Dear Stormworkers,
The Component, Physics, & Gameplay Modding Major Update releases in 1 week, on Monday the 7th July!
It is finally happening. It is almost time to create your own components, give them functions, forces, abilities, animations, visual effects, sound effects, and more. It is almost time to mod the game physics, aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, buoyancy, and more. These are long standing and frequent requests by the community.
What Is Component Modding?
Component modding is the ability to create new Stormworks vehicle parts, including designing their 3D model, sound effects and programmed behavior via the component lua API. Component mods can be uploaded to workshop and embedded in workshop vehicles that use them.
How Is This Different To Existing Modding?
Currently it isn't possible to add code and modify the behavior of components, only change their appearance and some numbers such as their mass, etc.
It also isn't possible to uploaded modded components (or vehicles that use them) to the workshop. This was to avoid "dependency Armageddon" where workshop creations may have required you to have other mods downloaded and activated before you could spawn them. This resolves this issue, meaning that modded components are compatible with the workshop, in a way that is simple and convenient for players.
What Is Physics & Gameplay Modding?
In this new update, we have exposed some coded values (such as important numbers with regard to aerodynamics, hydrodynamics and buoyancy), to the player, so these values can be changed by editing a text document.
This text file is loaded in when the game starts, and the critical numbers are loaded in. This gives players and mod creators the power to customize aerodynamics, buoyancy, and more to their own preference, and share these settings on the workshop.
What Is In The Lua API & Text File?
There are loads of lua functions and gameplay values included in this update. Without listing them all out, this update creates countless opportunities for creative and powerful mods to the game.
More importantly, this update can serve as a foundation to be extended. We will be listening to the modding community, and expect new lua functions and gameplay values will be added as players get to grips with these new tools and give their feedback on what they want to see next.
We suggested the previous File Mods Major Update was the beginning of a major new era of Stormworks, and those mods have been incredible. This new update gives players even more power of authorship and creativity, and I think will be a very meaningful next step.
We look forward to sharing this new update with you soon!
Much love <3,
The Stormworks Developers
