Evening ladies and gentlemen!
Ok, so I've found Faction Defs, and I know that I need to copy this into my Mods directory, then rename it for whatever faction I want to create, then go into it with Notepad++, delete all Defs but one (to use as a template) at which point I get the below. Just a few questions 
<Faction>
<InternalName>FACTION_TERRAN</InternalName> Is this what the faction is known as only in the XML?
<DisplayName>FACTION_TERRAN_Name</DisplayName> Is this the full name of the faction in game?
<DisplayNameShort>FACTION_TERRAN_ShortName</DisplayNameShort>
<LeaderName>FACTION_TERRAN_LeaderName</LeaderName>
<Description>FACTION_TERRAN_Dec</Description> When making my own factions do I have to type the whole description in here? Or do I reference a word file?
<LeaderDescription>FACTION_TERRAN_LeaderDec</LeaderDescription> Same question as above.
<RaceType>Major</RaceType>
<PersonalityTraits>Neutral</PersonalityTraits> Is this the Ethical stance, as in Benevolent/Malevolent?
<PersonalityTraits>Expansionist</PersonalityTraits>
<PersonalityTraits>Diplomatic</PersonalityTraits>
<RaceTraits>EngineersAbility</RaceTraits>
<RaceTraits>ColonizersAbility</RaceTraits>
<RaceTraits>Productive2</RaceTraits> For all the race traits, I'm assuming that 4=+2, 3=+1 and so on, is this correct?
<RaceTraits>Adventuresome2</RaceTraits>
<RaceTraits>Likeable2</RaceTraits>
<RaceTraits>Fast2</RaceTraits>
<RaceTraits>Organized2</RaceTraits>
<RequiresHomeworld>true</RequiresHomeworld>
<HomeStarSystem>SolSystem</HomeStarSystem>
<StartingShips>ColonyStaticBlueprint</StartingShips>
<StartingShips>SurveyStaticBlueprint</StartingShips>
<StartingShips>ScoutStaticBlueprint</StartingShips>
<TechTree>Terran_Tree</TechTree>
<ShipCallsign>FACTION_TERRAN_Callsign</ShipCallsign> Can I just input my own callsign here? 'HMS' for example.
<LogoImage>RaceLogo00.png</LogoImage>
<LeaderThumbnail>GC3_DL_Bradley_Small.png</LeaderThumbnail> Where in the directory do I put the leader pics?
<NewsRobotMovie_Approach>Terran_ResearchAdviser_Approach.bk2</NewsRobotMovie_Approach>
<NewsRobotMovie_Idle>Terran_ResearchAdviser_Idle.bk2</NewsRobotMovie_Idle>
<StartupImage>StartGameTerran.png</StartupImage>
<StartupTitle>FACTION_TERRAN_StartupTitle</StartupTitle>
<StartupDescription>FACTION_TERRAN_StartupDescription</StartupDescription>
<StartupTraitsDescription>FACTION_TERRAN_StartupTraitsDescription</StartupTraitsDescription>
<ConquestMovie>MilVic_TERRAN.bk2</ConquestMovie>
<MapColorDef>TerranMapColors</MapColorDef>
<UIColorDef>TerranUIColors</UIColorDef>
<FactionMoviesFGDef>TerranMoviesFG</FactionMoviesFGDef>
<FactionMoviesBGDef>TerranMoviesBG</FactionMoviesBGDef>
<FactionMusicDef>TerranMusic</FactionMusicDef>
<Material1>GC3_Ship_Material_01</Material1>
<Material2>GC3_Ship_Material_02</Material2>
<Surface1>GC3_Default_Surface_01</Surface1>
<Surface2>GC3_Default_Surface_02</Surface2>
<Appearance>GC3_Terran_Appearance</Appearance>
<ShipStyleSet>TerranShipStyleSet</ShipStyleSet>
<CreditsInit>5000</CreditsInit>
In regard to the below - what are the scales? Obviously 0 is the lowest, but what are the highest?
<WarEnduranceInit>90</WarEnduranceInit>
<DefaultResistance>0.25</DefaultResistance>
<InfluenceTallyInit>10</InfluenceTallyInit>
<StartingColonyPopulation>10</StartingColonyPopulation>
<AICategoryWeight>
<Military>15</Military>
<Growth>10</Growth>
<Tech>20</Tech>
<Diplomacy>15</Diplomacy>
<Expansion>20</Expansion>
<Wealth>10</Wealth>
<Influence>5</Influence>
<Fortification>5</Fortification>
</AICategoryWeight>
</Faction>
If you guys can answer these for me I should be able to make a start on the basics - thanks in advance!