Zuokeen

A question to modders: are there any guidelines for people, who'd like to start tinkering with the game? I have a couple ideas for mods, but they are kinda stupid and not worth anyone's time besides my own. So if I, for example, want to change the position of some effects like the Red Eye Ring magenta flame - where should I start? What should I read? What files and what programs are to be used?