Faction relations editing

Version 4.1

Diary of changes in my edited playthrough

How to change relations between factions.

Keep a backup of your save game in case you mess up.

Be aware that changes in relations might impact Missions and the economy.

This can be done by editing the savegame file. By default that file is in the Documents\Egosoft\X4\74090166\save folder. The savegame file must be decompressed, you can do that using an option in the game's options. Note that the file size can be up to about 800MB, editing a file that big is not possible in any software that I have found so this is best done in early game when the file is smaller. Notepad++ or Notepad are good for editing this type of file.

Near the start of the file is something that looks like this, one section for each faction. Obviously this is the Argon section and just one example.

































<relation faction="yaki" relation="-0.32"/>

The number at the end of each line shows the relationship or "reputation" of each race to another. "-1" is the equivalent to you having a Reputation of -30. Changing "<relation faction="holyorder" relation="-0.1"/>" to <relation faction="holyorder" relation="-1"/>" will cause the Argons to attack every ship and station belonging to the Holy Order of the Pontifex (HOP) in any Sector, you will need to edit the "holyorder" relation toward the Argon to -1 if you want the HOP to attack the Argons. Factions will still try to fly through and build in space owned by enemy Factions but will be attacked.

Impacts upon the game could be that Terran fleets are unable to reach Xenon space if you change "<relation faction="terran" relation="-0.011"/>" to "<relation faction="terran" relation="-1"/>", those Xenon Sectors which would otherwise be invaded by the Terrans will be able to build a stronger fleet and Hatikvah's Choice 1 will be more vulnerable. The Argons and Antigone will have to spend more resources to defend against the Terrans so perhaps they will not be strong enough to resist the Xenon. The HOP might not be able to build such a strong fleet to defend against the Xenon and others so perhaps they will disappear from the game.

Have fun.