I have a mod in mind, with various objectives.
At the moment the best way (I think) of achieving those objectives would be by doing the following:
1) Changing the Initial OOB (I assume this is relatively easy) Please confirm.
1a) Adding/deleting some units.
1b) Changing the start characteristics of some units (e.g. Messing with individual destroyers AA & ASW value).
1c) Allocating ministers, advisors, and/or leaders as part of the start conditions.
1d) Amending the initial divisional templates.
2) Giving national characteristics on ships, aircraft, and tanks. e.g. Japanese aircraft have longer range, but are less reliable.
2a) Could that be done by modding what companies do?
2b) Could that be done by modding/adding national spirit(s)?
3) Removing some types of ships from the game, and adding others.
3a) I'd like to remove SHBB. Would the AI cope with this?
3b) I'd like to add Light Carriers, as faster building but less capable. Can this be done by a variant on Carriers, or does it need a new type?
3c) I'd like to add Escorts. Can this be done by a variant on destroyers, or does it need a new type?
Will the AI be able to cope with these changes?
Can the GUI be changed easily to show these new types, and removed types?
4) Changing the National Focus tree.
4a) Removing/adding entries. How difficult is this, and can the GUI be amended for the new/removed entries?
4b) Changing the dependencies between entries. How difficult is this, and can the GUI be amended for the new/removed branch structure?
4c) Amending what some of the entries do.
In particular I want to be able to share doctrines, division templates, and technology across several countries, and have all the units of those countries automatically under a unified command. All initiated by National Focuses. I note that UK has a focus (Tizard mission) that shares technology with the US, and the generic minor tree has a focus that allows sharing.
5) Can the mission types allowable to aircraft categories be changed?