I tried making my own mod but this game's modding requirements are beyond my self taught coding abilities and open source graphics utilities. In fact I would go as far as to say it is needlessly beyond them, I have never had this much trouble implementing original content into a game since Sword of the Star's tech tree (which required altering the tree's 3d model to make new techs actually show up in the game). The entire ordeal has left me frustrated with my purchase because I can honestly say most of the vanilla factions are just so... generic, safe and uninteresting that it makes me sick and their abilities are so lame. It leaves me with the husk of a game I am rapidly losing interest in now that I am unable to add my own factions. There is just too much work for what in half a dozen other games I could have accomplished in a few hours, in beyond earth would take me days and I would still need to buy utilities that are not cheap to do it.
I can understand if the architecture is set up to facilitate a division of labour when a TEAM is working on the game but the audacity to tout the games mod friendliness when not inexpensive utilities programs needed to make these mods work is sickening. I will never again support a product of Firaxis or 2k over this breach of consumer trust.