Getting Started

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The OpenRA SDK includes an example mod that demonstrates the environment, but it is missing most of the core definitions that are required for a basic game. For this reason, we recommend that you start your project by copying and adapting one of our official OpenRA mods using the following procedure:

• Run make or make.cmd from the SDK directory to download the engine and dependencies, and make sure that you can successfully launch the example mod. It should show you a black screen with a "Quit" button.
• Delete the mods/example directory.
• Choose one of the default OpenRA mods to use as a base for your mod. In this example we will assume you are copying cnc.
• Choose a new internal name / id for you mod. In this example we will assume you are using mynewmod.
• Copy engine/mods/cnc to mods/mynewmod.
• Open mods/mynewmod/mod.yaml and make the following changes:
  • In the Metadata section set your mod title and version.
  • In the Packaging section replace $cnc: cnc with $mynewmod: mynewmod. This tells OpenRA that the explicit mount mymod should refer to the root of your mod package (see Mod manifest).
  • Change all lines that start with cnc| to mynewmod|. This updates the explicit mount references to account for the change that you have just made above.
• Open mod.config and replace MOD_ID="example" near the top of the file with MOD_ID="mynewmod".

You should now have a functioning stand-alone clone of the cnc mod that you can adapt / replace piece by piece with your own project.

If you don't plan on including any custom C# logic in your mod then you should delete ExampleMod.sln and the OpenRA.Mods.Example directory. If you do plan on including custom logic, then you will need to make some futher changes:

• TODO: Explain updating the GUIDs, project name, and changing the build output to mods/mynewmod/