Adding mech variants.

[Rifter]

Hi guys, im thinking of adding some mech variants using the current models just to add variety, since there are lots of variants for current mechs that are not in game.

My question is how to i make them available to the OpFor to use so i see them on the field? is there anything special i need to do or does the OpFor automatically have access to the whole mech folder?

 

[Justin Kase]

It isn't too difficult - you basically copy the original 'Mech files, make the edits inside the files to reflect the variant (and make sure to refer to the correct file versions within the files)

Then you have to add the entries to the VersionManifest.csv file to make them appear in the Skirmish part of the game - along with adding them to the MetadataDatabase.db file to have them appear in the Campaign.

You may want to look at other mods to get an idea of how to do it - or go onto the modding wiki for more details.

Or, if you want something already pre-packaged, there are a couple of existing mods that do this for you already.

Click on the below for details

I have a mod that adds in all the variants of the current 'Mech and vehicle models - anything appropriate up to 3029

@Lynx7725 has a mod that adds in a bunch of variants, as well as new 'Mechs (using the existing models - so you get a Lancelot's stats, but a Black Knight chassis). Currently it is only for Skirmish mode, but I believe he is working toward integrating it in the Campaign.

 

[Rifter]

It isn't too difficult - you basically copy the original 'Mech files, make the edits inside the files to reflect the variant (and make sure to refer to the correct file versions within the files)

Then you have to add the entries to the VersionManifest.csv file to make them appear in the Skirmish part of the game - along with adding them to the MetadataDatabase.db file to have them appear in the Campaign.

You may want to look at other mods to get an idea of how to do it - or go onto the modding wiki for more details.

Or, if you want something already pre-packaged, there are a couple of existing mods that do this for you already.

Click on the below for details

I have a mod that adds in all the variants of the current 'Mech and vehicle models - anything appropriate up to 3029

@Lynx7725 has a mod that adds in a bunch of variants, as well as new 'Mechs (using the existing models - so you get a Lancelot's stats, but a Black Knight chassis). Currently it is only for Skirmish mode, but I believe he is working toward integrating it in the Campaign.

Thanks man it looks like you have already done exactly what i want! I appreciate the effort you modders are putting into this game.

 

[Zoticus77]

Days late to the party here...

If you set up your mech mod to work with ModTek you can get it to handle manifest and database additions by placing an empty file called "break.my.game" in the "../BATTLETECH/Mods" directory.

If you want to be able to buy the new variant mechs, you need to modify the some shop files. That part is still easy, but it the part most likely to conflict with other mods :-(

If you want an example to work from , here's a very simple mod where I add a handful of new mechs to the game (re-using existing in-game models of course).