How to Mod Exploration

It is possible to create a mod which adds and/or removes possible Exploration encounters.

There are a few steps to create a mod which adds or removes ships as exploration encounters:

Step 1: Create a new folder for your new mod in AppData\Roaming\SpaceEngineers\Mods

Step 2: In that folder, make the following file paths: Textures\GUI\Icons and Data\Prefabs

Step 3: Copy the file "fake.dds" from SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\SpaceEngineers\Content\Textures\GUI and paste it into YourMod\Textures\GUI created in step 2

Step 4: Copy the file SpawnGroups.sbc from SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\SpaceEngineers\Content\Data and paste into YourMod\Content\Data created in step 2

• To remove a ship, edit the SpawnGroups.sbc file using a text editor (such as Notepad++) and remove the entry for the ship you do not wish to encounter while exploring.

• To add a ship, copy a design's saved/exported "shipname.sbc" file (see Exporting SBC Designs) into YourMod\Data\PreFabs and then edit the SpawnGroups.sbc file and to add an entry for the new ship. Start by copying an existing ship's entry in SpawnGroups.sbc which includes the line <IsEncounter>true</IsEncounter> in the entry between <SpawnGroup> and </SpawnGroup>. Make sure to set <SubtypeId>_____</SubtypeId> in the entry to the same unique value for your design as in the .sbc file in the Prefabs folder.