Civilization Builder

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The Civilization Builder is a powerful in-game tool used to design custom factions with unique leaders, abilities, ideologies, and more. It is available in the Crusades expansion, replacing the Faction designer from the base game.

Launching the Builder

The Civilization Builder can be accessed two ways: by clicking the “Civilization Builder” button from the main menu, or clicking the “Create Civilization” button in the lower left of the screen when selecting a civilization for a new game.

Overview

Name

The full, formal name of your civilization. This is used primarily for diplomacy. The name works best if it is 25 characters or less. Example: “Terran Alliance.”

Short name

The shortened name of your civilization. This is used primarily for in-game menus, like the Power list. The short name works best as a plural noun that is 11 characters or less. Example: “Terrans.”

Ship Callsign

A prefix assigned to all ship names. The ship callsign works best if it is 8 characters or less. Example: “S.S.S.”

Logo

An image used as the flag for your civilization. The game comes with several to choose from; you can add your own by copying them to the logo folder. The PNG image should have an aspect ratio of 1:1. The recommended resolution is 512x512. The default path to the logo folder is C:\Users\(Your username)\Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade\Factions\Logos

Portrait

An image used to represent your civilization leader in-game. The game comes with several to choose from; you can add your own by copying them to the portrait folder. The PNG image should have an aspect ratio of 1:1. The recommended resolution is 512x512. The default path to the portrait folder is C:\Users\(Your username)\Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade\Factions\Portraits

Foreground

A high-resolution image of your civilization leader used in diplomacy screens. The game comes with several videos and still images to choose from; you can add your own still images by copying them to the foreground folder. The PNG image should have an aspect ratio of 16:9. The recommended resolution is 1920x1080. The default path to the foreground folder is C:\Users\(Your username)\Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade\Factions\LeaderFGs

Customize Background

A high-resolution image that appears behind your civilization leader in diplomacy screens. The game comes with several videos and still images to choose from; you can add your own still images by copying them to the background folder. The PNG image should have an aspect ratio of 16:9. The recommended resolution is 1920x1080. The default path to the background folder is C:\Users\(Your username)\Documents\My Games\GC3Crusade\Factions\LeaderBGs

Leader Name

The name of your civilization leader. The leader name works best if it is 15 characters or less. Example: “DL Bradley.”

Leader Description

A brief biography of your civilization leader. (note: where does this appear in-game?)

Civilization Description

A brief description of your civilization. This appears in the Choose Civilization screen when creating a new game, and is the default text used to describe your civilization when you upload to the Steam workshop. The civilization description works best as one or two short paragraphs.

Homeworld Name

The name of your civilization’s starting planet. The homeworld name works best if it is 19 characters or less. Example: “Earth.”

Star System

Choose from 17 starting star systems.

Startup Screen

Customizes the text that appears when you begin a new game. From here, you can give your civilization a one-line slogan, a detailed description, and some tips on playstyle. This is especially helpful for other players who are unfamiliar with your civilization and are playing it for the first time.

Traits & Abilities

Civilization Traits

Statistical modifiers for your civilization. Traits are usually available in four levels – giving a significant strength, a reduced strength, a reduced weakness, or a significant weakness. Click the heading for a complete list of traits.

Civilization Abilities

Each civilization has two special abilities that give them an edge. Click the heading for a complete list of abilities.

Race Type

Race Type affects what food your race uses& what planets you best adapt to. You have four options to choose from:

Carbon Based

Carbon-based species use water and hydrocarbons as the basis of their chemistry. Their populations require farms in order to grow. 

Synthetic

Synthetics are robotic lifeforms that do not require food to survive and can operate in a variety of environments. Unlike squishy organic species, Synthetics fabricate their populations in special factories.

Aquatic

Aquatic species live most of their lives deep in the oceans. They can colonize Water Worlds early game with no penalty and terraform one extra water tile in each Tech Age. 

Silicon Based

Silicon lifeforms are built from rocks and rare minerals. They have no need for farms as they ingest precious Durantium to grow their populations.

Starting Ships

Choose what ships you want your civilization to start with. You have five options:

Survey ship

A fast, unarmed ship with powerful sensors and the ability to investigate valuable anomalies.

Colony ship

An unarmed ship capable of colonizing neutral planets.

Constructors

Two unarmed ships capable of creating starbases.

Scouts

Three tiny ships used to rapidly explore the galaxy.

Furies 

Two small warships armed with experimental weapons and defense systems.