="999" />   Time period the event can appear	
              <trigger type="TimeOfDay" min="0.2" max="0.5" />   Time of day event can appear. Midday: 0, Dusk: 0.33, Midnight: 0.5, Dawn: 0.66
              <trigger type="Building" target="Trapper" />       Which building must be built before the event can appear, usually the Gate

   <choice>
       <button text_key="#EVENT_EXAMPLE_GO" />
       <result type="LoadEvent" list_name="EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_RESULTS" /> Picks one result from the list at random
   </choice>

   <choice>
       <button text_key="#EVENT_EXAMPLE_STAY" />
       <result type="ModifyColonistsNeeds" event_need_id="DECLINE" happiness_delta = "-0.02" duration ="300" />  Decision leads to 2% Happiness decrease for 300 seconds
       <result type="LoadEvent" target_event_id="EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_STAY" />
   </choice>
</event>

<event id="EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_POSITIVE" parent_event_id="EVENT_EXAMPLE_01">
  <content  header_key="#EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_LOOT_NAME" 
            desc_key="#EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_LOOT_DESC" 
            image_name="Event_Scout" 
            soundevent_id="Positive"/>
  <choice>
       <button text_key="#EVENT_DONE" />
       <result type="ModifyResources" modify_type="add" amount="1" list_name="EVENT_EXAMPLE_RESOURCES_01" /> Choice led to adding 1 resource (example: 2 Parts)  from the first list to the player
       <result type="ModifyResources" modify_type="add" amount="1" list_name="EVENT_EXAMPLE_RESOURCES_02" /> And 1 resource from the second list
  </choice>
</event>

<event id="EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_NEGATIVE" parent_event_id="EVENT_EXAMPLE_01">
   <content  header_key="#EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_INJURY_NAME" 
             desc_key="#EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_INJURY_DESC" 
             image_name="Event_Scout" 
             soundevent_id="Negative" />
   <choice>
       <button text_key="#EVENT_DONE" />
       <result type="ModifyColonistsConditions" amount="1" condition="Injured” /> Choice led to 1 random injured colonist
   </choice>
</event>

<event id="EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_STAY" parent_event_id="EVENT_EXAMPLE_01">
   <content  header_key="#EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_STAY_NAME" 
             desc_key="#EVENT_EXAMPLE_01_STAY_DESC" 
             image_name="Event_Scout" 
             soundevent_id="Negative"/>
   <choice>
       <button text_key="#EVENT_DONE" />
   </choice>
</event>

</events>

List data

Resources

Used in: <resource type="Wood" min="10" max="15” />

Resource name ID and syntax

Resource name	ID/Syntax
Logs	Wood
Planks	Plank
Metal	Metal
Junk	Scrap
Parts	Parts
Tools	Tools
Clothing	Cloth
Fiber	Fiber
Metal Scrap	Debris
Plastic Trash	Trash
Firewood	Firewood
Concrete	Concrete
Weapons	Weapons
Medicine	Medicine
Components	Components
Plastic	Plastic
Fun Box	Entertainment
Herbal Medicine	Herbal
Iodine Pills	Iodine
Antibiotics	Antibiotics
Vaccine	Vaccine
Electronics	Electronics
Corn	Corn
Fish	Fish
Wheat	Wheat
Potatoes	Potato
Cabbages	Cabbage
Lettuce	Lettuce
Venison	Venison
Berries	Berries
Carrots	Carrot
Peanuts	Peanut
Soybeans	Soybean
Crickets	Crickets
Cockroaches	Cockroaches
Mealworms	Mealworms
Buffaloworms	Buffaloworms
Waxworms	Waxworms
Seed: Wheat	wheat_seed
Seed: Cabbage	cabbage_seed
Seed: Carrot	carrot_seed
Seed: Peanut	peanut_seed
Seed: Soybean	soybean_seed
Eggs: Crickets	cricket_eggs
Eggs: Cockroaches	cockroach_eggs
Eggs: Mealworms	mealworm_eggs
Eggs: Buffaloworms	buffaloworm_eggs
Eggs: Waxworms	waxworm_eggs

NOTE: If you set the min and max amount to 1 with highlighted resources and the player doesn’t yet have the ability to grow said plant/insect, the game reads it as a seed/egg and not a single piece of Wheat or Crickets, for example.

Some IDs differ from their resource name due to changes in the game (for example ID for Junk is “Scrap”).

Conditions

Used in: <result type="ModifyColonistsConditions" amount="1" condition="Injured” />

Condition	ID
Injured	Injured
Radiation sickness	RadiationSickness
Infected	Infected
Poisoned	Poisoned

Illustrations

Used in: <content image_name="Event_Fire"

Illustration ID	Description
Event_Fire	Rough sketch of a burning bunker
Event_Trade	Jolly merchant with a van
Event_Bandit	Group of menacing bandits with prisoners
Event_Injured	Wounded people returning to colony
Event_Survivors1	Guards looking towards nondescript people outside the gate
Event_Survivors2	Nondescript people coming towards the gate
Event_Survivors3	A group of worn-down, exhausted people
Event_Van	A red van with a person with a rifle on top with others around him
Event_Scout	A single scout using binoculars, looking into the distance
Event_Sick	A dimly-lit tent full of injured/sick people
Event_Fight	Two people fighting, surrounded by others
Event_Unrest	An angry group of colonists
Event_Building1	A lone production building from the outside
Character_Bandit	A single masked bandit
Character_Merchant	A jolly merchant
Character_Bandit_Leader	Single menacing and big bandit
Character_Bandits	Two bandits with weapons
Character_Child	A lone child
Character_Colonists	Two angry colonists
Character_Man	A large beaded man holding a gas canister
Character_Medic	A grinning, colorful young woman with medic's attire
Character_Merc	A colorful mercenary with a gun and a crossbow
Character_Survivors	A group of three worn-down survivors, man, woman and child
Character_Wanderer	Shifty man in an overcoat, carrying a big backpack
Character_Woman	A female colonist

Event_imagename illustrations are traditional 16:9 pictures. Character_imagename are characters standing on the left side of the text area.

Sound assets

Used in: soundevent_id="Bandit"

Sound	ID
	Bandit
	Hunt
	Merchant
	Help
	Survivors
	Positive
	Negative

3D models

Used in: visual_object_type="Default"

Model(s)	ID
Merchant's van	Default
A colorful van	Merchant
Couple of bandits	Bandit
A single man	Single
Woman with a child	WomanChild
Three people in a circle	Group
A single bandit	SingleBandit
A group of bandits with hostages	Slavers

Trigger buildings

Used in: <trigger type="Building" target="Tent" />

Building	ID and syntax
Tent	Tent
House	House
Two-story House	TwoStoryHouse
Shanty	Shanty
Stockpile	StorageOutside
Warehouse	StorageInside
Food Storage	StorageFood
Solar Panel	SolarGenerator
Water Well	Well
Battery Rack	Battery
Mission Control	MissionControl
Scrapper	Scavenger
Water Tower	WaterTower
Large Water Tower	WaterTowerLvl2
Wind Turbine	WindGenerator
Large Wind Turbine	WindTurbine
Mechanic Shop	MechanicShop
Recycler	Recycler
Forester	Forester
Trapper	Trapper
Sawmill	Sawmill
Tailor	Tailor
Medical Tent	MedicalTent
Toolshop	Toolshop
Bunker	Bunker
Broken Truck	Truck
Pile of Boxes	Bags
Emergency Shelter	EmergencyShelter
Tenement	Tenement
School	School
Fishing Hut	Fishery
The Gate	Gate
Gate Ruins	GateDestroyed
Small Field	FieldSmall
Medium Field	FieldMedium
Large Field	FieldLarge
Arena	StormDome
Greenhouse	Greenhouse
Trade Center	TradeCenter
Environmental Station	EnvironmentalStation
Logging Camp	LoggingCamp
Burial Pit	ThePit
Secure Storage	SecureStorage
Cookhouse	Cookhouse
Mess Hall	MessHall
Bore Well	BoreWell
Field Hospital	FieldHospital
Memorial	Memorial
Large Solar Panel	LargeSolarPanel
Radar	Radar
Insect Farm	InsectFarm
Bakery	Bakery
Mill	Mill
Medical Lab	MedLab
Library	Library
Game Arcade	GameArcade
Movie Theater	MovieTheater
Large Green Bush	Bush1
Large Yellow Bush	Bush2
Pink Flower Bush	Bush3
White Flower Bush	Bush4
Small Green Bush	Bush5
Tall Green Bush	Bush6
Red Flowers	Bush7
Tiny Pink Flowers	Bush8
Tiny White Flowers	Bush9
Green Tree	Bush10
Bottle Tree	Decoration1
Bottle Cactus	Decoration2
Plastic Flowers	Decoration3
Log Flowers	Decoration4
Plastic Viola	Decoration5
Paper Windmills	Decoration6

Stats screen IDs (Needs)

Used in: <result type="ModifyColonistsNeeds" event_need_id="TRIPSUCCESS" happiness_delta = "-0.02" duration ="300" is_hidden="false" /> Text in Colony status screen

Text in Colony status screen	ID and syntax
Ventured outside the Gate	TRIPSUCCESS
Successful hunt	HUNT
Minor bandit event	BANDITS1
Bandit event	BANDITS2
Major bandit event	BANDITS3
Indecision	INDECISION
Agreement	AGREE
Disagreement	DISAGREE
Declined request	DECLINE
Feast	FEAST
Hostilities	HOSTILITIES
Luck	LUCK
Nuclear Fallout	FALLOUT
Pandemic	PANDEMIC
Magnetic Storm	MAGSTORM
Meteor Shower	METEORS