Modding guide for Payday 2: Ultimate edition players

There are Many guides about this for Payday 2 back before the idea for the Ultimate Edition was even conceived but since this edition introduced 100k+ players to the game because of the the event where the base game is free

Thought I might make a guide of my own

It is recommended to have the Bundlemodder atleast for the in built Crash reporter linked in the PDmod format section for both Linux and Windows

Introduction

Let's begin with the introdution to the mod types that are known in the Payday 2 modding community.

There are 5 ways to mod your game PDmod format, Mod_Overrides format, BLT mods, "Legacy" hook mods and Beardlib addons

• PDmod format - this is the oldest way to mod Payday 2, So old infact it's the only way to mod Payday: The heist and replaces in-game assets
  
  
• Mod_Overrides format - This particular format is supported natively by Payday 2, This is normally used for Animations, Models, Textures and music replacements as mods using this format are prioritized over Vanilla assets
  
  
• BLT mods - BLT stands for Better Lua injecTor (actually how it's spelt) not Bacon, lettuce and tomato is currently the most developed lua injector for Payday 2 and supports Auto updating
  
  
• LuaHookNG - LuaHookNG is the new kid in town, Currently only supporting HoxHUD (As of July 13th 2017) It's pretty much an updated BLT with no BLt compatiblity as of now
  
  
• Beardlib addons - Beardlib itself is a BLT mod but since it's essentially a library it adds custom resources that allow modders to add completely new functions to mods, Custom weapons, Custom weapon attachments, Custom music, Custom skills, Custom enemies and Custom heists

Where to get mods?

You can start by using Google (Or what ever search engine you use or your country allows) and search "Payday 2 mods".

A few links to sites that host Payday 2 mods

Mod workshop (Formally known as Lastbullet)[www.modworkshop.net]

Payday mods[www.paydaymods.com]

And the Nexus, Which by now you should know what the Nexus is

PDmod format

To beable to install PDmods you will need the bundlemodder by GREAT BIG BUSHY BEARD

• Bundle Modder tool for Windows - Direct link[bitbucket.org]
  
  
• Bundle Modder tool for Linux - Direct link[bitbucket.org]

These mods are thankfully dying off in Payday 2's modding scene but they do have their uses for replacing files that can not be replaced or edited via Mod_Overrides or Lua btu with this come the pain of uninstalling before updating otherwise Rest in Peace Payday 2, to fix this if you had them installed and the game updated out of nowhere is to uninstall and verify game cache (Right click, Properties,local files)

Images on how to install PDmods (Steam wouldn't let me upload them becuase one was a jpeg)

This is only here just to let you know you need to set your assets folder location in the next image

Open up the Payday 2 directory (Main folder), Open your Assets folder and then copy the location in the bar in the top centre and paste it in here








Where the folder with the suspisously long and seems the be the only one there is where you put the PDmods sot he tool can check for them, They can be stored somewhere else but to be avalible to be installed they need to be in the mods folder

Check the mod(s) that you want to install and then apply changes, If a mod that you want is not showing up but is in the mods folder, Refresh the list by clicking the refresh button or restart tool if that didn't work







Basic version

• Locate Assets folder (Steamapps/common/PAYDAY 2/)
  
• Get a mod and put it in the mods folder in the Bundle Modder folder
  
• Restart the tool or click the Refresh button to make it show in the mods tab
  
• Check and apply changes

Mod_Override format

This is the most simple way to install mods and yet I've seen people ask how to install them.

All you need is

• Payday 2 (Obviously)
  
• Some sort of Archive program like Winrar or 7-Zip
  
• The Mod_Overrides folder in (PAYDAY 2/assets/)
  
• A mod in the Mod_Override format

The what that these mods are formatted are identical to PDmods but in the raw files (Example guis/textures/skilltree/icon_atlas.texture/ in folders not converted into a package file)

To install these mods is open the archive (Which tends to be .zip files but I've had some .rar files) then drag them into the Mod_Overrides folder and you are done

This is is where your Mod_Override formatted mods go in






This is what typically you'll see in side a Mod_Overrides mod, If you get one that has an assets or Mod_Overrides folder instead no point opening the folder because how the whole format is you can just merge the Assets or Mod_Overrides folders and the mod will still install

This is just an extention to what I said on the previous image





From here all you need to do is simply drag and drop the folder in to your Mod_Overrides. If it's the assets folder just drag and merge into the Payday 2 folder and if it's a Mod_Overrides folder Drang and merge into the Assets folder

BLT mods (Better Lua injecTor)

Now we get into the good stuff, This is the realm of HUD overhauls, Weapon Rebalances, etc, Where your game is most likely going to die from so much edits to the code in the game (Exaggeration)

What you'll need is

• Payday 2
  
• x86 version of 2013 Visual C++ Runtime - Direct link[download.microsoft.com]
  
• BLT hook - Direct link[github.com]
  
• And a mod you want to install
  
  First things first, Install Visual C++ Runtime (pretty sure you don't need instructions for that)
  
  
  This is the Main directory I mentioned many time, Now time to add stuff to it :D , As you can see I highlighted the .dll with the stupid name and the mods folder
  
  
  
  This is what you should get inside the BLT download
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Now all you need to is drag and drop the contents of BLT into the Payday 2 main Directory and it is recommended to launch the game with no code altering mods installed
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Basic version
  
  Once Visual C++ Runtime has installed, Open up your Payday 2 folder and open the BLT download and drag that into your Payday 2 folder. Best thing to do is launch the game to make sure it's running nicely (Might ask for an update, Update it) if it's all good then you can install the BLT mod you want, Consider launching your game after a mod install just in case there is an update
  
  
  
  SIDE NOTE: Some mod authors have the files that need to be installed inside a folder for some stupid reason, always open to check to see if there is lua files, mods or mods and assets (If your a mod author please stop this it's a waste of time and pointless)
  
  
  BLT mod installation
  
  All BLT mods will have a mods folder in the download if not then drag into the mods folder
  
  
  
  
  
  In this image I'm updating SC's mod, But this is good enough to show that not all mods use just the mods folder, If this is the case for you then drag both into the main directory
  
  
  
  Now that you got both your Payday 2 directory converted to BLT and you got a BLT mod it's time to drag and drop into the mods folder or if your like me drag and drop them in to the Main directorty

LuaHookNG hook mods

ATTENTION: At this moment the time of this guide LuaHookNG is just a baby

ATTENTION: If your like me and switching over to try the mod out since it has no additional library like BLT does, To overcome this any Beardlib mod_overrides needs to be removed out of the mod_override folder or rename the folder to "mod_override (BLT)" or something of that nature

This hook is the new kid in town and wants to bring the old world back.

As this is the new kid at the time of this guide it is only supporting one mod at the moment, Hoxhud :o

For the veterans out there who remembers HoxHUD you know how revolutionary it was in terms of custom huds and if I'm not mistaken the first HUD to be approved by Overkill themselfs


This is pretty much the same as BLT just with more files so all you need to do is drag and drop it your Payday 2's directory

Now since this is a completely new hook, BLT mods will not be compatible unless BLT:CSE is updated which tbh I wish it wasn't a thing and HoxHUD was on BLT but hey I'm not the creator ;P

I'll update when More LuaHookNG mods come out

Beardlib addons

Beardlib is quite possibly the best thing to happen to Payday 2 ever, The ability to extend the functionality of lua based hud mods, Adding fully standalone Weapons, Weapon attachments, Heists, Enemies, Music, etc. Truly the highest point in Payday 2 modding

To install Beardlib you'll need

• Payday 2
  
• BLT already installed
  
• Beardlib - Direct link[modworkshop.net]
  
• OPTIONAL: Music module - Direct link[modworkshop.net]
  
  Now installing Beardlib is pretty easy, Just drag and drop into the mods folder, To install the music module the same thing drag and drop into the mods folder but mod that require beardlib are a bit weird since it's widely used it can either be in the mods folder, The Mod_Overrides folder or if it's a custom Heist it had to be special and require it's own folder called "maps".
  
  
  • Mod_Overrides - Custom weapons, Custom weapon attachments, Custom Music, Custom enemies, Custom skills
    
    
  • Mods - UI mods, Viewmodel mods
    
    
  • Maps - Custom Heists
    
    CAUTION: Beardlib has been known to cause issues as of late, Personally it caused me to crash anyone who is host when I am a client but not everyone will get the same issues as someone else

Mod recommecations for beginners/In-general

These mods I've personally used myself, and I recommend them because I enjoyed them, I found them useful as an infamy 25 player or they just at some spice to an otherwise repetitive game

UI mods

• Payday: The heist hud - This ui brings back most of the ui in Payday: The Heist not to everyone's taste but hey you might like it BEARDLIB REQUIRED
  
  
• MUI - This is a minimalist ui fully adjustable and customizable and removes so many unwanted pixels surrounding the Vanilla ui
  
  
• HoloUI - Pairs fairly nicely with MUI but will need adjusting in the settings but continues the theme of a minimalist UI BEARDLIB REQUIRED
  
  
• Restoration - This mod is a project that aims to restore the game back to it's alpha/beta days and also has custom heist support for Out of Frame BEARDLIB REQUIRED
  
  
• PD:TH menu - This mod is built to make the Payday 2 menus go 88mph and go back in time back when Payday: The Heist was the only game in the Payday franchise
  
  
• Wolfhud - Though shouldn't really be called a mod as such but rather a Mod collection this mod has a collection of mods edited to work together, Customizable but the Developer version on Github is the only version that works but has some compatibility issues.
  
  
• Federal Inventory - This mod replaces the Vanilla inventory icons with the ones found on Fednet, An optional part of wolfhud too
  
  
• Killfeed - Pretty much useless but it's just a little mod to make your game feel like an FPS
  
  
• Pocohud - This mod is a minimalistic mod that adds a few useful things like drill timers, Buff/Debuff timers, Down counter and a bottom info box. Really customizable too but no Mod option menu via the options/mod options menu instead you press backspace NOTE: Really spammy in chat highly recommend disabling all or have custody and downed waning set to everyone - alone setting

Custom weapon mods

• Predator bow REBORN - An explosive compound bow no need to explain why you would need it

UI relient mods

• Fast.net - This mod aims and delivers an improved way to search crime.net and can show upto 50 lobbies at one time, Though this mod is really good, it isn;t fully supportive of Mayhem and One down but still works
  
  
• Scrollable menus - I take this back this isn't recommended........... It's required anyone who used BLT for ages can tell you that to scroll the BLT menus you would need to essensially jack off your mouse Might be a laugh but there is no happy ending

Custom weapon attachments

• Statrak - Adds the CS:GO Statrak into Payday 2 as a custom attachment for most of the guns in the game

Gameplay overhauls BEARDLIB REQUIRED

• SC's Mod - ever thought Vanilla Payday was easy solo? Sc's mod is for you, skill trees are revamped, Skill points limited to 100 and infamy bonuses don't exist, Custom weapon overhaul and brand new enemies. I personally spent 2 whole infamies playing this mod worth it if Vanilla has become nothing but a shooting range filled with live targets LOCKED MULTIPLAYER BEARDLIB REQUIRED
  
  
• Deathwish+ - If you thought Vanilla Deathwish was a insultingly easy then this is the mod for you though you might need friends but if you think Deathwish is easy then this might be a hurdle, Just kidding by the way LOCKED MULTIPLAYER BEARDLIB REQUIRED
  
  
• Seamlink's Gameplay Overhaul - Some players might call this a cheat and to a certain degree I can agree like the whole unlocked multiplayer aspect but as someoen who played it in private matches it's actually extremely fun, Your guns do way more damage like ARs do 200+ and the enemy spawn rates are adjustable but default is pretty high and you can double,Triple and even quaduple jump if set accordinally highly recommend solo or with friends in a private match

[Toreador]

lmao, as far as I know it is the same Windows apart from the bundle modder. I think there is a guide on Mod Workshop's forums

[Toreador]

@GoldenPixel_ Forgot I even had this thread lmao. Also how did you get the idea that is was for Linux?

[Toreador]

Just checked They are not back but they are working on the release, What you saw is proberly the teaser

[Toreador]

@******* Settings, HoxHUD is dead and has been for a few months

[Smol]

Haha reminds me of the "Better than wolves" mod for Minecraft following their wolf update xD

[Toreador]

@Juju Sharks, The funny thing is that whole update was originally a mod and the mod worked better xD

[Smol]

All right thanks a ton, I'm soloing since my friend doesn't want to "Dive into payday 2" yet so having the bots NOT drop safes, gold and all sorts of riches like clumbsy little morons would be nice xD

[Toreador]

@Juju Shark, I personally like to open the folder to see what's in there see whether it's a mod folder type of mod or Override, Since I personally run this mod I can safely say it's simply a mod folder type of mod

[Smol]

No problem, Simply in the mods folder and not in any subfolder beyond?

[Toreador]

@Juju Shark, That mods goes into the mods folder that is located in the Payday 2 main directory, As for the lack of infomation I'm currently editing the guide, Thank you for bringing that to my Attention