How to import a vanilla character skill tree and character presets onto a custom character

[MintyJelly]

As the title said, I wish to import character presets and skill tree to another character. For example, I have the wurt.lua file that I plan on converting for the custom character. Do I just need to replace all references to wurt with my custom character or can I just add a function to add the skill tree from wurt to my custom character. Also, I would like to know if any one else who would play my custom character need to have purchased wurt as well?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Edited March 10, 2025 by MintyJelly

[NPCMaxwell]

I don't know about the skilltree or DLC part (though I don't think the coding abilities are hidden behind the paywall. I assume it is the character sprites that is) but to make a character function like a basic character (in my case Maxwell) I took the extended sample character's lua base and compared it to character.lua (in my case waxwell.lua) content. Then I actually just "adopted" the parts the extended sample character was missing (and changed some numbers and added some own stuff that was neither present in esc and character lua. But that part is optional.)

About the skilltree:

I think I have seen a skilltree for custom characters thread in mods. You can probably use it as template and do the same "comparison" and "adoption" of the wurt skilltree for your character to have the same / similar functions. 

Not sure about the SG part of it, though but since every character is just a differently tagged "Wilson" the specific wurt-stuff in the SG is probably handled by some tag that you will automatically "adopt" from wurt's lua.

 

I suggest you not trying out your character lua before adding the custom skilltree! Since I noticed some character.luas have direct references to their skilltree abilities inside their luas so to make sure I would copy both for your character before trying them out to prevent test-errors that could fix themselves when a custom skilltree is added

Edited March 10, 2025 by NPCMaxwell

[MintyJelly]

Thank you so much for your advice! Am I right to assume that by adopted you mean cut out parts from the maxwell file and added them into your character's lua base file?

[NPCMaxwell]

19 minutes ago, MintyJelly said:

Thank you so much for your advice! Am I right to assume that by adopted you mean cut out parts from the maxwell file and added them into your character's lua base file?

I kept the ESC template parts and adjusted them as intended by ESC to make a basic character (in my case called maxwellnpc) then compared the ESC template based maxwellnpc.lua and waxwell.lua side by side and looked for everything the ESC template was missing. So yes, basically it was "copy and paste" with adjustments later, but that mostly had to do with my Maxwell having additionall stuff inside his lua compared to waxwell. Copy and pasting the non-in-ESC-template-existing stuff from wurt lua should actually be enough.

But then I just looked at Wurt's lua and it is DEFINITELY more complicated then waxwell.lua so if something goes wrong make sure to ask for help in the forum. I fear her abilities especially with the skilltree are more error prone to combine with the ESC template

I just saw wurt for some reason seems to lack some stuff I thought was in every character lua like for example this:

   inst.soundsname = "maxwell" (<- sets voice to maxwell)

Not sure, maybe you need to ask someone if Wurt has additional requirements to function then "normal" characters

[MintyJelly]

Yeah, maybe you are right. Perhaps I can look into making a model replacement mod or find one if it exists and just overriding the wurt model somehow. Not sure how it will work with the model change wurt does when the merm king is active. I will consider asking around after more research. Thanks for your help though, it is very much appreciated!