Installation

You may decide to install your new OPT with its own specific characteristics from the start or you may decide to simply copy it over an existing OPT until you have confirmed that everything is working when it is installed in a TG default slot with TG default values (removes one possibility for where a problem could be occurring). Either way eventually, unless you are doing a non-starfighter XWAU craft, you will need to install your custom OPT as a custom OPT.

MXvTED Step by Step:

• Copy the OPT(s) to the xwa/flightmodels directory and back up your list files and executable.
• Decide what the closest OPT to your new one is and copy that shipslot.
• Paste the shipslot into the one you want your new ship in.
• Change the Statistics to your required settings (check it is enabled)
• Same for the Descriptions (decide if it is known or not)
• And for the Weaponry (remembering to change the slot relationships if it is a fighter)
• If you are going to create a *.shp file then you may as well add the patch comment now as you work left to right.
• Change the OPT file location to your new one.
• Finally if you are making a fighter then if it has a cockpit then define the cockpit file and the Point-of-View.

Test your OPT thoroughly and check for problems. Confirm for example that it has the right level of deadliness, if you want a fairly standard fighter and your new fighter is happily ripping TIE Defenders to shreds then you have made a mistake somewhere. Conversely if this is meant to be a strong cruiser and it gets beaten up by something rather small and weak then again there is a mistake somewhere (in this case MXvTED may have changed the craft type away from being "starship" and therefore made the shields and hull much weaker).

Once you have your OPT working you will need to decide how to distribute it.
The first option is to place the OPT, an MXvTED *.shp file with the characteristics, and possibly the bitmaps for use in DATech into a zip file along with instructions and details on the ship and how to install it.
The second option is what has become normal practice and is to create an XMOD for the ship, more details of this can be found in the general guide on making XMODs. This is good as it is automated (like Darksabers executable patches) but it is a little inflexible as the player has no choice about where the OPT is installed and thanks to Darksabers Ultimate Craft Patch filling the shipslots that were unused by default it can be more critical to be able to choose what ship to replace with another.

Section Links: TIE Patch | MXvTED | XIS