Editing Mod:Create a character

This tutorial explains how to create and modify a character in ''[[Wikipedia 2197|The Sum]]''.
[[file:Entity Editor.jpg|thumb|This tutorial uses mainly the ''Entity Editor''.]]

== Required tools ==
* [[Mod:Editors#Entity_editor|Entity Editor]]
* [[Mod:Editors#Level_editor|Level Editor]]
* [[Mod:Editors#Notepad.2B.2B|Notepad++]]

== Before you start ==
Take some time to learn how the Entity Editor works by checking out the [http://10projets.org/nousaurons/editor_readme.html#Section3 "readme" file of the Fallout Tactics Editor].{{Warning|Characters are referred to as "Actors" in the document.}}

== Create a new character ==
{{Idea|Characters including several characteristics necessary for the game to function properly in general (along with a number of basic items in their bag), it is recommended that you create a character from an existing character taken at random from the characters in the ''Game/core/entities/Actors/'' folder }}
=== Existing character as a base ===
# Open the ''Game''/ folder then '''FT Improver.EXE''' {{Warning|Using '''FT Tools.exe''' instead will result in an error}}.
# Pass the videos by clicking on them.
# Click on {{False button|MORE|color=black|button=yes}}.
# Click {{False button|ENTITY EDITOR|color=black|button=yes}}.
# Navigate to the {{False button|File|color=gray|bordure=black}} menu then {{False button|Open|color=gray}}.
# Open the desired file which must end with '''.ent''' (stored in ''Game/core/entities/Actors/'').
# Go to the menu {{False button|File|color=gray|border=black}} then {{False button|Save As|color=gray}}.
# Save this character under a different name in the same folder.{{Idea|The character should be stored in a folder corresponding to the location where it appears. If the filename of this location does not appear in "___HABITANTS", create this folder first with "Windows Explorer" and then save your character in it.}}

== Editing a character ==

=== Open the file (Entity editor) ===
# Open the ''Game''/ folder then '''FT Improver.EXE''' {{Warning|Use '''FT Tools.exe''' instead will result in an error}}.
# Pass the videos by clicking on them.
# Click on {{False button|MORE|color=black|button=yes}}.
# Click {{False button|ENTITY EDITOR|color=black|button=yes}}.
# Navigate to the {{False button|File|color=gray|border=black}} menu then {{False button|Open|color=gray}}.
# Open the file of your character previously created which must end with '''.ent'''.

=== Name character ===
Every character has a name, stored in ''Game/NousAurons/locale/Game/'''characters.txt''''' (French version) and ''Game/core/locale/Game/'''characters.txt''''' (English version).
# Open the two files '''characters.txt''' and for each of them:
## Press {{False button|ctrl|color=white}}+{{False button|f|color=white}} and search for "//PRÉNOMS DES HABITANTS"
## Directly below, copy/paste the following code: <syntaxhighlight>
name__character_code_name = {character name}
</syntaxhighlight>
# [[Mod:Create_a_character#Open the file (Entity editor)|Open the character file]]
# Expand the {{False button|Name|color=gray|border=black}} tab.
# To the right of {{Fake button|Display Name|color=gray}}, add your character's code name.{{Warning|This name should not include the word "name_", but rather look like this: "_character_code_name". The "_" bar indicates that this is a unique character}}
# Go to the {{Fake button|File|color=gray|bord=black}} menu and then {{Fake button|Save|color=gray}}.

=== Add a bio (for companions) ===
If the character you create does not join the player's group as a [[Nous_Aurons:Contenus#Companions|companion]], skip this step.
As for the name, the bio of a character is stored in ''Game/NousAurons/locale/Game/'''characters.txt''''' (French version) and ''Game/core/locale/Game/'''characters.txt''''' (English version).
# Open the two files '''characters.txt''' and for each of them:
## Press {{False button|ctrl|color=white}}+{{False button|f|color=white}} and search for "//RECRUES"
## Directly below, copy/paste the following code: <syntaxhighlight>
name__code_name_of_character = {Name of character}
desc__character_code_name = {<Ck>LOCATION\nPROFESSION\nBiography appearing in the language appropriate to the version of '''characters.txt''}
</syntaxhighlight>
* '''LOCATION:''' Name of the [[The Sum:Contents#Merica|location]] where the companion is recruited.
* '''PROFESSION:''' Primary or official [[The Sum:Contents#Professions|profession]] of the companion. There may be more than one.{{Idea|If the character_code_name has been correctly assigned in the entity editor, the character's name and bio should appear correctly.}}
# Save the document.

=== Create a portrait ===
To create a portrait from an image, see [[Mod:Create a portrait]].

=== Assign a portrait ===
Using the code name of your character, it is easy to assign them a portrait.
# Open the folder ''Game/core/gui/char/'' then choose a portrait in the list.{{Idea|If you can not see the portraits by double-clicking on them, [[Mod:Programs_recommended#Red.21Viewer|install ''Red!Viewer'']}}
# Copy/paste this '''.zar''' file in the same folder renaming it "_character_code_name.zar".{{Warning|Don't forget to add a "_" bar before the character code name.}}

=== Change characteristics ===
There are an infinite number of possible variations for the characteristics of the character you create, and they can have a [[Level of autonomy]] varying from beginner to very high...
# [[Mod:Create_a_character#Open the file (Entity editor)|Open the character file]]
# Click on the {{False button|Make|color=gray|border=black}} button to the right of the top menu.
# Customize the character by clicking on the {{False button|Name|color=black}}{{False button|Age|color=black}}{{False button|Appearance|color=black}} buttons on top.
# Using the {{False button|+|color=white}} and {{False button|-|color=white}} buttons as well as the <font size="+1" color="yellow">☻</font> and <font size="+1" color="grey">☻</font> buttons, assign any characteristics of your choice to the character and press {{False button|OK|color=white|button=yes}}
#*Once this step is completed, expand the {{Fake button|customName|color=gray|border=black}} tab and delete the name you entered earlier (to the right of {{Fake button|customName|color=gray}}). To assign a name to the character, follow [[Mod:Create_a_character#Name_character|these steps]] instead.
# To add [[Autonomy Level|Levels]] to the character:
## Click the {{False button|Level|color=gray|bord=black}} button to the right of the menu at the top.
## Press the {{False button|+|color=white}} button to the right of "Autonomy" the number of times you want.
## Select a Perk when prompted.
## Assign all points earned from the [[Skills]] on the right using the {{False button|+|color=white}} and {{False button|-|color=white}} buttons. {{Idea|Holding down the {{False button|shift|color=white}} key by clicking on these buttons adds or subtracts 10 points for each click}}
## Press {{False button|OK|color=white|button=yes}}.
# Navigate to the {{False button|File|color=gray|border=black}} menu and then {{False button|Save|color=gray}}.

=== Change the colors ===
# [[Mod:Create_a_character#Open the file (Entity editor)|Open the character file]]
# Expand the {{False button|Image|color=gray|border=black}} tab.
# 4 menus allow you to change the character's colors, with two dimmers, the first controlling the saturation and the second the color level.{{Warning|Changing the first color ({{False button|Base|color=gray3}}) will affect the character blood color...}}

=== Equipment (level editor) ===
# [[Mod:Create_a_location#Add_a_character|Add a character in a location]]{{Idea|Their ''.ent'' file should be stored beforehand in ''Actors/___Inhabitants/location_code_name/'}}
# Click on the tab {{False button|Entity Edit|color=black2}} then click on the character.
# To add items ''worn'' by the character:
## Scroll left to the {{False button|Hand1_|color=gray}} field.
##* The {{False button|Hand1_|color=gray}} and {{False button|Hand2_|color=gray}} fields indicate the objects in the character's two hands.
##* The {{False button|Armour_|color=gray}} field indicates the clothing or armor worn by the character that may change their appearance.
## Click on the {{False button|...|color=gray|bordure=black}} button to select an item to add to one of these fields (weapons are in the ''weapons/'' folder, clothes are in the ''items/Armor'' folder).
## Check the box under the fields {{False button|*_override|color=gray}} that you have filled with an item to indicate that this item will be used.
# To add items ''in the bag'' of the character:
## Scroll down to the large black rectangle with the {{False button|add|color=gray|border=black}} and {{False button|del|color=gray|border=black}} buttons on top of it.
## Click on the {{False button|add|color=gray|edge=black}} button to select an item to add (items are located in the ''items/'' folder.
# Go to the {{False button|File|color=gray|border=black}} menu then {{False button|Save|color=gray}}.

=== Equipment (Entity editor) ===
{{Warning|It is not recommended to equip a character in the entity editor, as bugs may occur. [[Mod:Create a character#Equipment (level editor)|Using the ''Level editor'']] is recommanded}}
# [[Mod:Create_a_character#Open the file (Entity editor)|Open the character file]]
# To add items '''worn''' by the character:
## Expand the {{False button|Equipped|color=gray|border=black}} tab.
##* The {{False button|Hand1|color=gray}} and {{False button|Hand2|color=gray}} fields indicate the objects in the character's two hands.
##* The {{False button|Armour|color=gray}} field indicates the clothing or armor worn by the character that may change their appearance.
## Click on the {{False button|...|color=gray|bordure=black}} button to select an item to add to one of these fields (weapons are in the ''weapons/'' folder, clothes are in the ''items/Armor'' folder).
# To add items ''in the bag'' of the character:
## Expand the {{False button|Inventory|color=gray|border=black}} tab.
## Click on the {{False button|add|color=gray|edge=black}} button to select an item to add (items are located in the ''items/'' folder). {{Warning|Don't overload the character with items for no good reason because they won't be able to move around}}
# Go to the {{False button|File|color=gray|border=black}} menu then {{False button|Save|color=gray}}.

=== Life points ===
If you added [[Autonomy Level|Autonomy Levels]] to your character, it is important to adjust their [[Life]] points to ensure that they are not injured (and therefore potentially hostile) as soon as the player encounters them.
# Calculate the number of Life Points the character needs using the [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ERTgH9OsLT_8GCl4E6gcspTy07x-Iab1CWDKbmo5t2o/edit#gid=41039390 following form].{{Idea|Get the character's [[Strength]], [[Endurance]] and [[Autonomy Level]] by clicking the {{False button|Level|color=gray|bord=black}} button at the top of the page in the Entity Editor.}}
# In the Entity Editor, expand the very last tab {{False button|ActorStatus|color=gray|edge=black}}.
# To the right of {{False button|hitPoints|color=gray}}, replace the current number with the calculated number of Life Points.
# Go to the {{False button|File|color=gray|border=black}} menu then {{False button|Save|color=gray}}.

== Placing a character in a location ==
Check out the tutorial at [[Mod:Create_a_location#Add_a_character|there (and follow the steps)]]