right - so the xml files do not, in themselves, contain data that is used by the game? Rather they show us what the actual game files?

Usually, games use files such as the pak file and when that file is not present, or a command line is used, they settle for the plain files in the proper folder. Within those folders are the game scripts that contain all the game data.

I'm pretty sure the xml files could be used by the game, it's jsut a question of getting the engine to read them rather them.

I'm having the same problem.

Used Quick BMS to unpack the gamedata.pak creating the following file directory (for items.xml as an example)

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\State of Decay\Game\gamedata\libs\class3\items

left all other files unpacked in the proper folders and removed the gamedata.pak.

Now, however, when I make changes to the items.xml nothing happens. Even if I remove the xml file and the pak file the game loads. Means its getting its data elsewhere.

Anyone have any idea as to which files I should be editing, or, how I can force the game to use the edited xml files directly. After reading the tutorial from Warhead Killor I thought...
"Each .pak archive can be extracted, and be left extracted for editing. If you make a change to the file and open up the game, changes will be made. The Engine will load .paks first, then softly overwrite with folders."

My xml files just don't seem to be loading from folders...

any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.