Wanna learn...

[Bulkhead]

Hi sailors and rabbits.

I really like to learn how to mod, or make someting....like a new boat....is that possible?
If so, does it have to be a sub?

[FooFighters]

Originally Posted by Bulkhead

Hi sailors and rabbits.

I really like to learn how to mod, or make someting....like a new boat....is that possible?
If so, does it have to be a sub?

These are the things you need..

* Lots of free time
* Lots of patience
* No wife or kids
* No boss (preferably no work)
* Lots of PM space

ohh yeah.. and some programs like PSP and photoshop

:p

Seriously.. find out what you wanna mod first.
After that try to find the files you need to change.

From there it's a lot of editing, start game, see results, doing it 100 times again till you get it right.

[Digital_Trucker]

And don't forget, a very hard head (both for wanting to finish the product and for all the you are sure to be performing while modding).

[DrBeast]

A sturdy wall might help, too. Oh, and patience. Lots and loads of patience. Have I mentioned that you also need patience?
On a more serious note, I'd also suggest scouring this forum for as much information as you can process. Some things are a bit dodgy to find, but it's well worth the trouble: this place is a well of information!
Finally, you need patience. :rotfl:

[Peto]

An important aspect to remember is that sometimes it's the 0.01 that makes a difference. Finding if it's 0.01 or 0.02 that works best requires patience. Mainly becuase sometimes 0.01 or 0.02 were wrong and you needed to change it to 2 but in a completely different place than where you thought.

And it's always nice to have a box of tissues handy for times you learn that 1 and 0.01 cause a CTD and you forgot where you made the change. Create a backup of the original file you're working with before you change anything.

Pull the curtains and forget the sun
A modders work is never done...

[TheDarkWraith]

this hasn't been updated by me in awhile but it still has good info in it:

http://dodownload.filefront.com/8008...9bad71f9c07173

although it says for SHIII, SHIV's file structure is just like SH3 only beefed up. This will give you the 'basics'. From there you will have a foundation to expand on.

[TheDarkWraith]

if you want to know about the SH.sdl file (this is from SH3's SH3.sdl but SH.sdl is the same) look here:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...02&postcount=1

[Ducimus]

My advice,

Start small. Your first big hurdle, will be just realizing what files your looking at, what does what, what goes where, etc.

To start out with, i would find a couple small mods, and look at them. See what the author did over what the orginal settings were. In other words, reverse engineer a small mod. Then take another small mod, do the same, and combine its features with some other small mod you were looking at.

Sooner or later you'll start understanding the file structure - this is key.

After that you'll start focusing on individual files. What specifically does what, what values to add, in what scale, or unit of measurement.

Once you get to the point where you understand the file structure, and how to adjust invidiual files to get what you want - thens when you can start being creative.

But trust me, one does not just jump right into modding unless you have prior experience in something related. Say, 3d wireframe moddeling , or if you have uber skills with a hex editor. But even then, you have to understand the file structure, and what the files do, how they work.

[Bulkhead]

I get the pacient part, witch i got loads of. The same goes for time. No kids here by the way.
This is things i find interessting. I set up my own SH3 and SH4 with varios results.
Dont blame me for wanna learn and try. I guess you modders have started some place, once uppon a time you where unexperienced and then you gained knowledge and usefulled info on how to work the mysterious files and 3D aspects of it all.

The basic punch-line in this unusfull and lack-of-braincells-way for me to do things, even survive every day life is: No matter how stupid or bold idea comes to mind its ok to try. Successfull? probably not, but give me credit for wanna try.

Now, speak of the devil, my idea was to take one of the japanese destroyers, make it player playable and try to work it out with pretty mutch the same sensors or parameters (whatever you call it) of the sub and work it into a surface vessel.
I think i started good by asking for advice. And like i said, its probably not gonna work out, but i have to try. In my mind everyting goes until proven otherwise.

[Bulkhead]

And by the way, thanks for replying .
I never expected this to be easy....

[Peto]

From what you've said, I see no reason why you can't become a good modder. I certainly don't consider myself to be a good one--I just tweak things and sometimes I get lucky. Racerboy gave you some great material to read through and Ducimus gave you Excellent advice. Most of all, remember that...

...There's always room for another good modder !

Wishing you success and--most of all--Enjoyment with your goals!!!

Peto

[Bulkhead]

Oh yes, belive me, i take them into consideration... advice is always a good thing.

So keep it coming

[Bulkhead]

Does i have to be a computer expert to do this? i think of programming and that stuff......?

[skwasjer]

Depends on what you want to do. Some tedious tasks can be automated if you know how to code, but there are already some tools available that can be used for basic and more advanced stuff (like mine, see sig., also see one of the stickies for more mod tools). No need to reinvent the wheel. I suggest you first browse/search the boards first for info, and start by picking apart existing mods to get an idea of what can be done. Creating a new boat is not really all too easy yet, so you may want to start small first. Then again, never hurts to set a challenge...

[edit] lol, basically I could've just said, 'what Ducimus said!'

[Ducimus]

@Bulkhead

A good place to start, other then picking apart a small mod to see how it ticks, is to find something that annoys you to no end, and start looking into that. An annoyance, i find, is a huge motivator.

Its also usually really good to be able to focus on just one thing at a time. Primarly because there alot of trial and error testing - ALOT of it. If you can't figure out how to "fix" that one thing you find annoying, - find a mod that DOES fix that item, and reverse engineer that so you can see what was done.

Originally Posted by Peto

I certainly don't consider myself to be a good one--I just tweak things and sometimes I get lucky

Get outta my head! . :rotfl: