How to create mod custom character .ini data

[Mysterial]

Unlike some other systems, the custom character system doesn't scan all .ini's you have for custom character data. They have to be set up a specific way.

First, create a new directory inside \My Documents\My Games\Unreal Tournament 3\UTGame\Published\CookedPC\CustomChars\. The directory name can be anything you want. Inside this directory, add a new file named UTCustomChar.ini. In this file, any .ini data you add will be merged into the UTCustomChar.ini in the Config directory. The format is the same as Default*.ini files, which means to add entries to an array you need to prefix them with '+'. For example:

[UTGame.UTCustomChar_Data]
+Parts=(Part=PART_Head,ObjectName="MyTestPackage.MyTestHead",PartID="M",FamilyID="IRNM")

Note: The first time you run the game with your new .ini, it will not take effect. You will have to exit and run the game again. This is a bug in the engine that will be fixed in the next patch.

Uninstalling: Since the updated .ini gets written to disk, removing the mod files won't get of the .ini entries. However, if all your custom character mods are set up using this system, you can simply delete the UTCustomChar.ini file in your Config directory and it will get regenerated from the base data and remaining mods.

[Green_Day_584]

just wondering Mysterial, where can i find tutorials or something on setting up a custom character? i cant find it on teh UDN yet lol

[Kurylo3D]

yea and by tutorials, not creating a character with unreal 3s materials and uvs, but our own materials from sctrach.

[Caravaggio]

I'll still complain about the convoluted model system behind your back, but thank you very much for this info.

[JaFO]

Thanks
This is exactly the kind of info we were missing.

I do have 2 questions :

• is it possible to modify or delete an entry instead of adding it ?
• how do we change the statistics for a bot-character if we can only add new entries ?

Deleting the UtCustomChar.ini is not an option if you've modified this file by adding new parts or characters without this method.

[geodav]

thanks for the info

sarcasm:- 13 lines takes 2 months to write, better late than never !

ps how about so help on custom factions !

[Mysterial]

is it possible to modify or delete an entry instead of adding it ?

It follows the default .ini syntax, so minus can be used to remove lines. The only exception is the Parts array, which can only be added to using this method due to some technical issues (that aren't planned to be fixed)

Deleting the UtCustomChar.ini is not an option if you've modified this file by adding new parts or characters without this method.

Well, it adds all the entries to the end of the section so it wouldn't be terribly difficult to remove them manually. It just won't be done for you.

ps how about so help on custom factions !

Custom faction support is coming in the next patch.

[geodav]

Custom faction support is coming in the next patch.

Now that is Great News cheers

[JaFO]

It follows the default .ini syntax, so minus can be used to remove lines.

Where can I find info on this syntax ?
The UDN doesn't list anything that is open to the community.

The only exception is the Parts array, which can only be added to using this method due to some technical issues (that aren't planned to be fixed)

I guess the fact that there isn't key that is unique enough may have something to do with that, or doesn't it ?

Well, it adds all the entries to the end of the section so it wouldn't be terribly difficult to remove them manually. It just won't be done for you.

Custom faction support is coming in the next patch.

That is great news for a lot of people

[Shakeno]

Now that is Great News cheers

Sure they are! Hooray!

[EvilEngine]

Thanks for the info Mysterial
So much to do now. Time to get to work on making all that custom stuff. Hopefully there will be more documentation on some things like how to make a customization room for a faction.

[Mandinga]

Enabling the "Use Rotations Only" flag for animations sets, the animations work great in UED reagardles of how you scaled the skeleton. The flag just doesn't carry over in game. Epic must have thought of people who scale skeletons differently that the original unreal chars, saving you from making 130 anims. The flag already has exceptions for bones that need translation.

Check the description for that flag in UED and tell us how to enable it in game.

[Davision]

Custom faction support is coming in the next patch

Sweet!
...and when is the patch planned to be released?

[geodav]

...and when is the patch planned to be released?

as always "when it's done"

[Xero]

Custom faction support is coming in the next patch.

Thanks for the info. I was just about digging through the .inis for a way to do this when I found this thread. I'll just have to sit tight and wait for the next patch.

Not to sound ungrateful but I was a little disappointed by the lack of custom character tutorials on Collector's Edition. The level designers got all the goods this time around.

[Mandinga]

Thanks for the info. I was just about digging through the .inis for a way to do this when I found this thread. I'll just have to sit tight and wait for the next patch.

Not to sound ungrateful but I was a little disappointed by the lack of custom character tutorials on Collector's Edition. The level designers got all the goods this time around.

Agree completely, thats the eason I bought the collectors edition.

[Bitter-Pill]

Just a correction for anyone copy/pasting.

[UTGame.UTCustomChar_Data]
+Parts=(Part=PART_Head,ObjectName="MyTestPackage.MyTestHead",PartID="M",FamilyID="IRNM")

[GeneralSoundwave]

I did something wrong I think... Inside the Unreal3Ed, I created a custom SSS shader. I applied it to my custom 3d head and it looks wonderful. I placed the mesh package/materials package in BOTH the Unpublished AND Published folders under 'MyDocuments.' I modified the CustomChar.ini file in the Config folder to load my Custom Char. When I start Unreal to create my own character, my head and textures work PERFECTLY.

However.... once I actually start a game, It looks like the engine cant find my textures and the head is completely white. does anyone know what the deal is?

[Mandinga]

I did something wrong I think... Inside the Unreal3Ed, I created a custom SSS shader. I applied it to my custom 3d head and it looks wonderful. I placed the mesh package/materials package in BOTH the Unpublished AND Published folders under 'MyDocuments.' I modified the CustomChar.ini file in the Config folder to load my Custom Char. When I start Unreal to create my own character, my head and textures work PERFECTLY.

However.... once I actually start a game, It looks like the engine cant find my textures and the head is completely white. does anyone know what the deal is?

Everyone making custom chars is having this issue in some way shape or form.

visit this thread: http://utforums.epicgames.com/showth...582817&page=49

it'll answer a lot of questions, prepare for a lengthy read.

[Alcor43]

My guess is that Epic will do like they did back in the UT99 days, I think they will release a patch that will contain custom characters within in. Like the Skarj, Nali, WarCow and Xan, that will actually show us how it has to be done, how to setup the folders, textures and inis, etc.

The other thing I would be really grateful to have is the animation .bip files if there are any. Considering the amount of animation sequences (over 200?) and the complexity of positioning the hands at the right spot for the weapons, the bip files are a great help to make characters with custom skeletons.

[LorD_AnGeLuS]

Is there a way to add a "CUSTOM" faction to the game? I want to put all models in there to simplify selection

[JaFO]

Is there a way to add a "CUSTOM" faction to the game? I want to put all models in there to simplify selection

You'd have to wait for the patch first.
It probably will be done the same way they manage to add the male- and female-classes in one faction.
I wouldn't recommend it though as it makes it difficult to search for the right model/character if you have to scroll through dozens of characters when you could find them faster if they were grouped into factions of similar characters (like a rodent-faction for mutant mice and rats for example).

[geodav]

sorry to pop the hopeful bubble

Custom faction support is coming in the next patch.

but this didn't happen, yes we can have "Custom Families" so we still have to put our custom characters in the Epic made Factions.
I think this is down to the way the factions are displayed in the character selection screen which is actually a map(UTFrontEnd.ut3) which selects the arena(background) via kismet and a lot of code.

so maybe next time

"In Hand" by the Epic guys

[Chillin Bear]

I wish you could mod the Xbox 360 version

[GreenFox]

Ya, Microsoft is convincing me to get a PS3... to bad PS3s don't have any really good games...

[HUD]

Is there any way possible to have custom skins and mods on the 360 version?... Just a wild question there...

[sSs Optics]

how would this work for ps3?? do this for pc first then cook the modified characters ini to ps3?? (by meaning the character ini for bot names)