I have been looking into the editors and the modding guide, neither exactly filling me with hope as the editors are convoluted messes and the guide skipping every important step required to set up and make a unit have a functional model. Even so, I will try, but don't expect anything in a long time.

However, I want to discuss a potential mod's different approach. For one, it will not add units to existing cultures. The reason for this should be fairly obvious, but I will explain:

1. Unlike 3, unit lineups are unique and cultures should remain unique. What CI did to 3 was to move outside each race having the same unit lineup by giving them more units but focus on their strengths; thus orcs had no new archers and only the rare new support for classes but more in all other categories, etc. Giving Mystic culture archers, beyond just having to edit Fabled Hunters, would take away their hyper-focus which is part of, well, the culture of the people. It's sort of like giving Aztecs cavalry by default. Not happening.

2. Mod compatibility. I am more interested in seeing more cultures than expand on the current ones which already fill their niche. The best way to allow this is to not give the current ones more stuff. There are so many opportunities with the setting no longer being in Athla to make whatever you wish; China, Egypt, Incas, etc etc.

3. DLCs will likely break culture units anyway. Unless they will be confirmed not to I am not taking any chances.

4. Tomes. If you add a bunch of new units it will make produceable tome units less desirable and summons more interesting, making some tomes fall out of favor. Why produce a T3 archer from a tome when you already can from your cities? This completely breaks the game balance and not something I wish to see.

5. Readability. Too many cultural units, especially with how heavily modified they can become with enchantments, can make the game hard to read, especially as the game already got too many abilities with overtly complex mechanics such as Awakened. 3 was very easy to read and understand, 4 is not.
I still chuckle at the... interesting person who didn't read unit sheets and wanted me to remove Tireless from a unit because he didn't bother looking at the sheet before engaging. I am sure they are okay with 4.

So what will the focus be? At first, I wish to simply add more critters; animals, demons, etc. Creatures to make the world feel more alive and interesting. I have some interest in also making cultures and tomes at a later date, likely once the game stops being updated. I just hope a bunch of things are fixed beforehand;

The current issues are:

1. Modularity provider not working as something is missing. As I want units to have unique textures instead of reusing assets outright I need something that the guide does not mention regarding what makes up a functional model for units. For whatever reason they reversed the link process in the editor and made it into a complete incomprehensible mess likely to appease some dark deity as I can see no other reason why.

2. Where the spawn lists are hidden. In the mess that are the .rpk files I cannot find them except the specific unit ones which I don't want to touch in this case.

3. .POT text format killed brutally. The instructions provide me with a tool that corrupts the files it is supposed to convert. Not going to even touch the editor until this nonsense outright removed. I will not work with something my computer refuses to work with.

4. Existing units cleaned up. There are so many visual and balance problems that I hope will be fixed ASAP as these issues will be carried over to whatever you mod.

As for CI currently, I am planning an anniversary update in June which was when I began work on it and one in October, when the mod was originally released.