Changing Starter Mech, Lance and Mechwarriors

[Trucker]

So for those of you that want to change your starter mech, starter lance mechs and mechwarriors........

The file you need is SimGameConstants.JSON found in;
SteamApps\common\BATTLETECH\BattleTech_Data\StreamingAssets\data\simGameConstants

Starter mechs are defined under.....

Commander; "StartingPlayerMech"
Lance; "StartingLance"

Next find the mechdef_ID of the mech you want. This is basically the JSON file name for the mech found in;
SteamApps\common\BATTLETECH\BattleTech_Data\StreamingAssets\data\mech

Copy the file name of the mech you want and paste over the mechdef_ID you want to change
ie....."mechdef_blackjack_BJ-1" (keep the "")


Starting Mechwarriors are defined under;
"StartingMechWarriors"

Existing Preset Mechwarriors are found in;
SteamApps\common\BATTLETECH\BattleTech_Data\StreamingAssets\data\pilot
Those that you hire are random generated except for backer pilots.
This is the folder to put your own custom pilots also.

Other variables can be changed in SimGameConstants.JSON such as;
"MechCostPerQuarter"
"LeopardBaseMaintenanceCost" (Your bank debt)

etc....I'll let you all play around with the rest.

NB; Changing your starter mech in SimGameConstants.JSON will not change your mech in the tutorial missions.

For this you need to look for ."mechdef_blackjack_BJ-1" in;
Story_1A_Retreat_Default.JSON and Story_1B_Retreat_Default.JSON

Found @; SteamApps\common\BATTLETECH\BattleTech_Data\StreamingAssets\data\contracts

If you want to keep the fluff you'll also need to change some text so everyone doesn't refer to your Atlas as a Blackjack in the Tutorial.

Happy Hunting

[saice]

It would have been nice id HBS just had a mech choice as part of the background options. Even a limited selection would have been nice.

[Neme]

I changed the tutorial mech, changed it to something that did not have jump jets, could not continue it any further past the jump jet part since i could not jump jet down of the cliff then walk over into the water lol

[dhumphreys52]

Any way to change 'mech inventory after the tutorial mission?

[Trucker]

Początkowo opublikowane przez dhumphreys52:

Any way to change 'mech inventory after the tutorial mission?

The 1st tutorial mission is actually two seperate missions
Story_1A_Retreat_Default.JSON
Story_1B_Retreat_Default.JSON

The mech used in story 1A (the basic tutorial stuff) is a normal BJ.

The mech used in 1B (where raju is killed) is a BJ-1-STARTER. There is some extra code in this .JSON file and you can change the loadout if you want.

However the mech you start with in the metalworks mission (defending the mine) is the one you will carry on through the campaign.

This mech can be changed in SimGameConstants.JSON as per OP above. To change the loadout of this mech without effecting the normal BJ you can set it BJ-1-STARTER and change the loadout in mechdef_blackjack_BJ-1-STARTER.JSON or you can make your own mechdef_XXX.JSON. Just copy the JSON of the mech you want, rename it, then change loadout. Add your custom mechdef_XXX.JSON to SimGameConstants.JSON.

[the_masked_raider]

I can change the starting lance easy, but I've been having trouble changing the pilots.
I don't want to doubt you but can you post a screenshot of it?
Also if you want to skip the tutorial missions go to milestones folder in data open the milestone_003_title_coronation_palace.json and change the number next to "value" found in the "results" area from 100 to 114. This will take you from character creation and jump you straight to the leopard.

[Trucker]

Początkowo opublikowane przez the_masked_raider:

I can change the starting lance easy, but I've been having trouble changing the pilots.
I don't want to doubt you but can you post a screenshot of it?
Also if you want to skip the tutorial missions go to milestones folder in data open the milestone_003_title_coronation_palace.json and change the number next to "value" found in the "results" area from 100 to 114. This will take you from character creation and jump you straight to the leopard.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1371550016

[the_masked_raider]

pictures broken, but now that I can reply changeing any of the starting lance leads to an infinite load time on starting a newgame so I'm wondering why that is. is it cause it requires a 3d character portrait?

[Trucker]

Początkowo opublikowane przez the_masked_raider:

pictures broken, but now that I can reply changeing any of the starting lance leads to an infinite load time on starting a newgame so I'm wondering why that is. is it cause it requires a 3d character portrait?

You have to define the new mechwarriors portraits in SimGameConstants; "StartingMechWarriorPortraits"

You can use the preset 3d portraits found in portraits folder. Just have to figure out which are male and female.......Or if you want to spend time to work it out, you could make your own portrait preset.

Haven't found where the 2d portrait pictures are found yet. But the pilot_XXX.JSON defines them as "Icon"


Here are the changes i made to the SimGameConstants.JSON to get a working starting Lance. No loading hangups at all....even changed the starting planets to Taurian space in the same file.

"StartingPlayerMech" : "mechdef_enforcer_ENF-4R",
"StartingLance" : [
"mechdef_commando_COM-2D",
"mechdef_panther_PNT-9R",
"mechdef_cicada_CDA-2A",
"mechdef_locust_LCT-1V"
],
"StartingMechWarriors" : [
"pilot_sim_starter_shoe",
"pilot_sim_starter_trigger",
"pilot_story_mastiff",
"pilot_sim_starter_medusa"
],
"StartingMechWarriorPortraits" : [
"PortraitPreset_10",
"PortraitPreset_39",
"PortraitPreset_55",
"PortraitPreset_medusa",
],

[Rob'sEvilTwin]

Love your work! Now if only I could work out how to get to add my favourite KS pilot portraits.

[DarkFenix]

Steiner scout lance, here I come!

[Drakich]

So I've changed my starter mech as described above... instructions on how to do it are everywhere online right now... the thing is though is I want to use one of the mechs from the JK Variants mod instead of one of the stock designs. So I used JK's Grand Dragon, however it doesn't work. Whenever Iaunch that mission right before the Leopard I'm still in a blackjack.

I get that it has something to do with JK Variants but I'd think the game would just crash rather stick me in a Blackjack... am I missing a file where the blackjack is hiding and usurping my Grand Dragon? I'm stuck at work atm or I'd be digging for another simGameConstants file. In the mean time if anyone has any guidance I'd be grateful.

[EDIT: For anyone interested my suspicions were correct... I'm using this compilation mod: https://www.nexusmods.com/battletech/mods/136?tab=description which is a... well... compilation of several mods created by multiple people. That means there are multiple copies of the simGameConstants file that the starting mech needs to be updated in. Once I did that I got my shiny new Grand Dragon.]

Thank you!

[Cynical Aspie]

I'll assume that if it's not a mechdef JSON file (i.e. a DLC 'mech), it's unusable. Guess I can kiss the Rifleman goodbye.

[Scathe]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Nine-Ball Seraph:

I'll assume that if it's not a mechdef JSON file (i.e. a DLC 'mech), it's unusable. Guess I can kiss the Rifleman goodbye.

thank you for your necroing this thread, I would never have thought to try changing files around like this. I'm not interested in trying to change up the blackjack since they talk about it in so many places, but, the rest of the starting lance? absolutely. and no, I see no need to throw in overpowered mechs, but the vindicator and shadowhawk are too good, it may make for an interesting challenge to replace them with some of the mechs on the bottom rung of power rankings by players, looking at cicada, trebuchet, quickdraw, dragon, not sure what combo of 2 of those 4 would be most interesting. then replace the spider with a panther maybe to balance the lance's power back upwards a bit. that would give you more of a feel of needing to replace mechs in your starting lance I think.

[DreadPirate761]

I have attempted this, but the starter mechs remain unchanged. Is there something I may be missing?