: Use make_versioned_json to convert the text back into a format the game can read.
If you are comfortable with technical, manual changes, you can also use external scripting methods to edit the .player files directly, as detailed in Steam Community guides. If you're interested, I can also: Show you Recommend hair mods to use with the editor Explain how to change your character's race
Go to your main Starbound directory (Right-click the game in Steam > > Browse local files ). Open the storage folder.
: Open the new file with Notepad++ and search for "identity" to change hairType , hairColor , or skinColor . starbound change character appearance mod work
Use the dump_versioned_json.exe utility found in the Starbound win32 or win64 folder to convert the binary file into a .json file.
Ensure your appearance sub-mod loads after the main race mod. In Steam Workshop, this is handled automatically if the mod author set up dependencies, but for manual .pak files in your mods folder, you may need to rename the folder (e.g., adding a z_ prefix) to force it to load last. 4. Best Practices to Avoid Broken Characters
Ensure your mods are extracted. The folder structure should look like Starbound\mods\ModName\player.config , Starbound\mods\ModName\ModName\player.config . Nested folders will prevent the game from reading the mod assets. 3. Essential Fix: Install a Character Creation Extender : Use make_versioned_json to convert the text back
If you see a line like AssetException: Error loading asset /human/hair/male/1.png , you know exactly which mod is broken. Delete or update that specific mod to resolve the issue. 6. Run a Clean Steam Verification
However, the Starbound modding community has created several excellent solutions to solve this problem. This guide will show you how to change your character's appearance using , external save editors , and a manual file-editing method , along with some of the best mods for customizing your look.
Did you install a cool new skin tone mod only to find your current character looks the same? This is because Starbound doesn't dynamically update certain "body" variables once a character is generated. Open the storage folder
Modify these values based on known, valid values in the game’s assets, then save and restart [Source: 1.2.3]. Summary Checklist for Changing Appearance
To ensure your appearance mods always work seamlessly in the future, follow these golden rules:
For players who want near-total control over their character file, is a powerful, dedicated save editor. It allows you to modify most aspects of your character through a graphical user interface.
For many years, players had to rely on editing save files or simply restarting. Fortunately, the modding community has created tools to solve this, but knowing how to make a requires understanding how the game handles character data. Why Can't I Change Appearance in Vanilla Starbound?
: It may reset your current cosmetic clothes, so it's recommended to unequip them before editing.