Introduction
I do enjoy creating mods as much as playing the game although i am a very lazy person regarding editing text files and remembering path folders. The initial objective was to have a small tool to use in my modding (started with my very basic custom dyesapplication that had a warming reception from the community), it allowed me to understand the basics of BG3 Modding and also to understand what is needed to automatize the process. I decided to re-build it in an engine that allows me to not only create dyes but to be able to allow modular growth to easily add new modding tools. Soon it started to grow.....
Philosophy The philosophy behind the tool is
- No text file would be needed to be opened to mod unless something very unique is needed.
- No Mapkey/UUID neither Icon/Object names needs to be remembered - Everything must be Drag and Drop compatible.
- The packing of the mod and insertion in the game should be all automated (from the tool to launch the game with no intermediary steps).
- Must allow to easily "peak" on already builded mods or game base objects to understand how thing works without opening or unpacking files.
Version 4 Released
Includes Weapons and some tweaks on version 3.
Version 3 Released
Thanks toWarmHealerandyrdmsshfor the testing and patience on version 2.
Tutorial 1 - Creating cache and basic exploring - Video
Tutorial 2 - Clonning all 42 base game dyes, make them unlimited and put in a custom container with auto pickup - Video
Tutorial 3 - Clonning every single armor element, and making the armors, robes and boots as camp clothes wereables. VideoReleases history
Version 2 Released
Short lived as it had a cache saving bug.Version 1 Release - Alpha test for community
The result is what i think is an interesting project and i am now releasing it to the community to test the included functionalities and help develop (with the engine core finished) new modding tools. Below a step by step of what is included
When the tool is downloaded and started for the firs time, you need to start the paks process.
Select the game folders the folders and click "Process and save Cache"(It will take a while as in currently version there is almost a million objects to process.)
All the explorers shows the "lsf" or "txt" that originates the code (extracted from the pack to the cache) and useful information without the need of unpacking or opening the text files.All these explorers allows to drag and drop in the modding tools and can have multiples instances opened at the same time.
2.1 Example of Template Explorer (Details information on selection)
2.2 Example of Icon Explorer (multiple instances)
3. Create your Mod or Load a created one
You mus select a new mod or load a previous developed one and set its main properties (the most important one is folder as once created it will not be changed).
DO NOT CLOSE THIS FORM UNTIL FINISHED STEP 4. JUST LEAVE IT OPENED BEHIND SCENES.
4. Use the tools to mod
3.1 Example of custom containers tools
3.2 Example of custom dyes tools
5. Save the mod
Once finished with the tools save the mod config (should have been opened all the time).
By default it will
- Save all the objects .lsf and .txt files and any other type of files.
- If chosen compatibility it will save the .lsf.lsx and .loca.xml files for use with ShynyHobo' multitool (*)
- if chosen will save the .pak file in the Utam Mod folder root
- if chosen will save the .zip file in the Utam Mod folder root (compatible with LaughingLeader'BG3 Mod Manager)
- if chosen will save the .pak file in the Game mod directory and if it is a new mod it will add it to the load order at the end.
(*) Note that loading the mod from the tool will ignore changes done to the .lsf.lsx and .loca.xml files manually unless packed to the .lsf and .loca files.
Installation:
As this tool is a windows executable I will post it in only inGithubwith its source code to save the moderators the time to check every update and also to avoid the related delay on release given that check. Source code and package Source code:https://github.com/MANOLOV02/BG3-UTAM I will be also adding to nexus files a sample of the mods created by the tool
Package release:Latest Release Link
Please DO NOT ask me why "XXX" antivirus mark it as dangerous.IT ISan executable file from an stranger and by nature its "not safe" for any antivirus policy.Feel free to download the source code, analyze it and recompile if you have doubts or do not use it at all if you are not comfortable with this.
PleaseDO NOTask me "what is a mod" or "how do you install a mod" or anything similar.IT ISa tool for a amateurs modders and requires a base understanding of modding. Feel free to start with some others pre-processed mods and once understanding how mods works you can use this.
Next Steps
Please feel free to download the tool from Github, test it and post feedbacks.
I believe this is a good time to share it with the community to get feedback and before advancing too far in the tools that are under development (Icons assets, Armors and Weapons, etc.)
If you feel this is something that worth the community to know please do not forget toendorse it.
Acknowledgements:
⦁
NorByte for its LSLIB Library without which anything of this would be impossible (https://github.com/Norbyte/lslib)
⦁Nickbabco*ck for simplifying DDS file processing with Pfim (https://github.com/nickbabco*ck/Pfim)
⦁ShynyHobo for the inspiration provided by its Multitool (https://github.com/ShinyHobo/BG3-Modders-Multitool)
Final comments:
Feel free to post comments on feedback and ideas to develop the tool.
If you feel this is something that worth the community to know please do not forgettoendorse it.
My native language is Spanish so i had made for sure grammatical mistakes and published some English/Spanish mix of things. Sorry about that.
