Starbound Change Character Appearance Mod Work -

Changing your character's appearance in Starbound mid-game is not supported by the base game's API, meaning traditional "one-click" mods often struggle to work. However, there are several effective community-vetted workarounds and specialized extensions that act as mods to get the job done.  Top Community Recommendations 

StarExtensions (Highly Recommended): This is widely considered the most modern and reliable method. It is not on the Steam Workshop because it modifies the game's DLL files.

How it works: Once installed, you can use the in-game command /editor open to reopen the character creation screen for your current character.

Review Consensus: Users appreciate it for being the "easiest" way to re-customize without digging into save files. It is compatible with major mods like Frackin Universe.

Starcheat (The Classic Choice): A third-party external save editor that lets you change almost anything about your character, including species, colors, and hairstyles.

Review Consensus: While powerful, many users find it "finicky" or occasionally broken after major game updates. It uses a raw RGB color picker rather than vanilla palettes, which can lead to visual "mutilation" if you aren't careful.

Simple Extended Character Creation 2.0: This mod doesn't change existing characters but is essential for those using modded races to ensure they show up correctly in the creator.  The "No-Mod" Manual Method 

If you don't want to install external programs, you can manually edit your player files. This is considered the most "stable" but "primitive" method. 

How do I change my race and appearance in a game that has started? starbound change character appearance mod work

You can find it on Github, latest release is from Oct. * mcplano. • 1y ago. StarExtensions has an in-game character editor. Type / Reddit·r/starbound Mod that changes appearance and race? - Steam Community

Changing Character Appearance with Mods:

1. Download and install a character customization mod: There are several mods available that allow you to change your character's appearance. Some popular ones include:
   • Character Customizer: This mod allows you to change your character's appearance, including facial features, skin tone, and clothing.
   • Advanced Character Editor: This mod provides more in-depth customization options, including the ability to change your character's shape and proportions.
2. Install the mod: Once you've downloaded the mod, follow the installation instructions provided by the mod creator. Typically, this involves placing the mod files in your Starbound mods directory.
3. Launch Starbound with the mod: Start Starbound with the mod enabled. You can do this by selecting the mod from the Starbound mod list or by editing the mod.json file.

Using the Character Customizer Mod:

1. Open the character customizer menu: Once you're in-game, press the C key (or the key bound to "Character" in your controls) to open the character customizer menu.
2. Select the customization option: Choose the customization option you want to use, such as changing your character's face, skin tone, or clothing.
3. Make your changes: Use the sliders and dropdown menus to make your desired changes.
4. Save your changes: Click "Save" to apply your changes.

Troubleshooting:

• Mod conflicts: If you're experiencing issues with the mod, try disabling other mods to see if they're causing conflicts.
• Incorrect installation: Double-check that you've installed the mod correctly and that the mod files are in the correct directory.

To change your character's appearance mid-game in , you should use StarExtensions (or its derivatives like xStarbound

), as standard workshop mods cannot easily modify "hardcoded" character data. Core Feature: In-Game Character Editor

Unlike cosmetic-only mods, this allows you to access the full character creation suite while playing. Access Command /editor open into the in-game chat to open the re-customization menu. Capabilities Physical Traits

: Change your hairstyle, body/hair/undy colors, and personality pose. : Modify your character's name and gender. Race Switching Download and install a character customization mod :

: Change your species directly (though this may not automatically change your ship type).

: Remove all cosmetic clothing before using the editor, as the process may reset what you are currently wearing. Alternative: Save File Editing (No Mod Required)

If you prefer not to install extensions, you can manually edit your character file using external tools: Guide :: Starbound: Character Re-customization.

In vanilla , you cannot change your character's physical appearance (like hair or skin color) once they are created. However, you can achieve this through specific mods or manual save file editing. Best Mod Options

Because the game's modding API doesn't natively support mid-game appearance changes, "simple" mods often can't do this alone. Instead, you should look for tools that expand the game's engine or use external save editors: Steam Community StarExtensions

: This is widely considered the easiest method. It is a mod that enables an in-game editor via a chat command. How it works : Once installed, you can type /editor open in the chat to reopen the character creation screen.

: It is recommended to unequip your cosmetic items before doing this to avoid them being reset. xStarbound : Similar to StarExtensions, this engine fork includes an command for mid-game customization. : This is a powerful, third-party save editor

application rather than an in-game mod. It allows you to open your Character Customizer : This mod allows you to

file and manually change values for hairstyles, colors, and even species. The "No-Mod" Manual Method

If you don't want to install extra tools, you can manually edit your save file, though it is risky. Chucklefish Forums Backup your storage folder before attempting this. Use the Starbound utility dump_versioned_json to turn your file into a readable text format. Open the file in a text editor like and search for tags like "hairType" "bodyColor"

Replace the old values with new ones (often copied from a "dummy" character you've created with the look you want). make_versioned_json to pack the file back into a format the game can read. Chucklefish Forums Frackin Universe Compatibility

Step 4: Create Custom Assets

• Model: Create a new 3D model using your preferred 3D modeling software. Export the model as a .fbx file and then convert it to a .model file using a tool like FBX Converter.
• Textures: Create new 2D textures using your preferred image editing software. Save the textures as .png files.
• Animations: Create new animations using your preferred 3D modeling software. Export the animations as .fbx files and then convert them to .animation files using a tool like FBX Converter.

How Appearance Mods Work

Modders have solved this problem using two different technical approaches:

Problem 3: The Mod Crashes on Launch

Cause: Mod conflict with Frackin’ Universe (FU) or other overhaul mods. FU has its own appearance logic for its custom races (e.g., Slime, X’thian).
Fix: Load order matters. Put appearance-changing mods above FU in the mods.config file. Alternatively, use FU’s built-in /fuadmin changespecies command.

Do These Mods Work with Multiplayer?

Yes, but with conditions:

• Both players must have the same mod installed if you want to use the appearance changer object on a dedicated server.
• Admin-only commands (like /appearance) require you to be server admin or host.
• Changing your look mid-game does not desync your client from other players—they will see your new appearance immediately.

If you join a vanilla server (no mods), you won’t have access to the appearance object. However, if you change your look in single-player then join a multiplayer server, the new look will persist.

Implementation options (brief)

1. Console command (quickest)

   • Hook into a server-side script that listens for a custom chat command (e.g., "/changeappearance").
   • Parse parameters (race, hair, color).
   • Update player’s appearance fields and call player.setPortrait or equivalent (see notes).
   • Pros: Fast to implement. Cons: No UI, risk of misuse.

2. Item / NPC / Vanity Station

   • Create an interactable object or NPC with a Lua script and a simple GUI (SB style JSON GUI).
   • Present dropdowns/sliders for race/hair/colors.
   • On confirm, server script writes the new appearance to player profile and forces re-render.
   • Pros: User-friendly; consistent with game UX.

3. Full Avatar Editor GUI

   • Reuse vanilla avatar editor GUI assets or mimic them to provide full-featured editing.
   • More work but most polished.

Step 1: Create a New Mod Folder

• Go to the Starbound mods directory (usually located at C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Starbound\mods on Windows or ~/Documents/Starbound/mods on Mac/Linux)
• Create a new folder with a unique name for your mod (e.g., "CustomCharacter")