Editing Save File

[kazooki117]

Is anyone interested in editing their save game file? It might be a little early in the life cycle of the game at this point, but I've been playing around with a hex editor and changed the stats for one of my template characters because I wanted to redistribute their level 1 stats and didn't want to have to just erase the character and re-encounter her in the wild.

I also don't want to post information or a guide for editing the save file if the developer would rather I didn't, because I really enjoy this game and wouldn't want to mar it for the developer. If the developer is fine with it though I'm willing to share the little I've learned if others are interested in doing the same. I plan on only using it for responsible purposes like what I just mentioned, but a characters stats could easily be boosted beyond reasonable, like I did with Borgnina when playing with the save file (screenshot in profile).

[Amateur Nitpicker]

Well you are ambitious but I suggest you refrain editting for now (if you are going to moddify stats, use a memory scanner instead of a hex editor or just use the console command if you are havinfg a hard time levelling up) . The game is a little bit buggy and may very well break (as in missing pathways for other locations or cancelling NPCs screens). If you are confident then go for it but make a back up game before doing anything.

Just to let you know this game is made with Unity and I believe its encryptions are very difficult to extract and read. Unlike some games that can be modified through the use of text files (AKA visual novels made by Python scripts or Ren'Py) , this one is custom made. Also when using HxD, each changed byte must be precise and will be corrupted if a single piece is missing so I advise you to avoid using it entirely if you only want the stats to be modified. Take note though I am a novice at this compared to you

[kazooki117]

Never used a memory scanner before.

What console command are you referring to? The only one I'm aware of is the one the developer mentioned recently in the pinned post, but I haven't really looked around.

From looking at the file it seems there are clearly certain parts of the file for different aspects of the saved game. You can see where the inventory section is, where the party roster section is, where event related information is stored, etc. I was able to determine where the 6 entries for the stats are located for each character, and I can just edit those to whatever I want. Admittedly I haven't played much since I made the changes to see if anything else was affected, but as long as I am just changing those bytes I don't think anything will be changed beyond the stats (I was able to load the game and take the screenshot, at least).

Yeah, opening some of the files you can tell that Unity was used. I've only ever messed around with game files for a limited number of games, so I don't know much about how difficult it is to edit BB files versus other games (which also probably depends on the developer).

But, it sounds like there might be an easier way, which means that there wouldn't be a need for a guide on using a hex editor to edit the save game file.

And yes, before making any changes to save game files like this, you should always make a backup first in case you screw something up

[Amateur Nitpicker]

Memory scanners (Aka Cheat engine) that runs addresses when playing the game. Save game files are compressed data while addresses are uncompiled and easily moddifialble. Watch youtube videos on how to do them. ---More or less you modify numbers

Also forgot to mention*** I believe this thread is illegal just reading the rules.

Don't know if we both be banned for this?

Wait never mind just been reading on the rules, you can discuss it as log as single player. That is why I've been wondering why there was a long @ss thread in Skyrim

[kazooki117]

I figured that's what memory editors do, but since I don't have much experience with them I don't know if they would be easier to work with than a hex editor for a save game file.

Edit: I had a more detailed response, but then you deleted one post and edited the other xp.

So yeah, I will still respect the developer's wishes on this front, and I'll refrain from talking about it much more until then. If something like this is even wanted! If there are easier ways, then I guess people could just do those and wouldn't need to bother with this stuff.

[Amateur Nitpicker]

Sorry that I can't help you further, I just like to help people out... maybe I placed you in danger. So sorry again

[kazooki117]

No I really don't think I'm in danger lol, thanks for your comments.

[Macro Tofu]

Hey! I just noticed this post! Is there a way to hex edit main character's starting perk or alignment? If there is plz teach me how to do it

[kazooki117]

I noticed that there is a hex that seems to relate to the alignment of a character, but when I changed it it didn't seem to actually change the alignment (I tried to change the vigilante chaotic orc to lawful).

It could be that the alignment for characters is stored in a separate place (along with perks and starting stats), which would make sense because this should be independent of the save game file (for example, you make a character template, this character could appear in multiple games). Since the stat allocations are tied more directly to a given playthrough of a game (similar to items and progression), then these are stored in the save game file.

That being said, there is clearly a location for alignment in the save game file data for each character, but it could be that modifying it here is not sufficient (though may be necessary). Or, I could have just done something wrong.

I'll let you know if I find anything the next time I look at the game files.

[jessen21]

Any sign of where the relationship values are? I'd like to speed up on making friends with my band.

[Macro Tofu]

kazooki117님이 먼저 게시:

I noticed that there is a hex that seems to relate to the alignment of a character, but when I changed it it didn't seem to actually change the alignment (I tried to change the vigilante chaotic orc to lawful).

It could be that the alignment for characters is stored in a separate place (along with perks and starting stats), which would make sense because this should be independent of the save game file (for example, you make a character template, this character could appear in multiple games). Since the stat allocations are tied more directly to a given playthrough of a game (similar to items and progression), then these are stored in the save game file.

That being said, there is clearly a location for alignment in the save game file data for each character, but it could be that modifying it here is not sufficient (though may be necessary). Or, I could have just done something wrong.

I'll let you know if I find anything the next time I look at the game files.

There is definitely a location for character template, if one edited a character who has the same name as a saved game character, all changes except skills will apply to that saved game character as well.

It is probably located in "Steam\steamapps\common\Bastard Bonds\Save" but I'm not very sure.

[goofballTex]

I'm certainly interested. I missed one of the unique npcs early in the game and now I'm kicking myself for it. Apparently there's no way to get him back even after resetting the map, which is really bothering me. It'd be nice to be able to just add him to a vacant slot in my stronghold, or at the very least, undo whatever trigger it is that makes him lost forever.

[kazooki117]

goofballTex님이 먼저 게시:

I'm certainly interested. I missed one of the unique npcs early in the game and now I'm kicking myself for it. Apparently there's no way to get him back even after resetting the map, which is really bothering me. It'd be nice to be able to just add him to a vacant slot in my stronghold, or at the very least, undo whatever trigger it is that makes him lost forever.

When I was looking through the data file there was a location that seemed like it stored information from events that took place on maps. I didn't look into this section very much because I didn't need to change anything on here for my personal use, but it's possible that something could be changed there. What NPC was it, and what map did they appear on?

[goofballTex]

Greave, on Burnt Earth Coven. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. If not, well I'm still appreciative

[kazooki117]

I've tried editing the save file in the location I mentioned that references map events, but I wasn't able to fix your issue. I had to restart a new story (because I had already recruited Greave and I wanted as few differences as possible), but I wasn't able to figure out which bytes I needed to modify in order to reset the map.

I also have not been able to figure out where the character template information is hidden. I thought somebody mentioned it was stored as metadata in the PNG images, but I looked there and wasn't able to find it. I wasn't able to find any other obvious locations either.

Maybe somebody else that know more would have better luck.

[goofballTex]

Ah well, it's the thought that counts. Thanks anyways!