Beginner mod help

[spammeupmrscott]

HI all,

Sorry if these questions have been asked previously, i tried to search the forums but I couldnt find any information. I am looking to try to make a few custom mech variants for HBR Btech, basically add a few 3025 mech variants and one or two 3050 variants. I'm aware a few of the total make over mods have some of these things built in, but I was wanting to cut my teeth on making my own mods as a side project. I have a few questions:

0) is there a mod that makes an in game mech variant designer, or perhaps one that lets me make mech variants without editing the JSON files manually?

 

[spammeupmrscott]

For some reason the spam filter was intercepting my post so I had to break it up into two:

1) A few mechs, such as the cyclops, hatchetman, and the Annihilator, are not present in my data/mech, data/chassis, and data/movement folders. They are present in game obviously, so i know the data has to be around somewhere, but both doing a directory search and manual search of the folders, I havent found them. any idea where they are?

2) What is the hardpoint folder data for mechs? From examination, I'm not understanding what the data here is doing, vs what is in the chassisdef folder.

3) a few lostech mechs (specifically MAD-2R and WHM-7A) dont seem to ever drop in any markets whatsoever. I will grant I've never tried to make factional allies with the Cappy Confed, so I dont know if its in their faction stores or not.

4) is there any dangers of taking a "built in" tagged component like the hatchet and making it available on the market? I notice that a few components like the hatchet and command modules on the marauders have this tag instead of the "component variant" tags that most other ones have.

 

[MarkDey]

Welcome to modding Battletech! I don't have answers for all of these, but I can give a quick reference to question #1. This link has the data for DLC mechs.

 

[spammeupmrscott]

Thank you!