Distributed Coalesced Mods

[realsurvivor686]

Hello all,

Context: I am the creator of the ME3 "Automatic Valkyrie" Mod (http://www.nexusmods.com/masseffect3/mods/477/?). A common request I get is as to whether I can modify the magazine capacity of the assault rifle, up to 30 rounds. Unfortunately, given that magazine-capacity is handled by the coalesced file, there is no elegant way I can distribute my modified coalesced file without wiping out users' own coalesced edits.

Questions:

1. Are there any suggestion for an elegant method of distributing coalesced mods, that carry over my changes without altering other non-related coalesced edits?
2. Are there plans to make a coalesced ".mod' utility within me3explorer?

Regards

realsurvivor686

[giftfish]

realsurvivor686 -- The best way to distribute coalesced modifications is as a DLC mod; at least as far as toolset usage is concerned.

You're already distributing in this form, so...why can't you just add the capacity parameter to your DLC coalesced? You'd only be "wiping out" (overriding) that particular parameter in the user's base coalesced. If you really wanted to, you could also distribute it inside a second, optional DLC coalesced (that would overwrite the one you normally distribute). That way only folks who want the change can choose to use it.

There are a lot of ways that ModMaker could be improved. It was designed to handle mesh replacements, and because of that it can also handle very simple content mods. That's all it can do. ModMaker as a tool needs a complete re-write. sircxyrtyx and I talked a lot about this during the GUI overhaul and how its functionality could be expanded, so it's definitely on the list, but the list is very, very long at this point.

[realsurvivor686]

@gitfish

Thank you for responding.

Might I assume then, its simply a matter of creating a new ini and new section in the DLC coalesced, copying and pasting the valkyrie values, and finally distributing it?

Are there any online resources or guides you'd recommend for creating/editing 'new' coalesced files?

[giftfish]

Apr 19, 2017 15:02:06 GMT realsurvivor686 said:

@gitfish

Thank you for responding.

Might I assume then, its simply a matter of creating a new ini and new section in the DLC coalesced, copying and pasting the valkyrie values, and finally distributing it?

Are there any online resources or guides you'd recommend for creating/editing 'new' coalesced files?

As far as I know, yes. The only problem you might have is that SOME modifications to DLC coalesceds don't seem to work in game. I don't have a comprehensive list, though, and I don't have any weapon modifications in my own, so I can't provide any further info. It's easy to test in game, though.

As far as how to properly edit the coalesced, the easiest thing will be for you to take any of your DLC mods and decompile their coalesced with the toolset's editor. Use it as an example of how to edit yours. EGM would likely be a good one to check, if you have it installed. You should also decompile the base game coalesced to locate the entry you need to modify.

[kinkojiro]

You don't need to wipe out other people's coalesced edits. You can change just a single stat on the gun if you want.

Start with a clean blank coalesced. Just add a copy of the Valkyrie to your DLC bioweapon xml, and remove every stat apart from the one you want to edit. Make sure the type is set to "0" which means for that stat every version lower mounted will be overridden. Edit the stat, compile the coalesced and stick it in the DLC and you are done.

[realsurvivor686]

kinkojiro

That last part was quite useful. Very, very useful!

@gitfish

Thank you for point me to the me3explorer and for giving me a walkthough.


Thank you both for clearing this issue up!