Resource Hacking XCOM

[funbelievable]

I recently used a program called ResourceHacker that you can find on http://www.nexusmods.com/xcom to edit the game exe file. It's incredibly powerful and surprisingly easy to use. Right now I've been playing a version where the standard body armor grants additional movement and an extra small item slot, plus other changes that help balance the early game. Most modders must be using something like this program to create all the self-installing mods except for those that created graphics.

Anyway, the number of tweaks you can make is almost unlimited, so if you're interesed in playing the balance factors or just want to do something crazy it's probably possible to do withj very little effort. Be advised that it will disable achievements because you'll need to play in offline mode, or your XComGame.exe file will be replaced through the phonehome action.

You can do either EU or EW, but I found EW a little easier to work with. The readme file and the info on nexusmods tells you everything you nedd to know but it will take some logic to figure out what values and parameters mean. Follow the advide given and don't edit too much at once because things tend to be interdependent, though the tweaks I've been able to do are stable.

Let me know if you want any help with the tool and tell us what changes you make that work well.

[KORR]

I've been trying to get this to work with EW w/ no luck. The values I change show no changes in-game. Been trying cover values, starting money, starting scientists/engineers, etc.

I saw mention that the exe may need to be blocked so tried that, and even disabled my nic, still no changes. I'm editing XComEW.exe, compiling, saving, then launching XcomEW and starting a new game.

I'm sure I'm missing a simple step but I'm not seeing how to get my edits to "stick".

[funbelievable]

You're doing it correctly, from what you've described. I know things like starting money and scientists/engineers works from having done it. Disabling auto-patch should prevent unwanted changes to the exe, but I've found it unnecessary in my case.

The major thing I've noticed is that their terms for CLASSIC and HARD seem to be reversed and actually mean Impossible and Classic respectively. That shouldn't affect starting cash though.

The only thing I can think is that Resource Hacker or you as a user don't have administrative rights in your operating system. Otherwise you seem to be doing it all correctly and know how to parse the XComEW.exe file.

EDIT: One to question to ask; after making changes to the exe and saving, are those changes still present when you launch and reopen the exe in RH?

[mcbarker69]

Try the xcom enemy within uber mod (on nexus). It replaces two of the ini files, which can be edited. Follow the install instructions, or it may not work. When you have the files set up the way you want them, change the attributes in both to "read only" so that steam doesn't replace them.

[Traveler]

I tried installing some of these mods, but they seem to want me to use "Toolbox" and that is about the worst piece of modding software ever.

[mcbarker69]

The uber mod doesn't use toolbox. It replaces two of the original ini files (which I'm guessing toolbox also does). You do have to run the xcommodhelper file, which enables the game to read the new ini files.

[KORR]

Thanks guys

I'm logged in as a local admin. I just reopened XComEW.exe with RH and it's still edited from yesterday. I got tired of making all the changes I wanted over and over so I'm just testing with one: starting money.

; Headquarters Values
HQ_STARTING_MONEY = 1000

Is there possibly an INI overwriting changes?

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I'll give UberMod a try too, thanks

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I think all games should be required to release a toolkit like Elder Scrolls :)

[Traveler]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von mcbarker69:

The uber mod doesn't use toolbox. It replaces two of the original ini files (which I'm guessing toolbox also does). You do have to run the xcommodhelper file, which enables the game to read the new ini files.

xcommodhelper? Does this come with the game? Or is it included with the mod?

[KORR]

it's in the same download

[KORR]

http://www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/54

[KORR]

Cool, ubermod does what I need it to do. :)

[VI]

im trying to install the long war mod and its not giving me a read me file and saying i dont have the Xcomgame.exe. HELP ME PLEASE

[The Otaku Jazz]

how do you get it to work? I open it up and nothing happens

[Mhblis]

Ok a few things from the thread.

1. Originally Classic difficulty was going to be the normal difficulty but the publishers wanted them to make the game easier to appeal to more people so we got easy and normal diffculty hence the weird names.

2. There is some changes you can affect through just editing the ini file. If memory serves starting cash is one of them.

3. As for the resource hacker changes not working there are a number of reasons. the major one is some of the files are verified on each start up and so will always overwrite your changes. this was implimented at EW for multiplayer protection or some such. You have to turn this off as someone earlier pointed out how.

- Also some of the items need to be changed in multiple places so if you make only a singular change it doesn't seem to work.

4. For long war you should just need to have the installer in the base folder from xcom installation and hit install. I've done it a few times now over the past week and had no problems. Perhaps check on their Nexus page for support.