[Maladiq]

For some time now I've been wanting to learn some Gothic modding, but never made the time for it, especially because the information is scattered all over the place or is pretty hardcore for someone who has no previous experience with programming or modding. So I will ask for help in this thread, which hopefully will end up as a great step by step tutorial for every newcomer, until I have the knowledge to make a personal mod.

I. The Basics of Basics

For starters, the needed software.

• Gothic II Gold
• Gothic Starter (needed for starting mods)
• Gothic MDK (Mod Developing Kit)
  
  • Spacer - the program used to edit the game world, adding objects, NPCs etc.
  • Don't forget to install the Spacer Starter. (the main window of the spacer won't disappear anymore)
• VOB Database (A library of Video Objects - VOBs - which helps the use of the Spacer)
• Maya/3DS Max (3D modeling, animations) (if you plan to use Maya, which IMO is much more user friendly, check out this thread.
  
  • 3ds Importer and Exporter for 3DS Max
• Daedalus Highlighting-Syntax
• Goman texture converter. (converts the texture files *.tex, used by Gothic, into *.tga, which is editable in Photoshop or other applications).

Those above are the tools I know are needed until now. About the rest I ask below, and afterward I will update the list. I also plan on making a list of the file formats used by Gothic. Also a few questions.

Folders and Data:
There are 2 folders containing the data of the game, as far as I see: \_work\data and \data

\data contains archives (correct me if I am wrong) in which the content of the game is stored (music, animations textures etc.)
\_work\data contains what?

I see that there are a lot of *.mds files, and afaik those are virtual disk files. I know Gothic uses a virtual file system. How does it work and how are the files used? Also, are they editable? What kind of information is contained in them?

What is a *.plc file? Does it concern modding?(\_work\data\anims)
What is a *.dls file? (\_work\data\music)
What is a *.sty file?(\_work\data\music)
What is a *.sgt file?(\_work\data\music)
What is a *.dat file?(_work\Data\Scripts\_compiled)
What are the ou.dat and ou.bin files?(\_work\Data\Scripts\CONTENT\CUTSCENE)
(To make it faster) What is contained in the \_work\Data\Scripts\system folder?
*.zen files are used by the engine. No need to concern ourselves with them, right?
*.bik files are movies.
A VOB is a video object (chairs, boats etc.)

Where are the quest/character scripts stored? How can I unpack them? How can I put them back?

Same questions for meshes, sounds, VOBs etc.

Also, how do the 2 folders, \_work\data and \data "collaborate"?



Tools:
ASCII importer and exporter for 3ds Max. What are the *.asc files?

After I get some answers for the questions above, regarding the file formats, it will be pretty clear what the Gothic File Editor and the Output commander are good for.

As far as I can tell, the PFX database contains the video effects used in the game. How can they be edited or how can new effects be created?

After I get all this cleared I can get to more serious stuff, such as Daedalus.

[Xardas bs]

http://forum.worldofplayers.de/forum...d.php?t=646293 I think that there are some pretty good step by step modding tutorials

[Maladiq]

http://forum.worldofplayers.de/forum...d.php?t=646293 I think that there are some pretty good step by step modding tutorials

Thanks, but I am still a long way from that performance. As I titled my post, I am at the Basics of Basics point. I don't even know what most files do, let alone insert new objects in the game.

[Korianous]

This will answer a few of your questions at least . http://forum.worldofplayers.de/forum...8#post10877248

Feedback here: http://forum.worldofplayers.de/forum...8#post10791178

I'll explain file formats and such in the tutorial after the next one .

[Maladiq]

This will answer a few of your questions at least . http://forum.worldofplayers.de/forum...8#post10877248

Wow, I searched a dozen threads I think but missed that one. Great!


Funny, since it is a sticky...

[Larisa]

A few answers that I don't think that are covered in Korianous' tutorial.

I see that there are a lot of *.mds files, and afaik those are virtual disk files. ................ How does it work and how are the files used? .......... Also, are they editable?

With notepad, for example. I would guess the extension .mds comes from "models"

I know Gothic uses a virtual file system.

I think Gothic's virtual file system is inside vdfs.dmp

What is a *.plc file? Does it concern modding?(\_work\data\anims)

I would take a wild guess and say no. If you look inside a plc file, there's only the text "Gothic II". Maybe it's a placeholder?

What is a *.dls file? (\_work\data\music)
What is a *.sty file?(\_work\data\music)
What is a *.sgt file?(\_work\data\music)

sty and sgt come from "style" and "segment". You should study directmusic documentation to better understand how those work. As I understood, it's not very friendly.

[Maladiq]

^^Thanks