I have been updating the string lines and entity files to look for. Maybe it will help to give a more specific example.
I just tried to create an ability for the TEC missile frigate based off of the Missile Barrage ability for the Marza. I renamed it missile swarm and corrected the ability, buff, and string files to reflect the new ability. From something I saw earlier, all mod files should have their accompanying effects files. The muzzle effect and hit effect files for this ability is already in the Mad Scientist mod. The sound files weren't, so I added them. Upon starting the game and trying to enable the mod, it froze. It wouldn't load the mod, but it didn't minidump, instead I had to reboot my computer. I'll double check the string and entity lines I added (BTW I added the lines I needed to alphabetically into the new lines that had been added for the Mad Scientest mod) for their case, but I'm simply adding lines to existing files from the Mad Scientist mod. I'll try again with the string and entity lines at the end, but I'm doubting it will work.