[Ideas and what I'd like to help] I'm new in this forum and I want to help !

[El Maker]

Hi everyone,

I'm "El Maker" (it's not my real name) and  I love playing 0 A.D. !! 

I've been playing 0 A.D. for a few years now (I’m not very good at it, but I really enjoy it!). After discovering this amazing project, I’ve developed a genuine interest in helping its development and contributing in any way I can.

I’ve already explored the forum and found several topics that inspired me — there are a few areas where I think I could help or bring new ideas.

I’m highly motivated and would love some guidance on how to get started !

My ideas (or areas where I’d like to help):
–First of all : the civilisations such as Etruscans, Numidians, Nabateans or Dacians (I've seen that there are a lot's of civilisations that you want to add so I can help !)
– Secondly : improve the Gaïa system (not fauna or flora but the "humans" : pirates, itinerants bandits ...) --> I've seen that in the Big Eyecandy section (but anyperson anwsered me)
– Thirdly : (it's not THE ONE but I would be cool in my opinion) change the starts of every civilisations (in order to have different beginnings of games and strategies that really change depending on the civilizations)

Any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated. I’d love to collaborate in this amazing project !!

Thanks in advance for your time !!

El Maker

 

[Classic-Burger]

Welcome.

Specifically, how do you plan to help?

[El Maker]

Okay, it's true, I forgot to talk about that... 

I’m not good at 3D modeling for now . It’s not really my field... But, I can draw quite well, and I could help by sketching concepts, adjusting or suggesting unit stats, and doing historical research and documentation about civilizations...

I’m also open to learning 3D modeling if needed, though it might take me a bit more time to get up to speed.

Moreover, I know someone who might be interested in helping with programming, depending on what kind of tasks are needed.

[Perzival12]

7 hours ago, El Maker said:

Hi everyone,

I'm "El Maker" (it's not my real name) and  I love playing 0 A.D. !! 

I've been playing 0 A.D. for a few years now (I’m not very good at it, but I really enjoy it!). After discovering this amazing project, I’ve developed a genuine interest in helping its development and contributing in any way I can.

I’ve already explored the forum and found several topics that inspired me — there are a few areas where I think I could help or bring new ideas.

I’m highly motivated and would love some guidance on how to get started !

My ideas (or areas where I’d like to help):
–First of all : the civilisations such as Etruscans, Numidians, Nabateans or Dacians (I've seen that there are a lot's of civilisations that you want to add so I can help !)
– Secondly : improve the Gaïa system (not fauna or flora but the "humans" : pirates, itinerants bandits ...) --> I've seen that in the Big Eyecandy section (but anyperson anwsered me)
– Thirdly : (it's not THE ONE but I would be cool in my opinion) change the starts of every civilisations (in order to have different beginnings of games and strategies that really change depending on the civilizations)

Any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated. I’d love to collaborate in this amazing project !!

Thanks in advance for your time !!

El Maker

 

If you wan’t to get started, you could make a mod. It’s pretty easy to do, and is a good way of learning how the coding and design is for 0ad, without slowing down game development with any errors or flaws that you accidentally have (and there will be many, believe me). In fact, several mods have actually been made a part of the game over the years, so if your mod is high-enough quality (or you make a pull request), your mod could be added as well.
There is not much work for a beginner at coding, but more art and civs is always welcome. I recommend, if you want to join in the actual development, check for work here: https://gitea.wildfiregames.com/0ad/0ad/wiki/GettingStarted

[Perzival12]

5 minutes ago, El Maker said:

Moreover, I know someone who might be interested in helping with programming, depending on what kind of tasks are needed.

Who is that person? How good are they at JavaScript?

[El Maker]

18 hours ago, Perzival12 said:

If you wan’t to get started, you could make a mod. It’s pretty easy to do, and is a good way of learning how the coding and design is for 0ad, without slowing down game development with any errors or flaws that you accidentally have (and there will be many, believe me). In fact, several mods have actually been made a part of the game over the years, so if your mod is high-enough quality (or you make a pull request), your mod could be added as well.
There is not much work for a beginner at coding, but more art and civs is always welcome. I recommend, if you want to join in the actual development, check for work here: https://gitea.wildfiregames.com/0ad/0ad/wiki/GettingStarted

Yeah, of course ! That's what I want to do but, I think it would be better if it could help 0AD... I don't want to do a mod which will never help or becomes part of the main game !! I created this discussion to find out whether my ideas and project are good or too ambitious to start modding... 

18 hours ago, Perzival12 said:

Who is that person? How good are they at JavaScript?

He will help me with my mod and, if he likes this experience, he might even join (like me) the project ! He's been a programmer for about 20 years I think (or more)

[El Maker]

I just have 3 questions... The first one : when I start working on my mod, I will research and gather information... And, since what I want to do includes that are planned to be added, so, where do I put the information ?? Do I put them on the discussions dedicated to (like for the civilisations) or I keep them on my documents ? 

My second question is : do you think my ideas are good, too ambitious or not suitable for 0AD ?

And, my third question is : which ideas do you think I should start with for my mod ? 

Edited Friday at 08:52 by El Maker

[Classic-Burger]

6 hours ago, El Maker said:

I just have 3 questions... The first one : when I start working on my mod, I will research and gather information... And, since what I want to do includes that are planned to be added, so, where do I put the information ?? Do I put them on the discussions dedicated to (like for the civilisations) or I keep them on my documents ? 

My second question is : do you think my ideas are good, too ambitious or not suitable for 0AD ?

And, my third question is : which ideas do you think I should start with for my mod ? 

Where are you from?

[Perzival12]

8 hours ago, El Maker said:

I just have 3 questions... The first one : when I start working on my mod, I will research and gather information... And, since what I want to do includes that are planned to be added, so, where do I put the information ?? Do I put them on the discussions dedicated to (like for the civilisations) or I keep them on my documents ? 

My second question is : do you think my ideas are good, too ambitious or not suitable for 0AD ?

And, my third question is : which ideas do you think I should start with for my mod ? 

I’d start your own thread, where you post releases and news about your mod. Don’t make a thread for each civ or anything, because that will just overtake the entire forum. 

To your second question if your making your own mod, it doesn’t matter if your mod is ambitious or large, your the one making it.

Thirdly, sense you mentioned that you are not an artist, you would probably be best off making your multiple starts idea, where you customize a start for each civ (this would be a pretty small undertaking, just edit the relevant section in each races civ file). The Iberians already have something like this, just do it to the rest.

[El Maker]

On 24/10/2025 at 17:07, Classic-Burger said:

Where are you from?

I'm from France.

On 24/10/2025 at 19:05, Perzival12 said:

I’d start your own thread, where you post releases and news about your mod. Don’t make a thread for each civ or anything, because that will just overtake the entire forum. 

To your second question if your making your own mod, it doesn’t matter if your mod is ambitious or large, your the one making it.

 

Okay, I'll create a discussion and share you the link  so that you can help with my project !

On 24/10/2025 at 19:05, Perzival12 said:

Thirdly, sense you mentioned that you are not an artist, you would probably be best off making your multiple starts idea, where you customize a start for each civ (this would be a pretty small undertaking, just edit the relevant section in each races civ file). The Iberians already have something like this, just do it to the rest.

I understand what you mean but, yeah, I'm not a real artist but I love learning about historical periods or civilisations so I 'd like to create mine... It may (instead surely) be not deepened and not finished but that's the idea of making a discssion where players could share their expericences and improving ideas for my mod !! And, I want to start with the Etruscans, which is a Greek-Roman civ : it's easier (but harder too because must find their own specifics features !)... 

Edited Sunday at 18:02 by El Maker

[Classic-Burger]

39 minutes ago, El Maker said:

Etruscans

There's a rather old and neglected mod. The Etruscans fit in there. They could have been as late Etruscan as Early Romans.

[Classic-Burger]

 

 

[El Maker]

18 hours ago, Classic-Burger said:

There's a rather old and neglected mod. The Etruscans fit in there. They could have been as late Etruscan as Early Romans.

How is it called ? 

 

17 hours ago, Classic-Burger said:

 

Okay !! Thank you very much !! I haven't had the time yet to check the discussions related to my mod on this forum... 

I have a last question about 0AD : what's the idea behind the campain mod ?? I mean that now, the campaign mod is just a few basic games... I had another idea (but now I don't know how to do it) about the campaign mod but it's not the most important idea (and surely one of the hardest) so, I think I'll create a disscussion about it... 

[Perzival12]

What campaign mod is this? I've seen several threads about making one, but no releases, at least not for A27.

[El Maker]

  Sorry, I wrote "mod" in the wrong way... I wanted to write "mode". Sorry. My question is : what is the idea behind the campaign mode , that is to say, why is there a campaign mode in 0AD, which has the same goal and works like the basic skirmish game and what it's supposed to be ? 

  My idea is that, in the campaign mode, you will embody a military leader (like Caesar or Hannibal for example) and you will fight in their campaign (like Rome vs Gauls or Carthaginians vs Rome ...). HOWEVER, the fights wouldn't be like the basics games (with resources, buildings...) but more as Total War... I mean that you begin the battle with a predefined army (--> as in the real battle) and you have to fight the other army...

  For example : 

ALESIA, 52BC

Alesia would be a battle in the "Roman vs Gauls campaign"

In the real life : 

Rome :

-10 to 12 legions (approximately 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers)

-Germanic cavalry (approximately 10,000)

Gauls :

-80,000 besieged men

-240,000 soldiers (from the relief army) of which 8,000 cavalry

source : Wikipedia

So, in 0AD, there cannot be almost 400,000 entities in the battle so, we'd have to find a compromise to keep this battle realistic and historic... So, if this idea is good, we would have : 

Rome :

- 4x fewer soldiers than Gauls

- 1.25x more cavalery than Gauls 

Gauls :

- 4x more soldiers than Rome

-1.25x less cavalry than Rome

- 1.33x citizens (compared to roman soldiers)

 

I don't know if that's clear to understand but it's my idea for 0AD... I know it's a lot of work and that 0AD doesn't have many developers but, I want to know why is there a campaign mode and to what will it be used for.

Edited 12 hours ago by El Maker

[El Maker]

A battle in Total War : Rome 2 

[Classic-Burger]

4 hours ago, El Maker said:

  Sorry, I wrote "mod" in the wrong way... I wanted to write "mode". Sorry. My question is : what is the idea behind the campaign mode , that is to say, why is there a campaign mode in 0AD, which has the same goal and works like the basic skirmish game and what it's supposed to be ? 

  My idea is that, in the campaign mode, you will embody a military leader (like Caesar or Hannibal for example) and you will fight in their campaign (like Rome vs Gauls or Carthaginians vs Rome ...). HOWEVER, the fights wouldn't be like the basics games (with resources, buildings...) but more as Total War... I mean that you begin the battle with a predefined army (--> as in the real battle) and you have to fight the other army...

  For example : 

ALESIA, 52BC

Alesia would be a battle in the "Roman vs Gauls campaign"

In the real life : 

Rome :

-10 to 12 legions (approximately 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers)

-Germanic cavalry (approximately 10,000)

Gauls :

-80,000 besieged men

-240,000 soldiers (from the relief army) of which 8,000 cavalry

source : Wikipedia

So, in 0AD, there cannot be almost 400,000 entities in the battle so, we'd have to find a compromise to keep this battle realistic and historic... So, if this idea is good, we would have : 

Rome :

- 4x fewer soldiers than Gauls

- 1.25x more cavalery than Gauls 

Gauls :

- 4x more soldiers than Rome

-1.25x less cavalry than Rome

- 1.33x citizens (compared to roman soldiers)

 

I don't know if that's clear to understand but it's my idea for 0AD... I know it's a lot of work and that 0AD doesn't have many developers but, I want to know why is there a campaign mode and to what will it be used for.

 

 

[Genava55]

Total War est très différent d'un RTS comme 0 A.D. ou Age of Empires.

Je conseille plutôt de regarder comment sont réalisées les campagnes de jeux similaires:

Ce que tu voudrais faire ressemble à ce qui a été fait dans le jeu Warhammer Mark of Chaos, mais pour ça il y a beaucoup trop de choses à changer pour que se soit réaliste. 

 

[El Maker]

Of course, when I said "like Total War", it's like the battle system, not the turned-based system ! And, yeah, what I have in my mind is similar to Warhammer... But, what I want to know is how the campaign mode would be played : rather a turned-based system (even if I don't think so), more of a historical campaign (as I said : Rome vs Gauls for example), more than a story narrated and invented for 0AD or more than an open world where we embody a civilization (Roman, Carthaginians...) and we fight against the others or to ally with them ? That's my question. My idea is just an idea to have a more important historical part in this game (because there could have cynematics with historicals informations). I know that it's not the main focus of 0AD but it could be great, right ?

1 hour ago, Classic-Burger said:

I will read this discussion soon !

[Genava55]

There was a mod with an interesting campaign, but it needs to be updated to work with the latest version:

https://wildfiregames.com/forum/topic/28303-campaign-macedonia-rise-to-power-balkan-campaign-into-asia/page/9/

[Grautvornix]

Fundamentally, a campaign is a series of scenarios/maps that have to be played in sequence (i.e. once you win part 1 you will have access to part two etc.) and that build on each other. The storyline is ideally meant to be provide historical background. Unfortunately (or not) it is not possible to carry over results of the previous campaign scenario onto the next one, i.e. you start with a small army in game 1 and end up with a larger army, which n turn saves as the basic setting for game 2, etc. I believe the challenge would be to orchestrate dynamically allocated balancing from game to game.  

[Classic-Burger]

2 hours ago, El Maker said:

Of course, when I said "like Total War", it's like the battle system, not the turned-based system ! And, yeah, what I have in my mind is similar to Warhammer... But, what I want to know is how the campaign mode would be played : rather a turned-based system (even if I don't think so), more of a historical campaign (as I said : Rome vs Gauls for example), more than a story narrated and invented for 0AD or more than an open world where we embody a civilization (Roman, Carthaginians...) and we fight against the others or to ally with them ? That's my question. My idea is just an idea to have a more important historical part in this game (because there could have cynematics with historicals informations). I know that it's not the main focus of 0AD but it could be great, right ?

I will read this discussion soon !

There are 2 modes proposed, one turn-based Grand Campaign and the other narrative.