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[Sky-Streamer]

Hello! I'm thinking about getting into modding DF.

What should I start by doing? Is creature creation a good way to start, or is there some other thing that I should become familiar with? Thank you!

[ArchimedesWojak]

you should start with learning the TAGS and TOKENS

https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:Token

https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:Modding

[Ulfarr]

To give my 2 0.5 cent, it depends on what you want to do with your mod really.

I mean if all you want to do is add a couple of items all you need to learn about is modding items, civs, reactions and maybe a bit about tilesets. If you want to add a new creature those stuff are mostly irrelevant (except maybe tilesets and civs). Personaly I find creatures to be more demanding than just reactions because they have a lot more parts that are interconnected and so it's more likely that you might miss something.

The modding guide in wiki is a good place to start learning about DF modding.

edit: There are also a couple dedicated Q&A threads on this forum too, which are very helpfull but they can be a bit unwieldy.

[Quantum Drop]

Going to agree with AW on this - though I also suggest you look through creature_standard.txt, as the DWARF entry has a lot of useful commentary on what certain bits and pieces do to a creature.

[Enemy post]

Along with the other suggestions, I’d recommend working out how to get a couple mods working together. I learned a lot doing that.

[Eric Blank]

Don't be afraid to use copy-paste to apply features from existing examples. One of the first things I would do is make a copy of an existing creature and modify it to meet your needs. Or you can start with a plant, a metal or an ore.

There are several modding question threads around here where you can ask for help, too, which is one of the greatest resources we have outside the wiki.

[Sky-Streamer]

Those all seem like great suggestions.

I have two main ideas for mods right now: One 'Major' mod that I won't be making for months or years about how in a random year between 250 and 1000 the last three gods will unleash the apocalypse, and a 'Minor' mod where I just add a bunch of mutated duck-themed enemies. I'm doing the duck one first.

[ArchimedesWojak]

how in a random year between 250 and 1000 the last three gods will unleash the apocalypse,

that happens already

well not really but if i remember correctly at a certain year everything inexplicably dies