[Saber Cherry]

I plan to make a Japanese nation, and to do this I would need:

1) Unit creator.
2) Theme creator (ideally, with nation name-changing support).

Additionally, I would like:

3) Unit editor (ability to change existing units, not just make new ones).
4) Theme editor.
5) Spell editor (just for spell stats, not graphics, sounds, or effects).
6) Special site creator and editor.
7) Sound effects in wave files.

I don't know how the DomII data is organized, though some of it seems to be hidden in the executable. If I were to make the game ideal for modding, I would make each unit a single file, in zip format, renamed to *.unt. The zip package would contain a text file with units stats and description, and the 2 bitmap files. This way, a person could easily create a unit without proprietary tools, and mod existing units as well. Furthermore, Illwinter could alter the game quickly and easily without having to do a recomplie each time. All units (official or custom) would be thrown together in the DomII\Units directory.

A theme could be a simple text file in the DomII\Themes directory, listing the nation(s) that can use the theme, starting special sites, units available, and special effects. For example:

NihonTheme.txt:

*******************

[ThemeName]
"Feudal Nihon"

[ValidNations]
"Man"

[ChangeNationName]
True

[NewNationName]
"Nihon"

[DesignCost]
0

[SpecialSites]
"Imperial Palace"
"Shaolin Monastary"
"Pink Ninja Training Cave"

[Units]
Militia03.unt
Militia04.unt
Cavalry07.unt
WaterBuffalo01.unt
SushiChef01.unt

[Commanders]
MonkCmdr03.unt
NinjaCmdr01.unt
ShogunCmdr01.unt
IronChefItalian01.unt
IronChefFrench01.unt
GenericMage17.unt

[Pretenders]
DrunkenNinjaMaster01.unt
Pichu01.unt
Pikachu01.unt
Raichu.unt
GundamZero01.unt
VashTheStampede01.unt
SupaaIdoruAyumiHamasaki01.unt

[Effects]
"Restless Worshippers"
"Ocean Travel"
"Bonus Food Production On Coast"
"Pokemon Cult"

*******************

Obviously, there would have to be a list of valid effect names and valid special site names. Each unit would correspond to a specific filename in the units folder. Then, when the nation theme is done, you can put it into the themes folder, and it will be selectable next time you load DomII.

Anyway... that's what I'd do.

-Cherry