Changing Items: A Beginner’s Mod Tutorial
This is for people who want to make a quick change in the items.dat file, where you will find all your weapons, potions, books, scrolls, etc.
You start by finding the ITEMS folder in the game folder. Inside is a list of all the items, called the items.dat.
Right click on this file, choose "open with" and pick a notepad or text document.
Find the item you want to change.
COPY IT on to a separate file. That's what you'll work on.
There is a short tutorial on modding with Windows Explorer here.
Let's start with an axe.
For tutorial purposes, I have colored the following lines.
If it's in red, you can safely change it. Blue means only experienced modders should change these lines*. Green means the game requires these exactly as they are. The actual items file will be in black and white.
*This does not mean someone who has done a few “change items” successfully.
*This does mean someone who knows what the line means and what the results of changing it will be. More in-depth tutorials are available right here in the archive.
You will see the basic weapons code looking like this:
<TYPE>:AXE
<NAME>:Axe of the Apostles
<RARITY>:500
<MINIMUM_DEPTH>:7
<MAXIMUM_DEPTH>:16
<MODEL>:ITEMS/axeA.mdl
<COLLIDEABLE>:0
<ICON>:ICONS/axeA.png:ICONS/axeAa.png:48:96
<VALUE>:1160
<TAKEABLE>:1
<DAMAGE>:6:13 #MIN : MAX base damage.
<ATTACK_RADIUS>:6
<STRIKE_RADIUS>:8
<SPEED>:NORMAL, SLOW, FAST, FASTEST (THOSE ARE YOUR OPTIONS)
<REQUIRES>:STRENGTH:32
<TAKE_SOUND>:SOUNDS/ITEMS/swordget.wav
<DROP_SOUND>:SOUNDS/ITEMS/fall.wav
<LAND_SOUND>:SOUNDS/ITEMS/sworddrop.wav
<STRIKE_SOUND>:SOUNDS/BATTLE/metalflesh1.wav
<STRIKE_SOUND>:SOUNDS/BATTLE/metalflesh2.wav
<STRIKE_SOUND>:SOUNDS/BATTLE/metalflesh3.wav
<ATTACK_SOUND>:SOUNDS/BATTLE/swordswing.wav
<MERCHANT_MINIMUM>:3 #Min character level item is offered in shops.
<MERCHANT_MAXIMUM>:20 #Max character level item is offered in shops.
<SOCKETS>:2
[/ITEM]
Now for a BOOK:
<TYPE>:BOOK
<NAME>:Book of Town Portals
<RARITY>:700
<MINIMUM_DEPTH>:1
<MODEL>:ITEMS/book.mdl
<COLLIDEABLE>:0
<ICON>:ICONS/book2.png:ICONS/book2a.png:48:96
<VALUE>:500
<TAKEABLE>:1
<DROP_SOUND>:SOUNDS/ITEMS/fall.wav
<TAKE_SOUND>:SOUNDS/ITEMS/leatherget.wav
<LAND_SOUND>:SOUNDS/ITEMS/leatherdrop.wav
<USE_SOUND>:SOUNDS/SPELLS/portalopen.wav
<USEABLE>:1
<USES>:10
<TARGET>:USER
<DESCRIPTION>:Open Town Portal
[EFFECT]
<ACTIVATION>:USAGE
<NAME>:OPENPORTAL
<TYPE>:OPENPORTAL
<DURATION>:INSTANT
<VALUE>:0
[/EFFECT]
[/ITEM]
And last, a POTION or CHARM:
<TYPE>:POTION
<RARITY>:1
<MINIMUM_DEPTH>:1
<MAXIMUM_DEPTH>:10
<NAME>:Minor Mana Potion
<MODEL>:ITEMS/MANAPOTION/potion.mdl
<COLLIDEABLE>:0
<ICON>:ICONS/bpotionsmall.png:ICONS/rpotionsmalla.png
<VALUE>:10 #Determines buy and sell prices.
<TAKEABLE>:1
<DROP_SOUND>:SOUNDS/ITEMS/fall.wav
<TAKE_SOUND>:SOUNDS/ITEMS/potionget.wav
<LAND_SOUND>:SOUNDS/ITEMS/potiondrop.wav
<USE_SOUND>:SOUNDS/ITEMS/potionusemana.wav
<USEABLE>:1
<USES>:1
[EFFECT]
<ACTIVATION>:USAGE
<TYPE>:MANARECHARGE #Valid entries are HPRECHARGE and MANARECHARGE.
<DURATION>:INSTANT
<VALUE>:20 #Determines how much HP/MANA is restored.
[/EFFECT]
#SFX:TYPE:DURATION:LOOPING:PATH TO EFFECT
<SFX>:FOLLOWTARGET:-1:0:0:0:SPELLS/EFFECTS/MANA/mana.ams
[/ITEM]
That covers the three most changed items.
After you have made your changes, copy the code back into the original items.dat file.
Look carefully at the changes and make sure there are no blank lines or extra spaces. These will cause the game to crash on loading.
Save the file as items.dat and close out.
You should be able to start up your game and the item will begin to appear with your changes on it.
Items you already have will not be changed.
Any questions? Click here.