tutorials Adding Policies

Tutorial: Adding New Policies (Traditions)

This tutorial walks through creating a mod that adds new policies (called "Traditions" in Civ VII) to the game. We'll add two new traditions that provide bonuses to your Palace.

What You'll Learn

• Creating a .modinfo file with ActionCriteria
• Using SQL for database modifications
• Using GameEffects XML for modifiers
• Adding localized text

File Structure

my-new-policies/
├── data/
│   ├── traditions.sql
│   └── game-effects.xml
├── text/
│   └── text.xml
└── my-new-policies.modinfo

Step 1: Create the .modinfo File

The .modinfo file tells the game about your mod and what files to load.

my-new-policies.modinfo

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Mod id="my-new-policies" version="1" xmlns="ModInfo">
    <Properties>
        <Name>My New Policies</Name>
        <Description>Adds new policies to the Antiquity Age</Description>
        <Authors>Your Name</Authors>
        <AffectsSavedGames>1</AffectsSavedGames>
    </Properties>
    <Dependencies>
    </Dependencies>
    <ActionCriteria>
        <Criteria id="antiquity-age-current">
            <AgeInUse>AGE_ANTIQUITY</AgeInUse>
        </Criteria>
    </ActionCriteria>
    <ActionGroups>
        <ActionGroup id="antiquity-game" scope="game" criteria="antiquity-age-current">
            <Actions>
                <UpdateDatabase>
                    <Item>data/traditions.sql</Item>
                    <Item>data/game-effects.xml</Item>
                </UpdateDatabase>
                <UpdateText>
                    <Item>text/text.xml</Item>
                </UpdateText>
            </Actions>
        </ActionGroup>
    </ActionGroups>
</Mod>

Key Concepts

• ActionCriteria: Conditions for when actions run. AgeInUse makes the mod only load during the specified age.
• ActionGroup scope="game": Loads into the gameplay database (not frontend).
• UpdateDatabase: Processes SQL and XML files to modify the database.
• UpdateText: Loads localization text.

Step 2: Create the Database Entries (SQL)

We need to register the new traditions and link them to the civic tree.

data/traditions.sql

-- Register the new tradition types
INSERT INTO Types
    (Type, Kind)
VALUES
    ('TRADITION_MY_FIRST_POLICY', 'KIND_TRADITION'),
    ('TRADITION_MY_SECOND_POLICY', 'KIND_TRADITION');

-- Define the traditions
INSERT INTO Traditions
    (TraditionType, Name, Description)
VALUES
    ('TRADITION_MY_FIRST_POLICY', 'LOC_TRADITION_MY_FIRST_POLICY_NAME', 'LOC_TRADITION_MY_FIRST_POLICY_DESCRIPTION'),
    ('TRADITION_MY_SECOND_POLICY', 'LOC_TRADITION_MY_SECOND_POLICY_NAME', 'LOC_TRADITION_MY_SECOND_POLICY_DESCRIPTION');

-- Unlock the traditions from the Chiefdom civic
INSERT INTO ProgressionTreeNodeUnlocks
    (ProgressionTreeNodeType, TargetKind, TargetType, UnlockDepth)
VALUES
    ('NODE_CIVIC_AQ_MAIN_CHIEFDOM', 'KIND_TRADITION', 'TRADITION_MY_FIRST_POLICY', 1),
    ('NODE_CIVIC_AQ_MAIN_CHIEFDOM', 'KIND_TRADITION', 'TRADITION_MY_SECOND_POLICY', 1);

-- Link traditions to their modifiers
INSERT INTO TraditionModifiers
    (TraditionType, ModifierId)
VALUES
    ('TRADITION_MY_FIRST_POLICY', 'MY_FIRST_POLICY_MOD_PALACE_FOOD'),
    ('TRADITION_MY_FIRST_POLICY', 'MY_FIRST_POLICY_MOD_PALACE_GOLD'),
    ('TRADITION_MY_SECOND_POLICY', 'MY_SECOND_POLICY_MOD_CITY_SCIENCE');

Key Tables

Table	Purpose
Types	Register new game objects
Traditions	Define tradition metadata
ProgressionTreeNodeUnlocks	Link to civic tree
TraditionModifiers	Link to effects

Civic Tree Nodes

Common Antiquity civic nodes for unlocks:

• NODE_CIVIC_AQ_MAIN_CHIEFDOM - Early game
• NODE_CIVIC_AQ_MAIN_FOREIGN_TRADE - Trade
• NODE_CIVIC_AQ_MAIN_ENGINEERING - Building
• NODE_CIVIC_AQ_MAIN_PHILOSOPHY - Culture
• NODE_CIVIC_AQ_MAIN_DRAMA_AND_POETRY - Late game

Step 3: Create the Modifiers (GameEffects XML)

Define what each tradition actually does using GameEffects XML.

data/game-effects.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<GameEffects xmlns="GameEffects">
    <!-- First Policy: +2 Food, +3 Gold on Palace -->
    <Modifier id="MY_FIRST_POLICY_MOD_PALACE_FOOD"
              collection="COLLECTION_OWNER"
              effect="EFFECT_PLAYER_ADJUST_CONSTRUCTIBLE_YIELD">
        <Argument name="YieldType">YIELD_FOOD</Argument>
        <Argument name="Amount">2</Argument>
        <Argument name="ConstructibleType">BUILDING_PALACE</Argument>
    </Modifier>

    <Modifier id="MY_FIRST_POLICY_MOD_PALACE_GOLD"
              collection="COLLECTION_OWNER"
              effect="EFFECT_PLAYER_ADJUST_CONSTRUCTIBLE_YIELD">
        <Argument name="YieldType">YIELD_GOLD</Argument>
        <Argument name="Amount">3</Argument>
        <Argument name="ConstructibleType">BUILDING_PALACE</Argument>
        <String context="Description">LOC_TRADITION_MY_FIRST_POLICY_DESCRIPTION</String>
    </Modifier>

    <!-- Second Policy: +2 Science in all Cities -->
    <Modifier id="MY_SECOND_POLICY_MOD_CITY_SCIENCE"
              collection="COLLECTION_PLAYER_CITIES"
              effect="EFFECT_CITY_ADJUST_YIELD">
        <SubjectRequirements>
            <Requirement type="REQUIREMENT_CITY_HAS_BUILD_QUEUE"/>
        </SubjectRequirements>
        <Argument name="YieldType">YIELD_SCIENCE</Argument>
        <Argument name="Amount">2</Argument>
        <String context="Description">LOC_TRADITION_MY_SECOND_POLICY_DESCRIPTION</String>
    </Modifier>
</GameEffects>

Important Notes

1. Root element is <GameEffects>, not <Database>
2. Modifier ids must match what you used in TraditionModifiers
3. Include <String context="Description"> on one modifier for tooltip display
4. Use SubjectRequirements to filter which subjects get the effect

Step 4: Add Localization Text

Create the display text for your traditions.

text/text.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Database>
    <LocalizedText>
        <Row Tag="LOC_TRADITION_MY_FIRST_POLICY_NAME" Language="en_US">
            <Text>My First Policy</Text>
        </Row>
        <Row Tag="LOC_TRADITION_MY_FIRST_POLICY_DESCRIPTION" Language="en_US">
            <Text>+2[icon:YIELD_FOOD] Food, +3[icon:YIELD_GOLD] Gold on the Palace.</Text>
        </Row>
        <Row Tag="LOC_TRADITION_MY_SECOND_POLICY_NAME" Language="en_US">
            <Text>My Second Policy</Text>
        </Row>
        <Row Tag="LOC_TRADITION_MY_SECOND_POLICY_DESCRIPTION" Language="en_US">
            <Text>+2[icon:YIELD_SCIENCE] Science in all Cities.</Text>
        </Row>
    </LocalizedText>
</Database>

Icon Tags

Use these in descriptions:

• [icon:YIELD_FOOD] - Food
• [icon:YIELD_PRODUCTION] - Production
• [icon:YIELD_GOLD] - Gold
• [icon:YIELD_SCIENCE] - Science
• [icon:YIELD_CULTURE] - Culture
• [icon:YIELD_HAPPINESS] - Happiness
• [icon:YIELD_DIPLOMACY] - Diplomacy

Step 5: Install and Test

1. Copy your mod folder to:

   • Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization VII\Mods\
   • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Civilization VII/Mods/

2. Launch the game and enable your mod in the Mods menu

3. Start a new game in the Antiquity Age

4. Research the Chiefdom civic to unlock your new policies

Troubleshooting

• Check Database.log in your Logs folder for errors
• Verify XML syntax - missing quotes or brackets break parsing
• Match modifier IDs exactly between SQL and GameEffects
• Use unique IDs - prefix with your mod name to avoid conflicts

Advanced: Adding to Other Ages

Change the ActionCriteria to target different ages:

<ActionCriteria>
    <Criteria id="exploration-age-current">
        <AgeInUse>AGE_EXPLORATION</AgeInUse>
    </Criteria>
</ActionCriteria>

And use appropriate civic nodes:

• NODE_CIVIC_EX_MAIN_* for Exploration Age
• NODE_CIVIC_MO_MAIN_* for Modern Age

Next Steps

• Modifier System Overview
• Effect Types Reference
• modinfo Files