Starbound Change Character Appearance Mod Work

Changing your character's appearance mid-game in is notoriously difficult because character data (hair, colors, and species) is hard-coded into your .player save file. Standard Workshop mods generally cannot modify these specific values while you are playing.

However, you can still "change" your look using one of the three methods below. 1. The "Mod" Solution: StarExtensions

If you want a modern in-game editor, StarExtensions is currently the best option. It is a specialized tool (not a standard Workshop mod) that modifies the game engine to allow mid-game changes.

How it works: Once installed, you can use the command /editor open to reopen the character creation screen on your current character.

Tip: It is recommended to remove your cosmetic armor before using this to avoid resetting your worn clothes. 2. The External Tool: Starcheat

For a long time, Starcheat has been the go-to external save editor. It allows you to open your save file and directly change your hairstyle, colors, and even your species.

Note: While powerful, some features may break after major game updates. Always make a backup of your storage/player folder before using it. 3. The "Manual" File Edit (No Mods)

If you don't want to install extra software, you can manually swap appearance data between a "template" character and your main character. This is the most stable method but requires several steps.

Create a New Character: Make a temporary character with the exact hairstyle and colors you want.

Locate Files: Go to your Starbound folder (storage/player) and find the .player files for both your old and new characters.

Unpack & Swap: Use the dump_versioned_json tool in the game's win32 folder to turn the binary player files into readable text.

Edit "Identity": Search for the "identity" section in both files. Copy the hair, color, and pose values from the new character's text file and paste them into your main character's file.

Repack: Use make_versioned_json to convert the text back into a .player file.

Looking for Cosmetics instead?If you just want to change your clothes, use the Wardrobe Interface mod, which allows you to preview and equip every piece of clothing in the game without editing save files. Mod that changes appearance and race? - Steam Community

Changing Character Appearance with Mods: starbound change character appearance mod work

  1. Download and install a character customization mod: There are several mods available that allow you to change your character's appearance. Some popular ones include:
  2. Install the mod: Once you've downloaded the mod, follow the installation instructions provided by the mod creator. Typically, this involves placing the mod files in your Starbound mods directory.
  3. Launch Starbound with the mod: Start Starbound with the mod enabled. You can do this by selecting the mod from the Starbound mod list or by editing the mod.json file.

Using the Character Customizer Mod:

  1. Open the character customizer menu: Once you're in-game, press the C key (or the key bound to "Character" in your controls) to open the character customizer menu.
  2. Select the customization option: Choose the customization option you want to use, such as changing your character's face, skin tone, or clothing.
  3. Make your changes: Use the sliders and dropdown menus to make your desired changes.
  4. Save your changes: Click "Save" to apply your changes.

Troubleshooting:

There is no official in-game way to change your character's appearance after creation in

, but you can achieve this through specific mods, third-party tools, or manual file editing. 🛠️ In-Game Editor Mods

While standard Steam Workshop mods generally cannot modify a live character's hardcoded appearance, specialized "engine-level" mods can.

StarExtensions: This is widely considered the best modern solution. It adds an /editor command that opens the full character creation menu in-game.

xStarbound: Similar to StarExtensions, it provides an /editor command and is compatible with major mods like Frackin Universe (with a compatibility patch). 💾 Third-Party Save Editors

If you prefer not to install engine-level mods, you can use external applications to modify your .player save files.

Starcheat: A classic character editor. While some features may be outdated, the appearance settings (colors, hairstyle, name, and species) generally still work.

⚠️ Warning: Always backup your player folder before using external editors to prevent corruption. 📝 Manual File Editing (Advanced)

You can manually edit your character file by "unpacking" it into a readable text format.

Locate Save: Go to Starbound/storage/player and find the .player file for your character.

Unpack: Use the dump_versioned_json.exe utility found in the Starbound win32 or win64 folder to convert the binary file into a .json file.

Edit: Open the JSON in a text editor like Notepad++. Search for terms like "hairType", "bodyColor", or "name" to change their values. Download and install a character customization mod :

Repack: Use make_versioned_json.exe to convert the JSON back into a .player file. 💡 The "New Character" Workaround

If mods or file editing seem too risky, you can transfer your progress to a new character: Create a new character with the exact appearance you want.

Visit your old character's planet or ship and drop all your items into chests for the new character to pick up.

Ship Files: You can rename your old character's .shipworld file to match the UUID of your new character to keep your ship's layout.

If you'd like to try the manual editing method, I can provide the exact command lines for the unpacker tool. Would you also like to know how to find your character's unique ID (UUID) to make sure you're editing the right file?

How do I change my race and appearance in a game that has started?

You can find it on Github, latest release is from Oct. * mcplano. • 1y ago. StarExtensions has an in-game character editor. Type / Reddit·r/starbound Character Editor - Starbound

In vanilla , character appearance is hardcoded into your save file once creation is finished, meaning there is no "barber shop" or in-game menu to change your look mid-adventure. However, you can bypass this limitation using specific mods, external save editors, or manual file editing. 1. Using In-Game Editor Mods

The most seamless way to change your appearance is by using script-extending mods that add a real-time editor to the game. StarExtensions

: This is widely considered the best tool for mid-game edits. Once installed, you can use the in-game command /editor open

to bring up the full character customization menu. It allows you to change hair, colors, and even your race or name on the fly. xStarbound

: Similar to StarExtensions, this engine modification includes an command. If you use large mods like Frackin' Universe

, ensure you install the necessary compatibility patches to prevent crashes. 2. Using External Save Editors

If you prefer not to install engine-level mods, you can use a standalone application to modify your character file while the game is closed. Character Customizer : This mod allows you to

: A powerful, long-standing character editor. You can open your file, click the "eye" icon

to modify visual settings, and even swap your species or gender. Always back up your save

before using this, as it can corrupt files if used incorrectly. 3. Manual Save File Editing (Advanced)

For those who don't want to download extra software, you can manually swap hair or color codes by editing the raw JSON data of your save.

, there is no official in-game feature to change your appearance once a character is created . However, you can achieve this through third-party mods, save-editing tools, or manual file manipulation . Popular Tools & Mods

StarExtensions: Widely considered the most modern and convenient solution . It adds an in-game character editor that you can access by typing /editor open in the chat console .

Starcheat: A powerful external save editor that allows you to change virtually every aspect of your character, including race, name, and colors, without manually editing code .

Simple Extended Character Creation 2.0: While primarily for initial creation, this mod is often used alongside others to ensure modded races and extra customization slots appear correctly in the UI . Manual File Editing Method

If you prefer not to use external software, you can manually edit your .player files using Notepad++ and the game's built-in utilities . Simple Extended Character Creation 2.0 - Steam Community

Here’s a comprehensive guide to understanding how character appearance change mods work in Starbound, including the most popular mods, installation steps, and how they function under the hood.

2. Native Game Limitations

Do These Mods Work with Multiplayer?

Yes, but with conditions:

If you join a vanilla server (no mods), you won’t have access to the appearance object. However, if you change your look in single-player then join a multiplayer server, the new look will persist.

2. Appearance Gun / Identity Gun

Does it work? ⚠️ Partially—requires patching.
How it works: This legacy mod (popular in 2016-2018) spawned a gun that shoots a beam, opening a copy of the character creation screen.
The problem: The original mod broke after the Bounty Hunter update (1.4.0). However, a community fix exists. Search the Steam Workshop for "Appearance Gun (Fixed for 1.4.4)" or download the GitHub patch that replaces the Lua scripts.
How to make it work today:

  1. Subscribe to the broken mod.
  2. Manually download the patch from the Chucklefish forums.
  3. Navigate to mods/workshop/content/211820/ and replace the appearancegun.lua file.
    Verdict: Only for advanced users who don’t mind digging into raw game files.

2. Console Command Mods (Admin/Cheat-based)

Some mods add new admin commands (e.g., /appearance). When typed into chat:

Best example: StarExtensions – a powerful script extender that adds hundreds of commands, including full appearance editing.