[SOLVED] Workshop Build - Ghost Images of Blocks from Missing DLC

[Philosophrog]

I am pretty new to use of blueprints & projectors, but have built a few vanilla objects from workshop blueprints. Now I am building a workshop rover that uses 4 DLCs. I just bought my first DLCs, including the 2 that the rover uses most.

When I build the rover by pasting the blueprint in Creative Mode, the parts from the DLCs that I have work just as expected. But to my surprise, the parts from the DLCs I do not have show up on the rover as "ghost images" - looking as if they are projected, even though there is no projector in use. I did the build in Creative Mode, and the ghost images remained after switching to Survival Mode.

I also resumed an earlier build in Survival Mode with a projector and was able to build the newly available DLC blocks. After detaching the rover from the projector, this build also showed ghost images of blocks from uninstalled DLCs.

The effect persists after save & restart. Since the parts don't actually "exist", I can find no way to delete them. It seems like they are destined to "haunt" the rover indefinitely.

Is this typical when blueprints use a DLC that isn't installed? User error on my part? A known bug? Thanks for any suggestions about what's going on and how I might resolve it.

[Capt Fuzzy]

What you are describing here sounds like normal behavior when you have a blueprint with DLCs but you don't have those DLCs installed.

[Dan2D3D]

Hi, can you share the Workshop item link ?

I will load to see if I can find the cause.

+
If you bought the needed DLCs = Maybe just restart Steam and verify the game files with Steam to be sure all is in and try again in brand new world. use Sandbox named Red ship v2 to load faster for a quick test.

++
Double check the DLCs are selected in SE game -> Properties <- in you games library.

[CJM]

Originally posted by Capt Fuzzy:

What you are describing here sounds like normal behavior when you have a blueprint with DLCs but you don't have those DLCs installed.

I just disabled all DLC on my game. Steam said I needed an "Update" before I could play. When I load my old Blueprints to paste in Creative, it asks me to "Visit the Store" for the DLC or "Paste Anyway".

"Paste Anyway" removes DLC blocks from the build. I don't get ghosts.

[Pembroke]

Originally posted by Philosophrog:

I can find no way to delete them. It seems like they are destined to "haunt" the rover indefinitely.

If you don't own the DLCs, then you need to modify the workshop blueprint and save your own version of it. What you need to do is:
- In Creative mode paste the blueprint as fully built
- Locate the "ghost" blocks i.e. all you are missing
- Remove the ghost blocks and replace them with the vanilla version. All DLC blocks always have a functionally equivalent block.
- ...though, they may have a different size and/or have conveyor access ports in different places, so you may have to modify the grid a bit to make the vanilla version fit there
- When all missing DLC blocks replaced with vanilla blocks, blueprint the results as your own copy of it.
- Use that blueprint in your Survival game

Edit: "remove and replace" may require using that "paste anyway" CJM mentioned. That is, spawn two grids into your Creative game: one with the ghost images for reference so you know what is where, and one without them as your "working copy" that you then modify.

[CJM]

Originally posted by Pembroke:

That is, spawn two grids into your Creative game: one with the ghost images for reference so you know what is where, and one without them as your "working copy" that you then modify.

I'm having trouble spawning the first grid, the one with ghost images for reference. Can you provide instructions to get the ghost images working?

Hypothetically, I could use a projector? However, Philosophrog claims he isn't using projectors, and so that would defeat the goal of "recreating the issue".

[Pembroke]

Don't know how that "ghost blocks" works. I assumed they are the result if you don't own the DLCs the blueprint uses. I own all of them so can't check...

[Philosophrog]

Thanks for the replies & comments. @Dan2D3D, thanks for the suggestion to use Red Ship v2 - it does load really fast. This is not a crisis for me, just something I would like to understand - so don't spend more time on this than the "feature" or bug deserves.

The mod is "B-Rider (The Rules of Acquisition)" by BeebleBum's Workshop at
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3010402777

Here is a screenshot after pasting the mod in Creative Mode.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3373723530

Note the Searchlight on top toward the front, and the hard-to-see black-on-grey "pipe railing" high on the side along the rear quarter. In the live game, these shimmer like projections.

I have the Wastelands and Heavy Industry DLCs which are used quite a bit on the B-Rider, but I do not have Warfare 2 (for Searchlight) or Sparks Of The Future (for Neon Tubes Down used to make the "railing"). I expected the searchlight & railing to simply be missing, much like CJM reports. Perhaps there is something unusual about the circumstances here. Edit: like CJM, I got a warning and had to "Paste Anyway".

I did find that if I delete blocks near the searchlight & railing, they will disappear. I started with just the blocks they touched, but had to go on to other blocks in the area (not sure of the exact distance). That gives me a way of creating a clean blueprint after repairing the removed blocks.

Thanks again for your interest and suggestions.

[Alrethe]

Seems perfectly reasonable to me that blocks you don't own from the DLC would either be missing or shimmering from a Blueprint. I expect the shimmering is the Dev's way to remind you that you need to buy the DLC for this block. Think of it as a marketing ad in a way. haha. I agree with Pembroke. Build it in creative. Remove the DLC blocks you don't own. Create your own Blueprint of it with the missing or replaced blocks. Profit.

[Dan2D3D]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3010402777
I see it's a Blueprint having the -> Wasteland DLC <- and piston that is probably used as "car jack".
+
I don't know if it uses Mods but that is easy to test to know. I just have to paste it in a Vanilla world set creative mode and a pop message will tell me.

_________

Solution :
So you need Wasteland DLC to be able to build it with projector or be able to paste it in creative mode without missing blocks.

OR
You ask the Workshop author to share his DLC creation in a world saved on the Workshop, this way you will be able to use it even if you don't have the DLC.

[Dan2D3D]

I will add :

Looks like the Workshop did not detected all DLCs because it says only Wasteland DLC used in the Wrokshop item description.

EDIT

Needed DLCs are :
- Warfare 2
- Wasteland
- Heavy Industry

[Philosophrog]

@Dan2D3D Thank you for looking at the Workshop mod and your advice.

And thanks to all for your replies and suggestions. I gather that this is not a well-known problem with a simple solution - and that is interesting to know. I still find the behavior puzzling, but that sometimes happens in Space Engineers. This discussion has shown me several ways that I can proceed, which is quite helpful. Much appreciated.

[Dan2D3D]

I always recommend Workshop authors to share DLC creations in a world saved in their Workshop, this way all will be in automatically on loading the save from "Community Content" Category and players just have to Blueprint it if they want.

Same for Modded creations = Best to share in a world having the Mods in, all will be in automatically so players don't have to create the Modded world to try the creation.

[glabifrons]

Did you check to see if the blueprint includes its own projector?
Some do, and if it was enabled when saved it may be the root cause.

[Jack Schitt]

Originally posted by Philosophrog:

I am pretty new to use of blueprints & projectors, but have built a few vanilla objects from workshop blueprints. Now I am building a workshop rover that uses 4 DLCs. I just bought my first DLCs, including the 2 that the rover uses most.

When I build the rover by pasting the blueprint in Creative Mode, the parts from the DLCs that I have work just as expected. But to my surprise, the parts from the DLCs I do not have show up on the rover as "ghost images" - looking as if they are projected, even though there is no projector in use. I did the build in Creative Mode, and the ghost images remained after switching to Survival Mode.

I also resumed an earlier build in Survival Mode with a projector and was able to build the newly available DLC blocks. After detaching the rover from the projector, this build also showed ghost images of blocks from uninstalled DLCs.

The effect persists after save & restart. Since the parts don't actually "exist", I can find no way to delete them. It seems like they are destined to "haunt" the rover indefinitely.

Is this typical when blueprints use a DLC that isn't installed? User error on my part? A known bug? Thanks for any suggestions about what's going on and how I might resolve it.

That's how DLC is supposed to work. Maybe there's a projector on the ship/rover projecting the ship over itself. A lot of players do that so the vessel gets repaired when it returns from an outing.

[Philosophrog]

Eureka !!! Solved by glabifrons & Jack Schitt. Sure enough, the blueprint includes a projector for repairs, and this was the source of the ghostly images that "looked like projection".

Many thanks to both of you and to all who contributed to the investigation. Solved.