OK - here's the PDF file with links to basic modding information. Please let me know if I can fix or add anything to make the document more helpful.
EDIT: The forum won't let me submit a PDF file or a .doc file. Nothing happens when I try to attach the file, and there's no error message.
Here's the text of the PDF file. The links show up as plain text and are not clickable here. Once everything's finished, I'll post the PDF with clickable links to Xelerus along with the mod.
Modding a Basic Playership: Helpful Links
Last updated 2015 August 08 by gunship256
Have you always wanted to create a mod ship for Transcendence but didn't know where to start? If so, take a look at the information here.
The mod file in this folder, with the file extension .xml, re-creates the three basic playerships in the game. The Transcendence wiki has a page describing how to install mods.
The mod in this folder is named 'Basic Playerships.xml'. Notepad++ can open and edit XML files. Try making changes to the code, saving the file, and then closing and re-opening Transcendence. The links below provide some information about what the code does and what changes you might be able to make.
Tutorial on writing a playership mod (VERY helpful)
Beginner's Guide to Modding
UNID database forum thread
TranscendenceExtension tag
ShipClass tag
PlayerSettings tag
The members of the Transcendence forums are very helpful. Post modding questions in the Shipyards area.
The Transcendence wiki is a useful source of information. If there's code in a mod you don't recognize, try looking for it using the wiki's search box.
You can also download other mods on Xelerus and open them with Notepad++ to look at the code. There is a Last Modified date (in parentheses on each mod's Xelerus page) that's useful to check, as most of the mods on Xelerus have not been updated for the latest version of Transcendence.
Editing code can be an intimidating but rewarding process. I'm a beginner at it, and hopefully this document will save you from some of the frustration I've experienced. Please find me on the forums (gunship256) if you notice anything I can fix or add to this document to make it more helpful.
Credits
Thanks to:
AssumedPseudonym for help in setting the Basic Playerships mod up correctly
DigDug for checking the code for errors
George Moromisato for creating Transcendence, which includes the code the mod is based on