Modding 101

So I realized that making this from a post to a guide was probably a better idea... So here we are... ᴼʰ ᵍᵒᵈ ʷʰᵃᵗ ᵃᵐ ᴵ ᵈᵒᶦᶰᵍ

Before we start

Before we start I would like to thank Sarkazein for telling me the game was encoded with base 64 and ChoGGi for making save editing a lot easier.

ALRIGHT, SHAMELESS PLUG OVER LET'S MOD THIS GAME WOOOOOOOOOOO

Always backup saves before doing anything!

Preparing saves for editing

Start by downloading ChoGGi's Save Edit Tool
HeatSig_DatFileConverter[github.com]
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1148914883 See Steam thread for help using it.


A web-based character editor

You can always just manually decode[codebeautify.org] and encode[codebeautify.org] with a base64 tool.

Takin.. Changing Names

This is what you see at the top when you open it with notepad. A lot of things are self explanatory if you think about it logically. To change the name just simply delete the name and make a new one, AND BAM, JUST LIKE THAT. You have changed your characters name.

Warning: Changing the name will add a new character with the new name, the old character will still have the same name on the save file, but in-game it will be different.
To circumvent this you have to rename the save file to the name you changed to.

<Header>
Time = 2017-9-22 21:33:15 UTC
TimeNumber = 572477595
Encoded = 1

<Character>
Status = Active
CapturedByFactionIndex = -1
Forename = Yami
Surname = Singeng

Adding and Modifying Items

Addition and Multiplication... Wait what?
Adding Items to your Stash is a piece of cake. Simply change <Item> to <Stash Item>, then add the entry below the last <Item> entry.
If you have more then 9 <item> entries it will delete the last item in your inventory!
(You cannot change the Empty Hands item, I mean how would that even work? Did your hands somehow transform in to a gun? You're not a transformer.)


Modifying Items, also known as "Frack My Shirt Up Fam"
Adding Traits to weapons and gadgets is pretty straight forward, See the list in the next section.

Caveats:
A nade launcher needs at least one of these traits: Concussive/Explosive/Breach/Subverter or it'll crash the game when exploded.
Some items are hard coded; removing or adding Traits does not work.
Also, Gadget Traits do not work with Weapon Items and vice versa, like Explosive with Crashbeam. Neither does conflicting traits like Self-Charging and Rechargable (Restockable is fine)
Use common sense when adding traits and you won't get arrested for Mental Abuse
Don't put Rarity above 4 or you'll get an error message.

Uses = 5 (amount of ammo/charges it currently has, not needed for rechargeable types)

Item Traits

Yes this list, Surprise!

Here you have a good list of Traits that Items can use. Simply place the trait at the bottom of every item and make sure they don’t conflict. Some items will not allow you to add/remove certain traits.

Trait = Lethal
Trait = Ignores Armour
Trait = Ignores Shields (has no description, Devs asked to turn off sharing if you use this)
Edit: Devs used this with Fatal Attraction so guess it's good now ;)
Trait = Needs Armour-Piercing Rounds (uses AP rounds, doesn't penetrate armour)
Trait = Quiet Strike
Trait = Rechargeable
Trait = Restockable
Trait = Self-Charging
Trait = Visitor
Trait = Swapper
Trait = Sidewinder
Trait = Subverter
Trait = Acidic
Trait = Concussive
Trait = Explosive
Trait = Breach (keep some distance, best to use with Remote)
Trait = Impact
Trait = Timed
Trait = Remote
Trait = Proximity
Trait = Sticky (nades stick to people, and sometimes they keep patrolling)
Trait = High Velocity (bullets do pushback)
Trait = Frazzler (doesn't seem to work, at least for nades)
Trait = Disposable (? works on guns/nades)
Trait = Shiplocked (trait is deprecated)

Trait = Rapid Fire
Trait = Extreme Rapid Fire
Trait = Slow Recovery
Trait = Quick Recovery
Trait = Instant Recovery
Trait = Medium Capacity
Trait = High Capacity
Trait = Long Range
Trait = Extreme Range
Trait = Short Dash Range
Trait = Long Dash Range
Trait = Quiet
Trait = Silenced
Trait = Shotgun
Trait = Super Shotgun

Maxed out tools[github.com]

Mysterious Items

Mysterious Items (Thanks to YoungPotassium)

<Stash Item>
Type = oGlitchTrap
Name = Mr. Mysterio
BaseName = Device
TimesUsed = 0
Mysterious = 1
MysteriousImageIndex = 3
Value = 23.33
Rarity = 2
TextColour = 74,171,189
Uses = 3
Trait = Rechargeable
Trait = Medium Capacity
Trait = Long Range
Checksum = 92b2a24c0f77294e09beb2f31cfe9ef7

By putting "mysterious" and making its value "1" as shown above, turns your item into a myyyysterious one.

To change it's texture, you just have to change the "MysteriousImageIndex" value, it goes from 1-4

Textures shown below:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1827416585

Character Traits

Internal save values for each trait (Thanks Midnight)
Trait = 1 = Weak
Trait = 2 = Technophobe
Trait = 3 = Gitch Sickness
Trait = 4 = Proud
Trait = 5 = Shaky
Trait = 6 = Frail
Trait = 7 = Dying
Trait = 8 = Informed
Trait = 9 = Unambitious
Trait = 10 = Tough
Trait = 11 = Rich
Trait = 12 = Heir
Trait = 13 = Supplier
Trait = 14 = Vindictive
Trait = 15 = Silencer
Trait = 16 = Ex Glitcher
Trait = 17 = Ex Sovereign
Trait = 18 = Ex Foundry
Trait = 19 = Ex Offworld
Trait = 20 = Bloodless Vow
Trait = 21 = Pacifist Vow
Trait = 22 = Ghost Vow
Trait = 23 = Blacklisted
Trait = 24 = Lucky

Note: They are put at the end of the <Character> section and only include the "Trait = X" section.

Unique Weapons

Place them in your stash if you don't want to overwrite anything
Make sure to place <Stash Item> below <Item>, or it'll delete whatever item is last (assuming you have 9 items, if you have 8 and add 1 stash item then you'll be fine)

(You cannot change the Empty Hands item, you’re not a transformer)

Everything Gun:

<Stash Item>
Type = oEverythingGun
Name = The Everything Gun
BaseName = The Everything Gun
TimesUsed = 0
Value = 50
Rarity = 4
TextColour = 32,134,233

Fiascos Facebreaker (Thanks MehKind)

<Stash Item>
Type = oFiascosWeapon
Name = Fiasco's Facebreaker
BaseName = Wrench
TimesUsed = 0
Value = 400
Rarity = 4
TextColour = 230,250,255
Trait = Concussive
Trait = Long Dash Range
Trait = Ignores Armour
Trait = Quiet Strike
Trait = Quick Recovery

The Multiball

<Stash Item>
Type = oGrenadeGun
Name = The Multiball
BaseName = The Multiball
TimesUsed = 0
Value = 99
Rarity = 4
TextColour = 32,134,233
Uses = 3
Trait = Lethal
Trait = Restockable
Trait = Timed
Trait = Explosive
Trait = Ignores Armour

Flesh Stripper (Thanks renovated parking lot)

<Stash Item>
Type = oAcidGun
Name = The Fleshstripper
BaseName = The Fleshstripper
TimesUsed = 0
Value = 100
Rarity = 4
TextColour = 32,134,233
Trait = Lethal
Trait = Silenced
Trait = Rapid Fire
Trait = Acidic

Cherry's Fatal Attraction (Thanks Anonymous Crab)

<Stash Item>
Type = oGlitchBlade
Name = Cherry's Fatal Attraction
BaseName = Cherry's Fatal Attraction
TimesUsed = 0
Value = 20
Rarity = 4
TextColour = 32,134,233
Uses = 1
Slot = PrimaryItem
Trait = Lethal
Trait = Slow Recovery
Trait = Long Dash Range
Trait = Quiet Strike
Trait = Ignores Armour
Trait = Rechargeable
Trait = Ignores Shields

Tesh's Instant Connection (Thanks Anonymous Crab)

<Stash Item>
Type = oFastHammer
Name = Tesh's Instant Connection
BaseName = Tesh's Instant Connection
TimesUsed = 0
Value = 40
Rarity = 4
TextColour = 32,134,233
Slot = PrimaryItem
Trait = Concussive
Trait = Long Dash Range
Trait = Instant Recovery

Custom weapons

Pods

SpecialPodType
0 = Default
1 = Sovereign Coldfire
2 = Glitchers Tick
3 = Offworld Angel
4 = Foundry Brick

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1148331195
PodSkin (only works with Default pod)
Skin1 = Yellow
Skin2 = White
Skin3 = Brown
Skin4 = Black with skull
Skin5 = Red

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1148317613
PodState greater than 0 places your pod outside with no fuel

PodThrustColour Seems to randomly pick colours...

Sprites

Weapons

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1148515343
(Thanks ShadowDragon8685)

sAssaultRifle
sAutomaticPistol
sAutomaticRifle
sBoxyRifle
sConcussivePistol
sConcussivePistolHeavy
sConcussiveRifle
sConcussiveRiflePiercing
sConcussiveShotgun
sGreenPistol
sPiercingRifle
sPistol
sPistolRed
sPistolShortRed
sPistolStandard
sRifleBullpupGreen
sShotgun
sShotgunStrap
sSlenderRifle
sSnubPistol

Notes:
sEverythingGun does not work for a firearm sprite. (Sad, but true).
sPiercingRifle does not work for a firearm sprite.
They just default to whatever it otherwise would be for the weapon traits you gave it, or to a concussion pistol sprite. I'm not sure which, since I used a concussion pistol's traits to get all of these.

People (image below out of date)

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1148993084
Use YellowAfterlife's editor for Head types/Body types matched to names

Female
Female_SkinA_1
Female_SkinA_2
Female_SkinA_3
Female_SkinA_4
Female_SkinB_1
Female_SkinB_2
Female_SkinB_3
Female_SkinB_4
Female_SkinD_2
Female_SkinD_3
Female_SkinD_4
HeadFemale_HairA_1
HeadFemale_HairA_2
HeadFemale_HairA_3
HeadFemale_HairA_4
HeadFemale_HairB_2
HeadFemale_HairB_3
HeadFemale_HairB_4
HeadFemale_HairC_1
HeadFemale_HairC_2
HeadFemale_HairC_3
HeadFemale_HairC_4
HeadFemale_HairD_1
HeadFemale_HairD_2
HeadFemale_HairD_3
HeadFemale_HairD_4

Male
Male_SkinA_1
Male_SkinA_2
Male_SkinA_3
Male_SkinA_4
Male_SkinB_1
Male_SkinB_2
Male_SkinB_3
Male_SkinB_4
Male_SkinD_3
Male_SkinD_4
HeadMale_HairA_1
HeadMale_HairA_2
HeadMale_HairA_3
HeadMale_HairA_4
HeadMale_HairB_1
HeadMale_HairB_2
HeadMale_HairB_3
HeadMale_HairB_4
HeadMale_HairC_1
HeadMale_HairC_2
HeadMale_HairC_3
HeadMale_HairC_4
HeadMale_HairD_1
HeadMale_HairD_2
HeadMale_HairD_3
HeadMale_HairD_4

Helmet
Head_HelmetA_1
Head_HelmetA_2
Head_HelmetA_3
Head_HelmetA_4
Head_HelmetB_3
Head_HelmetB_4
Head_HelmetC_1
Head_HelmetC_2
Head_HelmetC_3
Head_HelmetC_4
Head_HelmetD_1
Head_HelmetD_2
Head_HelmetD_3
Head_HelmetD_4

Contractor ones (thanks busysalad):
Tracker
Male_SkinF_1
Head_HelmetF_1

Defender
Male_SkinF_2
Head_HelmetF_2

Jammer
Male_SkinF_3
Head_HelmetF_3

Predator
Male_SkinF_4
Head_HelmetF_4

Misc

Add custom names to the roster:
Head to the Heat Signature program folder (Steam properties>local files>browse this game)
open Forenames.txt or Surnames.txt, add and save (unknown if limitations on whether spaces and so on can be used in names). These files might be reset when game updates.

While in that folder you can edit the ship graphics: Foundry/Glitchers/Offworld Security/Sovereign folders (greyscale glitcher ships)

Defector Mission Editing (Thanks Unentokku):
The ship size/segment limits by faction are:
0 (Glitchers)=11
1 (Foundry)=20
2 (Offworld)=14 (1 and 3 are only uneven amounts you'll see in-game)
3 (Sovereign)=22 (gets adjusted upwards to be 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19 or 22)

There doesn't seem to be a upper limit to number of guards (tried 20 groups of 200) but performance can get bad after enough of them.

Reset Mission Inspiration (Thanks hotmatrixx)
A variable represented as a decimal point:
TotalLiberationProgress = 0.30

Bring back the Dead
They're stored in Workshop\Characters
You'll need to change
Status = Captured
to
Status = Active
Click "Save As", and go to Galaxy X\Characters, and save it as "Char Name".dat

Options.txt (see: %appdata%\Heat_Signature\Options.txt)
GodMode = 1 (useful for testing)
LogToDisk = 1 (logs crashes to Logs.txt Thanks hotmatrixx)
DeveloperShortcut = 1 (I'd like to know what it does, but I don't)

The end

Hope we all learned something today, I for one learned about the futility of trying to save baby pinguins from the cold. Picture not related but fitting
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Don’t forget to like and favorite the guide, it helps a lot :)
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[ChoGGi]

You can add achievements with the Steam Achievement Manager.

[appy aperture]

It's so joever

[Helion]

I have no idea, it's been years since I played this game

[appy aperture]

That would be useful.

[JazzimoX]

Can I use this to cheat the multiplayer achievements? Such as adding a weapon or character with a tag that describes an originating Steam friend?

[ChoGGi]

ehh... copy paste?

[binsworth]

Why does Fiasco's Facebreaker have a different color code than the rest? What are you planning?

[Mì gói khô]

what's the point of adding instant recovery when the recovery speed for melee is hardcoded

[Helion]

@PrepKeNile if you mean editing the defector missions it's written about in the "Misc" part

[Asiku]

now all we need is one for the defector missions