Learn how to edit the XML files

[Shini]

Take the time to learn how to edit the xml files and you can completely change how this game plays. The way the developers have made this game makes it very easy for an average joe like myself with no coding knowledge to completely change every aspect of the game. (and I mean every aspect).

[B1LL60]

Yeah, I did this for last update... Makes it more tailored for 'me'!

There are lots of guides on the forums too.

[Surmene]

Yep. Notepad++ is your friend.

[Humpenstilzchen]

Agreed, that is the most awesome part about that game..that it is so easily modable..

[DedZedNub]

Ok, since there are lots of guides on the forums for this, how about each of you list the best guide and the link to it so that the rest of us can benefit from your expertise and opinion.

[dominicawb]

its great, though for some reason I think it causes bugs to pop up a bit more frequently depending on what kind of changes you make.

[Venorek]

Originally posted by DedZedNub:

Ok, since there are lots of guides on the forums for this, how about each of you list the best guide and the link to it so that the rest of us can benefit from your expertise and opinion.

I second that. +1

[Valmar]

Originally posted by DedZedNub:

Ok, since there are lots of guides on the forums for this, how about each of you list the best guide and the link to it so that the rest of us can benefit from your expertise and opinion.

I dont know which ones are the "best" since I didn't use them. Back when I started modding there weren't really any guides and it was basically the wild west. Everyone for themselves. Now there are a ton of different guides for all different aspects of modding. So much so that they have their own forum section dedicated to it.

https://7daystodie.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?80-Tutorials-amp-Guides

However, imo, probably one of the best ways is to just ask the modding community for help. They're the best guide you can get.

The basic videos included here would be good for getting a general understanding:
https://7daystodie.com/forums/showthread.php?37611-7DTD-MODDING-Tutorial

Though another thing to consider is to just open up one of the xml files like items.xml and read it for a bit. Skim through it. Assuming how toned your reading comprehension skills are you should be able to make sense of must of it. Most of the code is pretty simple and straight forward and doesn't require some math-wized developer linux command knowledge to grasp.

For example if you can't figure out what EntityDamage or BlockDamage means then you're probably not the type of person to be looking in these files anyway.

If you do have any questions or need assistance with your modding please feel free to make a topic in the modding section either on steam or the official forums. Most modders hang out in the official forums but I'm everywhere and I'm sure I'd offer my insight if I saw a question. Lol.

Good luck, have fun.



Also... to give everyone an idea of things modders can do and have done already:

Working Electric Lights
More Farming
More Cooking
More Weapons
More Blocks
More Enemy Types
More Traps
Gun Silencers
New Guns
New UI (food and hunger bars anyone? :) )
New Clothes
New Armor
New Quests (one guy even has a whole singleplayer story-quest set up, amazing!)
New Perks/Skills

New New New. Seriously you'd be surprised at some of the things modders have been able to make. Drawbridges. Hidden doors. Electricity. The list goes on and on.

Shameless plug but my Valmod Expansion Pack mod does a ton of this stuff already. So its not just a bunch of "what-ifs" or "maybe it could be done". This stuff exists and has been part of the game for many alphas now. There are a lot of great modders and mod packs out there that add so much to the game and can completely reshape your experience.

Great thing about mod packs is that they're so easy to install anyone can do it with just a simple drag and drop. Anyone who wants to get more out of their game or are getting bored of the same-ol-same-ol should seriously considering looking up some of the amazing mods the community has to offer.

[Venorek]

I've done some minor xml editting. I added a recipe to make scrap brass cause I was having an issue finding it. It took 1 unit of lead and 1 unit of iron to make 1 scrap. What I really wanted to do was add copper and zinc to the minable metals in order to make my own brass that was a lot more realistic, but I'm not sure how to add those items and set their sprit/icon.

[Valmar]

Originally posted by Venorek:

I've done some minor xml editting. I added a recipe to make scrap brass cause I was having an issue finding it. It took 1 unit of lead and 1 unit of iron to make 1 scrap. What I really wanted to do was add copper and zinc to the minable metals in order to make my own brass that was a lot more realistic, but I'm not sure how to add those items and set their sprit/icon.

Copper already has a block ore actually.

If you want to add it to spawn randomly so you can mine it for scrap iron open the biomes.xml and add it beside all the ironores.

Just add this line in the sections where you see other ores. I'd go with potassiumNitrate instead of iron though since its less abunadant. But whichever works best.

<resource blockname="copperOre" cluster="1" prob="0.1" rwgGenerationType="all" />

[Venorek]

Oh, ok. And I guess I could use the nitrate block for zinc... Hm... Thanks, Val.

[Cobretti]

I am happy with what the current community is doing on the modding scene so until I grow bored of those mods or those guys leave the game, I'll stay away from xmls.

I think anything beyond a few basic setting changes would be quite time consuming.

[Valmar]

Originally posted by Cobretti:

I am happy with what the current community is doing on the modding scene so until I grow bored of those mods or those guys leave the game, I'll stay away from xmls.

I think anything beyond a few basic setting changes would be quite time consuming.

I can attest to the time consuming. Took me like two weeks to make the Classic Horde Survival mod. Valmod Overhaul/Expansion Pack... who knows how many hours I've sunk into that... LOL.

[Surmene]

I can vouch about tinkering with file taking a good chunk of time. I forget which build release it was, 13 to 14? It changed a lot of names to various items and blocks and as such rendered my recipes unusable until I found the correct name to work with. Also Electric Lights mod is awesome. I need to consider experimenting with SDX if that's the name.

[Valmar]

Originally posted by Surmene:

I can vouch about tinkering with file taking a good chunk of time. I forget which build release it was, 13 to 14? It changed a lot of names to various items and blocks and as such rendered my recipes unusable until I found the correct name to work with. Also Electric Lights mod is awesome. I need to consider experimenting with SDX if that's the name.

You dont need SDX for electric lights. I have them purely XML-driven and it works alright. Though probably not as fancy as SDX mods which can be more complex like needingyou to use a generator to power the electricty in your house or something like that. :)

[Surmene]

Originally posted by Valmar:

Originally posted by Surmene:

I can vouch about tinkering with file taking a good chunk of time. I forget which build release it was, 13 to 14? It changed a lot of names to various items and blocks and as such rendered my recipes unusable until I found the correct name to work with. Also Electric Lights mod is awesome. I need to consider experimenting with SDX if that's the name.

You dont need SDX for electric lights. I have them purely XML-driven and it works alright. Though probably not as fancy as SDX mods which can be more complex like needingyou to use a generator to power the electricty in your house or something like that. :)

Yep. Your light mod's the only one I use thus far. I haven't delved too deep in SDX mostly because of that daunting feeling dealing with something possible more complex.