Hex Editing

jedikiller32 · Post by **jedikiller32** » Fri May 05, 2006 9:24 pm

Hi all,
I am new to modding, and I want to ask if any of you can help me learn to hex-edit. The reason I am wanting to hex-edit is because I have a Mac. I've found tools, but not a tutorial. Basically, what I want to know is how to change weapons, add vehicles, and stuff like that. I know this is a VERY old thing, but it's all I can do.

Thanks.

Leviathan · Post by **Leviathan** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:47 am

Well, jedikiller32, I would highly advise you to download this Portable Document Format file in order to figure out how the different sorts of Vehicles usable on an existing Star Wars Battlefront level can be substituted by the ones you wish. Moreover, you should equally exploit GameToast's "Search" feature so as to localize informations and resources which might bring you the answers you currently need, while perfectly knowing that "Hex-Editing"-related questions have been largely discussed in the past on these Forums. Thus, you would eventually learn that you can also modify the Textures associated to specific Units featured in Star Wars Battlefront by brand-new ones, still through the process you have mentioned in your above message...

jedikiller32 · Post by **jedikiller32** » Sat May 06, 2006 12:29 pm

Thanks. I looked at the file and did a little work with that, but what I really want to know is how to edit weapons.

Leviathan · Post by **Leviathan** » Sat May 06, 2006 2:44 pm

Would you providing me many more details regarding the Settings associated to Star Wars Battlefront Weapons you wish to modify through Hex-Editing, jedikiller' ?

jedikiller32 · Post by **jedikiller32** » Sat May 06, 2006 2:49 pm

Actually, that probably wasn't the best wording I could have chosen...

What I meant was I want to know how to change weapons around, like for example giving the darktrooper a lightsaber, concussion grenade, and sniper rifle. Stuff like that.

Leviathan · Post by **Leviathan** » Sun May 07, 2006 2:26 pm

Alright, jedikiller32, before attempting to modify the Weapons attached to a few specific Units presented in Star Wars Battlefront through the editing of the Factions' *.LVL files contained inside the "[Hard-Drive's letter]\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars Battlefront\GameData\Data\_LVL_PC\Side" directory (Such as "all.lvl", "cis.lvl", etc...), you must know the exact "Labels" associated to each of these Units and Weapons, so as to make sure the modifications you will proceed to will be applied successfully...
So, here are some lists recapitulating the main "Basic Knowledges" you must perfectly know and master before starting to change the content of the proper LeVeL files :

"all.lvl" : Rebel Alliance Side's main *.LVL file
"cis.lvl" : Confederacy of Independent Systems Side's main *.LVL file
"imp.lvl" : Galactic Empire Side's main *.LVL file
"rep.lvl" : Galactic Republic Side's main *.LVL file

"all_inf_soldier" : Rebel Soldier
"all_inf_soldierdesert" : Rebel Soldier (Desert Patern)
"all_inf_soldierjungle" : Rebel Soldier (Jungle Patern)
"all_inf_soldiersnow" : Rebel Soldier (Snow Patern)
"all_inf_soldierurban" : Rebel Soldier (Urban Patern)
"all_inf_vanguard" : Rebel Vanguard
"all_inf_vanguardjungle" : Rebel Vanguard (Jungle Patern)
"all_inf_vanguardsnow" : Rebel Vanguard (Snow Patern)
"all_inf_pilot" : Rebel Pilot
"all_inf_marksman" : Rebel Marksman
"all_inf_marksmanjungle" : Rebel Marksman (Jungle Patern)
"all_inf_marksmansnow" : Rebel Marksman (Snow Patern)
"all_inf_smuggler" : Wookiee Smuggler
"all_inf_smugglersnow" : Wookiee Smuggler (Snow Patern)
"cis_inf_super_battledroid" : Super Battle Droid
"cis_inf_assault" : Assault Droid
"cis_inf_pilotdroid" : Droid Pilot
"cis_inf_assassindroid" : Assassin Droid
"cis_inf_droideka" : Droideka
"cis_inf_battledroid_inf" : Battle Droid
"cis_inf_battledroid_av" : Droid Demolitions
"cis_inf_battledroid_pilot" : Droid Pilot
"cis_inf_battledroid_sniper" : Droid Sniper
"imp_inf_storm_trooper" : Stormtrooper
"imp_inf_storm_trooperdesert" : Stormtrooper (Desert Patern)
"imp_inf_storm_troopersnow" : Stormtrooper (Snow Patern)
"imp_inf_shock_trooper" : Shock Trooper
"imp_inf_shock_troopersnow" : Shock Trooper (Snow Patern)
"imp_inf_pilotatat" : Imperial Pilot (AT-AT Driver)
"imp_inf_pilotatst" : Imperial Pilot (AT-ST Driver)
"imp_inf_pilottie" : Imperial Pilot (TIE Fighter Driver)
"imp_inf_scout_trooper" : Scout Trooper
"imp_inf_scout_troopersnow" : Scout Trooper (Snow Patern)
"imp_inf_dark_trooper" : Dark Trooper
"imp_inf_dark_troopersnow" : Dark Trooper (Snow Patern)
"rep_inf_clone_trooper" : Clone Trooper
"rep_inf_arc_trooper" : ARC Trooper
"rep_inf_clone_pilot" : Clone Pilot
"rep_inf_clone_sharpshooter" : Clone Sharpshooter
"rep_inf_jet_trooper" : Jet Trooper

"all_weap_inf_bowcaster" : Bowcaster
"all_weap_inf_crackgrenade" : Concussion Grenade
"all_weap_inf_fusioncutter" : Fusion Cutter
"all_weap_lightsaber" : Lightsaber
"all_weap_inf_mine_dispenser" : Mines
"all_weap_inf_mortar_launcher" : Grenade Launcher
"all_weap_inf_pistol" : Blaster Pistol
"all_weap_inf_powerup_dispenser" : Dispenser Health & Ammo
"all_weap_inf_remote_charge_dispenser" : Time Bomb
"all_weap_inf_remotedroid" : Recon Droid
"all_weap_inf_remotedroid_blaster" : Blaster
"all_weap_inf_remotedroid_destruct" : Orbital Strike
"all_weap_inf_rifle" : Blaster Rifle
"all_weap_inf_shotgun" : Blaster Cannon
"all_weap_inf_sniperrifle" : Sniper Rifle
"all_weap_inf_thermaldetonator" : Thermal Detonator
"all_weap_inf_torpedo_launcher" : Missile Launcher
"cis_weap_inf_crackgrenade" : Concussion Grenade
"cis_weap_inf_fusioncutter" : Fusion Cutter
"cis_weap_lightsaber" : Lightsaber
"cis_weap_inf_mine_dispenser" : Mines
"cis_weap_inf_mortar_launcher" : Radiation Launcher
"cis_weap_inf_pistol" : Blaster Pistol
"cis_weap_inf_powerup_dispenser" : Dispenser Health & Ammo
"cis_weap_inf_remote_charge_dispenser" : Time Bomb
"cis_weap_inf_remotedroid" : Recon Droid
"cis_weap_inf_remotedroid_blaster" : Blaster
"cis_weap_inf_remotedroid_destruct" : Orbital Strike
"cis_weap_inf_repeater" : Repeating Blasters
"cis_weap_inf_rifle" : Blaster Rifle
"cis_weap_inf_sniperrifle" : Sniper Rifle
"cis_weap_inf_thermaldetonator" : Thermal Detonator
"cis_weap_inf_torpedo_launcher" : Missile Launcher
"cis_weap_inf_wrist_blaster" : Wrist Blaster
"cis_weap_inf_wrist_rocket" : Wrist Rocket
"cis_weap_inf_wrist_shrapnel" : Tri-Shot
"imp_weap_inf_crackgrenade" : Concussion Grenade
"imp_weap_inf_fusioncutter" : Fusion Cutter
"imp_weap_lightsaber" : Lightsaber
"imp_weap_inf_mine_dispenser" : Mines
"imp_weap_inf_mortar_launcher" : Mortar Launcher
"imp_weap_inf_pistol" : Blaster Pistol
"imp_weap_inf_powerup_dispenser" : Dispenser Health & Ammo
"imp_weap_inf_remote_charge_dispenser" : Time Bomb
"imp_weap_inf_remotedroid" : Recon Droid
"imp_weap_inf_remotedroid_blaster" : Blaster
"imp_weap_inf_remotedroid_destruct" : Orbital Strike
"imp_weap_inf_rifle" : Blaster Rifle
"imp_weap_inf_shotgun" : Blast Cannon
"imp_weap_inf_sniperrifle" : Sniper Rifle
"imp_weap_inf_thermaldetonator" : Thermal Detonator
"imp_weap_inf_torpedo_launcher" : Missile Launcher
"rep_weap_inf_arccaster" : DN Bolt Caster
"rep_weap_inf_commando_pistol" : Commando Pistol
"rep_weap_inf_crackgrenade" : Concussion Grenade
"rep_weap_inf_fusioncutter" : Fusion Cutter
"rep_weap_inf_haywiredetonator" : EMP Grenade
"rep_weap_lightsaber" : Lightsaber
"rep_weap_inf_mine_dispenser" : Mines
"rep_weap_inf_pistol" : Blaster Pistol
"rep_weap_inf_powerup_dispenser" : Dispenser Health & Ammo
"rep_weap_inf_remote_charge_dispenser" : Time Bomb
"rep_weap_inf_remotedroid" : Recon Droid
"rep_weap_inf_remotedroid_blaster" : Blaster
"rep_weap_inf_remotedroid_destruct" : Orbital Strike
"rep_weap_inf_rifle" : Blaster Rifle
"rep_weap_inf_rocket_launcher" : EMP Launcher
"rep_weap_inf_sniperrifle" : Sniper Rifle
"rep_weap_inf_thermaldetonator" : Thermal Detonator
"rep_weap_inf_torpedo_launcher" : Missile Launcher

Henceforth, thanks to all informations provided above, you should be able to figure out how you could change the Equipment inherent to any Unit featured in Star Wars Battlefront.
For sample, in order to edit the Weapons that the Dark Trooper currently owns in this LucasArts video-game, just read closely the following "Step-By-Step" Tutorial :

Make sure you have made a Back-Up of the "imp.lvl" file, located inside the "[Hard-Drive's letter]\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars Battlefront\GameData\Data\_LVL_PC\Side" directory
Open your usual Hex-editor and use it in order to edit the "imp.lvl" file mentioned above
Launch a Search using the following Keywords : "imp_inf_dark_trooper" and "imp_inf_dark_troopersnow"
Scroll down in the opened file once your Program has found an Occurency, and check whether a few entries looking to the ones I have written in my last List are present near the Result your Hex-Editor has localized
Once you've noticed one of them, just look at its complete description, and replace it by another one, still chosen among the content of the last List, while making sure the Amount of characters of the brand-new entry does not exceed the one of the original weapon !
(In case the Label of the Weapon you wish to insert counts less characters than the original one's, just replace each remaining "Symbol" by "00" inside the Hexadecimal part of your Dedicated Program...)
Save all changes you've made, and you should be done

Hope it will help you, jedikiller', and please not hesitate to submit me all your Comments or Requests regarding the informations I have provided so far inside the current thread...

jedikiller32 · Post by **jedikiller32** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:04 pm

Thanks Leviathan. I played around with the dark trooper, and something went wrong. I gave him a lightsaber, a blaster rifle, and a recon droid. For some reason, the lightsaber refuses to show itself on the menu,and I can't click on him in the spawnng screen, and when every other unit spawns, it crashes then too. I think I must have made some error in editing, and I would love it if you could help me out. If you need to see my files, just ask. Thanks again.

Leviathan · Post by **Leviathan** » Tue May 09, 2006 2:46 pm

jedikiller', in such a situation, reading again the Comments and Suggestions I have highlighted using Red and Bold characters might help you to figure out what you may have done wrong while you were editing the Galactic Empire's LeVeL file through your usual Hex-Editor. Also, I forgot to precise that you cannot exploit "imp_weap_inf_" entries into a *.LVL file different from "imp.lvl" - Which is obviously applicable to any other Star Wars Battlefront Side -, since this Pandemic Studios video-game's Internal Stuffs have not been intended to benefit from a certain "Interoperability"...
Finally, submitting me the Faction's *.LVL you've edited so far would not be a great decision, as the uploading of such datas might require a considerable time, and that's why I would suggest taking Screenshots of the proper sections of "imp.lvl" you have modified, instead...

jedikiller32 · Post by **jedikiller32** » Thu May 11, 2006 5:05 pm

Ok, I gave up on that dark trooper thing. BUT I ran into ANOTHER problem while trying to make another mod. It always has something to do with the lightsabers. I am almost sure i have entered them correctly, but they wont show in the startup screen and can't click on them, AND when others spawn, it crashes again! I really don't know what to do! Please help...

Leviathan · Post by **Leviathan** » Fri May 12, 2006 12:39 pm

Well, jedikiller32, such a problem is usually caused by the replacing of existing sections - Contained into a few Star Wars Battlefront's *.LVL files - by improper entries, which means you must have substituted a shipping weapon - Such as the Blaster Cannon carried by the Dark Trooper - by a brand-new one, whose amount of characters exceeds the one of the original Equipment...
In that precise case, being completely unable to make the Lightsaber appearing in this LucasArts video-game's "Spawning Screen" is not that surprising...

jedikiller32 · Post by **jedikiller32** » Fri May 12, 2006 2:38 pm

I'm sorry, I really have no idea what you are saying. My guess is you are saying no lightsabers can be put in?

Leviathan · Post by **Leviathan** » Sun May 14, 2006 11:23 am

I am feeling sorry for not having been that "understandable", jedikiller', but I basically thought that the numerous problems you were currently experiencing with the Dark Trooper might be caused by an improper replacing of this Playable Character's original Equipment : Indeed, would you mind providing me a complete list of all Star Wars Battlefront Weapons you would have tried to substitute by a Lightsaber, as it might help me to figure out whether the changes you proceeded to could be realizable ?

jedikiller32 · Post by **jedikiller32** » Sun May 14, 2006 2:17 pm

Oh, ok. I think i figured out what was wrong, but just to verify... Are there resrictions on what can go where? For instance, can a blaster pistol go in a secondary slot, or can a thermal detonator go in a primary slot? And i figured out the problem with the lightsaber, its all_weap_lightsaber instaed of all_weap_inf_lightsaber.I was putting inf where I should not be.

Leviathan · Post by **Leviathan** » Mon May 15, 2006 12:32 pm

Alright, in order to sum up what I may have already precised earlier, I would simply tell you that you can place any Star Wars Battlefront Weapons at any available Slot you wish to exploit, as long as the amount of characters of the replacement Entity does not exceed the one of the original Equipment, which means the number of possible combinations is rather high in this LucasArts video-game, jedikiller32...

jedikiller32 · Post by **jedikiller32** » Sun May 21, 2006 8:02 pm

Ok, thanks. Another question. Would it be possible to make the imperial troops all have the snowtrooper skin except the dark trooper? If so, can you tell me how to?

Leviathan · Post by **Leviathan** » Mon May 22, 2006 12:35 pm

Potentially speaking, you could apply the main Textures exploited by Snow Troopers on any other Unit shipping with the "imp.lvl" file, but as those Graphics Files would not fit with the original Models associated to these Classes, I guess you would have to call the Snow Trooper's Meshes, instead of the Skins used on them. If you would wish to proceed so, then just tell me whether you agree with my above suggestion, and we will see what should be realized, then...

jedikiller32 · Post by **jedikiller32** » Mon May 22, 2006 4:21 pm

Sure, go ahead, but if it requires any tools (applications) please make sure they are available for Macintosh OS X. I anxiously await your reply...

Leviathan · Post by **Leviathan** » Tue May 23, 2006 12:16 pm

Off-topic : One moment, jedikiller32 : Another way to replace Standard Units by those called on Snowy / Icy Star Wars Battlefront Planets currently exists, and I guess it will be much easier for you to exploit it and will simply require the editing of the "mission.lvl" file through your usual Hexadecimal Editor, which can be found inside the "[Hard-Drive's letter]\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars Battlefront\GameData\Data\_LVL_PC" Directory.
While waiting I succeed in gathering the informations required to conceive an additional List which might help you to figure out how the *.LVL file I have mentioned above could be modified, I think that you should open and study it in the meantime, in order to get a Preview of the possibilities offered by its editing...

jedikiller32 · Post by **jedikiller32** » Tue May 23, 2006 10:13 pm

Ok, will do.

Leviathan · Post by **Leviathan** » Thu May 25, 2006 12:52 pm

Well, jedikiller32, I have conceived a List referring to all Entries related to Star Wars Battlefront shipped Worlds that you could encounter while you'll be browsing the content of "mission.lvl", and each time you will wish to replace the Units called on a specific level listed below, you'll have to launch a Search using the Tag (Such as "bes1a", "bes1a_h", "bes1r", etc...) associated to it first, which may vary according to both the Era and Star Wars Battlefront "Gameplay" you wish to affect. So, here you go :

bes1a : "Bespin : Plaforms" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Instant Action
bes1a_h : "Bespin : Plaforms" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Historical Campaign
bes1r : "Bespin : Plaforms" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Instant Action
bes2a : "Bespin : Cloud City" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Instant Action
bes2a_h : "Bespin : Cloud City" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Historical Campaign
bes2r : "Bespin : Cloud City" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Instant Action
end1a : "Endor : Bunker" level, Instant Action
end1a_h : "Endor : Bunker" level, Historical Campaign
GEO1r : "Geonosis : Spire" level, Instant Action
GEO1r_h : "Geonosis : Spire" level, Historical Campaign
hot1i : "Hoth : Echo Base" level, Instant Action
hot1i_h : "Hoth : Echo Base" level, Historical Campaign
kam1c : "Kamino : Tipoca City" level, Instant Action
kam1c_h : "Kamino : Tipoca City" level, Historical Campaign
kas1c : "Kashyyyk : Islands" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Instant Action
kas1c_h : "Kashyyyk : Islands" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Historical Campaign
kas1i : "Kashyyyk : Islands" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Instant Action
kas2c : "Kashyyyk : Docks" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Instant Action
kas2c_h : "Kashyyyk : Docks" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Historical Campaign
kas2i : "Kashyyyk : Docks" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Instant Action
NAB1c : "Naboo : Plains" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Instant Action
NAB1c_h : "Naboo : Plains" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Historical Campaign
NAB1i : "Naboo : Plains" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Instant Action
nab2a : "Naboo : Theed" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Instant Action
nab2c : "Naboo : Theed" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Instant Action
nab2c_h : "Naboo : Theed" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Historical Campaign
rhn1i : "Rhen Var : Harbor" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Instant Action
rhn1r : "Rhen Var : Harbor" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Instant Action
rhn1r_h : "Rhen Var : Harbor" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Historical Campaign
rhn2a : "Rhen Var : Citadel" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Instant Action
rhn2a_h : "Rhen Var : Citadel" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Historical Campaign
rhn2c : "Rhen Var : Citadel" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Instant Action
tat1i : "Tatooine : Dune Sea" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Instant Action
tat1i_h : "Tatooine : Dune Sea" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Historical Campaign
tat1r : "Tatooine : Dune Sea" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Instant Action
tat2i : "Tatooine : Mos Eisley" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Instant Action
tat2i_h : "Tatooine : Mos Eisley" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Historical Campaign
tat2r : "Tatooine : Mos Eisley" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Instant Action
yav1c : "Yavin : Temple" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Instant Action
yav1i : "Yavin : Temple" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Instant Action
yav1i_h : "Yavin : Temple" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Historical Campaign
yav2i : "Yavin : Arena" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Instant Action
yav2i_h : "Yavin : Arena" level, "Galactic Civil War" Era, Historical Campaign
yav2r : "Yavin : Arena" level, "Clone Wars" Era, Instant Action

Once you will have succeeded in finding the Section you wish to modify, just scroll-down in your Hexadecimal Editor until you notice entries resembling to a few ones I have listed in the previous page. (Like "imp_inf_storm_trooper" or "imp_inf_shock_trooper", for samples)
After that, just replace all the concerned Classes by the ones you wish to add instead, such as "imp_inf_storm_troopersnow" or "imp_inf_shock_troopersnow", in our above examples.
On the other hand, I have to warn you that such a Modification might not work properly and could equally lead Star Wars Battlefront to a systematic Crashing, and in that case, I would like you to tell me what exact changes you wanted to apply through "mission.lvl", and I will do them for you, as I own the Source Contents of this LeVeL file...

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