I think there should be a custom unit wizard and a custom building wizard. They should pop out of the data edtitor, like the publishing module does, to prevent conflicts and emphasize the rigid workflow.
The wizards should only use ready made components. No custom effects, weapons etc., just stuff that is already there. The wizard should be designed like most wizards: slides with next and cancel buttons. There should also be a link to a dedicated forum thread (help).
The main idea behind the wizard is to put the unit together, not make adjustments to the components.
All slides should have a cancel button that runs a callback of the database editons.
The most complicated parts are how to add the requirement and upgrad validators to this... I don't really know how to do that. Since the target group are people who just want to put together something somewhat custom, the default validators for each upgrade/armor/weapon should be used. Simplicity is key.
Unit wizard
Slide 1. Introduction to this wizard. What can it do, what are the limitations?
Slide 2. Name the unit (ingame name) as well as editor name with pre/postfix. Also choose a base unit.
Slide 3. Life & movement. Movement: unit speed, Checkboxes for unit type (massive, biological etc.), can fly. Life starting value and regeneration speed.
Slide 4. Armor. Add armors from a list. When adding an armor type, there should also be a link from the upgrade side to this armor type. This means that if I choose terran infantry armor to my unit, the terran infantry upgrade also applies to this unit.
Make a checkbox for shields. If unit has shields, enable fields for starting values and regeneration speed.
Sliede 5. Weapon Add weapons from a list of weapons. When an weapon is added, the unit should also be added to the related weapons upgrades.
Slide 6. Passive abilities. Checkboxes for detection (use a default range of 10), permanent cloak, cliff-jumping, etc. Each ability should have the possibility to require an upgrade that unlocks it. So
Slide 7. Active abilities. Cloak, spells etc. that requires special hotkeys.
Slide 8. Construction. Which buildings should the unit be able to build/create? add them from a list.
Slide 9. Command card and unit icon. Design the command card and how the unit appears in the selection area (its button).
Slide 10. Finish. Make it possible to export this unit as a standalone mod.
Building wizard
Slide 1. Introduce the user to the wizard, what are its limitations and purpose.
Slide 2. Name the building, both ingame and editor name with prefix, so that the player knows what to look for in the lists. Choose a building template to base it on.
Slide 3. Life. How much life should it have? Shields? Add some checkboxes with unit type with bilogogical, (structure type should be checked and grayed out).
Slide 4. Armor. Which race should it belong to? If protoss is selected: it should automatically get the protoss structure armor types. The building should also be pushed to the related upgrades. Make a checkbox for shields. Adding an armor type automatically adds the building to the related upgrades.
Slide 5. Weapons. If the building has a turret, this is where you add that. Choose a turret from a list of options.
Slide 6. Passive abilities. Can it detect? Is it cloaked?
Slide 7. Active abilities. Should it be able to have a target point? Should it be able to cast spells like chrono boost or scanner sweep? Add them from a list.
Slide 8. Construction. Which units should it be able to construct? Add them from a list.
Slide 9. Command card design and icon selection. Choose an icon and place the ability/construction related buttons to the command card.
Slide 10. Finish. Create the building and make it possible to export it to a mod.
I think there should be a custom unit wizard and a custom building wizard. They should pop out of the data edtitor, like the publishing module does, to prevent conflicts and emphasize the rigid workflow.
The wizards should only use ready made components. No custom effects, weapons etc., just stuff that is already there. The wizard should be designed like most wizards: slides with next and cancel buttons. There should also be a link to a dedicated forum thread (help).
The main idea behind the wizard is to put the unit together, not make adjustments to the components.
All slides should have a cancel button that runs a callback of the database editons.
The most complicated parts are how to add the requirement and upgrad validators to this... I don't really know how to do that. Since the target group are people who just want to put together something somewhat custom, the default validators for each upgrade/armor/weapon should be used. Simplicity is key.
Unit wizard
Building wizard