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Create Your Own Species!

This mod is a template for you to create your own species portrait and class. Add whoever you like... your favourite character, a famous person, or even... yourself.

Not Achievement compatible.

To create your mod files, open the Stellaris Launcher, go to the 'All installed mods' section. At the top right you will be able to upload a mod. To go to the mod (on my PC at least): "C:\Users\Usersname\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Stellaris\mod".

Subscribe to this mod and it will show up in all installed mods. Click the three dots to the right of this mod, click 'Show in folder'. Copy the files (apart from the descriptor) into your new mod.

I create my portraits using www.getpaint.net. When I've found a photo I select how much of it I want then go into Image -> Crop to Selection. I will then resize the photo: the four portraits I have included display different sizes, 300 pxls high, 320, 340 and 360 for reference.
I use the Eraser on full hardness to erase most of the background of the photo, creating a rough outline. I then turn down the size of the rubber for more precision. Then I turn down the hardness to create a small blurry outline. Throughout this process it may be helpful to create a black layer under the picture depending on its colours.

Save the image as a DDS file in gfx\models\portraits\insert_name, then repeat for other images. I like to have at least 12 different images in a portrait group for variation. You can rename the 'insert_name' folder to whatever you want as long as it doesn't overwrite a vanilla folder. I suggest having the images be the same as the folder name with a _01, _02 .etc. added on so it will be simpler to replace parts of gfx\portraits\portraits\portraits_insert_name.txt.

I use Notepad++ to open text files. Open gfx\portraits\portraits\portraits_insert_name(non-gendered).txt or portraits_insert_name(gendered).txt depending on if you want certain portraits to be used for male or female leaders (delete the file that you won't use, also you can change the name of any of these files), you can then use Search -> replace, and then replace all the 'insert_name' with whatever you have used for your images/folder. At 'portraits', you can copy and paste the line used to pick a texture file so that you have enough for each portrait, and then ensure the information and file paths are correct.

Add the portraits you want to the 'game_setup', 'species', 'pop', 'leader', and 'ruler' sections. You can change the name of the portrait group if you wish.

Now go to common\species_classes\InsertSpeciesClass_species_class.txt, and choose a name for you species class (it will be localised later).

Go to common\portrait_sets\insert_name_portrait_sets.txt, set a name for the portrait set, then put in the species class and the name of the portrait group used in gfx\portraits\portraits\portraits_insert_name.txt.

Go to common\portrait_categories\Insert_name_portrait_categories.txt, set a name for the portrait category, and add the portrait set.

Go to localisation\english\name_lists\InsertSpeciesClass_class_l_english.yml, open with Notepad++. Use Replace All to replace 'InsertSpeciesClass' to the name of your species class. Line 2 localises the name of the species class, and fill in lines 4-28 (these are used in Diplomatic messages from other empires).

Finally, go to common\species_names\insert_name_species_names.txt. If your species class is picked by the AI to generate a species, this provides the name of the species, home planet and home system. Replace InsertSpeciesClass with your species class, and fill in the details. You can copy and paste lines 3-8 to create as many variations as you like.

That's pretty much it. Rename any of the files if you want, repeat the process to create more species. Thumbnails should be 512x512 and named "thumbnail.png".