Development Environment Building

1. Recommended Tools

Text Editing Tool:

Recommended: Sublime Text or Visual Studio Code Note: Please use UTF-8 (8-bit Unicode Transformation Format) at all times.

Excel Editing Tool:

Recommended: the latest version of Microsoft Office

Unity Engine (Optional):

Version: Unity 2018.3.14f1 Link: https://unity3d.com/unity/whats-new/2018.3.14

Version Management :

Recommended: Github Link: https://github.com/

2. MOD Project

2.1 Overview and Project Type

There are two types of MOD projects, Simple MOD Project and Professional MOD Project. The major difference between these two types is whether you need to download Unity to develop and pack resources. You can choose your project type according to your own needs in the MOD development.

The differences are as follow:

Project	Simple MOD Project	Professional MOD Project
Download Unity	No	Yes
One-click Packing	Yes	Yes
Upload to Steam Workshop	Yes	Yes
Configuration of Basic Information	Yes	Yes
Change Login Screen	Yes	Yes
Game Configuration Tables	Yes	Yes
Use Face Editor to Customize NPC Appearance	Yes	Yes
Skill Editor	Yes	Yes
Map Editor（Currently only scenarios are supported; relevant functions for plugins are still in development）	Yes	Yes
Resource Management—Rewrite Directory	Yes	Yes
Resource Management—Common Texts	Yes	Yes
Resource Management—Binary Files	Yes	Yes
Resource Management—Pictures	Yes（PNG & JPG Only）	Yes
Resource Management—Pictures Merging （Optimize Picture Batch）	No	Yes
Resource Management—Audio	Yes（PNG & JPG Only）	Yes
Advanced Audio Management（e.g. Audio Mixer）	No	Yes
Resource Management -Particle Effects	No	Yes
Resource Management—3D Model and Animation	No	Yes
Edit Multiple MODs	No	Yes

2.2 Simple MOD Project

Download the a sample Simpld MOD project for Sands of Salzaar (Blywd.SimpleModSample). The content in the directory is:

- Blywd.SimpleModSample

- Directory of ABS Unity resource packing (Professional MOD project only)

- Directory of Config MOD Files

- default.json—main config. files of MOD

- gamemodes.xml—scenario-dependent definition file (only for Scenario MODs)

- publishfileid.txt—item ID for uploading to Steam Workshop, it will be automatically filled by Steam Workshop if it is your first upload. If the file is left empty, then a new Steam Workshop entry will be created.

- workshopitem.json—the configuration uploaded to Steam Workshop, which will be saved automatically according to the player’s choices

- Excel—directory of configuration tables

- Interface—collection of interfaces

- overrides.txt—rule definition for resource override

- RES—resource directory where images and audio files are stored

- preview.jpg/png—preview image for a MOD

- valuebundle—directory of the definition of packing

- default.xml—list of Excel files

- INDEX.xml—list of mapping rules of Excel/reg

2.3 Professional MOD Project

The current version of the game does not support this. Please wait for our update.

3. MOD Editor

To enter the MOD Editor: Main Menu – Mods - Develop Mods

The main panel of the MOD Editor

The main panel of the MOD Editor might change following the update of versions. All functions are shown above. You can:

3.1 Create a new project, or open an existing project.

3.2 Edit, build or upload content with project operation tools.

3.3 Use the debug tool to test your current project in a new game or a save.

3.4 Check out the log information of your current edit.

Configuration Log Tool

You can use the Debug Log Tool in the MOD Editor to check out the log information during your debugging. This function needs to be configurated in advance. Please find Tools/HSDebugTool/0_setup.bat in the game directory and right-click to run as administrator.

You only need to run this file once before you can use the Debug Log Tool directly.