Self-Made Mod Not Loading

I could be wrong, but I don't think you need the ReferenceData folder there. You should have Entrenchment, GameInfo and Mesh all within the Personal folder. The extra folder messes up the directory.

I have to put the files in the ReferenceData folder. Without it, the game simply crashes during load after the opening cinematic (Note that the game is set to load the mod on startup; turning this option off and manually loading my mod also results in a crash, so the files need to be in the ReferenceData folder)

The game is defaulting to the existing files because you don't have your directories set up correctly. The reason it's crashing when your directory is set up properly (without the useless ReferenceData directory) is probably because the reference data from Forge Tools 3 is about a trillion versions out of date. Make your own with this. 

Thanks for that, it's converting the files for me now. *crosses fingers*.

Yeah...

Crashing after the video was a big clue that your files were borked.

When modding, you should be using the dev exe, there's one for each version in the main install folder.  They'll give you clues as to why it's borked.

Nope, that still hasn't helped, Carbon. I deleted all the mod files and started afresh. Your program extracted the files fine, so I modded them. The game is still using the defaults though.

Psychoak, I have no idea what to do with the dev exe. And since it's from Forge Tools 3, wouldn't it be out of date like the other files?

Use the one in the Sins of a Solar Empire directory, not the forge tools. The Galaxy/Particle forge and maybe the documentation are the only things not out of date in it.

Guide to the developer.exe

Ok...but what do I actually do with it? That guide tells you how to use it, but not what you actually do with the .exe file. Am I supposed to put it somewhere? Load it up? And will it explain why my mod isn't working?

Double clicking on it works quite well for me. And sometimes it will tell you why.

Just run it where it is. It will display many types of errors to help you track down the problem.

That said, since this is a reference data issue its likely most if not all of your files are wrong, so I would download the reference files here. Its one small patch out of date but shouldn't change anything in gameinfo, and the Dev.exe will tell you what if any files are causing problems.

Ok, i've loaded up the .exe. A Window popped up during game load. I have no idea what it means.

"Assert @ C:\Projects\P4\SinsOG\Release\CodeSource\GS/Window/Screens/MainMenuScreen.cpp(19)

false"

Otherwise the game loaded as normal, but there's still no mod. Anyone have any other ideas why my mod isn't working? I can't believe it's soo difficult just to get some text files to work.

*Edit - thanks Goafan, i'm downloading the files now. Third batch of files i've tried. Third time lucky I hope.

 soase.weebly.com/placing-mods.html 

 C:\Users\Lloyd\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods-v1.193\Personal\ReferenceData\GameInfo

C:\Users\Lloyd\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods-v1.193\Personal\GameInfo

There is pictures showing good and bad examples at that link.

"Assert @ C:\Projects\P4\SinsOG\Release\CodeSource\GS/Window/Screens/MainMenuScreen.cpp(19)

I think that is a standard error that comes unless you put the updated Window folder in the mod that has the updated steam main menu. Not sure, its been a long time since Vanilla modding.

I've already tried fixing that particular issue, Myfist. The download for the files GoaFan linked to is nearly complete so i'll try those files.

Ahhh yes I see Goa linked to my reference files and yes they are 1 patch out of date which is the main menu screen steam patch. Dont worry about it. It just removes the update button for steam users.

Can I see the full path to one of the files inside GameInfo?

Success! It seems that a significant number of files were missing. I didn't have the .settings, bin, Galaxy, Particle, PipelineEffect, src, String, TextureAnimations, or Window folders. I also didn't have the .classpath or .project files.

...However I now have a new problem. I can no longer close the game! Several of the buttons on the game menu have now disappeared - Download Updates, Get Entrenchment, Get Diplomacy, and Quit. So I can only close the game via Ctrl Alt Del now!

Copy the Window folder from the games install dir to your mod. Some files will be .bin format but unless you want to mod the UI thats OK. I forget exactly which files the mainmenu screen uses, its one of the .window files like mainMenuScreen.window. I would do the entire folder to be sure.

You can also play in Window mode set in the game video options which you can close with the typical X

Yeah that was the one thing the 1.193 update changed. Just copy your window folder from your Sins of a solar empire directory and paste it over the one in your mod, assuming you won't want to be making any new content that needs pictures it won't be a problem. And if you do want to do that, make a back up of the reference data window folder and only change the files you need from there, then copy the changed files into your mod's window folder.