Modding 101 Chapter 6: Creation of a .tmod

• Chapter 0
  Let's get you into Modding
• Chapter 1
  Guide Explanation & Folder Preparation
• Chapter 2
  File Extraction
• Chapter 3
  Model Modification (Blueprints)
• Chapter 3d
  Qubicle (3)
• Chapter 6
  Creation of a .tmod
• Chapter 7b
  Sharing your .tmod on Steam Workshop
• Chapter X-1
  Costume Parts List (Accepted Mods)

Table of contentsTop ^

• Step1: Creation of the /mods/ folder
• Step2: Preparation of files
• Step3: Add an image preview
• Step4: Create a .tmod using:
  • a. Ingame command
  • b. Console Command
  • c. Console Command YAML
  • d. TroveTools.NET
• Step5: Verification of your .tmod
• Step6: Share your .tmod

If you are only looking to convert your existing mods from a .zip format to the new .tmod format, click here.

Step 1 Create the /mods/ folder

Create a /mods/ folder in your Trove Live directory. This is the folder in which new .tmod are created, and this is also the folder from which the game loads the new type of mods.
*the patch might just do this anyways

Step 2 Prepare all necessary files

There are three options to create a .tmod file. It can be create with an in-game command, and a console command. Both give the same result, but have to be handled in a different way.

If you are using the ingame command, make sure you clear all /override/ folders of blueprints/vfx/ui elements not part of that specific mod:

The override folders:

• ../Trove/Live/particles/vfx/particles/override/
• ../Trove/Live/blueprints/override/
• ../Trove/Live/ui/override/

*note: if you use the console command, you will need to specify the contents of the mod in the command. 

Step 3 Add an image preview (if not using a .blueprint)

Place a preview file (with a resolution of 400 x 230) in the \ui\override folder. Preview files can be PNG, JPG or BLUEPRINT files (for the blueprints you can point to the \blueprint\-folder.)

Step 4: Mod Creation (without having a .zip already

No matter what method you use, all created .tmod files will go into the ../Trove/Live/mods/ -directory

Step 4a Ingame mod creation

Login to the game and use the following command (remove the {content} )

/buildmod author="{Your Name}" notes="{Notes on mod}" title="{Title of mod}" preview="{path to preview picture of mod}"

Example:

/buildmod author="Evilagician" notes="Replaces Maglev with a skyrealm version" title="[Cosmetic] Skyrealm Maglev Tracks" preview="ui\Skyrealm_rail.png"

The chat window will list all included blueprints/vfx etc in the chat window

Step 4b Console mod creation (greater precision , but a bigger command)

To open a console window, go to the Trove live folder, hold and rightclick to see the [Open command window here]-option.

The console command window will give you a greater control of the files you want to have included in the .tmod file:

Trove.exe -tool buildmod -author "Author Name" -title "Mod Title" -notes "Mod Notes" -preview "path/to/preview.png" -  

Yes, you have to specify all files, so here is the same example as used in step 4a, but in the console version:

Trove.exe -tool buildmod -author "Evilagician" -title "Cosmetic Skyrealm Maglev Tracks2" -notes "Replaces Maglev with a skyrealm version" -preview "ui/Skyrealm_rail.png" - ui/Skyrealm_rail.png blueprints/interactive_monorail_boost.blueprint blueprints/interactive_monorail_corner.blueprint blueprints/interactive_monorail_cross.blueprint blueprints/interactive_monorail_intersection_left.blueprint blueprints/interactive_monorail_intersection_right.blueprint blueprints/interactive_monorail_ramp.blueprint blueprints/interactive_monorail_slow.blueprint blueprints/interactive_monorail_speed_toggle_01.blueprint blueprints/interactive_monorail_speed_toggle_02.blueprint blueprints/interactive_monorail_speed_toggle_03.blueprint blueprints/interactive_monorail_speed_toggle_04.blueprint blueprints/interactive_monorail_speed_toggle_05.blueprint blueprints/interactive_monorail_straight.blueprint

The console will not give feedback on succesfull or failed creation, this is however put into the DevTool.log -file, found in %appdata%/Trove. But a succes will make a file in the /mods-folder.

Take note of the following when creating a tmod from the console:

• Make sure that you use forward slashes "/" for directory separators
• Don't include the override folder when specifying files.
• If adding a new file to act as a preview be sure that file exists in an override folder.

Step 4c Console mod creation YAML version

There is another way to create a .tmod file. This is with a .yaml file (metafile).

Create a subfolder within your trove folder, named yaml.

If using MetaFile, you can specifiy options in the YAML format with the following schema:
---
author: author name
title: mod title
notes: Added notes about the mod
previewPath: path/to/preview.png
files:
- path/to/file.png
tags:
- tag1
- tag2
...

Create the YAML-file in the /mods-folder, lets keep the main folder clean! So here is an example of a Yaml file

---
author: Evilagician
title: Cosmetic Skyrealm Maglev Tracks YAML
notes: Replaces Maglev with a skyrealm version
previewPath: ui/Skyrealm_rail.png
files:
- ui/Skyrealm_rail.png
- blueprints/interactive_monorail_boost.blueprint
- blueprints/interactive_monorail_corner.blueprint
- blueprints/interactive_monorail_cross.blueprint
- blueprints/interactive_monorail_intersection_left.blueprint
- blueprints/interactive_monorail_intersection_right.blueprint
- blueprints/interactive_monorail_ramp.blueprint
- blueprints/interactive_monorail_slow.blueprint
- blueprints/interactive_monorail_speed_toggle_01.blueprint
- blueprints/interactive_monorail_speed_toggle_02.blueprint
- blueprints/interactive_monorail_speed_toggle_03.blueprint
- blueprints/interactive_monorail_speed_toggle_04.blueprint
- blueprints/interactive_monorail_speed_toggle_05.blueprint
- blueprints/interactive_monorail_straight.blueprint
tags:
- Cosmetic
...

Console Command (look at step 4b, on how to do that if you dont know how to it ;-))

Trove.exe -tool buildmod -meta MetaFile.yaml

Console Command example

Trove.exe -tool buildmod -meta "yaml\skyrail.yaml"

Again, there is no verification on console, but you can see the .tmod-file created in /mods/.

Step 4d use TroveTools.NET (version 1.1.9.1 and later)

Download and open TroveTools.net.

1. Go to the tab: Modder Tools
2. Fill an appropriate title for your mod
3. use the [Browse] button to browse to your image preview (this will automatically add the preview file to "Files"
4. Fill the author (you)
5. Give some notes about your mod
6. Use the Add file button to add all applicable files (blueprints / ui / vfx)
7. Click [Build Tmod] and your file will be created

*note: Success or errors will be visible in the [Dev Tool Output] section

Step 5 Verification of the .tmod

Restart the game and the mod should be listed in the mods interface

Easiest way to verify the .tmod file: share it with a fellow modder or friends. If they place the file in the /mods -directory and restart the game

Alternative 1: Remove all files from the override folders, restart the client and the mod should still be active.
Alternative 2: Add UseOverrides=false to [System] in your Trove.cfg file in %AppData% (a special MS Windows thing you can type into File Explorer that should resolve to something similar to C:\Users\iamme\AppData\Roaming, navigate from there to Trove to find Trove.cfg). Leave UseOverrides unset or set to true to restore the default behavior of enabling overrides

Step 6 Share

You can share your mods on the Trove Forums, or on Trovesaurus which is supported by the Mod Loaders. 

Add your mod to Trovesaurus

• Login/Register to Trovesaurus
• Go to the mods page
• Under the Mod FIlter, click "Add Mod"
• Name your mod and continue to fill out all relevant information
  • There is a minimum amount of information needed for your mod to be visible (the page will tell you what to those minimums are)
• On your mod's page, scroll down to the "Mod Downloads" section and click "Add Download"
• Select your mods .tmod file and upload it

Make a post on Trove Forums (forums.trovegame.com)

Share your mod and ask feedback on trove forums -> Mod discussions

Add your mod to Trovesaurus

Steam Workshop support is currently planned but not yet added.

Only interested in a .zip to .tmod conversion? Use TroveTools.NET

Download and open TroveTools.net.

Have your latest mod version downloaded and installed, right-click the current version, and choose the option: [Convert Mod to TMOD...]

This will automatically fill all required information. Check the image (hover your mouse over [Preview]. If its not looking right, use the button to change the preview image. If its correct or adjusted press the Build Tmod buttons to create your .Tmod!

Q&A

Q: I'm modding a costume, but it wont show up ingame, what am i doing wrong?

A: Make sure you have no .tmod file enabled in-game that is modifying the model you are working on, the game will handle modifications in the following way:

{enabled .tmod files} over {files in /override-folders} over {original game files}

Q: I placed all my modded blueprints in ../Live/blueprints/ like in the screenshot, but it will not make a .tmod!

A: Make sure your modded blueprints are in the ../Live/Blueprints/override/ - folder, even though you don't mention the /override/ folders in the commands. 

End of Chapter

Return to the Index <---|---> Proceed to chapter 7 for mod sharing

Guide Changelog

 2016-11-08:

• • Added tags to yaml file
• 2016-10-18:
  • Added this changelog, added Q&A
• 2016-10-17:
  • Added locations for all override folders in step 2, Added location for .tmod export directory