Well, I don't think we'll do big additions anymore, a new civ is a lot of work :P
Anyways, for graphics: 3D modelling software of your choice, as outlined by Yan.
Then the renders need to be exported to the AoE2 Palette in BMP format. (Should be easy enough with a PhotoShop script). Then they need to be turned into SLP files, you can use Turtle Pack for this: http://aok.heavengames.com/blacksmith/s ... leid=11349
Then they need to be imported into the data files. For which you can use a combination of Turtle Pack and A.G.E.3
Redsting said:Dreigon, you're obviously very enthusiastic about Portugal and it's long great history and that is awesome. People like you make things like FE possible. But there are, sadly limits in the mod. There's a limited time that actually can be used at the project, as it is done in the free time. Also, there's a large community out there expecting balanced civs. And adding new civs are not important at the current stage.
I want to draw an analogy here. Let's say I propose to introduce the Holy Roman Empire as a civ, and I lay it out with info about it's history, what it's bonuses will be and it's UU etc. Then there'll be that guy who says "But we already have Teutons". Then I could say, "Hey, the Teutonic Order and the Holy Roman Empire share quite a bit of history, but are certainly not one and the same. You see...(goes on about how it's different)".
But that doesn't change the fact that one the scale of what civs are considered in AOC, it doesn't really matter what history certain things have. If it's close to something, it is that thing. For example: Mamluks = Saracens, Scandinavian nations = Vikings, Franks = All of those really small things that are actually quite important, Byzantine = Everything east of Italy.
All of these things are done because ES had to consider balancing.
If you're still not content with that answer, we could just fight the cause of changing the Spanish name into Iberia. :P
But hey, as Cysion said, if you manage to balance it out, and give it variation. + history, making graphics, etc. Then sure go ahead and create it and show it. :D
Well, "all the details" of a civ, goes quite far. Must be well balanced, fun to play, shouldn't be too similar to an existing civ (must feel differently). Then there's of course resources: graphics for units/buildings (at least the wonder), sound file, history details and then you're pretty much settled
Heavengames offers a library of Age of Empires 2 Modding articles; Here's one on adding civs with UP:
http://aok.heavengames.com/university/m ... userpatch/
Here are the modding articles:
http://aok.heavengames.com/university/modding/
If you wanna test it, give it out to players here on AOCZone and ask them if they will test it for you. As far as I know, no one does AOC Balancing better than the AOCZone community.
PM someone, or make thread about it