RPGModder

A modern, non-destructive Mod Manager for RPG Maker MV & MZ games.

RPGModder is a standalone tool designed to solve the "RPG Maker Hell" of conflicting files and corrupt game folders. It uses a Virtual File System (VFS) approach to keep your vanilla game files pristine while allowing you to install, reorder, and merge mods seamlessly.

🚀 Key Features

🛡️ Safe-State Engine

Never corrupt your game again. RPGModder keeps a clean backup of your vanilla game. When you play, it virtually rebuilds the game folder with your active mods.

• Zero-Risk Modding: Uninstalling a mod is as simple as unchecking a box.
• Auto-Recovery: If a mod breaks your game, simply "Rebuild" to restore a working state.

🌐 Nexus Mods Integration

Direct integration with the Nexus Mods ecosystem.

• One-Click Install: Supports nxm:// protocol. Click "Download with Manager" on Nexus, and RPGModder handles the rest.
• In-App Browsing: View Latest, Trending, and Updated mods directly within the tool.

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The mod.json

The heart of RPGModder is the mod.json file. This small manifest file is what allows the "Safe-State" engine to work magic.

Why does it exist?

Installing an RPG Maker mod means dragging files and overwriting your game data. This is destructive and almost permanent. If two mods wanted to change the screen resolution in System.json, the second one would overwrite the first, breaking features.

mod.json solves this by telling the manager what to change, rather than doing it blindly. instead of overwriting files, it provides:

• Smart Patches: Instead of replacing System.json entirely, it says "Change screen_width to 1280". This allows multiple mods to edit game settings simultaneously without conflict.
• Clean Installs: It tracks exactly which files belong to which mod, so they can be removed instantly without leaving "trash" behind in your game folder.

Why Modders need to update

To support non-destructive modding, existing mods simply need to include this one file (mod.json) in their ZIP archive.

• No Code Changes: You do not need to rewrite your plugins or change your assets.
• Distribution: You just add mod.json to your folder, zip it up, and upload it.
• Compatibility: This ensures your mod plays nicely with others and doesn't break the user's game.

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Creator Tools: The Auto-Packer

I know writing JSON manually is tedious. That is why the Auto-Packer exists.

You do not need to learn the mod.json syntax. RPGModder includes a powerful "Diff Tool" that writes the file for you.

How it works:

1. Select Work Folder: Choose the folder where you are making your mod (or your modified project).
2. Select Vanilla Folder: Choose a clean, unmodified copy of the game.
3. Analyze: The Auto-Packer scans both folders and finds every difference.
   • It detects new images/audio and marks them for copy.
   • It detects changes to System.json and automatically calculates the specific patch values.
   • It finds new plugins you added.
4. Generate: Click one button, and it spits out a ready-to-use mod.json.

Ideally, creating a compatible mod takes less than 30 seconds.

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📥 Installation

1. Download the latest release from the Releases Page.
2. Extract the ZIP anywhere.
3. Run RPGModder.UI.exe.
4. (Optional) On first launch, go to Settings and click "Register" to enable One-Click Downloads from Nexus Mods.

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📖 Usage Guide

1. Managing Games

• RPGModder automatically scans your Steam library and common folders for RPG Maker games.
• Select a game from the dropdown or click Browse to find a Game.exe manually.
• The tool will perform a one-time "Safe State Initialization" to backup your vanilla files.

2. Installing Mods

• From Nexus: Click "Mod Manager Download" on the website.
• From File: Drag and drop a .zip file or a mod folder directly onto the application window.
• Activation: Check the box next to a mod to enable it, then click "Apply Changes" to rebuild the game.

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Why is the UI so simple and ugly?

• Honestly? This is my first time making an application on Avalonia from zero, so my experience is pretty much barebones. There's a bit of visual bugs regarding the emojis I used (as I wanted to give a bit of color to the application), but I hope to fix these and improve the visuals of the UI on future updates.

And why does this mod manager exists? why not use FHMM? (Fear and Hunger Mod Manager)

• This began as a simple project to make a mod manager for Look Outside (my favorite RPG Maker game!) and it turned out to be much bigger as I kept going. I hope people give it a chance, it would make me very happy if modders use it.

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

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