[EAD_Agamemnon]

If I want to alter something from the game, weapons for example, and adjust their various characteristics, I do it by tweaking the weapons tbl correct?

I just want to be sure, as I got an idea in mind, and would like to try my hand at it.  If I want to start doing tweaks, I may as well start somewhere.

[Nuke]

sure change a couple things in the table, it might be cool at first, but it becomes like a crack addiction, and soon you will have added a whole fleet of new ships and wonder why your lifes turned to crap

[EAD_Agamemnon]

Okay...one thing though....I gotta change ALL of the info?
I've tweaked little things liek trying not to make the beams so BRIGHT! and it don't seem to work. There a walkthrough somewhere that gives something that resembles directions?

[Primus]

There was a site by GalacticEmperor where the tables (ships & weps) were explained, but it's down.

There's this one on FSWatch: http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/fs1/mods/Guide/WeapMOD.shtml

It's old and not that great...

And I have the tbl guides by GalEmp on my comp....

[EAD_Agamemnon]

Any possibility that I can get the guides from you? Once I can figure out how to work the .tbl and to sate my intertest till I know how to work FRED, I'll alter things to pass the time...for practice.

[Setekh]

Oh yeah, you can alter tons of stuff through the TBLs. Give us an example of what you want to change, though, and that might make it easier for us to help you. Btw, I think I'm a bit slow on this, but welcome to HLP.

[EAD_Agamemnon]

Thanks for the welcome.

There's nothing in particular at the moment, as I want to tweak things like damage, beam color and such, start out small. I been altering the  ULTRA Anti-Fighter Beam weapon and using the cheat so I can see how it turned out...

Some things I'd like to check for comparison are in the insanely large B5-CORE from the TBP. Unfortunately my DESCENT VIEWER cannot open it because its too big. Some of the weapon effects there I like and would like to try and replicate them.

I just really need something that can explain what needs to be done  for a certain effect.

[Primus]

You need newer version of VPview. And maybe I could send the weapons.tbl guide to you by email? It's an HTML file.

[EAD_Agamemnon]

Sure. I'll PM you my email. If you got a newer version of VPview (mine is v2.0 Beta 5something), think I can get that too? Because I haven't a clue where to look for a newer version.

[karajorma]

Take a look at my FAQ Agamemnon. It's a good starting point for any new modder. Pay particular attention to the VPView tutorial and the modding section

[EAD_Agamemnon]

Okay. Got the VPVIEW32 and it opens everything nicely, although it doesnt seem to show what .ani and .pcx look like (doesnt have a preview window that I can see. If there is one I dont know how to enable it.

Also, though I dont want to seem like I am asking too many questions, but since it is a modding-related issue...what kind if progams would I need for modeling? I got the concept for a fighter all planned in my head. And what others might I need? I may as well know what is needed.

[EAD_Agamemnon]

Looking at the FAQ now.

[Primus]

Check the Wiki

[EAD_Agamemnon]

Okay.
Been messing with the weapons more, and trying to properly add one to a .tbl (I'm just putting the entire tbl into tables...)
One try I attempted to open fs2, and immediately got bumped back to desktop...though I'm sure I know where I messed that up at.
Going to go check out the wiki.

[karajorma]

Run the debug build of FRED. It will help you find the errors in your table (It will then crash before you can do anything else with it but that's not your fault).

As for viewer for ani you should get yourself a copy of the Decent Manager Freespace kit (which contains VPView, AniView and several other useful programs).