Modding

Modding

Modding may refer to multiple things in Isleward. See Modding (disambiguation) for more information.

WIP: This article is a work in progress, meaning that it is being worked on but is unfinished. You can help by editing it.

THIS ARTICLE IS VERY OUTDATED AND INCOMPLETE SINCE NOT MANY MODS HAVE BEEN MADE. ALWAYS CHECK THE CURRENT CODEBASE FIRST TO MAKE SURE THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT.

Isleward allows for server-side mods by dropping a "modpack" into the server source. A few tools are available to assist users with modding, such as the Sprite Editor, Map Editor, Tree Editor, and Item Tooltip Generator.

Running the Server

You can run an Isleward server on your own computer if you would like to make/play with mods, test the game, or run a private server.

First, you'll need to install Node.JS and NPM. NPM should be included in the download linked above.

There are two ways to get the source code. The first way uses Git, a Source Control Management program. The second way is to download the source files from the repository yourself, which doesn't require you to install another program but it is more difficult to update your server version later on.

Method 1: This way works best because you can run a single command to download the latest version without having to manually set up the files again. Once you install Git, navigate to the parent directory of where you want to install the server. Run git clone https://gitlab.com/Isleward/Isleward.git FOLDER, replacing FOLDER with whatever you want to call the folder you are installing Isleward into. After that, cd into FOLDER/src/server. The server is now downloaded.

Method 2: This way doesn't require a download but is harder to maintain. Open this page in your browser. Click on the download button and download the source in a format of your choice. Extract the downloaded files into a directory you want to install Isleward into. Navigate to FOLDER/src/server

Both methods will get you to the same place. Make sure you are in FOLDER/src/server and run npm install. If you installed Node.JS and NPM correctly, it should start installing. Wait for it to install. It should install everything it needs on its own without needing you to install other dependencies. If you encounter other errors, try running it again with administrative permissions and try other basic troubleshooting problems. The Isleward Discord might also be able to help you with your problem.

Now that you have all the dependencies installed, you should be ready to go!

Run node --expose-gc index.js (in FOLDER/src/server) and you should see something like

Server: ready
(M estuary): Ready
(M sewer): Ready
(M cave): Ready
(M tutorial): Ready

If you see something like that (zone names may be different), your server is running. Head over to http://localhost:4000/ and you should see the game running!

You can change the message shown in the console (the Server: ready part) and the port that it runs on in FOLDER/src/server/config/serverConfig.js, the file should be pretty self-explanatory.

Using Mods

You can use a modpack by dropping it into the "mods" folder of the server source code.

Events

A list of events available.

onBeforeGetEffect

First, look at this code snipped from the effect component (src/server/components/effects.js):

var type = options.type[0].toUpperCase() + options.type.substr(1);
var result = {
    type: type,
    url: 'config/effects/effect' + type + '.js'
};
this.obj.instance.eventEmitter.emit('onBeforeGetEffect', result);

typeTemplate = require(result.url);

It fires an event, in case a mod wants to modify the path which the effect is loaded from. Because the code allows us to mod this easily, we use (in our mod's index.js, bound to the event, of course):

onBeforeGetEffect: function(data) {
    if(data.type == "newType") {
        data.url = 'mods/newTypeMod/newType.js'
    }
}

Then, in our mod's newType.js:

module.exports = {
    type: 'newType',
    events: {
        beforeTakeDamage: function(damage, source) {
            damage.failed = true;
            
            // have not tested whether we need this, probably do
            this.obj.instance.syncer.queue('onGetDamage', {
                id: this.obj.id,
                event: true,
                text: 'newType cancel'
            });
        }
    }
}

This creates an example effect that cancels all damage and shows a message (mostly copied paraphrased from the ReflectDamage effect in the core codebase). Be warned, this hasn't been tested yet, but in theory it should work.

onAfterGetLayerObjects

onBeforeBuildLayerTile

onBeforeGetAnimations

onBeforeGetClasses

onBeforeGetDialogue

onBeforeGetEventList

onBeforeGetFactions

onBeforeGetHerbConfig

onBeforeGetItemTypes

onBeforeGetMtxList

onBeforeGetQuests

onBeforeGetResourceList

onBeforeGetSkins

Called with an Object of all the skins. Each skin is its own Object that looks like this:

'skin key': {
    name: 'Full Skin Name',
    sprite: [ 0, 0 ],
    class: 'wizard',
    spritesheet: 'optional path to spritesheet',
    default: true
}

This will likely change in future updates, with the addition of Spirits and the removal of class-restricted skins.

onBeforeGetSpellsConfig

onBeforeGetSpellsInfo

onBeforeGetSpellTemplate

onBeforeGetZone

Other Tips

cpn refers to a component.

obj refers to an object.

ttl is an object's "time to live." When it runs out, the object is destroyed.

Code Samples

Below are some code samples for common things to do in mods.

Only run on the main thread

This is a temporary solution which shouldn't be used unless completely necessary. It will be removed once an official way is added to run on specific threads. However, if you need it before then, place this in any functions that you don't want to be called on a non-main thread:

if(process.argv[1].endsWith('worker')) {
    return;
}

You can also change it to only run when not on the main thread.

Add a new skin

In the mod's init:

this.events.on('onBeforeGetSkins', this.onBeforeGetSkins.bind(this))

The onBeforeGetSkins part:

onBeforeGetSkins: function(skins) {
	skins['renamed thief'] = {
		name: 'Renamed Thief 1 Skin',
		sprite: [ 6, 0 ],
		class: 'thief',
		default: true
	}
}