Are The JSON Files Editable To Change Starting Mechs?

[Zeusbunnyears]

I’m glad this popped up and please mods delete if not correct here - but how does one change these files? I’m new to the modding thing and I’ve had some experience coding in R, but how does one do it? Like step by step.

Sorry to thread jack but I really want some of the SLDF stuff and someone did a great mod.

 

[Killuelihie]

I’m glad this popped up and please mods delete if not correct here - but how does one change these files? I’m new to the modding thing and I’ve had some experience coding in R, but how does one do it? Like step by step.

Sorry to thread jack but I really want some of the SLDF stuff and someone did a great mod.

just download Notepad++ and navigate to the Folders mentioned =)
it's not really hard to do^^
Devs chose a wonderful built, which can be easily modded

Edit:

Oh, err... and make Backups of the files before you edit them!

 

[23rdCypher]

... I just realized I could probably change the starting mechs to grab something I was taunted with during the campaign.

Spoiler

The SLDF Griffin

Really hope I can change the JSON to get it in

Started a new game after finishing my first run and thought exactly the same thing...

Spoiler

Turns out to have two energy hardpoints on the right arm, and two missile hardpoints in each torso. Changed my starting lance to this (as my ancestral mech), an Enforcer, a Panther, a Commando, and kept the locust. Made the beginning really quite fun so far. You can't fire the ER PPC very often, even with the double heat sinks. It builds heat even if you don't jump. Makes using it an interesting challenge.

Just got to the point where I've been given the crusader and also snagged the Shadow Hawk at the same time. Could have taken the Quickdraw, but decided against it. Next, I took a flight off towards the Capellian border to see what the missions are like up there. Went for a two skull recovery on a picturesque desert planet...

And was faced up by a Kintaro, another Shadow Hawk, a T-Bolt, and an Orion. Managed to keep the range on them, sniping away until I got to this stage...

It all turned out well in the end, though...

Anyway, definitely worth doing, it has a really interesting playstyle when stock, especially on hot worlds!

 

[Bayushi Tasogare]

You can change your Mech during the tutorial missions by editing the contract files for them.

Note: If you mod the initial scenario (and there is no need to--I'm talking about the overt tutorial) you must take a Mech that can jump or you cannot complete the mission.

 

[DeclaredYuppie]

Can you also update Arano's (spelling?) mech in this file?

Thinking of flipping the blackjack and kintaro between us

 

[Killuelihie]

You can change your Mech during the tutorial missions by editing the contract files for them.

Note: If you mod the initial scenario (and there is no need to--I'm talking about the overt tutorial) you must take a Mech that can jump or you cannot complete the mission.

Nah, not true.
Open your Windows-Registry and navigate to the following Key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Harebrained Schemes\BattleTech
once there add the following DWORD with a rightclick:

last_debug_state_h176629417

Set it to Hex and edit it to 1.

Now you can open the Debugconsole in Game with CTRL+Shift plus - (not on numpad!)

If you're stuck, click "complete Mission" button and you are "unstuck".

And pls only use it for unstucking. It offers alot of options that ruin the game totally, if you use them.

 

[sbrengard]

Or just mod the files to bypass the tutorial all together.

 

[Yavanion]

Been wanting to use a personal photo for mech warrior, any idea where i add this to the save file, and by the way where is the save file...

 

[Killuelihie]

Been wanting to use a personal photo for mech warrior, any idea where i add this to the save file, and by the way where is the save file...

Searched for 3 hours now and all i can do for you is how you can mod yourself as one of the Backerpilots into the game, but not as the commander.
(Needs to be verifyed though, the Presets have a strange pointer "Is commander: false" maybe it is changeable into true and becomes available.. dunno yet.)
As far as i found out, the commander itself, and the whole startinglance, get generated from the presetoption. There are, all in all, over 250 json files for presetportraits, but in them there are no paths to preset pictures. So i guess, there are non. Or maybe they are hardcoded or pretty well hidden *scratching head*

On the other hand, all Backers and NPC have available Portraits in this folder here:


D:\GOG Games\BATTLETECH\BattleTech_Data\StreamingAssets\sprites\Portraits
(search for the similar path if you use Steam)

So my best guess so far is, just change the Portrait of one of the backer Pilots and you can at least be a pilot under your commander.

As for the savefile:

Its pretty well hidden, too =)
C:\Users\XXXX\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BattleTech

 

[Yavanion]

Searched for 3 hours now and all i can do for you is how you can mod yourself as one of the Backerpilots into the game, but not as the commander.
(Needs to be verifyed though, the Presets have a strange pointer "Is commander: false" maybe it is changeable into true and becomes available.. dunno yet.)
As far as i found out, the commander itself, and the whole startinglance, get generated from the presetoption. There are, all in all, over 250 json files for presetportraits, but in them there are no paths to preset pictures. So i guess, there are non. Or maybe they are hardcoded or pretty well hidden *scratching head*

On the other hand, all Backers and NPC have available Portraits in this folder here:


D:\GOG Games\BATTLETECH\BattleTech_Data\StreamingAssets\sprites\Portraits
(search for the similar path if you use Steam)

So my best guess so far is, just change the Portrait of one of the backer Pilots and you can at least be a pilot under your commander.

As for the savefile:

Its pretty well hidden, too =)
C:\Users\XXXX\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BattleTech

Thanks, im abit stunned that they hid the save files and made them so hard to find... and i seem not to be able to mod them either ... Makes no sense when they have open Json files

And tip, allways write out full links all the way down to the actual end... what some take for granted, is hard for others... but again thanks for reply

 

[Rithral]

Thanks, im abit stunned that they hid the save files and made them so hard to find... and i seem not to be able to mod them either ... Makes no sense when they have open Json files

And tip, allways write out full links all the way down to the actual end... what some take for granted, is hard for others... but again thanks for reply

They are not hidden. That save path is standard fare for windows since XP.

 

[Jadedfalcon]

just download Notepad++ and navigate to the Folders mentioned =)
it's not really hard to do^^
Devs chose a wonderful built, which can be easily modded

Edit:

Oh, err... and make Backups of the files before you edit them!

And make back ups of your modded files, saved elsewhere just in case a future patch overwrites them. Also while Notepad++ does make things easier, regular notepad can get the job done too.

 

[Max_Killjoy]

Unfortunately, the actual save files don't appear to be "plain language text" files.

(Past Paradox games, editing a save was literally a matter of changing a number or tag inside a tab-aligned plain text file.)

 

[NFSRacer]

You know, I'd love to do this with an Assault 'Mech, but I really want to know how to find the save file(s) to keep from loosing my main game. Honestly, it REALLY annoyed me when I tried modding the game last night, only to see that the save didn't transfer. It makes sense from a technical standpoint, but is there any way to preserve my main game?

 

[Madoushi]

The player mech is hardcoded for the tutorial mission for sure and I think it may also be for Magistracy Metals contract.

As a complete aside I was way too amused by Majesty Metals and Manufacturing.

Even in the 31st century, there is 3M XD

 

[Primarch]

Ok, I'm an idiot. When I edited the file I ran into an issue of how to save it, since it was open as a notepad file, not a json file. Then, After a try or 3, I messed up and now it wants to open EVERY json file as a notepad file. No biggie, I uninstalled, and reinstalled, no dice, all json files are Notepad files now. Went to the app store, found a json file editor, opened it changed only the starter mech, saved it as a json file, still giving me the long loading loop issue.

Thoughts on how I can fix this?

 

[Kuroko_Fey]

You haven’t changed all your JSONs to notepad files, you’ve changed the default application to open JSONs in your Windows to be notepad. This doesn’t affect the files or game at all, so don’t worry about it. Although notepad is not a great program to use for editing JSONs for many reasons, Notepad++ or Atom are much better choices.

In any event, since that won’t be why your game isn’t loading, you’ll have to look in to what the actual problem is. To make sure that nothing you’ve changed is the cause, you’ll need to manuallly delete the game directory then reinstall through Steam - Steam’s uninstall won’t always remove user created files.

 

[Fallenkezef]

I wanted a proper Liao lance to start with. Not so much to make it easier but to fit my love of the CCAF so I changed the start mechs to CPLT, HBK G, Vindicator and Urbie with my BJ replaced with a CTX.

I don't care how obsolete, you can not call yourself a true Cappie without an Urbie in your hanger. I also intend to turn it into an UM-R60L, AC20 urbanmech, oh yes!

 

[ShiaRa]

Hi,

trying to replace my lance too...


"StartingPlayerMech" : "mechdef_urbanmech_UM-R60.json",
"StartingLance" : [
"mechdef_panther_PNT-9R.json",
"mechdef_commando_COM-2D.json",
"mechdef_spider_SDR-5V",
"mechdef_firestarter_FS9-H.json"


should work but the game is in loadingloop.... any idea? thanks

 

[23rdCypher]

Hi,

trying to replace my lance too...


"StartingPlayerMech" : "mechdef_urbanmech_UM-R60.json",
"StartingLance" : [
"mechdef_panther_PNT-9R.json",
"mechdef_commando_COM-2D.json",
"mechdef_spider_SDR-5V",
"mechdef_firestarter_FS9-H.json"


should work but the game is in loadingloop.... any idea? thanks

You don't need the .json after the mechdef tags.