Skinning System - Revision history

ZeviorZoom at 09:12, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T09:12:04Z

Yoko_Kurama at 01:28, 15 March 2025

2025-03-15T01:28:59Z

Blue dwarf at 23:03, 14 March 2025

2025-03-14T23:03:02Z

Blue dwarf at 15:25, 28 May 2013

2013-05-28T15:25:22Z

Blue dwarf at 23:18, 8 February 2012

2012-02-08T23:18:20Z

Blue dwarf at 23:12, 8 February 2012

2012-02-08T23:12:54Z

Blue dwarf: New page: Everything in the "Content" directory tree is customizable by players. to make your own skin you should make a new folder in the "Content" directory which has any name you want. The client...

2012-02-08T13:07:50Z

New page: Everything in the "Content" directory tree is customizable by players. to make your own skin you should make a new folder in the "Content" directory which has any name you want. The client...

New page

Everything in the "Content" directory tree is customizable by players. to make your own skin you should make a new folder in the "Content" directory which has any name you want. The client will automatically detect any skins you have, and will only load one (needs verification).

You don't have to put every file in your skin directory tree. Only put the files that you change and their appropriate index files (game_data\images.xml, UI\XML\root.xml, etc). The client will automatically look for your files first, then if a file isn't in that tree, it will fetch it from the default tree.

Don't edit any files in the default tree, as those will get overwritten when you patch. Instead, make your own skin directory and copy the file there and make your modification there. That way, when you patch, you won't lose any of your modifications.

Almost everything the Star Sonata 2 client uses is in the Content tree and is thus skinnable by players, include UI layout, graphics, models, textures, etc.

To post skins for other players to use here, I suggest you include a screenshot of what your skin / changes looks like, and a link to a zip file containing the tree structure of your modified files.

To submit proposed changes / tweaks to the official UI, please paste a before and after screenshot, so we can see what the changes you made are, and a similar zip with the changed files.

[[Category:Client_Skinning]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:12, 3 March 2026
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	The game client can read any compressed .ZIP file. Once you've finished creating your skin, you can compress your skin for easy installation. The file path within the zip file should look similar to: <code>Content/MyMod.zip/Textures/Ships/SuperCoolShipTexture.png</code>.		The game client can read any compressed .ZIP file. Once you've finished creating your skin, you can compress your skin for easy installation. The file path within the zip file should look similar to: <code>Content/MyMod.zip/Textures/Ships/SuperCoolShipTexture.png</code>.
		+	If you get an error starting the game using your .ZIP file and you created it using windows' inbuilt .ZIP file creation, try creating your .ZIP file using 7zip or another program.

	To share your skins with the community, please post them in the [https://discord.com/channels/162979076695523331/1350241316319268875 Modification] channel on the official Star Sonata Discord, along with a few screenshots and a direct download link or GitHub link to your skin file.		To share your skins with the community, please post them in the [https://discord.com/channels/162979076695523331/1350241316319268875 Modification] channel on the official Star Sonata Discord, along with a few screenshots and a direct download link or GitHub link to your skin file.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Everything in the "Content" directory tree is customizable by players, to make your own skin you should make a new folder in the "Content" directory which has any name you want. The client will automatically detect any skins you have, and will load them in an alphabetical order, taking any modifications that come first. Eg, if I have a skin named A and one Z, and both have modifications editing the galaxy map in, the galmap from A would be used. Default is automatically the lowest priority in loading skins.
+Every file located in the <code>Star Sonata 2/Content</code> directory can be customized by players to create their own skins. Almost all aspects of the Star Sonata 2 client are customizable and located within this "Content" directory. This includes user interface (UI) layouts, graphics, models, textures, and more. To create your own skin, simply make a new folder inside the "Content" directory and give it a unique name.
-You don't have to put every file in your skin directory tree. Only put the files that you change and their appropriate index files (game_data\images.xml, UI\XML\root.xml, etc). The client will automatically look for your files first, then if a file isn't in that tree, it will fetch it from the default tree.
+The game client automatically detects all available skins at startup and loads them alphabetically. When multiple skins modify the same files, the skin earliest in alphabetical order takes precedence. For example, if two skins named "Alpha" and "Omega" both modify the galaxy map, the client will use the galaxy map from the "Alpha" skin. The "Default" skin provided by the game always has the lowest loading priority.
-Don't edit any files in the default tree, as those will get overwritten when you patch. Instead, make your own skin directory and copy the file there and make your modification there. That way, when you patch, you won't lose any of your modifications.
+When creating your custom skin, you don't need to copy every file from the Default game directory. Only include files you've modified along with their relevant index files (such as game_data\images.xml, UI\XML\root.xml, etc.). Your skin's directory structure should follow the structure of the Default directory. If it does not, your skin may fail to load properly.
-Almost everything the Star Sonata 2 client uses is in the Content tree and is thus skinnable by players, include UI layout, graphics, models, textures, etc.
+The client prioritizes loading files from your skin's directory first; if a file isn't found there, it uses the files located back in the Default directory. Never modify files directly within the Default directory, as game updates will overwrite your changes. Instead, copy files to your custom skin's directory and edit them there. This ensures your modifications are preserved across game updates.
-Once you're done with your modifications, the client can read and unpack modifications from a compressed zip file, in this case the file is the directory in Content. The file path should look like something like this overall: Content/MyMod.zip/Textures/Ships/SuperCoolShipTexture.png
+The game client can read any compressed .ZIP file. Once you've finished creating your skin, you can compress your skin for easy installation. The file path within the zip file should look similar to: <code>Content/MyMod.zip/Textures/Ships/SuperCoolShipTexture.png</code>.
-Post anything you have made for other players to use, use the [https://discord.com/channels/162979076695523331/1350241316319268875 Modification] forum on Discord. Include a few screenshots and a download link to a compressed (.zip is suggested) file of your mod.
+To share your skins with the community, please post them in the [https://discord.com/channels/162979076695523331/1350241316319268875 Modification] channel on the official Star Sonata Discord, along with a few screenshots and a direct download link or GitHub link to your skin file.
-Any third party modifications are used at your own risk.
+Note: The use of third-party modifications is at your own risk. If you have an issue with a skin, you should direct your feedback to the skin's developer.
 [[Category:Client_Skinning]]

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 Once you're done with your modifications, the client can read and unpack modifications from a compressed zip file, in this case the file is the directory in Content. The file path should look like something like this overall: Content/MyMod.zip/Textures/Ships/SuperCoolShipTexture.png
-Post anything you have made for other players to use, use the [http://forum.starsonata.com/viewforum.php?f=111 Client Modification] section of the forum. Include a few screenshots and a download link to a compressed (.zip is suggested) file of your mod.
+Post anything you have made for other players to use, use the [https://discord.com/channels/162979076695523331/1350241316319268875 Modification] forum on Discord. Include a few screenshots and a download link to a compressed (.zip is suggested) file of your mod.
-To submit proposed changes / tweaks to the official UI, please paste a before and after screenshot, so we can see what the changes you made are, and a similar zip with the changed files.
+Any third party modifications are used at your own risk.
 [[Category:Client_Skinning]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:18, 8 February 2012
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	Everything in the "Content" directory tree is customizable by players. to make your own skin you should make a new folder in the "Content" directory which has any name you want. The client will automatically detect any skins you have, and will load them in an alphabetical order.	+	Everything in the "Content" directory tree is customizable by players. to make your own skin you should make a new folder in the "Content" directory which has any name you want. The client will automatically detect any skins you have, and will load them in an alphabetical order, taking any modifications that come first. Eg, if I have a skin named A and one Z, and both have modifications editing the galaxy map in, the galmap from A would be used. Default is automatically the lowest priority in loading skins.

	You don't have to put every file in your skin directory tree. Only put the files that you change and their appropriate index files (game_data\images.xml, UI\XML\root.xml, etc). The client will automatically look for your files first, then if a file isn't in that tree, it will fetch it from the default tree.		You don't have to put every file in your skin directory tree. Only put the files that you change and their appropriate index files (game_data\images.xml, UI\XML\root.xml, etc). The client will automatically look for your files first, then if a file isn't in that tree, it will fetch it from the default tree.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:12, 8 February 2012
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	Everything in the "Content" directory tree is customizable by players. to make your own skin you should make a new folder in the "Content" directory which has any name you want. The client will automatically detect any skins you have, and will ~~only~~ load ~~one (needs verification)~~.	+	Everything in the "Content" directory tree is customizable by players. to make your own skin you should make a new folder in the "Content" directory which has any name you want. The client will automatically detect any skins you have, and will load them in an alphabetical order.

	You don't have to put every file in your skin directory tree. Only put the files that you change and their appropriate index files (game_data\images.xml, UI\XML\root.xml, etc). The client will automatically look for your files first, then if a file isn't in that tree, it will fetch it from the default tree.		You don't have to put every file in your skin directory tree. Only put the files that you change and their appropriate index files (game_data\images.xml, UI\XML\root.xml, etc). The client will automatically look for your files first, then if a file isn't in that tree, it will fetch it from the default tree.