Space Engineers 2 | Guide: Create New Thruster

This tutorial provides a quick start guide to creating a new block from scratch in the VRAGE3 Mod Editor.

Prerequisites

⏱️ Time to complete: ~8 mins

Please ensure you have followed the section on “Tool Setup and Mod Creation” in the VRAGE3 Modding Overview guide prior to starting this guide.

If you are not interested in the creation process of your own block model please skip to the VRAGE3 Editor section and use the example thruster models provided which can be found here: steamapps\common\Space Engineers 2 - Mod SDK\ExampleMod1\Modded Ion Thruster

Art creation

Fetching the original model

1. Locate: Locate the vanilla 1m Ion Thruster block .fbx files within the game files. Typically, this is found in the following directory: “steamapps\common\Space Engineers 2 - Mod SDK\GameData\Vanilla\Assets\Blocks\Thrusters\Ion\Models\”.
   
   
2. Copy: Copy all the .fbx files in the non fractured and fractured folders to a separate location outside of the game folders.

These files will be used as a starting point to make minor adjustments via 3d modeling software to the model before they are imported back into the game as new models.

Changing the Mesh & Materials

In this example, we are just going to change one of the materials and resize part of the nozzle using Blender (Free)[www.blender.org].

1. Organisation: To be organised inside Blender, create different Scene Collections to import your Non-Fractured and Fractured meshes.
   
   
2. Import: Import the .fbx files for each collection created.
   
   
3. Material Assignment: In Non-Fractured LOD0 Mesh, modify one of the materials to a different material by dragging the material from the Material Library. You can also select a mesh part and, in edit mode, assign a different material from the Material Properties of the mesh.
   
   
4. Model Adjustment: Model Adjustment: Modify the mesh to your liking, respecting the Tris Limit given by the LOD Calculator (found in VRAGE3 Mod Editor under Window->Model Calculator) and not getting outside of the Bounding box of the object. Specify the grid dimensions of your block, number of triangles of the LOD0 and whether its fractured model or not. The calculator will provide all the necessary information about model limits.
   
   
5. Fractured and Deformed Model Adjustment: Do the same modifications for the rest of the Non-Fractured Mesh, except the Last LOD.

Original / Modified Ion Thruster:

Fractured Model

To fracture our models, we use planes with deformation, and make boolean cuts to the model. We do this process to all LODs and the cuts need to match and respect the tris limit for each fractured LOD - given by the Model Calculator:



Since the fractures are already done in the Ion Thruster Fractured files, we only need to respect and do the same changes that we did on all NonFractured LODs:

Deformed Model

Since we also changed the form of the nozzle, this would make it harder to modify in the already deformed IonThruster mesh.

So we will guide you through the process of deforming the mesh:

1. To keep things organized, we create a duplicate of Fractured LOD0 Collection and rename it to Deformed.
   
   
2. Now to deformed the already fractured pieces, we need to apply a Displace Modifier with the following specifications:
   • We apply the Noise Displacement based on global coordinates, RGB to XYZ direction and Local Space. Try to keep the Strength between 0.05 - 0.1
     
   • In the Mesh Texture Properties add a Clouds Texture: Type Soft, Grayscale Color, size 0.25 and Depth 4.
   With these settings we have a subtle and controlled deformation:
   
   
   
   
3. When you have the proper deformation that you want, you can select all meshes (selecting the and copy the modifier to the selected.
   
   
4. For the LODS, duplicate the rest of the fractured LODs and follow the same process - add the modifier and copy to the rest of the fractures.

Future guides will cover more advanced processes, such as Last LOD Baking, and creation of icons.

VRAGE3 Mod Editor

Adding Source Files and updating .model files

1. Drag Folders: Drag the Modded Ion Thruster folder from `ExampleMod1\` in your operating system's file explorer to the Editor.
   
   
2. Import Utility: When the VRAGE Assets Import Utility appears:
   
   • Ensure all folders and files have a tick mark next to their name.
     
   • Select Snap models to SE2 Grid this will adjust the position transforms for X, Y, and Z to be 0.125.
     
     
     Note: Due to 25cm grid system VRAGE world axis is slightly off centered
     
     
   • Press Import
     Note: On import the model and material file should automatically be generated for you
   
   
3. Open Folder: Double-click on the newly created `NonFractured` folder inside of Assets\Modded Ion Thruster\Models\
   
   
   
4. Select ModdedIonThruster.Model file and in the material assignment section left-click the Asset Finder Button (...) in inspector panel in the ModdedIonThruster_LastLOD field where it says None (MaterialDefinition)
   
   
5. Search for and select moddedIonThruster_LastLod.def
   
   
6. Repeat: Repeat steps 3-5 for the "Deformed" and "Fractured" folders. The model names will be ‘ModdedIonThruster_Deformed.model’ and ‘ModdedIonThruster_Fractured.model’

Creating the Block

Generating the Prefab and the Initial Definitions

1. Right-Click: Right-click on empty space within the project explorer
   
   
2. Create Prefab: Select Create Prefab → Blocks → Breakable → IonThrusters
   
   
3. Name Prefab: A box to enter a name will appear. Name your Prefab "ModdedThruster."
   
   
4. Generated Definitions: All associated definitions of the template will be generated at this point

Core Block Data

1. Select CubeBlock: Select the "CubeBlock Definition" called "ModdedThruster_ThrustersPowerableBlockDefinition.partialdef." It should appear in the "Project Inspector" pane.
   
   
2. Set Icon: Drag the "ModdedIonThruster_Icon.png” into the icon field where it states Cube.
   
   
3. Set Text ID: In the text id field, enter the name of the block as "Modded Thruster."
   
   
4. Other Fields: All other fields have either been pre-setup or can be ignored for now.
   Note: For the purpose of this guide we are adding this block as a size variant of the “Ion Thrusters” For information on adding blocks to the G-Screen follow this guide: VRAGE3 | Guide: G-Screen

Block Model Setup

1. Select Block Model: Select "Block Model Definition" "ModdedThruster_BlockModelDefinition.partialdef." It should appear in the "Project Inspector" pane.
   
   
2. Set Model Non-Fractured (Model): Left-click the Asset Finder Button (...) in the field where it says None in the model field.
   
   
3. Search and Select: Search for and select ModdedIonThruster.model
   
   
4. Repeat steps 2-3 on the Deformed and Fractured Model

Adjusting Dummies

1. Preview the block: Double click on the prefab ModdedThruster.partialdef
   It should automatically appear in the render view
   
   
2. Enable Dummies: With the Render View selected Press the "Preview Settings" (cube icon) button and find the options for Dummies and turn it on.
   
   
   
   
3. Select Block Model Definition: Find and select "ModdedThruster_BlockModelDefinition.partialdef." It should appear in the "Project Inspector" pane.
   
   
4. Thruster Dummy:
   
   • Enable Gizmos: At the top right of the Render View window, press the "Gizmos" (second from the right) button and select "Dummy Nozzle." The selected dummy will now be highlighted in green, and the thin Z-axis line (blue) should now be highlighted yellow, indicating the forward direction of the dummy.
     
     
     
     
   • Move Dummy: Using the gizmo, move the dummy to the preferred location. In this case, it should be about X: 0.125, Y: 0.125, Z: 0.635.
     
     
     Some templates already have the most important dummies added

You should now be able to start your game by going to the menu bar → Project → Start Game, place your block in the world and have a functional thruster, it can be found in Movement → Space Propulsion → Ion thrusters in the G Screen.

Video Guide

Support & Links

In case you need more help, check out the Modding section of our Discord[discord.gg] – our team and community are there to support you!



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