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I was wondering if it was possible to use SCM2/Starforge for making a mod (that primarily uses Arsenal III). I can't seem to find any information about it anywhere. Also, most of the mods/TCs that I have seen are strickly for melee only .

When you use arsenal III to edit the MPQ data does that effect SCM2/Starforge as well?If not, is it at all possible to actually create a map editor (similar to SCM2/Starforge) to utilize modding tools?

Maps and mods are two very distinct things. Maps edit the "scenario.chk" file , while mods cater for *.DAT files, *.BIN files, GRPs and various other as well. One have nothing to do with the other, other than being stored within the MPQ archives. Creating a map editor that would also be a modding program is certainly possible - but there is no need for such an application. The mapping and modding communities are separate precisely because these two domains are separate.

1st of all, if you're going to mod, use DatEdit instead of Arsenal.

2ndly, you CAN modify the StarCraft Campaign Editor using MPQDraft, and loading an MPQ with it. I'm not sure how (if at all) it would effect SCMDraft or StarForge. Perhaps I will look into this.

3rdly, maps can have mods associated with them using SCMLoader. Its a program that loads certain files (such as .dat files, .bin files, etc) that are stored inside the map's MPQ archive. So if you're interested in that, you might want to check out SCMLoader.

You can load your modified files into SCMDraft 2 and have it read your modified data instead of the default StarCraft files, and as said, StarEdit can be patched with MPQDraft.

I assume SCMDraft 2 doesn't have support for loading SCMLoader maps?

If I can't find a way to make SCMDraft2/Starforge to run with modified MPQ files, there will be a need . My main concern is being able to run triggers (maybe even custom triggers) inside a mod. I can see great potential in bringing mapping & modding together. Now, keep in mind I am still a little new to all this, but being able to mod MPQ files and map files on the fly could make for some pretty interesting projects.


It would seem that if you modified the MPQ files for SC, all changes made would affect everything associated with it, but I guess not. As far as using the SC Campaign Editor, thats just simply out of the question. I guess I will look into SCMLoader as well. Thanks.

Create a new profile with SCMDraft and then edit it to use modded MPQs. If you edit default MPQs, it will change all that stuff, but you want to leave your default MPQs alone.

Would it be wise to create backups of the default MPQs? Or will the MPQs that I edit not overwrite the defaults?

so long as they have different names. What I do is just copy paste my mpq's then change the name so I can tell the difference from the original and the one Im gonna modify.
I totally agree!!

Thats why I am doing a mod map. Its a mod that force loads a map.

Modmapping died together with public campaign making. You can't help it now, one campaign won't change anything, and if you work on a single map, then it doesn't matter if you release it with the mod embedded within it or as a separate EXE. In fact, a map-and-mod would be prefered to a map-o-mod because the latter requires you to run SC with SCMLoader, and with the former you just double-click the mod and voila.

How is double-clicking a mod easier than single-clicking the SCMLoader button in your start menu?

alot of people dont want to have to dl two things to play. The way Im doing it the map is in the mpq so its still only one thing to load.

People don't always go to a download site to download a map; sometimes they get it from other people over battle.net.

A point for SF, I'm such an old skool no-playing nerd that I didn't really thought there is a different medium of map distribution than downloading. I take it back then, mea culpa