god.xml

libraries/god.xml is the galaxy seed file — declarative XML that tells the engine what’s in the world at game start. Every faction’s initial stations, patrol ships, NPC populations, and sector ownership are defined here. Modders extending the galaxy with new factions, stations, or content add entries to god.xml via XML diff.

Vanilla god.xml is 6133 lines — the single largest data file modders typically diff against.

File structure

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<god xmlns:xsi="..."
    xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="libraries.xsd">

  <objects>
    <!-- Stations: each <object> is one initial station -->
    <object id="argon_shipyard_1"
        macro="station_arg_shy_1_macro"
        sector="sector_001"
        faction="argon"
        comment="Initial Argon shipyard">
      <position x="0" y="0" z="0"/>
    </object>

    <object id="..." />
  </objects>

  <stations>
    <!-- ... -->
  </stations>

  <products>
    <!-- ... -->
  </products>

  <factions>
    <!-- ... -->
  </factions>

</god>

The <objects> block contains the initial placements. Other blocks handle products (default cargo per ware), factions (override defaults), and edge cases.

Common `<object>` attributes

Attribute	Purpose
`id="X"`	Unique identifier (referenceable from MD via `find_object` macro lookups)
`macro="X"`	Which station/ship macro to spawn
`sector="X"`	Where to spawn
`faction="X"`	Initial owner
`comment="X"`	Author comment

Children:

<position x= y= z=> — coordinates
<rotation roll= pitch= yaw=> — orientation
<quotas> — for NPC spawn definitions (count, max)
<resources> — initial cargo

Common patterns

”Add a new faction’s HQ”

<add sel="//objects">
    <object id="mlog_my_hq"
        macro="station_arg_hq_1_macro"
        sector="sector_007"
        faction="mlog_my_faction"
        comment="MyMod HQ">
      <position x="0" y="0" z="0"/>
    </object>
</add>

XML diff — <add sel="..."> adds new content to the <objects> parent.

”Replace a station’s faction”

<replace
    sel="//objects/object[@id='argon_shipyard_1']/@faction">
    mlog_my_faction
</replace>

XML diff — <replace sel="..."> updates an existing attribute. Used to switch which faction owns a seeded station.

”Add NPC spawns to a station”

<add sel="//objects/object[@id='argon_shipyard_1']">
    <quotas>
        <quota galaxy="20" sector="5"/>
    </quotas>
</add>

Adds population quotas for the station.

Common gotchas

⚠ id= must be globally unique. Two <object> entries with the same id causes one to silently overwrite the other.
⚠ macro= must exist in libraries/macros.xml. Referencing a non-existent macro fails silently or with cryptic engine errors.
⚠ sector= is the sector ID, not the macro. Use the sector’s macro-less id (e.g. cluster_01_sector_001). Vanilla pattern in vanilla file.
⚠ Faction must exist in libraries/factions.xml. Custom factions need to be declared there before god.xml references them.
⚠ Initial spawn position must be inside sector bounds. Out-of-bounds positions may cause the engine to silently relocate or fail.
⚠ Setup runs ONCE — not on save load. Anything in god.xml affects new games only. To add content mid-save, use MD <create_object> actions.
⚠ The full 6133-line god.xml has many implicit relationships. Adding entries without understanding the surrounding context (god_factions blocks, products, quotas) often breaks NPC populations.

Architectural context

Loaded ONCE at game start. All entries materialize as runtime objects. After game start, the file isn’t re-consulted.
Galaxy seeding is god.xml + factionlogic.xml. god.xml seeds initial content; factionlogic.xml drives runtime growth (new stations, patrols).
Modders diff, don’t replace. Always use <diff> patches; replacing the entire file conflicts with vanilla updates and other mods.

Faction (game) — owner field references factions.
Sector (game) — sector field.
Station (game) — macro field.
parameters.xml — NPC placement parameters (separate file).
stationgroups.xml — station composition (referenced by station macros).
Setup runs once, not on load — memory gotcha.