Modding

2026-02-18T04:43:46Z

Postlim: added explanation to edditing the recipe.txt file

Mods are packages of files that change The Last Starship in some way. These packages match the <code>[[main.dat]]</code> file structure to overload specific files. Mods can change game textures, default ships, and adjust system interactions.

== Using mods ==

To install a mod, unzip the mod package into the game directory (<code>C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\The Last Starship</code> for Steam). If done correctly, you should end up with a <code>data</code> directory containing the mod files.

== Creating mods ==

=== Texture packs ===

:'' The texture files for the game are still changing regularly. Any texture pack mods may need to be updated with each game release.''

To create new textures for the game, it is recommended to create new sprite sheets and only override <code>spritebank.txt</code>. This should allow multiple texture packs to co-exist once stronger mod tooling has been developed.

Sprites define their textures as below:

<nowiki>BEGIN Sprite
Name Engine
Image sprite-bank.png
BEGIN Frames
Size 2
BEGIN "[i 0]" X 2160 Y 300 Width 840 Height 480 ExtendLeft 123 ExtendRight 1 ExtendUp 250 END
BEGIN "[i 1]" X 4140 Y 60 Width 840 Height 480 ExtendLeft 135 ExtendRight 1 ExtendUp 2 END
END
BEGIN Markers
Size 13
BEGIN "[i 0]" Name Activation X 2544 Y 239 Width 198 Height 40 END
BEGIN "[i 1]" Name FuelBuffer X 2544 Y 318 Width 201 Height 36 END
BEGIN "[i 2]" Name Terminal1 X 2963 Y 448 Width 30 Height 92 END
BEGIN "[i 3]" Name Terminal2 X 2969 Y 326 Width 19 Height 98 END
BEGIN "[i 4]" Name GlowOn1 X 2177 Y 575 Width 186 Height 164 END
BEGIN "[i 5]" Name GlowThrust3 X 2097 Y 132 Width 146 Height 356 END
BEGIN "[i 6]" Name GlowThrust1 X 2046 Y 467 Width 90 Height 145 END
BEGIN "[i 7]" Name GlowThrust2 X 2069 Y 612 Width 69 Height 70 END
BEGIN "[i 8]" Name GlowOn3 X 2524 Y 368 Width 244 Height 275 END
BEGIN "[i 9]" Name GlowOn4 X 2627 Y 156 Width 64 Height 64 END
BEGIN "[i 10]" Name GlowOn5 X 2876 Y 312 Width 34 Height 220 END
BEGIN "[i 11]" Name GlowThrust1 X 4083 Y 119 Width 141 Height 360 END
BEGIN "[i 12]" Name GlowOn1 X 4519 Y 162 Width 229 Height 293 END
END
BEGIN State Frames [0] END
BEGIN State Name Exterior Frames [1] END
END</nowiki>

The Name field of the sprite must match the name of the item used in the game. The Image field must be an image inside the <code>sprites</code> data folder. Frames define textures for different rotations and state the item may appear, while Markers define effects on the item.

=== Translations ===

:''An existing [https://github.com/Totengeist/LastStarshipTranslations fan translation project] needs support. Please consider contributing to it instead of creating your own.''

To add a new language, create a new directory in <code>data\language</code> with the name of the language (e.g.: <code>latin</code>). The name of the folder will be used for the selection menu in the game. Inside this folder, create the file <code>language.txt</code> to contain all of the strings for the language.

=== New recipes ===

: '' The recipe files for the game are still changing regularly. Any mods may need to be updated with each game release.''

To create new ''recipe'' for the game, it is recommended to create new data folder and only override <code>recipes.txt</code>. This should allow multiple mods to co-exist once stronger mod tooling has been developed.

Recipes define their input and outputs as below:
BEGIN Recipe
Type ShieldedZeleonCanister
Equipment ChemicalLab
Duration 2.0
NeedsUnlocking true
BEGIN Item Type PortInput Index 1 Resource StableZeleon Quantity 15.0 Capacity 60.0 END
BEGIN Item Type SlotInput Resource ShieldedCanisterComponent Quantity 2.0 Capacity 12.0 END
BEGIN Item Type SlotOutput Index 1 Resource ShieldedZeleonCanister Quantity 2.0 Capacity 8.0 END
END
The Type field must match an existing item in the game. and will be used to put that name and sprite as header in the list of recipes.

The Equipment field specifies the type of equipment used to preform the recipe. so far the Refinery, ChemicalLab, MunitionsFactory, Fabricator, Assembler, LaserInfuser have been tested as valid entries.

The Duration field specifies the processing time of the recipe in seconds.

The NeedsUnlocking field is optional. If set to true then the recipe has to be added to a technology in <code>techtree.txt</code> before it can be researched and then useed.

Each ingredient or product has to be specified by the following format: BEGIN Item Type [Port/Slot][Input/Output] Index [Index number of the spot the item is loaded or pipe is connected] Resource [Resource name] Quantity [The amount required] Capacity [How much can be loaded at once] END . The amount and type of ingredients/products allowed depend on the Equipment used.

The Last Starwiki - User contributions [en]

Modding