So, you want custom characters for Desktop Mate? Well, without an official workshop page yet, this is the best alternative for now. All links to sources and programs used will be listed at the bottom of this review.

1. Download Melon Loader. Specifically, download the one on the GitHub page that says "MelonLoader.Installer.exe" Once downloaded, open up the .exe and choose Desktop Mate when the list of supported applications show up. Note that you'll need .NET Desktop Runtime for this, so also download that if you don't have it already. If Desktop Mate does not appear automatically, you can add the program manually by going to the directory of wherever you installed Desktop Mate. Easiest way to do this is to go to your Steam Library, right-clicking on Desktop Mate, hover down to Manage, then clicking on Browse Local Files and copy-pasting the directory (click the section that ends with "steamapps > common > Desktop Mate" and making sure the directory is highlighted in blue before copying it with ctrl + c or right-click copy) into the "Add Game Manually" popup in Melon Loader (select DesktopMate.exe). From there, install the software. I used version 0.6.6 personally without enabling nightly builds. Keep the Desktop Mate file directory open, we'll need it for the next step!
   
   
2. Download Mod Launcher. This will enable VRM file support, the type of models we can import into Desktop Mate. The latest release upon typing this review is 1.0.3, which allows VRM 0.0 models to work (before this release only VRM 1.0 worked). Download CustomAvatarLoader.zip and extract it to wherever you see fit, basically just anywhere you won't lose it. Inside the zip you'll see two folders named "Mods" and "UserLibs" Copy them and paste them into the Desktop Mate file directory from earlier.
   
   
3. Optional: Open Desktop Mate. You can either do this now or after downloading your custom model (next step). When opening the program, you'll see a command prompt opening. Don't panic, this is normal. Desktop Mate will automatically load after a short wait, about 60 seconds or so, and it should open normally. Keep it open or close it, this will not change the outcome.
   
   
4. Download a model. This is the fun part! Go to the VRoid Hub and search for your desired model! IMPORTANT TIP: SOME MODELS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD. TO FILTER THESE OUT, ONCE YOU SEARCH FOR YOUR MODEL, CLICK "Filter by conditions of use" AND TURN ON "Third-party use: YES" TO BE SAFE, I ALSO ENABLED "Download: YES" Once you find a model you like, you can even preview it on its download page! This'll show the model moving around. You can even rotate the model around or zoom if you like by holding down left-click and dragging or using the scroll wheel on your mouse respectively! Once you find a model you like, download it by clicking on "Use this model," checking the box that says "I will use this model data according to the conditions of use," and hitting "Download"
   
   
5. Importing your custom model!!! Final step! Open Desktop Mate if you didn't before the Downloading a Model step. Again, a command prompt will open if you didn't do this before. Once it loads, and you see your current avatar, hit the F4 key on your keyboard. Now, for people that aren't too familiar with computers, I mean the SINGULAR KEY WITH BOTH F AND 4 NEXT TO EACH OTHER. This will open up your files. Navigate to your custom model, and select it by either double-clicking with the left mouse or clicking it once with the left mouse and hitting "Open"

Congrats! Your custom model should load up!

To prevent the console/command prompt from loading every time you open the program, right-click on Desktop Mate in your Steam Library again and instead click on Properties. In the "Launch Options" section under General, paste this WITHOUT the quotation marks: "--melonloader.hideconsole" Close the window and you should be okay the next time you open the program!

Links to sources used:
Melon Loader [github.com]
Custom Avatar Loader [github.com]
VRoid Hub (Models You Can Import) [hub.vroid.com]

If you prefer a visual guide, please refer to this wonderful YouTube video. Please go there to ask for help, I'm not too knowledgeable with this type of thing.

Enjoy!

To make this an actual review, I might as well say this:
Yes it's good I can make anime women jumpscare me when it's time for me to do something.

[h1] READ THIS FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO WORKSHOP SUPPORT. YES YOU CAN GET CUSTOM CHARACTERS THIS WAY. [/h1] So, you want custom characters for Desktop Mate? Well, without an official workshop page yet, this is the best alternative for now. All links to sources and programs used will be listed at the bottom of this review. [olist] [*]Download Melon Loader. Specifically, download the one on the GitHub page that says "MelonLoader.Installer.exe" Once downloaded, open up the .exe and choose Desktop Mate when the list of supported applications show up. Note that you'll need .NET Desktop Runtime for this, so also download that if you don't have it already. If Desktop Mate does not appear automatically, you can add the program manually by going to the directory of wherever you installed Desktop Mate. Easiest way to do this is to go to your Steam Library, right-clicking on Desktop Mate, hover down to Manage, then clicking on Browse Local Files and copy-pasting the directory (click the section that ends with "steamapps > common > Desktop Mate" and making sure the directory is highlighted in blue before copying it with ctrl + c or right-click copy) into the "Add Game Manually" popup in Melon Loader (select [b]DesktopMate.exe[/b]). From there, install the software. I used version 0.6.6 personally without enabling nightly builds. Keep the Desktop Mate file directory open, we'll need it for the next step! [*]Download Mod Launcher. This will enable VRM file support, the type of models we can import into Desktop Mate. The latest release upon typing this review is 1.0.3, which allows VRM 0.0 models to work (before this release only VRM 1.0 worked). Download CustomAvatarLoader.zip and extract it to wherever you see fit, basically just anywhere you won't lose it. Inside the zip you'll see two folders named "Mods" and "UserLibs" Copy them and paste them into the Desktop Mate file directory from earlier. [*]Optional: Open Desktop Mate. You can either do this now or after downloading your custom model (next step). When opening the program, you'll see a command prompt opening. Don't panic, this is normal. Desktop Mate will automatically load after a short wait, about 60 seconds or so, and it should open normally. Keep it open or close it, this will not change the outcome. [*]Download a model. This is the fun part! Go to the VRoid Hub and search for your desired model! [b]IMPORTANT TIP: SOME MODELS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD. TO FILTER THESE OUT, ONCE YOU SEARCH FOR YOUR MODEL, CLICK "Filter by conditions of use" AND TURN ON "Third-party use: YES" TO BE SAFE, I ALSO ENABLED "Download: YES"[/b] Once you find a model you like, you can even preview it on its download page! This'll show the model moving around. You can even rotate the model around or zoom if you like by holding down left-click and dragging or using the scroll wheel on your mouse respectively! Once you find a model you like, download it by clicking on "Use this model," checking the box that says "I will use this model data according to the conditions of use," and hitting "Download" [*]Importing your custom model!!! Final step! Open Desktop Mate if you didn't before the Downloading a Model step. Again, a command prompt will open if you didn't do this before. Once it loads, and you see your current avatar, hit the F4 key on your keyboard. Now, for people that aren't too familiar with computers, I mean the SINGULAR KEY WITH BOTH F AND 4 NEXT TO EACH OTHER. This will open up your files. Navigate to your custom model, and select it by either double-clicking with the left mouse or clicking it once with the left mouse and hitting "Open" [/olist] Congrats! Your custom model should load up! To prevent the console/command prompt from loading every time you open the program, right-click on Desktop Mate in your Steam Library again and instead click on Properties. In the "Launch Options" section under General, paste this WITHOUT the quotation marks: "--melonloader.hideconsole" Close the window and you should be okay the next time you open the program! Links to sources used: [url=https://github.com/LavaGang/MelonLoader] Melon Loader [/url] [url=https://github.com/YusufOzmen01/desktopmate-custom-avatar-loader] Custom Avatar Loader [/url] [url=https://hub.vroid.com/en] VRoid Hub (Models You Can Import) [/url] If you prefer a visual guide, please refer to [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqjfT6QzRLM] this wonderful YouTube video. [/url] Please go there to ask for help, I'm not too knowledgeable with this type of thing. Enjoy! To make this an actual review, I might as well say this: Yes it's good I can make anime women jumpscare me when it's time for me to do something.