[Saturn]

 :sigh:Hi,
Looking for a bit of newbie help.   
I have been playing since the Descent games first came out and I wanted to play with making changes and learning how this all comes together. I have not played with any of the modding tools or features before but lately I have been getting the urge to learn something about them. I tried a few of the FREDing tutorials then I thought I would make a few simple changes to some of the tables - Weapons and ships seemed like a good place to start. However, I apparently made some mistake or am missing something.
I used qvp and opened up the root_FS2.vp file and modified the ship table, using notepad, for a Herc and Herc II- I thought I added more guns and a larger payload with more speed. I confirmed the changes using VPview. I then started FS2 open 3612, no mod.  I went to the simulator and found a mission with a Herc ship to chose but nothing was changed.
Is there a VP that gets loaded that is higher in the hierarchy than the root_FS2.vp? and if so I would assume that vp would have an overriding table that could be changed, true?

[FUBAR-BDHR]

First you should never modify the existing tables.  I suggest you start be restoring root_FS2.vp to the original.  You should then create your own mod folder and read up on modular tables in the wiki.  Anything you change should go into your own mod folder. 

[PeterX]

If i don´t be wrong you can store the modified tbl-file to the FS2\data\tables,and this tbl will be the highest priority.
But caution !!! it´s for global only. For your own mods you do it as FUBAR-BDHR advised.
Peter

[FUBAR-BDHR]

You can but you never should as it will effect every mod you run.  Please place all modified stuff in your own mod folder.

[PeterX]

The exact path can be "\freespace2\mymod\data\tables" for tbl- and tbm files "....\mymod\data\models\" for all pofs and so on.
Peter

[Saturn]

Thanks.

I will restore the root file to the original data and then create a folder such Peter suggested and reread the Wiki.  I understand how the changes I made could effect all or some of the other mods but why didn't I see any affect when I tried to play FSO without any mod? Does it use root_FS2 file or is another loaded with a higher priority?

Thanks again 

[FUBAR-BDHR]

http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Modular_Tables

That should explain it. 

[The E]

Thanks.

I will restore the root file to the original data and then create a folder such Peter suggested and reread the Wiki.  I understand how the changes I made could effect all or some of the other mods but why didn't I see any affect when I tried to play FSO without any mod? Does it use root_FS2 file or is another loaded with a higher priority?

Thanks again 

Simply because the change you made (adding more gunbanks) is not something that can be done with a table edit. You need to edit the model as well.