How to install and use mods for Terra Invicta

This guide describes how to install and use mods for Terra Invicta.

Introduction

There are two types of mods for Terra Invicta:

- .json (template) mods
- .dll (code) mods

Template mods are as easy to install as clicking on a button, while .dll mods require installing a mod manager, like Unity Mod Manager, BepInEx, or MelonLoader. Unity Mod Manager and BepInEx are not guaranteed to work together, thus mods that require either one or the other may require some testing.

Installing .json (template) mods

First of all, you need to tick the "use mods" checkbox in the main menu's "mods" window. If you don't, any .json or localization mods will not work. After that, installing .json mods is as easy as dragging and dropping the mod folder in the "Terra Invicta/Mods/Enabled" folder. If it doesn't exist, just create it.



If you're installing a mod through the Steam Workshop, things get a little more complicated. As of version 0.4.32, just subscribing to the mod from its Workshop page will not install the mod on your computer.

You can see that when clicking on the "Browse Steam Workshop" button, as the mod will just appear as subscribed to in the main menu's "mods" window. If you want to actually install the mod, you'll need to click on the disk icon to the right, as you can see in the screenshot below.

Installing .dll (code) mods

The fist thing to do is to grab Unity Mod Manager or BepInEx.

To install Unity Mod Manager, download the most recent version from here[www.nexusmods.com], unzip the file, and run "UnityModManager.exe". In the window that pops up, select "Terra Invicta" in the dropdown menu beside "Game", and select the path to the game folder under it. Be sure to have "DoorstopProxy" as the selected intsallation method, then click on "Install".


Alternatively, if your mod requires BepInEx, this guide[github.com] explains how to make it work.

Once that is done, installing .dll mods is as easy as installing .json mods. The same process applies, so you'll need to drag and drop the mod folder in "Terra Invicta/Mods/Enabled", or, if using the Steam Workshop, start the game, open the mods screen in the main menu, and subscribe and click on the disk icon for every mod you like. Just be aware that unticking the "use mods" box will not disable mods that use code injection to work, so any mod that uses Unity Mod Manager or BepInEx.

Updating mods

As of version 0.4.43, installed mods will not update themselves, or even notify you when an update is available. This is a limitation of the mod manager the game comes with.

For Windows, the only reliable way to force a mod to update is to just delete the "Terra Invicta/Mods/Enabled/Mod Name" and "Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\1176470\Mod Workshop Code" folders and re-installing them through the main menu mods screen, as explained in the previous sections. Even unsubscribing from them in the Workshop will not reliably remove them from your game folder.

To find the mod's workshop code, check its URL. What you're looking for is the first sequence of numbers that appears after "id=". For example for Outliner Overhaul Mod, its URL is "https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3243201397", so its code is 3243201397.

To make this less of a hassle, you can select the "installed" option from the drop down menu, as that will show all the mods you're subscibed to, not those you've installed locally, despite what the name says.