Local (non-workshop) Mods help

[RoverStorm]

This new launcher is the bane of my Stellaris existence. I've been trying to wrestle with it and get locally installed mods to work, and it's just refusing to work.

First thing I noticed was that upon updating to the newest launcher, all the (previously working) local mods did not appear on the mods list and that only workshop mods appeared.

I noticed that there's a "Mod Tools" button, and that seems to be how you create/upload mods. What I gather is that you put in the "path", which would appear to be in the Documents\Paradox Interactive\Stellaris\mods folder.

Well the beginning of the path defaults to "mod/", not a backslash. That concerned me, but I put in the mod folder's name anyways.

It lets me create the mod, but it does nothing when I enable it and boot up the game. It seems I have failed somewhere.

So I say to myself, "maybe I don't point it at the folder, but the .mod file instead!"

Except it says that directory already exists when I try to create a new mod with the path pointed at the .mod instead.

And if there's some way to remove "local mods" from the mods list on the launcher, I can't find it. My solution was to just delete the "mod" folder....which somehow DOESN'T delete the "local mod" I "created"?!? It was literally where the path was pointed, ceasing to exist!

So I tried to find a fix on these forums. They say delete the "mod_registry.json" file.

That damn file doesn't exist on either of my hard-drives.

Another one said to use a single forward slash in the .mod file, and it'll show up automatically.

Which of course didn't work.

I'm just lost and frustrated. What, step by step, do I need to do to get a local, non-workshop, mod working?

EDIT: the directory is Paradox Interactive\Stellaris\mod\, not \mods\

 

[RoverStorm]

I have JUST discovered this is NOT an issue with my local mods, but actually ALL my mods entirely (So also workshop mods, which I had disabled to test the local mods). Despite being up-to-date, no matter what mods I enable and from where, they will not work, and the game ALWAYS boots in vanilla.

Still, if there's a way to fix this, I would love to know.

 

[Mitchz95]

In your .mod file, use path="mod/<mod folder name>".

Then copy your .mod file, paste it inside your mod folder, and rename it to descriptor.mod. Open that file and change the path to the FULL path for your mod folder, all the way from C:. That did it for me.

 

[RoverStorm]

In your .mod file, use path="mod/<mod folder name>".

Then copy your .mod file, paste it inside your mod folder, and rename it to descriptor.mod. Open that file and change the path to the FULL path for your mod folder, all the way from C:. That did it for me.

First: does it seriously need a forward slash? The REAL directory, according to the folder's properties, is a backslash. I'll give it a try and edit in my results.
Second: While this may fix my own created mods, how would this fix mods I downloaded from the workshop? These mod's don't have a path in their descriptor.mod and they don't work for me any more than local mods do.

To clarify: no mods, no matter where I get them from, work.

 

[zamb33]

THANK GOD, i'm sorry to say i dont have a solution, however, this is a problem i'm having as well, and i'm just happy i'm not the only one having this issue. never played with mods before, and always booting vanilla, whether i manually install or subscribe.

 

[RoverStorm]

In your .mod file, use path="mod/<mod folder name>".

Then copy your .mod file, paste it inside your mod folder, and rename it to descriptor.mod. Open that file and change the path to the FULL path for your mod folder, all the way from C:. That did it for me.

Ok I have tested that solution. No change at all. I even tried switching to the test branch to see if 2.5.1 secretly fixed it, and it didn't.

Any other suggestions?

 

[17blue17]

Local (non steam ) mods work the same way they did before the new launcher. The issue is that the mods_registry.json file located at Users\username\My Documents\Paradox Interactive\Stellaris ( not in your mod directory itself ) does not get updated so you have to delete it. For example if you update the supported version of your local mod in its .mod file from 2.4 to 2.5 this will not show up in the launcher until your delete the mods_registry.json file.

Also for steam mods the numbered named.mod files in your documents also do not seem to update when the steam mods get updated almost like they are stuck. The fix here is to delete both the number named.mod files in your documents and then delete the mods_registry.json file at which point the launcher should rebuild all of them. I think after that the number named.mod files do update when the mods update.

The same if your launcher shows a mod with a warning that something is wrong. Again delete the mods_registry.json file.

From what I understand local ( non steam mods ) do not need a descriptor file and work just like then did before the new launcher.

There is still the question of mod load order and there is a separate thread talking about that here on the forum.

 

[RoverStorm]

Local (non steam ) mods work the same way they did before the new launcher. The issue is that the mods_registry.json file located at Users\username\My Documents\Paradox Interactive\Stellaris ( not in your mod directory itself ) does not get updated so you have to delete it. For example if you update the supported version of your local mod in its .mod file from 2.4 to 2.5 this will not show up in the launcher until your delete the mods_registry.json file.

Also for steam mods the numbered named.mod files in your documents also do not seem to update when the steam mods get updated almost like they are stuck. The fix here is to delete both the number named.mod files in your documents and then delete the mods_registry.json file at which point the launcher should rebuild all of them. I think after that the number named.mod files do update when the mods update.

The same if your launcher shows a mod with a warning that something is wrong. Again delete the mods_registry.json file.

From what I understand local ( non steam mods ) do not need a descriptor file and work just like then did before the new launcher.

There is still the question of mod load order and there is a separate thread talking about that here on the forum.

I don't even HAVE a mods_registry.json! Do I need to make one myself or something similar?

And on top of that, not even workshop mods are loading too!

 

[17blue17]

I don't even HAVE a mods_registry.json! Do I need to make one myself or something similar?

And on top of that, not even workshop mods are loading too!

If you are on windows 64 bit ( I understand non windows people are having problems and only a patch will fix it for them and windows 32 bit is no longer supported ) then the file should exist where I pointed you to. If you are on windows then you might need to do what they told us in the EU4 forum when the new launcher was released - to backup up our personal mods, then delete the whole mod directory and have the game rebuild it. Some times a few users even have to have steam uninstall the entire game from their computers, delete the mod folder, and reinstall the game and then have steam verify the local files and rebuild things. It is very strange that you do not have the file in the spot I mentioned so it sounds to me like you need to do the whole uninstall etc.

I hope you get things to work.

 

[RoverStorm]

If you are on windows 64 bit ( I understand non windows people are having problems and only a patch will fix it for them and windows 32 bit is no longer supported ) then the file should exist where I pointed you to. If you are on windows then you might need to do what they told us in the EU4 forum when the new launcher was released - to backup up our personal mods, then delete the whole mod directory and have the game rebuild it. Some times a few users even have to have steam uninstall the entire game from their computers, delete the mod folder, and reinstall the game and then have steam verify the local files and rebuild things. It is very strange that you do not have the file in the spot I mentioned so it sounds to me like you need to do the whole uninstall etc.

I hope you get things to work.

Yikes. I moved the mods folder to my desktop to let it regenerate the mods folder and then booted up the game. It didn't regenerate the mods folder. I then validated the game files and THAT didn't regenerate the mods folder either. Guess it's time for a disk wipe and a re-install, which is always annoying because I have to remember how to redirect the local files to be on my D drive rather than my C drive.

I'll let you know how that goes. Anything else I can try beyond this?

 

[RoverStorm]

If you are on windows 64 bit ( I understand non windows people are having problems and only a patch will fix it for them and windows 32 bit is no longer supported ) then the file should exist where I pointed you to. If you are on windows then you might need to do what they told us in the EU4 forum when the new launcher was released - to backup up our personal mods, then delete the whole mod directory and have the game rebuild it. Some times a few users even have to have steam uninstall the entire game from their computers, delete the mod folder, and reinstall the game and then have steam verify the local files and rebuild things. It is very strange that you do not have the file in the spot I mentioned so it sounds to me like you need to do the whole uninstall etc.

I hope you get things to work.

Ok. I purged ALL my local game files and reinstalled the game.

It didn't work. No mods turn on.

In fact when I booted the launcher the first time after reinstalled, it still claimed it had my (definitely not there) local mods! It still had the steam workshop mods despite them having not been downloaded yet!

Is there some kind of damn magical "Enable Mods = False" flag I need to change in the config or something?!? Do they use a ghost directory or something? I KNOW I have the theoretical right directory because it reinstalled my user directory back where it used to be before I purged everything.

And the mods_registry.json STILL doesn't exist in that file! I even scanned BOTH my hard drives, and it's NO WHERE on my computer!

What the hell am I doing wrong?!?

 

[Mitchz95]

This seems relevant.

 

[RoverStorm]

I swear to God if this is Paradox pulling the WORST "Haunted Stellaris" Halloween Prank....

 

[17blue17]

Ok. I purged ALL my local game files and reinstalled the game.

It didn't work. No mods turn on.

In fact when I booted the launcher the first time after reinstalled, it still claimed it had my (definitely not there) local mods! It still had the steam workshop mods despite them having not been downloaded yet!

Is there some kind of damn magical "Enable Mods = False" flag I need to change in the config or something?!? Do they use a ghost directory or something? I KNOW I have the theoretical right directory because it reinstalled my user directory back where it used to be before I purged everything.

And the mods_registry.json STILL doesn't exist in that file! I even scanned BOTH my hard drives, and it's NO WHERE on my computer!

What the hell am I doing wrong?!?

sounds like time to post for help in the tech support forum because something strange is going on for you.

 

[17blue17]

Yikes. I moved the mods folder to my desktop to let it regenerate the mods folder and then booted up the game. It didn't regenerate the mods folder. I then validated the game files and THAT didn't regenerate the mods folder either. Guess it's time for a disk wipe and a re-install, which is always annoying because I have to remember how to redirect the local files to be on my D drive rather than my C drive.

I'll let you know how that goes. Anything else I can try beyond this?

All I can tell you is that I have my user files redirected to a I drive and things work so the redirect of local files should not be the problem. You have windows 64 bit? I have heard non windows users do not work no matter what and 32 bit windows is no longer supported.

A long shot item - in the main steam settings - you have enable Steam Cloud sync for applications that support it turned on? I had it turned off at one point months ago and it goofed up everything.......

 

[RoverStorm]

sounds like time to post for help in the tech support forum because something strange is going on for you.

Aye. Posted a bug report a day or few ago.

Here's hoping something works.

I was able to purge workshop mods finally. I'm running a few diagnostics as well, I'll keep this thread updated.

 

[RoverStorm]

All I can tell you is that I have my user files redirected to a I drive and things work so the redirect of local files should not be the problem. You have windows 64 bit? I have heard non windows users do not work no matter what and 32 bit windows is no longer supported.

Yes and yes. Windows 10, 64 bit. Good to know the drive specifically not being the C drive still works.

 

[RoverStorm]

All I can tell you is that I have my user files redirected to a I drive and things work so the redirect of local files should not be the problem. You have windows 64 bit? I have heard non windows users do not work no matter what and 32 bit windows is no longer supported.

A long shot item - in the main steam settings - you have enable Steam Cloud sync for applications that support it turned on? I had it turned off at one point months ago and it goofed up everything.......

Steam cloud is turned on right now. Next I'll try turning it off and doing another purge. Sadly I have nightclass now.

 

[17blue17]

Steam cloud is turned on right now. Next I'll try turning it off and doing another purge. Sadly I have nightclass now.

leave it on. It needs to be on for things to download correctly from the workshop.

 

[Angelic_ryubick]

Hey so I had the same issue as you but I've found quite possibly the most retarded workaround if you're still having issues with this try the following:

go into the launcher
Click the Mod tools button in the mod section of the launcher
Create a mod, not sure if it's actually required to fill out the fields accurately but for you own sake try naming it something sensible so it won't be so hard to find if you have many mods
give it whatever version number I simply gave mine 1 as the version number
now for the directory part, this is where you'll create the name of the folder it is in
after filling out the tags section with what you see fit simply hit Create Mod

now it'll create a folder in you're Stellaris mod folder, aka the place where you normally dump them, this folder is more or less empty except for a descriptor.mod file which you should just leave alone.
in this folder simply dump the contents of your mod, that is to say, the folders inside it, like GFX or common, that kinda stuff.
and that's it just leave the .mod file for it alone as well and you'll be able to turn it on in the launcher, at least this worked for me.