Species modding

Version

This article is timeless and should be accurate for any version of the game.

This article is about creating new species to add in addition to the ones already in Stellaris. This will cover the processes of portrait design, folder arrangement and more. As with empire modding some parts of this guide will describe fairly easy or even obvious things, however there are parts of species modding much more complicated or containing unexpected nuances.

In order to effectively create a new species a few tools are needed:

1. Any photo editing software capable of supporting image transparency, such as Artcursors, Paint.net, or Photoshop. MS Paint does not support image transparency and cannot be used without conversion software.
2. Either the ability to edit and save DDS files, or convert PNG or TGA files to DDS files.
3. A picture or pictures of the species to add.
4. A text editor. Notepad++ is recommended, but Notepad is fully capable of this.

## Stellaris Mod Creation Menu

Open up the Stellaris Launcher. At the top right of the 'Mods' tab, click "Mod Tools". Click on the "Create Mod" tab that is to the left.:

* The first blank is for the visible name of the mod.
* The second blank is for the name of the actual mod file.
* The third blank is the supported version. This should already be filled out and do not change it.
* Below that is four available tags that that can be added. Use "Species".

Once the mod info is filled out, click the "Create Mod" button at the bottom right. This will create an empty folder with the mod name and a .mod file.

Mod file creation menu filled out with an example:

File:Creating a mod.jpg
Some text should appear at the bottom of the window saying "Successfully created mod file in (MY DOCUMENTS PATH)\Stellaris\Mod\YourMod.mod".

File:File Uploaded.jpg
The text at the bottom contains the location of the mod file.

### Going Into The Mod Files

Go to the location of the mod files in your My Documents Folder.

File:Step3.jpg
1. Click on the text file that has the name of the mod and COPY that into the folder with the mod name.
2. Change the name of the .mod file copy to 'descriptor'.
3. Open the folder with the mod name.

The folder should be empty (except for the copy of the mod file) and ready to fill with the necessary files to create the new species.

File:Descriptor.jpg
Keep this folder open for easy access.

## Manual Species Creation (Vanilla Rendition Replacement Version)

Having created a new MOD file, proceed with creating the Species. The instructions below will teach you how to append your new Species to an existing Species Class already found in the game.

### Creating the Mod File Structure

* Go to the location of the mod files that you generated in the steps above.
* On Windows, enter the My Documents folder.
* In the My Documents folder, enter the Paradox Interactive folder. In Paradox Interactive, enter the Stellaris folder. In Stellaris, enter the Mod folder.
* Create a new folder in the mod folder named 'common'
* Create a new folder in the mod folder named 'gfx'
* In the main Stellaris window, open 'common' and copy the following folder to the Mod window:

species\_classes
There should be exactly one file in the folder you copied.

* Change that file’s name from 00\_species\_classes to anything you choose. **DO NOT** name it "00 or 01\_species\_classes" or any other numerical variant.
* Open the new file.
* Decide now whether the new species is going to be a mammal, reptile, avian, arthropod, mollusk, or fungus.
* Let’s say you've chosen to add a new fungus. Scroll down through the file until you find the section that reads:

```
 FUN = {
 portraits = {
 "fun1"
 "fun2"
 "fun3"
 "fun4"
 "fun6"
 "fun7"
 "fun8"
 "fun9"
 "fun10"
 "fun11"
 "fun12"
 "fun13"
 "fun14"
 "fun15"
 }
 custom\_portraits = { # add additional portraits when customizing species
 trigger = { local\_has\_dlc = "Creatures of the Void Portrait Pack" }
 portraits = {
 "fun16"
 }
 }

 graphical\_culture = fungoid\_01
 move\_pop\_sound\_effect = "fungoid\_pops\_move"
 }

```

* Now paste the following section in right ABOVE the line that says "graphical\_culture = fungoid\_01" and change myspecies1 to the name of the species:

```
 custom\_portraits = {#add additional portraits when customizing species
 trigger = { always = yes }
 portraits = {
 "myspecies1"
 }
 }

```

* Don't worry about what "trigger = {always = yes}" means, it just ensures that you don't need any special DLC or other requirements to use this portrait.

* Save and close the file.

Next step: In the mod folder navigate to the main directory and open the 'gfx' folder.

* Create a new folder named 'models' and open it.
* Create a new folder (inside of 'models') and name it 'portraits' {'gfx\models\portraits'} – this is where you will put the picture of the species.
* Inside of the 'gfx' folder create a new folder named 'portraits' then open that folder ('gfx\portraits') and create ANOTHER folder named 'portraits' ('gfx\portraits\portraits')
* Keep the folder 'gfx\models\portraits' open.

### Adding The Portrait

#### Making The Portrait In Photoshop or Paint Net

Open up the photo editing software

* Open up the picture or photo that you will use as the species’ picture.

File:Source.jpg **NOTE:** You should use the highest quality image possible for this. If you have to shrink it down a bit you will lose some detail.

* From the left hand side select the tool that looks like a magic wand (left column, 4th down)

File:Magicbutton.jpg
* Erase the background – this may take some experimentation, using the various tools and making some adjustments.

File:Img example.jpg
**TIP:**Using the eraser tool (pink and white eraser icon, right column), set the 'hardness' to about 20% and fade the edges of the portrait so that no hard edges remain (edges without blending like this tend to look really harsh – you'll probably need to experiment with lots of different techniques to achieve something that looks good.)

File:Species7.jpg
* Once you are satisfied with the portrait, resize it to a maximum of about 400 pixels in height (any higher and you run the risk of the portrait going out of frame in the game).

* Save the portrait as a **DDS image** with a memorable name (**DO NOT** name the file "MYSPECIES"or any variant) in the 'gfx\models\portraits' folder.
* Now save the portrait in the main mod directory with the same name (make sure to save it as a **JPG image**)
* Now close the photo editing software and open up the Mod’s 'gfx\models\portraits' folder to ensure that the species’ portrait is there.
* Check in the main mod directory.

#### Adding The Portrait to the Mod

* Open up your Mod’s 'gfx\portraits\portraits' folder. It is located in the My Documents folder by default.

* Copy the file named '00\_portraits' to the mod’s 'gfx\portraits\portraits' folder.
* Rename the file as to anything you wish. **DO NOT** use "00\_portraits" or any numerical variation of the same.
* Open the file.
* Delete everything and put in the following lines:
```
 portraits = {
 myspecies1 = { texturefile = "gfx/models/portraits/X.dds" }
 }

```
* Replace X.dds with whatever you named your portrait in the previous step.

Save the file and close it.

## Naming Your Species

All Species added into the game must be named separately. Failure to do so will cause their names to be blank in the Species list.
**If you used the method that appends a Species to the Vanilla rendition Species Classes, skip this step.**

* In the root of your Mod’s folder, create a folder named "*common*", in all lowercase.
* In the "*common*" folder, create a folder named "*species\_names*", in all lowercase.
* In the "*species\_names*" folder, create a new TXT file. Name it anything you wish.

Inside the text file, paste the following:

```
 X = {
 Y = {
 name = NAME
 plural = PLURAL
 home\_planet = "HOME PLANET NAME"
 home\_system = "NAME OF STAR HOME PLANET IS IN"
 name\_list = "Z"
 }
 }

```

Each entry is a key corresponding to a key that Stellaris will read when it generates a Species.
**Each of the five categories, left of the equals sign, *must be lowercase*!**

* "Name" is self-evident. This is what the Species is called.
* "Plural" is the plural name of the species. This is used when multiple instances of one species are addressed collectively. (For instance, the creature called a "turtle" has the plural of "turtles".)
* "Home\_Planet" is the first planet this Species starts on when the galaxy is randomly generated.
* "Home\_System" is the star the Species’ first planet orbits around when the galaxy is randomly generated.
* "Name\_List" is the series of first, last, and full names given to individual Leaders of this Species. These are found in the "*name\_lists*" folder in the "*common*" folder of Stellaris.<ref name="STEAMDIRECTORY">By default, "Stellaris" is located in a certain area depending on what Launcher it is equipped with. For the Steam Launcher Program, it is found in the Steam entry thirty-two bit program directory.
 The address to this is "*C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Stellaris*" .

* The X variable represents the Species Class of the creature. It **must** match the name of the Species Class found in the "*species\_classes*" folder.
* The Y variable is the unique category for that series of names. Y can be replaced by anything, as long as it is unique, does not have any spaces or special characters (e.g. punctuation or any symbol except the underscore), and does not repeat.

In the example to copy and paste, remember to retain the quotation marks for Planet Name, System Name, and Name List!

## Species Class Localization

*This section governs the required Localization to properly render a Species in-game. For the actual creation of Localization files, not discused here, refer to the instructions concerning Localization itself.*
Every Species Class includes Localization for use in dialog. This is found in the "*localisation*" folder of your Mod or of Stellaris. Species Class Localization allows for the game to properly insult and demean your species’ appearance, organs, appendages, mouths, and existence.

* At the top of the Localization file, type "**l\_english:**", all lowercase. REMEMBER THE COLON. (If you chose a different language, use it instead.)
* Every entry after the "l\_english" command **must begin with a blank space**.

Now, paste the following code into your YML file, overwriting it.

```
l\_english:
 CLASS:0 "X"
 CLASS\_desc:0 "A creature's Species Class has no effect on your Empire, but a X may consider other X's to be less alien than creatures of other Species Classes."
 CLASS\_plural:0 "X"
 CLASS\_adj:0 "X"
 CLASS\_insult\_01:0 "X"
 CLASS\_insult\_02:0 "X"
 CLASS\_insult\_plural\_01:0 "X"
 CLASS\_insult\_plural\_02:0 "X"
 CLASS\_compliment\_01:0 "X"
 CLASS\_compliment\_plural\_01:0 "X"
 CLASS\_spawn:0 "X"
 CLASS\_spawn\_plural:0 "X"
 CLASS\_sound\_01:0 "X"
 CLASS\_sound\_02:0 "X"
 CLASS\_sound\_03:0 "X"
 CLASS\_sound\_04:0 "X"
 CLASS\_sound\_05:0 "X"
 CLASS\_organ:0 "X"
 CLASS\_mouth:0 "X"
 CLASS\_hand:0 "X"

```

Replace "CLASS" with the Species *Class* of your Species that is found in the folder "*species\_class*", nested in the "*common*" folder.

What each key represents should be obvious. Every key can be entered to read anything.

* The first line is the name of the Species *Class* (e.g. "Mammalian, Fungoid"). Only one.
* "CLASS\_desc" is the generic description. In the Vanilla rendition of Stellaris, every Species Class’ description says the same thing.
* "CLASS\_plural" is the plural name of the Species Class (e.g. "Mammalians, Fungoids"). Only one.
* "CLASS\_adj" is the adjective of the Species Class. (e.g. "a Mammalian obsession", "a filthy Molluscoid"). Only one.
* "CLASS\_insult\_X" denotes a diplomatic insult at *one* member of that Species Class (e.g. calling an Insectoid a "bug"). Any number of Insults can be written, as long as they have a plural complementing them. Simply increment the number.
* "CLASS\_insult\_plural\_X" denotes a diplomatic insult to *multiple* members of that Species Class (e.g. calling a group of Insectoids "bugs"). Any number of Insults can be written, as long as they have a singular form complementing them. Simply increment the number.
* "CLASS\_spawn" denotes the offspring of the creature (e.g. "spore" for Fungoid, "cub" for Mammalians). Only one.
* "CLASS\_spawn\_plural" denotes a group of a Species Class member’s offspring (e.g. "babies" for Humanoids). Only one.
* "CLASS\_sound\_X" denotes descriptive noises (e.g. "stupid Robot, will you stop that *beeping*"). Five must be written.
* "CLASS\_organ" denotes a body part or aspect of the Species Class member (e.g. "just looking at you makes my *stomach* churn"). The organ does not have to be digestive, or even an organ, though choosing something like "hair" sounds odd when a creature says your Species it churn.
* "CLASS\_mouth" denotes the mouth the Species Class member uses for eating (e.g. "look at that thing on your face, is that supposed to be a *jaw*").
* "CLASS\_hand" denotes the appendage a Species Class member uses to pick up things (e.g. "our Federation is surely in capable *paws*). If the Species Class does not have hands, use a substitute

## Adding the MOD Files

* Enter the Stellaris Mod folder
* In the folder, search for the MOD file generated. This is the MOD file that is present with any other MOD files downloaded from the Steam Workshop.
* Double-click the MOD file.

Inside you should see something resembling the following:

```
 	name="MOD NAME"
 	path="mod/MOD FOLDER NAME"
 	tags={
 		"Species"
 	}
 	supported_version="CURRENT GAME VERSION"

```

* Here, add your thumbnail if you wish. (This is optional.)

Now add a line above 'supported version':

```
 	name="MOD NAME"
 	path="mod/MOD FOLDER NAME"
 	tags={
 		"Species"
 	}
 	picture="X.jpg"
 	supported_version="CURRENT GAME VERSION"

```

Obviously, change the name of "X.jpg" to whatever the portrait was named.

Now, a Descriptor MOD File must be created.

* Copy, not cut, the MOD file you just finished editing.
* Open the folder of the Mod that you have created and paste it there.
* Rename the copied MOD file to "DESCRIPTOR.MOD". It MUST read "DESCRIPTOR.MOD", in *all lowercase*.

## Uploading The Mod

#### Test The Mod

Close down all of the windows and launch Stellaris.

* Click on the 'Mods' tab in the launcher.
* You should see the mod’s name in the list. Click on it.

File:Checkmod.jpg
The mod should now be highlighted (slightly lighter colored corners than before)

* Click play
* Create a new empire, then under 'Appearance', in the Fungoid (or whichever you picked) find the new portrait

File:UnitedApes.jpg
Once you've tested you portrait in game (you can always make changes to the "gfx/models/portraits/X.dds" to get a better result) it’s time to publish the mod.

### Stellaris Mod Upload

Close all windows and programs – You don't want anything interfering with this next step.

1. Go to the 'Upload Mod' tab in the Stellaris launcher, under the "Mod Tools" button from the 'Mods' tab.
2. Click on 'Upload Mod' then find the mod in the list (it’s a grayed out list) and click it, then click on 'Fetch Info'
3. It should say "Mod does not exist on Steam. Will create new mod."
4. Click 'Upload' in the bottom right corner.
5. Wait.

If you've done everything right you will be rewarded with a message "Mod uploaded okay."

### Steam Workshop

Go to the Steam Workshop page. Click on the mod and then edit the description.

File:Workshoppage.jpg
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 On Windows XP, this is located by default at *C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR USER NAME\My Documents* .
 On Windows Seven, Windows Eight, and Windows Ten, by default, it is always located at *C:\Users\YOUR USER NAME\Documents* .

## External links

* Stellaris Species C6 Mod, Official announcement by the Stellaris team – Trailer (Holiday Special – December 23, 2021)

**Modding**