How to make a mod?

[Wydraz]

I can deduce how to make a campaign (make a new folder in the Campaigns directory and put your data files there). But how does one make a wholesale mod, with new graphics and UI without overwriting the originals?

Do you make a new SF directory and copy everything out? Or can you make your new Images, Data, etc. directories inside your campaign folder?

I'm fearful of experimenting, since I don't want to re-install if I screw up.

[Phoenix-D]

Judging by SJ's Homecoming mod, you just put the appropriate directories in your campaign folder.

[Wydraz]

Nice.

[Suicide Junkie]

Easiest way to do it:
1) Make a copy of the entire Homefront campaign folder
2) Rename it,
3) Edit the stuff inside

Note that you can also override most of the other files by incuding an Images or other folder inside your campaign.

[Wydraz]

SJ, thanks for the clarification.

I found out though, that if you add a new ship, the .x file has to be in the root XFiles directory - it doesn't see it in your campaign directory. Same goes for the ship's texture file, which needs to go in the game's root Images directory. Makes distributing mods a bit tricker... Maybe a patch can fix this.

[Rollo]

Originally posted by Wydraz:
SJ, thanks for the clarification.

I found out though, that if you add a new ship, the .x file has to be in the root XFiles directory - it doesn't see it in your campaign directory. Same goes for the ship's texture file, which needs to go in the game's root Images directory. Makes distributing mods a bit tricker... Maybe a patch can fix this.

yes, this is known to Aaron. Hopefully it will get fixed soon. Another thing that is not recognized is a modded components.bmp.
Adding images, landscapes, effects does work in the campaign folder, though.