Yeah the way the Workshop system handles changing a mod's localization file is a pain for what you're trying to do.

One thing that should work is to just completely move the localization folder from the workshop directory and put it in your base game directory. Then just run the .bat file as usual. You will run into problems if and when the author updates his mod though.

The safer bet is to unsubscribe from the mod on the workshop and use the static one from the Nexus. That way at least you won't have to constantly keep on top of your changes.

Third option is a little harder but is the best of three. Create a copy of the localization directory of the workshop mod. Then cut out everything from the xml file that you didn't change excluding the necessary formatting like <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root><language id="english"> etc. Then go the through the workshop mod creation process and upload your mod to the workshop and set it as private when uploading. Then in game just make sure your tooltip tweak is above Pitch Black Dungeon.

That should work but if not the other two options definitely will.

So I'm new to modding DD and I'm trying to figure out if there's a way to add a unique version of the file that houses all the core trinket information.

I know something like this is possible since I've seen custom class mods use things like "customclass.camping_skills.json" with only the relevant new code instead of altering the core "default.camping_skills.json" and the game is apparently reading it just fine since it all works. However when I try to do this same kind of thing with base game's "base.entries.trinkets.json" and have my own "phiore.entries.trinkets.json" file I'm not seeing my trinkets show up in game.

I could be really unlucky and just haven't seen the damn things but I get the feeling they're not loading in properly. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? I'd really like to have my custom trinkets not conflict with future updates/overwrite the base game's file.

Check the modfiles.txt and see if it's referenced there. My guess is that the uploader messed it up and didn't upload that specific file along with the rest of your mod.

For whatever reason if a copy of any file you try and upload exists in your game directory as a manual install the uploader will skip over it. Spent like three hours trying to figure it out earlier today. If you delete the missing files from your DarkestDungeon folder and then reupload it should work.

From what I understand things like number of available trinkets and general hero specific inventory is hard coded for the time being.