Could I ask a question, please?

[Takhen]

My question is about Magic DOTP 2013.

I recently discovered that I could add decks made ​​by me and cards not present, if able to do so.
I would like to do just that, but I am not very skilled with computers and English (I'm Italian).
This causes me a lot of trouble, so I decided to ask directly.

Reading this forum I was able to take one of the cards in Deck_1234_TEST.wad and change the number.
But when I fail when I try to insert into Deck_1234_TEST.wad a card not present in it, found among those already mounted around the forum itself.
Then insert cards and create decks by my self seems pretty far ...

I found some tutorials on the forum, and thanks to those that I did what little I could.
But I still wonder if there is a tutorial which refer: perhaps a single tutorial that explains step by step the things I want to do.
This is for my lack of ability.
Maybe I read old conversations and now there is an easier way or a more simple explanation...

An example of my difficulties:
Someone said "if you need to add a card with flying, copy the text string to another card with flying".
But I admit I do not know where the string of code to copy begins and ends, or where I have to paste it in the code of the new card.
I can not even add a new card already made​​...
I do not know if the AI ​​will she be able to use that card to be inserted me...

Could you help me please? It's a long time that I wish a game with the characteristics of DOTP 2013, which includes, however, the possibility to choose the cards to use like Cockatrice or MWS

I would be grateful
Thanks for your attention, and forgive my poor english helped by google translate...

[thefiremind]

I guess you need to know the basics of XML for a start. Except for the first line of the XML file which is a sort of header, the rest of the file always follows the same rules:

Code: Select all

<BLOCK_THAT_CONTAINS_SOMETHING>
  <ANOTHER_BLOCK_THAT_CONTAINS_SOMETHING tag_name="tag_value">
     <![CDATA[Here you can write special characters]]>
  </ANOTHER_BLOCK_THAT_CONTAINS_SOMETHING>
</BLOCK_THAT_CONTAINS_SOMETHING>
<BLOCK_THAT_DOESNT_CONTAIN_ANYTHING />

So, XML blocks can contain other blocks, or text, or nothing, and can contain tags (other information) where the block starts. <![CDATA[...]> is used when you need to insert special characters (Japanese for example). Code doesn't need that, and official cards don't put code inside <![CDATA[...]> (but you can do it, if you want).

If you look at a card's XML now, it should be easier to understand:

Code: Select all

  <..._ABILITY>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="en-US"><![CDATA[English text]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="fr-FR"><![CDATA[French text]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="es-ES"><![CDATA[Spanish text]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="de-DE"><![CDATA[German text]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="it-IT"><![CDATA[Italian text]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="jp-JA"><![CDATA[Japanese text]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ko-KR"><![CDATA[Korean text]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ru-RU"><![CDATA[Russian text]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="pt-BR"><![CDATA[Portuguese (Brazilian) text]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <..._ACTION>
    -- Code (in Lua language)
    </..._ACTION>
  </..._ABILITY>

This is how each ability is usually written (there can be more). It starts with <..._ABILITY> and ends with </..._ABILITY> (where "..._ABILITY" can be STATIC_ABILITY, ACTIVATED_ABILITY, etc.). A card with more abilities will have the ability blocks one after the other.

For example, let's say we want to give haste to Air Elemental, here's its original XML:

Code: Select all

<?xml version='1.0'?>
<CARD_V2>
  <FILENAME text="AIR_ELEMENTAL_276867" />
  <CARDNAME text="AIR_ELEMENTAL" />
  <TITLE>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="en-US"><![CDATA[Air Elemental]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="fr-FR"><![CDATA[Élémental d’air]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="es-ES"><![CDATA[Elemental de aire]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="de-DE"><![CDATA[Luftelementar]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="it-IT"><![CDATA[Elementale dell’Aria]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="jp-JA"><![CDATA[大気の精霊]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ko-KR"><![CDATA[공기의 정령]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ru-RU"><![CDATA[Элементаль Воздуха]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="pt-BR"><![CDATA[Elemental do Ar]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
  </TITLE>
  <MULTIVERSEID value="276867" />
  <ARTID value="101044" />
  <ARTIST name="Kev Walker" />
  <CASTING_COST cost="{3}{U}{U}" />
  <FLAVOURTEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="en-US"><![CDATA[“The East Wind, an interloper in the dominions of Westerly Weather, is an impassive-faced tyrant with a sharp poniard held behind his back for a treacherous stab.”
—Joseph Conrad, The Mirror of the Sea]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="fr-FR"><![CDATA[« Le Vent d’Est, un intrus dans le domaine du Temps d’Ouest, est un tyran au visage impassible et qui cache dans son dos un poignard acéré pour frapper en traître. »
—Joseph Conrad, Le Miroir de la mer]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="es-ES"><![CDATA[“El viento del este, un entrometido en los dominios del clima del oeste, es un tirano impasible con una daga afilada guardada en su espalda lista para una estocada traicionera.”
—Joseph Conrad, El espejo del mar]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="de-DE"><![CDATA[„Der Ostwind ist ein Eindringling im Reich des Wetters des Westens; er ist ein Tyrann mit ungerührtem Blick, der hinter dem Rücken den Dolch schon bereit zum verräterischen Stoß hält.“
—Joseph Conrad, Spiegel der See]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="it-IT"><![CDATA[“Il Vento dell’Est, un intruso nei domini del Clima di Ponente, è un tiranno dal volto impassibile, con un pugnale affilato tenuto dietro la schiena, pronto per una stilettata a tradimento.”
—Joseph Conrad, Lo Specchio del Mare]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="jp-JA"><![CDATA[「ウェスタリーの気候の支配の中に潜り込む東風は無感情な暴君で、鋭い短剣を背中に隠し、不意の一撃を狙っている。」
—ジョゼフ・コンラッド「海の鏡」]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ko-KR"><![CDATA[“동풍은 무표정한 얼굴로 서풍의 등에 꽂을 비수를 준비하는 기만적인 폭군이다.”
—조셉 콘라드, 바다의 거울]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ru-RU"><![CDATA[«Восточный Ветер, делающий набеги на владения Западного, тот — бесстрастный тиран и держит за спиной острый кинжал, готовясь нанести предательский удар».
— Джозеф Конрад, Зеркало морей]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="pt-BR"><![CDATA[“O vento leste, um intruso nos domínios do tempo ocidental, é um tirano impassível segurando um afiado punhal oculto às costas para um golpe traiçoeiro.”
— Joseph Conrad, Espelho do Mar]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
  </FLAVOURTEXT>
  <TYPE metaname="Creature" />
  <SUB_TYPE metaname="Elemental" order_de-DE="0" order_es-ES="0" order_fr-FR="0" order_it-IT="0" order_jp-JA="0" order_ko-KR="0" order_pt-BR="0" order_ru-RU="0" />
  <EXPANSION value="DPG" />
  <RARITY metaname="U" />
  <POWER value="4" />
  <TOUGHNESS value="4" />
  <STATIC_ABILITY>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="en-US"><![CDATA[Flying]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="fr-FR"><![CDATA[Vol]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="es-ES"><![CDATA[Vuela.]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="de-DE"><![CDATA[Fliegend]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="it-IT"><![CDATA[Volare]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="jp-JA"><![CDATA[飛行]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ko-KR"><![CDATA[비행]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ru-RU"><![CDATA[Полет]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="pt-BR"><![CDATA[Voar]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <CONTINUOUS_ACTION>
    local characteristics = Object():GetCurrentCharacteristics()
    characteristics:Characteristic_Set( CHARACTERISTIC_FLYING, 1 )
    </CONTINUOUS_ACTION>
  </STATIC_ABILITY>
  <HELP title="MORE_INFO_BADGE_TITLE_10" body="MORE_INFO_BADGE_BODY_10" zone="ZONE_ANY" />
  <SFX text="COMBAT_STORM_LARGE_ATTACK" power_boundary_min="4" power_boundary_max="-1" />
  <SFX text="COMBAT_STORM_SMALL_ATTACK" power_boundary_min="1" power_boundary_max="3" />
</CARD_V2>

We choose a card with haste, for example Raging Goblin, we copy the haste ability:

Code: Select all

  <STATIC_ABILITY filter_zone="ZONE_IN_PLAY">
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="en-US"><![CDATA[Haste]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="fr-FR"><![CDATA[Célérité]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="es-ES"><![CDATA[Prisa.]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="de-DE"><![CDATA[Eile]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="it-IT"><![CDATA[Rapidità]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="jp-JA"><![CDATA[速攻]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ko-KR"><![CDATA[신속]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ru-RU"><![CDATA[Ускорение]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="pt-BR"><![CDATA[Ímpeto]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <CONTINUOUS_ACTION>
    local characteristics = Object():GetCurrentCharacteristics()
    characteristics:Characteristic_Set( CHARACTERISTIC_HASTE, 1 )
    </CONTINUOUS_ACTION>
  </STATIC_ABILITY>

...and we paste it inside Air Elemental:

Code: Select all

<?xml version='1.0'?>
<CARD_V2>
  <FILENAME text="AIR_ELEMENTAL_276867" />
  <CARDNAME text="AIR_ELEMENTAL" />
  <TITLE>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="en-US"><![CDATA[Air Elemental]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="fr-FR"><![CDATA[Élémental d’air]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="es-ES"><![CDATA[Elemental de aire]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="de-DE"><![CDATA[Luftelementar]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="it-IT"><![CDATA[Elementale dell’Aria]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="jp-JA"><![CDATA[大気の精霊]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ko-KR"><![CDATA[공기의 정령]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ru-RU"><![CDATA[Элементаль Воздуха]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="pt-BR"><![CDATA[Elemental do Ar]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
  </TITLE>
  <MULTIVERSEID value="276867" />
  <ARTID value="101044" />
  <ARTIST name="Kev Walker" />
  <CASTING_COST cost="{3}{U}{U}" />
  <FLAVOURTEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="en-US"><![CDATA[“The East Wind, an interloper in the dominions of Westerly Weather, is an impassive-faced tyrant with a sharp poniard held behind his back for a treacherous stab.”
—Joseph Conrad, The Mirror of the Sea]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="fr-FR"><![CDATA[« Le Vent d’Est, un intrus dans le domaine du Temps d’Ouest, est un tyran au visage impassible et qui cache dans son dos un poignard acéré pour frapper en traître. »
—Joseph Conrad, Le Miroir de la mer]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="es-ES"><![CDATA[“El viento del este, un entrometido en los dominios del clima del oeste, es un tirano impasible con una daga afilada guardada en su espalda lista para una estocada traicionera.”
—Joseph Conrad, El espejo del mar]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="de-DE"><![CDATA[„Der Ostwind ist ein Eindringling im Reich des Wetters des Westens; er ist ein Tyrann mit ungerührtem Blick, der hinter dem Rücken den Dolch schon bereit zum verräterischen Stoß hält.“
—Joseph Conrad, Spiegel der See]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="it-IT"><![CDATA[“Il Vento dell’Est, un intruso nei domini del Clima di Ponente, è un tiranno dal volto impassibile, con un pugnale affilato tenuto dietro la schiena, pronto per una stilettata a tradimento.”
—Joseph Conrad, Lo Specchio del Mare]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="jp-JA"><![CDATA[「ウェスタリーの気候の支配の中に潜り込む東風は無感情な暴君で、鋭い短剣を背中に隠し、不意の一撃を狙っている。」
—ジョゼフ・コンラッド「海の鏡」]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ko-KR"><![CDATA[“동풍은 무표정한 얼굴로 서풍의 등에 꽂을 비수를 준비하는 기만적인 폭군이다.”
—조셉 콘라드, 바다의 거울]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ru-RU"><![CDATA[«Восточный Ветер, делающий набеги на владения Западного, тот — бесстрастный тиран и держит за спиной острый кинжал, готовясь нанести предательский удар».
— Джозеф Конрад, Зеркало морей]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="pt-BR"><![CDATA[“O vento leste, um intruso nos domínios do tempo ocidental, é um tirano impassível segurando um afiado punhal oculto às costas para um golpe traiçoeiro.”
— Joseph Conrad, Espelho do Mar]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
  </FLAVOURTEXT>
  <TYPE metaname="Creature" />
  <SUB_TYPE metaname="Elemental" order_de-DE="0" order_es-ES="0" order_fr-FR="0" order_it-IT="0" order_jp-JA="0" order_ko-KR="0" order_pt-BR="0" order_ru-RU="0" />
  <EXPANSION value="DPG" />
  <RARITY metaname="U" />
  <POWER value="4" />
  <TOUGHNESS value="4" />
  <STATIC_ABILITY>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="en-US"><![CDATA[Flying]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="fr-FR"><![CDATA[Vol]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="es-ES"><![CDATA[Vuela.]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="de-DE"><![CDATA[Fliegend]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="it-IT"><![CDATA[Volare]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="jp-JA"><![CDATA[飛行]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ko-KR"><![CDATA[비행]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ru-RU"><![CDATA[Полет]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="pt-BR"><![CDATA[Voar]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <CONTINUOUS_ACTION>
    local characteristics = Object():GetCurrentCharacteristics()
    characteristics:Characteristic_Set( CHARACTERISTIC_FLYING, 1 )
    </CONTINUOUS_ACTION>
  </STATIC_ABILITY>
  <STATIC_ABILITY filter_zone="ZONE_IN_PLAY">
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="en-US"><![CDATA[Haste]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="fr-FR"><![CDATA[Célérité]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="es-ES"><![CDATA[Prisa.]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="de-DE"><![CDATA[Eile]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="it-IT"><![CDATA[Rapidità]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="jp-JA"><![CDATA[速攻]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ko-KR"><![CDATA[신속]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ru-RU"><![CDATA[Ускорение]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="pt-BR"><![CDATA[Ímpeto]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <CONTINUOUS_ACTION>
    local characteristics = Object():GetCurrentCharacteristics()
    characteristics:Characteristic_Set( CHARACTERISTIC_HASTE, 1 )
    </CONTINUOUS_ACTION>
  </STATIC_ABILITY>
  <HELP title="MORE_INFO_BADGE_TITLE_10" body="MORE_INFO_BADGE_BODY_10" zone="ZONE_ANY" />
  <SFX text="COMBAT_STORM_LARGE_ATTACK" power_boundary_min="4" power_boundary_max="-1" />
  <SFX text="COMBAT_STORM_SMALL_ATTACK" power_boundary_min="1" power_boundary_max="3" />
</CARD_V2>

Here it is, a 4/4 flying haste creature. If we want to be precise, we can choose to have the abilities on the same line of text, separated by a comma: in order to do this, we add the tag commaspace="1" to the second ability. Baneslayer Angel is an example of this.

If you insert a new card in a deck but you can't see the new card in the deck manager, this often means you made one of the most common mistakes:

• You made something wrong in the XML syntax. For example you may have forgot "/" in the end of a block, or you started with <STATIC_ABILITY> and ended with </TRIGGERED_ABILITY> (this happens to me sometimes when I copy-paste). You can verify the XML syntax very quickly if you have the Firefox browser (not sure if other browsers can do that the same way): drag and drop your card XML onto Firefox and see what happens: if it shows the XML file, the syntax is correct; otherwise you should see a yellow page with red text that tells you where the syntax is wrong.
• You saved the XML file with the wrong encoding. All cards must be saved in UTF-8 encoding, not ANSI (which is the default for Notepad if you start from a blank new file). You can easily discover if you saved in ANSI because if you reopen the card XML, the special characters won't be readable (for example, Japanese text will be a series of "??????????..." on Notepad).

This should be enough (I hope) to let you make some experiments on creating new cards by copying pieces from other cards.

[Takhen]

In principle, I understand what you explain, though I can not test it because I miss the next steps:

-STEP ONE
I have to create a card (as you explain but also for other particulars such as the cost or the ID)
-STEP TWO
I have to combine the cards in a deck running-but-not-complete
-STEP THREE
I have to complete the deck (cover image, sideboard, colors, lands...)
-STEP FOUR
I have to add the deck to DOTP 2013

Until now, all I was able to do is to use "Gibbed.Duels.Pack" and "Gibbed.Duels.Unpack" and change the number of cards in the deck.
But I have some doubts:

-DOUBT 1, on the STEP ONE.
How can I add abilities that do not use keywords (I talk about the piece of code that makes it work, not the part written for the benefit of the player)?
-DOUBT 2, on the STEP ONE.
Can I do so that during the game my cards are in Italian? And about this, when I have to translate "Fly" or "Whenever a creature is..." or other, I have to to translate into all the languages used by the code, or I can limit myself to the one I use?

-DOUBT 3, on the STEP TWO.
I found on the forum a set of about 600 xml file called "DOTP-2013-cards": when I try to add one of these cards prefabricated I have no problems.
But when I try to add other cards prefabricated found on the forum, such as cards from Zendikar, or a found individually card (Szadek, Lord of Secrets) these does not appear inside of the deck, why?
-DOUBT 4, on the STEP TWO.
When the DOUBT 3 will be solved, I could add any existing card I want? The AI will be able to "understand" what I'm using against, and it will be able to use them from its part?

-Finally, DOUBT 5.
I found some software on the forum as "DOTP 2013 deck creator" or "Magic_Card_Search__DotP2013" (although I admit that I could not do much).
So there are softwares to facilitate all or any of the four STEPS? How?



I know some of these questions have already been answered elsewhere, but I spent the whole day on the forum. but I don't understand/find about that i ask...
So once again thank you for your attention...

[thefiremind]

-STEP ONE
I have to create a card (as you explain but also for other particulars such as the cost or the ID)

Always look at other existing cards when you have doubts. Costs are easy to write, while about the ID, if you want to make things as easier as possible, choose a 4-digit number (anything you like, for example I often use 1999 for my mod) and add a 3-digit number that progresses everytime you make a new card. So let's imagine you choose 4321, then your first card will be 4321001, your second card will be 4321002, and so on. You can give the same ID also to the art, no problem about that.

-STEP TWO
I have to combine the cards in a deck running-but-not-complete

Start from my test WAD and change the cards in it, so you don't have to worry about the WAD structure for now.

-STEP THREE
I have to complete the deck (cover image, sideboard, colors, lands...)

The lands are added automatically by the game until a total of 60 cards is reached.
The deck colors are just a reminder for the player, they don't have influence on the deck itself, anyway it's easy to change them: if you open my test WAD, you'll see that the deck XML has the tags is_red="true" is_green="true", so if you want to make a blue/black deck, delete them and write is_blue="true" is_black="true". Yes, it is that easy.
Making a good deck cover and/or new planeswalker backplates and avatars requires Photoshop and the templates that you can find by looking in the Documentation section, but I'd suggest you to forget about this for starting: my test deck uses Garruk, so its tags are personality="D13_GARRUK_DEFAULT.XML" deck_box_image="D13_Garruk", if you want to have Chandra you just have to replace it with personality="D13_CHANDRA_DEFAULT.XML" deck_box_image="D13_Chandra" (note that the non-planeswalker characters of the original decks have different names, which probably were their original names when the card wasn't totally developed, for example Krenko, Mob Boss files are called Kezzik instead of Krenko).

-STEP FOUR
I have to add the deck to DOTP 2013

When you made all the changes, repack the WAD with Gibbed.Duels.Pack and put it together with the other WAD files.

-DOUBT 1, on the STEP ONE.
How can I add abilities that do not use keywords (I talk about the piece of code that makes it work, not the part written for the benefit of the player)?

Well this is something that can't be teached in a tutorial: Lua is a programming language so you should at least have some basic programming knowledge. In the Documentation section you can find 2 topics for this: DotP2013 LOL files decoded and Info from DotP 2013 executable, but those just list the available constants and functions provided by the game, without telling you how to use them. If you want to understand how to use them, you have to look at the existing cards and see how the various abilities are "translated" into code.

-DOUBT 2, on the STEP ONE.
Can I do so that during the game my cards are in Italian? And about this, when I have to translate "Fly" or "Whenever a creature is..." or other, I have to to translate into all the languages used by the code, or I can limit myself to the one I use?

If you don't plan to share your WADs, you can include only Italian on the cards, it's OK. But you don't have to translate in all languages (I think nobody here understands all 9 languages of the game ), you can fetch the localised text by using one of the tools you can find in the Utilities section (of course I suggest my own tool ).

-DOUBT 3, on the STEP TWO.
I found on the forum a set of about 600 xml file called "DOTP-2013-cards": when I try to add one of these cards prefabricated I have no problems.
But when I try to add other cards prefabricated found on the forum, such as cards from Zendikar, or a found individually card (Szadek, Lord of Secrets) these does not appear inside of the deck, why?

That set lists all the cards that are already in the game (except for the expansions). If you want to add one of those cards to your deck, you don't need to copy the card XML to your WAD: just write the card file name in the deck list. If you want to add some other card found in the forum, either you have the mod installed (for example, my mod if you want to use one of my cards), or you have to copy the card to your WAD, but this could be not enough: besides the illustration, some cards also use support functions, so you should also copy the FUNCTIONS folder of the mod you found the card in.

-DOUBT 4, on the STEP TWO.
When the DOUBT 3 will be solved, I could add any existing card I want? The AI will be able to "understand" what I'm using against, and it will be able to use them from its part?

Unless you make a very complicated card, the AI will always adapt itself to use the card at its best because the AI thinks by considering all the possible actions it can do and computing which action produces the best result, so it doesn't matter what the card does, but how the game situation changes after using it.

-Finally, DOUBT 5.
I found some software on the forum as "DOTP 2013 deck creator" or "Magic_Card_Search__DotP2013" (although I admit that I could not do much).
So there are softwares to facilitate all or any of the four STEPS? How?

Someone made software to create decks faster (but it won't write Lua code for you, if that's what you seek ), for example:
viewtopic.php?f=99&t=8914
viewtopic.php?f=99&t=8050
you can try those and see if they help you.

[Takhen]

Takhen wrote:
-STEP ONE
I have to create a card (as you explain but also for other particulars such as the cost or the ID)

Always look at other existing cards when you have doubts. Costs are easy to write, while about the ID, if you want to make things as easier as possible, choose a 4-digit number (anything you like, for example I often use 1999 for my mod) and add a 3-digit number that progresses everytime you make a new card. So let's imagine you choose 4321, then your first card will be 4321001, your second card will be 4321002, and so on. You can give the same ID also to the art, no problem about that.

I have several doubts about this, for example I do not understand WHY just 7 digits, divided into 4+3 those you describe.
But there is a far more important question: created any card, to test how it works, I have to put it in the deck, put the deck in DOTP, play with the deck, and wait for the right conditions (for example, to test a card with "Destroy target enchantment" I have to wait until the opponent uses an enchantment) and if the card does not work, I have to take off again the deck, take off again the card...maybe because I forgot a tiny detail in xml.
And for those who are starting out and must try many times, it may take an immensity of time:
It would not be possible to test the card in a faster way?

Takhen wrote:
-STEP TWO
I have to combine the cards in a deck running-but-not-complete

Start from my test WAD and change the cards in it, so you don't have to worry about the WAD structure for now.

Starting from your Test WAD I can already to insert cards, if I choose those already included in DOTP 2013, but I can't if I need to insert another card not present, which is just what I need to do if the answer to my previous question is that I have to test the new cards directly into the game

Here my question is the same said about to DOUBT THREE

Takhen wrote:
-STEP THREE
I have to complete the deck (cover image, sideboard, colors, lands...)

The lands are added automatically by the game until a total of 60 cards is reached.
The deck colors are just a reminder for the player, they don't have influence on the deck itself, anyway it's easy to change them: if you open my test WAD, you'll see that the deck XML has the tags is_red="true" is_green="true", so if you want to make a blue/black deck, delete them and write is_blue="true" is_black="true". Yes, it is that easy.
Making a good deck cover and/or new planeswalker backplates and avatars requires Photoshop and the templates that you can find by looking in the Documentation section, but I'd suggest you to forget about this for starting: my test deck uses Garruk, so its tags are personality="D13_GARRUK_DEFAULT.XML" deck_box_image="D13_Garruk", if you want to have Chandra you just have to replace it with personality="D13_CHANDRA_DEFAULT.XML" deck_box_image="D13_Chandra" (note that the non-planeswalker characters of the original decks have different names, which probably were their original names when the card wasn't totally developed, for example Krenko, Mob Boss files are called Kezzik instead of Krenko).

Maybe the STEP THREE is better ponder when I am able to do the basics (although I have found the template turn my desire to try it!).
However, what you have said until now about this step does not seem so complicated!

Takhen wrote:
-STEP FOUR
I have to add the deck to DOTP 2013

When you made all the changes, repack the WAD with Gibbed.Duels.Pack and put it together with the other WAD files.

Here my question is the same said about to STEP TWO

Takhen wrote:
-DOUBT 1, on the STEP ONE.
How can I add abilities that do not use keywords (I talk about the piece of code that makes it work, not the part written for the benefit of the player)?

Well this is something that can't be teached in a tutorial: Lua is a programming language so you should at least have some basic programming knowledge. In the Documentation section you can find 2 topics for this: DotP2013 LOL files decoded and Info from DotP 2013 executable, but those just list the available constants and functions provided by the game, without telling you how to use them. If you want to understand how to use them, you have to look at the existing cards and see how the various abilities are "translated" into code.

About this I will answer later: I need to observe these codes a little bit more, as well as the answer to STEP ONE

Takhen wrote:
-DOUBT 2, on the STEP ONE.
Can I do so that during the game my cards are in Italian? And about this, when I have to translate "Fly" or "Whenever a creature is..." or other, I have to to translate into all the languages used by the code, or I can limit myself to the one I use?

If you don't plan to share your WADs, you can include only Italian on the cards, it's OK. But you don't have to translate in all languages (I think nobody here understands all 9 languages of the game ), you can fetch the localised text by using one of the tools you can find in the Utilities section (of course I suggest my own tool ).

About your software, I am not able to figure out the "batch mode" you speak of because I can not find options to select the folder xml and I don't know how to combine “Sources” to “Localized” and why.
But about the translation is very simple and effective, really good software!
If I learn I could also become a sharer if it takes so little difference in the effort

Takhen wrote:
-DOUBT 3, on the STEP TWO.
I found on the forum a set of about 600 xml file called "DOTP-2013-cards": when I try to add one of these cards prefabricated I have no problems.
But when I try to add other cards prefabricated found on the forum, such as cards from Zendikar, or a found individually card (Szadek, Lord of Secrets) these does not appear inside of the deck, why?

That set lists all the cards that are already in the game (except for the expansions). If you want to add one of those cards to your deck, you don't need to copy the card XML to your WAD: just write the card file name in the deck list. If you want to add some other card found in the forum, either you have the mod installed (for example, my mod if you want to use one of my cards), or you have to copy the card to your WAD, but this could be not enough: besides the illustration, some cards also use support functions, so you should also copy the FUNCTIONS folder of the mod you found the card in.

Here you find me really unprepared: if I want to add to the game cards that are not already a party, I have to add the "mod" of who made the cards in question? And what is this "mod"?
When I have made ​​my XML file and gathered in a WAD, I will have to create a my "mod" to run my own deck? To test the changes to your test WAD I have not included other than that, I think...
(If you mean that the XML file must be placed in the folder CARDS of the WAD file, that I had already tried unsuccessfully when I tried to insert the Szadek...)

Takhen wrote:
-DOUBT 4, on the STEP TWO.
When the DOUBT 3 will be solved, I could add any existing card I want? The AI will be able to "understand" what I'm using against, and it will be able to use them from its part?

Unless you make a very complicated card, the AI will always adapt itself to use the card at its best because the AI thinks by considering all the possible actions it can do and computing which action produces the best result, so it doesn't matter what the card does, but how the game situation changes after using it.

I speak of the Wizard cards, not cards invented by me, so I don't know which are particularly complicated according to the "brain" of the AI, but it should not be any: the game is created the same Wizard who created the cards...

Takhen wrote:
-Finally, DOUBT 5.
I found some software on the forum as "DOTP 2013 deck creator" or "Magic_Card_Search__DotP2013" (although I admit that I could not do much).
So there are softwares to facilitate all or any of the four STEPS? How?

Someone made software to create decks faster (but it won't write Lua code for you, if that's what you seek ), for example:
viewtopic.php?f=99&t=8914
viewtopic.php?f=99&t=8050
you can try those and see if they help you.

I'm trying the two software that you have linked to me.
If I'm not mistaken both serve to STEP THREE, right? Only at this STEP or knowing how to use I can do some STEP else? (If I am not mistaken, MAGIC CARD SEARCH seem to be able to do even the STEP ONE, but this is not certain)
About this same software it would seem that I need images CROPES, right? There is a source containing all CROPES in HQ? (Previously I only found those with poor quality from Magic Workstation, and these days even more those...)

There are other programs, releases, or tutorial I should know?

For example, I found "DOTP Deck Editor" (which I was not able to use it) and "PC Castellazzi DOTP 2013 Card Generator" (which contains some files: those in the folder “Abilities”, files xml, are probably lines of code for the abilities using keywords, but all other files I can not even recognize what software they use)

[thefiremind]

I have several doubts about this, for example I do not understand WHY just 7 digits, divided into 4+3 those you describe.

There's no particular reason, I just told you what convention I was using in DotP2012. Just be aware that if you use too many digits, the AI will act strange (it has been proved by another user). If you choose an easy convention for the IDs and always follow it (not only for the cards' IDs but also for the decks' IDs) you can be sure that you'll never duplicate them.

But there is a far more important question: created any card, to test how it works, I have to put it in the deck, put the deck in DOTP, play with the deck, and wait for the right conditions (for example, to test a card with "Destroy target enchantment" I have to wait until the opponent uses an enchantment) and if the card does not work, I have to take off again the deck, take off again the card...maybe because I forgot a tiny detail in xml.
And for those who are starting out and must try many times, it may take an immensity of time:
It would not be possible to test the card in a faster way?

I have a test deck where I put the cards that need to be tested, together with other cards that can help me with the testing. When you edit a deck you can put as many copies of the same card as you wish (of course it won't be a legitimate deck, but the game won't complain), just be aware that more than 15 copies of the same card could make the AI play only lands for some turns even when having something else playable (yes there are lots of situations that confuse the AI for no visible reason). Talking about your example, you can make a test deck with 15 copies of your "Destroy target enchantment" card, together with 15 enchantments (you don't even need to interact with the AI for this, so you could even put more than 15 copies and ignore what the AI will do). If you want to test even faster, you can reduce the cost of the card you are testing until you see it working.

About your software, I am not able to figure out the "batch mode" you speak of because I can not find options to select the folder xml and I don't know how to combine “Sources” to “Localized” and why.
But about the translation is very simple and effective, really good software!
If I learn I could also become a sharer if it takes so little difference in the effort

I inserted the batch mode in that software because I already had a lot of cards that needed the localised text. You are starting right now, so you can fetch the localised text of each card while you create it, you don't need the batch mode. Write the name of a card (in English) in the text box, click on Go and look at what you get: you'll have title, flavour text (when present) and ability text ready to be pasted inside your card.

Here you find me really unprepared: if I want to add to the game cards that are not already a party, I have to add the "mod" of who made the cards in question? And what is this "mod"?
When I have made ​​my XML file and gathered in a WAD, I will have to create a my "mod" to run my own deck? To test the changes to your test WAD I have not included other than that, I think...
(If you mean that the XML file must be placed in the folder CARDS of the WAD file, that I had already tried unsuccessfully when I tried to insert the Szadek...)

When I write "mod" I mean a set of WAD files created by a user (the word "mod" is used in other customizable games as well). I could say "WAD" but some users have multiple WAD files that work together to form their custom content (my mod, for example, has a "core" WAD that contains the cards, a "cosmetic" WAD that contains some replacements for game textures, and 1 WAD for each deck).
You are free to make only 1 WAD and put everything you produce inside it (you can put more than 1 deck inside a single WAD if you want), that will be your mod.
You did the right thing with Szadek, I don't know why it didn't work. Post your test deck with Szadek inside (use "Upload attachment" or an external file hoster if you like), I'd like to see if I can spot where's the problem.

I speak of the Wizard cards, not cards invented by me, so I don't know which are particularly complicated according to the "brain" of the AI, but it should not be any: the game is created the same Wizard who created the cards...

It's not so easy... the DotP games haven't been developed with the customization in mind, so they contain only the necessary support for the card they planned to insert. We can make more cards because luckily there's some freedom in writing the code, but there are things that cannot be coded (examples: the planeswalkers, gaining any possible ability like Experiment Kraj, a creature blocking any number of creatures...), things that can be coded but the AI won't understand how they work (example: abilities that prevent the next 1 damage), and things that can be coded but they crash the game because the developers didn't need to test them so they didn't spot a bug in the engine (example: a card that grants a mana ability without having an active mana ability). So remember that you can't make any card you want in this game, and I'm talking about Wizards cards.

I'm trying the two software that you have linked to me.
If I'm not mistaken both serve to STEP THREE, right? Only at this STEP or knowing how to use I can do some STEP else?

I think they are useful also for STEP TWO, even if to be honest I'm not sure that I have understood your STEP TWO exactly (yes, they can help you to insert the cards in the deck list, but what do you mean with "running-but-not-complete"?).

About this same software it would seem that I need images CROPES, right? There is a source containing all CROPES in HQ? (Previously I only found those with poor quality from Magic Workstation, and these days even more those...)

Yes, you need crops, but if you don't find crops you can crop the picture by yourself. After all, the default size is 512x376 so you'll often have to work a bit on the pictures before using them.
I have used this site for quite some time:
http://www.magic-ville.com/fr/rech_art.php
it's in French but with localised text available it's easy to find the French name of the cards (after selecting their artist). If you don't find an HQ picture here, you can search also on Google but it's very likely that you won't find it. When you don't find an HQ you can use this site:
http://mws.mtgbr.com/crop-01.htm
it indexes all the crops that come from the scanning team of this forum. You can search here as well:
viewforum.php?f=15

For example, I found "DOTP Deck Editor" (which I was not able to use it) and "PC Castellazzi DOTP 2013 Card Generator" (which contains some files: those in the folder “Abilities”, files xml, are probably lines of code for the abilities using keywords, but all other files I can not even recognize what software they use)

The card generator made by pcastellazzi is a web application that does something similar to my software, but it builds a lot more of the XML structure. It's a very good alternative. I'm not very familiar with the other utilities made by the other users because I don't use them, so I can't teach you how they work.

[Takhen]

There's no particular reason, I just told you what convention I was using in DotP2012. Just be aware that if you use too many digits, the AI will act strange (it has been proved by another user). If you choose an easy convention for the IDs and always follow it (not only for the cards' IDs but also for the decks' IDs) you can be sure that you'll never duplicate them.

Hoping to catch not existing ID cards and decks, I think I can do it, although I must admit that so far my attempts to create a deck with Deck Creator, and therefore with a different ID from your WAD Test, failed

I have a test deck where I put the cards that need to be tested, together with other cards that can help me with the testing. When you edit a deck you can put as many copies of the same card as you wish (of course it won't be a legitimate deck, but the game won't complain), just be aware that more than 15 copies of the same card could make the AI play only lands for some turns even when having something else playable (yes there are lots of situations that confuse the AI for no visible reason). Talking about your example, you can make a test deck with 15 copies of your "Destroy target enchantment" card, together with 15 enchantments (you don't even need to interact with the AI for this, so you could even put more than 15 copies and ignore what the AI will do). If you want to test even faster, you can reduce the cost of the card you are testing until you see it working.

This is good advice

About this today I tried to change the only card I found the XML inside your Test WAD.
I increased the Power to 99, reduced the cost from 2RRGG to 2 and changed the localised text from "Reach" to "aaa" , but when I started the game I did not see any difference in either the read or play in the card.
But with simple changes like I have done in the card I changed the deck successfully: the number of cards or the colors that I wanted as a preview from "red, green" to "red, green, blue". I also thought maybe the card was included with the game and I changed the ID but same result.
Why I have successfully changed the deck but I failed with the card?

I inserted the batch mode in that software because I already had a lot of cards that needed the localised text. You are starting right now, so you can fetch the localised text of each card while you create it, you don't need the batch mode. Write the name of a card (in English) in the text box, click on Go and look at what you get: you'll have title, flavour text (when present) and ability text ready to be pasted inside your card.

So I can delete the folder "Source", or do I need to do something with this?

When I write "mod" I mean a set of WAD files created by a user (the word "mod" is used in other customizable games as well). I could say "WAD" but some users have multiple WAD files that work together to form their custom content (my mod, for example, has a "core" WAD that contains the cards, a "cosmetic" WAD that contains some replacements for game textures, and 1 WAD for each deck).
You are free to make only 1 WAD and put everything you produce inside it (you can put more than 1 deck inside a single WAD if you want), that will be your mod.
You did the right thing with Szadek, I don't know why it didn't work. Post your test deck with Szadek inside (use "Upload attachment" or an external file hoster if you like), I'd like to see if I can spot where's the problem.

I understand that "mod" therefore means "files made ​​by the user".
But I don't understand why do you make more of that (about the "core", "cosmetic", ecc)...
Then I do not know if I should do it or not, because I would tend to 1deck=1file, but maybe you choose to put more deck in a file, or multiple files for a single deck for good reasons I should know...

About Szadek ... I reassembled the WAD to show it to you, and doing a final test it worked... without having done anything different...also shows the card image, a strange thing because when I downloaded it I removed the TDX not knowing what it was and still I have not inserted (maybe it has found the image in another deck added that contains it, but I can't explain why it worked this time...)

It's not so easy... the DotP games haven't been developed with the customization in mind, so they contain only the necessary support for the card they planned to insert. We can make more cards because luckily there's some freedom in writing the code, but there are things that cannot be coded (examples: the planeswalkers, gaining any possible ability like Experiment Kraj, a creature blocking any number of creatures...), things that can be coded but the AI won't understand how they work (example: abilities that prevent the next 1 damage), and things that can be coded but they crash the game because the developers didn't need to test them so they didn't spot a bug in the engine (example: a card that grants a mana ability without having an active mana ability). So remember that you can't make any card you want in this game, and I'm talking about Wizards cards.

This is a bad problem.
First, because it destroys my dream of an all-cards-game in single player and HQ.
But also because at the time I have to make a deck (hoping that I will become capable) I do not know how to judge if the AI can include or exclude certain cards...

I think they are useful also for STEP TWO, even if to be honest I'm not sure that I have understood your STEP TWO exactly (yes, they can help you to insert the cards in the deck list, but what do you mean with "running-but-not-complete"?).

If I can play with the deck, STEP TWO is ok.
But if I wasn't able to change deck's ID, or name, or Sideboard, or Preview image, the deck is running in the game, but not complete
Those softwares could help me (If I was able to use) with THREE, but with TWO...maybe it is possibile and I don't know how up to date

Yes, you need crops, but if you don't find crops you can crop the picture by yourself. After all, the default size is 512x376 so you'll often have to work a bit on the pictures before using them.
I have used this site for quite some time:
***url***
it's in French but with localised text available it's easy to find the French name of the cards (after selecting their artist). If you don't find an HQ picture here, you can search also on Google but it's very likely that you won't find it. When you don't find an HQ you can use this site:
***url***
it indexes all the crops that come from the scanning team of this forum. You can search here as well:
***url***

Thanks for these links

Unfortunately, from the point of view of the images I made some other error...
I'm sorry to put so many different doubts...
Just a moment ago I took a picture in case and I converted in TDX with Gibbed.Duels.TdxConvert, so I replaced the one already present in your Test WAD, giving it the same name as the previous.
But when I started the game I found the correct image of the card and not that I added!

The card generator made by pcastellazzi is a web application that does something similar to my software, but it builds a lot more of the XML structure. It's a very good alternative. I'm not very familiar with the other utilities made by the other users because I don't use them, so I can't teach you how they work.

About the softwares if you don't know I will use yours and try if I can with the others I said

[thefiremind]

Why I have successfully changed the deck but I failed with the card?

That's because the game gave priority to another copy of the card (probably the one in my mod). If you also change the ID of the card (in the XML file name and inside the XML on the FILENAME and MULTIVERSEID blocks, and of course in the deck list where you added the card), there won't be ambiguity anymore and you'll see the card you edited.
For the same reason you found Szadek's image: it's probably contained in another mod you are using.

So I can delete the folder "Source", or do I need to do something with this?

"Source" contains the source code, so unless you want to make changes to the software, you don't need it.

But I don't understand why do you make more of that (about the "core", "cosmetic", ecc)...
Then I do not know if I should do it or not, because I would tend to 1deck=1file, but maybe you choose to put more deck in a file, or multiple files for a single deck for good reasons I should know...

I do it just because when sharing my mod I want to give maximum freedom to the players: having the decks separated can let you choose which ones you want to keep installed and which ones you don't. If someone wants to make his own mod by using my cards and isn't interested in any of my decks, that's possible too.

at the time I have to make a deck (hoping that I will become capable) I do not know how to judge if the AI can include or exclude certain cards...

Well, about cards that can't be coded, there's no problem: you can't make those cards for yourself, you can't make them for the AI. The other examples I wrote are "border cases", they aren't many. Maybe you won't ever make a card that gives trouble to the AI, and if it happens, you'll know when you test it (and there's still a chance that you can make it work by changing something in the code, so always post your problems here if you need fresh ideas ).

If I can play with the deck, STEP TWO is ok.
But if I wasn't able to change deck's ID, or name, or Sideboard, or Preview image, the deck is running in the game, but not complete
Those softwares could help me (If I was able to use) with THREE, but with TWO...maybe it is possibile and I don't know how up to date

Actually, if you don't change the deck's ID, the deck won't run (I'm not sure of what would happen, but I think it would crash the game when trying to use it). The other things can be temporarily ignored: I make the deck cover and preview image for last as well.

Just a moment ago I took a picture in case and I converted in TDX with Gibbed.Duels.TdxConvert, so I replaced the one already present in your Test WAD, giving it the same name as the previous.
But when I started the game I found the correct image of the card and not that I added!

Again this is because the game gave priority to the old image which was in another mod you are using. And the solution is the same, if you want to try with another image, change the ARTID value in the card's XML and the TDX name so that it's the same as the ARTID value. There's no restriction on ARTID that I know (it must be only numeric for Planechase plane cards but I doubt you'll code one of them for now), so you could even give the card name as ARTID.
I know this is a further complication and maybe I shouldn't arise this problem yet, but I want you to know that when you use Gibbed.Duels.TdxConvert to generate a TDX file, this will be uncompressed. This means:

• It won't have restrictions on the size, while compressed TDX files must have dimensions multiple of 4 (512x376 is the standard) or the game won't read them. (Good)
• It will be larger than the TDX files you usually find in mods. (Not that bad)
• With some video cards, it could produce a strange glow on the whole card, so shiny that it becomes impossible to read the card text. This doesn't happen when the TDX is compressed. (Very bad)

Anyway if you don't experience the glow problem, you can leave TDX files uncompressed. I kept my TDX files uncompressed for a long time when I started modding DotP2012.

[Takhen]

Well, about cards that can't be coded, there's no problem: you can't make those cards for yourself, you can't make them for the AI. The other examples I wrote are "border cases", they aren't many. Maybe you won't ever make a card that gives trouble to the AI, and if it happens, you'll know when you test it (and there's still a chance that you can make it work by changing something in the code, so always post your problems here if you need fresh ideas ).

If I understand that I will be able to use the card in the game, it means that the AI ​​will be able surely to do the same?
If so I just have to try, hope that my favorite cards are "simple", and ask here to see if somehow also alternative is possible to operate

Actually, if you don't change the deck's ID, the deck won't run (I'm not sure of what would happen, but I think it would crash the game when trying to use it). The other things can be temporarily ignored: I make the deck cover and preview image for last as well.

Currently all my changes I'm working on your Test WAD with ID 1234001, and every time I make a change, I use a copy of the original Test WAD. Then I delete the previous and add the most recent.
So I will need the ID of the deck from the second deck on.

About STEP THREE it is true: it isn't a very important thing, but it is the only thing I am able to do for now
And it seems to me that the softwares that I have appointed to serve in this STEP

That's because the game gave priority to another copy of the card (probably the one in my mod). If you also change the ID of the card (in the XML file name and inside the XML on the FILENAME and MULTIVERSEID blocks, and of course in the deck list where you added the card), there won't be ambiguity anymore and you'll see the card you edited.
For the same reason you found Szadek's image: it's probably contained in another mod you are using.

Again this is because the game gave priority to the old image which was in another mod you are using. And the solution is the same, if you want to try with another image, change the ARTID value in the card's XML and the TDX name so that it's the same as the ARTID value. There's no restriction on ARTID that I know (it must be only numeric for Planechase plane cards but I doubt you'll code one of them for now), so you could even give the card name as ARTID.
I know this is a further complication and maybe I shouldn't arise this problem yet, but I want you to know that when you use Gibbed.Duels.TdxConvert to generate a TDX file, this will be uncompressed. This means:
It won't have restrictions on the size, while compressed TDX files must have dimensions multiple of 4 (512x376 is the standard) or the game won't read them. (Good)
It will be larger than the TDX files you usually find in mods. (Not that bad)
With some video cards, it could produce a strange glow on the whole card, so shiny that it becomes impossible to read the card text. This doesn't happen when the TDX is compressed. (Very bad)
Anyway if you don't experience the glow problem, you can leave TDX files uncompressed. I kept my TDX files uncompressed for a long time when I started modding DotP2012.

Today I made many attempts changing your card DRAGONLAIR_SPIDER_288172:
Obviously, every time I changed FILENAME I also changed the actual name of the file and inserted the new one in the list of cards in the deck

Code: Select all

<FILENAME text="DRAGONLAIR_SPIDER_288172" />

Code: Select all

<MULTIVERSEID value="288172" />

Code: Select all

<ARTID value="A288172" />

To add my personal image (JPG resized to 512x376 then converted in TDX and added to Test WAD) I tried changing all three:

Code: Select all

<FILENAME text="DRAGONLAIR_SPIDER_999555" />

Code: Select all

<MULTIVERSEID value="999555" />

Code: Select all

<ARTID value="A999555" />

Inserting DRAGONLAIR_SPIDER_999555 in deck's list and changing the TDX name in A999555.TDX
Nothing...

I tried changing only ARTID and TDX name.
Nothing...

I tried changing only ARTID, MULTIVERSEID and TDX name.
Nothing...

I tried changing ARTID, FILENAME, and TDX name.
Nothing...

How possible?

Then to try to change some easier parameter I tried with no touching ARTID and TDX name, but using yours.
I changed these:

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<FILENAME text="DRAGONLAIR_SPIDER_288172" />
<CARDNAME text="DRAGONLAIR_SPIDER" />

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<CASTING_COST cost="{2}{R}{R}{G}{G}" />

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<POWER value="5" />
<TOUGHNESS value="6" />

So I made so:

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<FILENAME text="JENNIFER_888111" />
<CARDNAME text="JENNIFER" />

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<CASTING_COST cost="{R}{G}" />

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<POWER value="99" />
<TOUGHNESS value="1" />

Obviously, every time I changed FILENAME I also changed the actual name of the file and inserted the new one in the list of cards in the deck here too.
Nothing...

So I made like this but I turned also MULTIVERSE ID in 888111.
Nothing...

I do not know what else to try, since I seem to have respected what you said and tried also in a different way: nothing in any case.
I begin to believe that there is an underlying problem, something I forgot at the beginning, and not in my edits, because it seems to be changing things too "simple" to make mistakes at every single attempt...

[thefiremind]

Yeah, I think I got it now. Theta version (which is the one I'm using) is able to overcome this, but if you are using skidrow, it has a sort of "cache" for the decks, so it remembers how they were the first time it saw them, unless you delete your profile before running the game. Your profile for skidrow version can be found in:
C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Local\SKIDROW\97330\Storage
delete everything inside this folder, and try again with your modified card.

[Takhen]

I have tried that you said about SKIDROW...
Nothing! Why to me?

I don't know, maybe the only d3dx9_43.dll is not enough for my SKIRDOW version?
Maybe I have to search and download the THETA version? What's the difference?

If not this I don't know what to do, I deleted the directory you said and changed only FILENAME, MULTIVERSEID, ARTID, TDX with 888555...nothing...

[thefiremind]

The differences are:

• theta released 2 updates (the latest one includes Return to Ravnica DLC, no deck packs though)
• theta doesn't unlock everything from the start
• theta's profile is saved in the game directory (but you probably won't ever need to delete it)
• starting from the first update, theta doesn't need d3dx9_43.dll anymore

You don't need to redownload the whole game: you can transform from skidrow to theta by applying a theta update. You can use this one or search on Google for the latest one (called v1.0dc120919).

[Takhen]

I downloaded the THETA UPDATE in the second page of the topic you linked me and I used on my SKIDROW game.
Nothing, so I downloaded a THETA game, and update with the same THETA UPDATE.
Nothing...

I used ONLY d3dx9_43.dll with the SKIDROW version
and NO DLL with the THETA UPDATED version.
Maybe the problem is here?

Maybe to modify your Test WAD I need another WAD as "core" or "cosmetic" that maybe I have in an old version or I don't have?

Maybe the problem is here?

All cards must be saved in UTF-8 encoding, not ANSI

I don't know what it mean because I opened the XML, changed some digits, and I save on the same file, so I thought it was not necessary to inform my self of ANSI and UTF-8 ... maybe this is my mistake?

Maybe the THETA UPDATE I used is incompatible with my THETA GAME version?

What could it be?

[Takhen]

PS: I am honored my topic is now a tutorial, HAHAHAHAHAHA

[thefiremind]

I used ONLY d3dx9_43.dll with the SKIDROW version
and NO DLL with the THETA UPDATED version.
Maybe the problem is here?

No, you can't even run the game if you use the DLL with theta.

Maybe to modify your Test WAD I need another WAD as "core" or "cosmetic" that maybe I have in an old version or I don't have?

No, my test WAD works by itself.

Maybe the problem is here?

All cards must be saved in UTF-8 encoding, not ANSI

I don't know what it mean because I opened the XML, changed some digits, and I save on the same file, so I thought it was not necessary to inform my self of ANSI and UTF-8 ... maybe this is my mistake?

If you save on the same file I don't think you can change the encoding without knowing.

Maybe the THETA UPDATE I used is incompatible with my THETA GAME version?

There's only one theta version, you can't go wrong.

What could it be?

Post here your test WAD with the modified card, maybe I can understand what's wrong if I see it.

PS: I am honored my topic is now a tutorial, HAHAHAHAHAHA

Maybe "FAQs collection" would have been more appropriate than "tutorial" but I wasn't putting too much care on the words.