Fighters/Drones How to change their designs?

Yes, there's an XML file. You'll want ShipBlueprintsDefs.XML in \Galactic Civilizations 3\Data\Game\; look for

<!-- Begin Blueprint -->
 
  <ShipBlueprint>
    <InternalName>AssaultFighterBlueprint</InternalName>
    <ShipHullType>Small</ShipHullType>
    <Role>Assault</Role>
    <CanBeBuilt>false</CanBeBuilt>
    <RequiredComponentType>BeamWeapon</RequiredComponentType>
    <RequiredComponentType>MissileWeapon</RequiredComponentType>
    <RequiredComponentType>KineticWeapon</RequiredComponentType>
    <ComponentType>Armor</ComponentType>
    <ComponentType>PointDefense</ComponentType>
    <ComponentType>Shields</ComponentType>
    <ComponentType>SublightDrive</ComponentType>
    <ComponentType>BeamWeapon</ComponentType>
    <ComponentType>MissileWeapon</ComponentType>
    <ComponentType>KineticWeapon</ComponentType>
    <FillerComponentType>BeamWeapon</FillerComponentType>
    <FillerComponentType>KineticWeapon</FillerComponentType>
    <FillerComponentType>MissileWeapon</FillerComponentType>
  </ShipBlueprint>
 
  <!-- Begin Blueprint -->
 
  <ShipBlueprint>
    <InternalName>DroneFighterBlueprint</InternalName>
    <ShipHullType>Tiny</ShipHullType>
    <Role>Interceptor</Role>
    <CanBeBuilt>false</CanBeBuilt>
    <RequiredComponentType>BeamWeapon</RequiredComponentType>
    <RequiredComponentType>SublightDrive</RequiredComponentType>
    <ComponentType>BeamWeapon</ComponentType>
    <ComponentType>BeamWeapon</ComponentType>
    <ComponentType>Shields</ComponentType>
    <AllRequiredMustFit>true</AllRequiredMustFit>
  </ShipBlueprint>
 
  <!-- Begin Blueprint -->
 
  <ShipBlueprint>
    <InternalName>GuardianFighterBlueprint</InternalName>
    <ShipHullType>Tiny</ShipHullType>
    <Role>Guardian</Role>
    <CanBeBuilt>false</CanBeBuilt>
    <RequiredComponentType>KineticWeapon</RequiredComponentType>
    <RequiredComponentType>Armor</RequiredComponentType>
    <ComponentType>KineticWeapon</ComponentType>
    <ComponentType>PointDefense</ComponentType>
    <ComponentType>Shields</ComponentType>
    <AllRequiredMustFit>true</AllRequiredMustFit>
  </ShipBlueprint>

There may be one or two others; I'm not really sure. Alternatively, you may be able to create a custom carrier module for your custom fighters, but I'm not certain how you'd do that. I'd start by looking in ShipComponentDefs.XML in \Galactic Civilizations 3\Data\Game\ to see how the base game carriers are handled.

Now will this update the weapons as you progress through the game like the standard fighters?

I assume so; that's the only place I saw anything that looked like it was defining what the fighters were, and the XML I posted comes from the default file. I haven't tried modding it, though.

To my mind it will be simplier, if it can be changed in the game. Not everybode read the forum, not everybody know English and not everybody want to pay his attention to the xml files.

Ya, it's odd you can't change them in game yet. Any word from Stardock on when they will correct this?

^ It's anyone's guess when or even if they make this kind of change.  Originally when the floated the idea of carriers they said we'd be able to select the design, but in execution they opted to make it hidden and automatic.  Unsurprisingly it was a very common request in the beta that the player have access to the carrier fighters.  The devs I think went with the balance excuse as to why they didn't go with it, which was understandable in the final months of the beta.  There were a number of more important things that need to be done (and if you count ground combat STILL need to be done) than making major changes to the carriers and trying to get them balanced so the AI would use them properly.

True, but not everyone wants to change the default designs, either.

You would think that when you assign what your ship role is there would be an option for Carrier assault/guardian  or have a check box to click as default carrier ship.

Has anyone had any bugs messing with the XML file? Just kinda nervous I'll screw up my game,lol

Haven't played the game in some time. Has this been fixed?

It hasn't been fixed because it is not a bug. It is working as intended. Basically, carriers are already very powerful, and if players were allowed to design the fighters they would be too hard to balance.

Not by just changing designs. I hate the looks of the default ships in a game that encourages customization. 

So I take that as a no? Been digging in the forums, didn't know if during one of the weekly streams it was brought up. Really driving me crazy with the stock designs. Every empire should allow for at the very least visual customization for their fighters. To be honest, in order for carries to be more balanced they should make it like real life. A ship will have X amount of slots. Tiny ships take up 1 slot, small ships 2 ect. If the ships are destroyed it forces a player to send back his carriers for resupplying of new fighters. As it is right now its odd that you automatically get resupplied and equipped with the latest tech for your fighters. Doesn't work that way for us in the military, lol.

I think SD is underestimating how much players would love to be able to properly customize their game. Fighters you should be able to *at least* be able to choose a ship style (ie one of the custom designs from steam workshop).

Further, we should be able to determine what *style* ships a faction (even when controlled by the AI) uses *including* custom ships. I get that we can choose the stock ships, but we need more options in this department.

I'm sure they will get to it, they do listen, hopefully it comes soon.

Ok, feeling really stupid on this. In what part of the file do I put my ships info in? So for example I have a ship named Zaku 1 Carrier.(long file name has __D6C4FB1ECFB14CA39304927DDB2BCCE8 at the end) How do I get that design that is saved in a completely different location to replace the default design? Do I have to save the design in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Galactic Civilizations III\Designs ? I even got desperate and replaced the terran design with mine by renaming them but no luck their either.


<!-- Begin Blueprint -->
 
  <ShipBlueprint>
    <InternalName>DroneFighterBlueprint</InternalName>
    <ShipHullType>Tiny</ShipHullType>
    <Role>Interceptor</Role>
    <CanBeBuilt>false</CanBeBuilt>
    <RequiredComponentType>BeamWeapon</RequiredComponentType>
    <RequiredComponentType>SublightDrive</RequiredComponentType>
    <ComponentType>BestDefense</ComponentType>
    <AllRequiredMustFit>true</AllRequiredMustFit>
  </ShipBlueprint>