Black Ops 3 Mod Tools Get Started - IceGrenade/bo3 GitHub Wiki

Welcome to Black Ops 3 Mod Tools Resources (Wiki's Tutorials) Get Started!

Black Ops 3 Wiki's

Video Learning Archive for Mod Tools Tutorials

Discord Groups for the Mod Tools

Useful Third-party Tools for Mod Tools

Mod Tools Mega Thread (Press Ctrl+F to search for specific content)

Getting Started

Installing Mod Tools

You need to own Black Ops 3 on Steam, this is the only way to own a PC version of the game.
Then go to your Steam Library → Tools → Call of Duty: Black Ops III - Mod Tools and install.
You may also want to install extra assets which include more models and textures. On the same page as installing the mod tools, right click them Properties → DLC → BOIII Mod Tools - Additional Assets and tick the "INSTALL" box. ADDITIONAL ASSETS IS ABOUT 50GB IN SIZE. Video Guide by JBird
A desktop shortcut can be created when installing but use any methods you like to quick access the tools. If you would like to access a single program from within the tools, such as Radiant Black - the level design software, go to your Black Ops 3 "root folder" (default C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Call of Duty Black Ops III), modtools_launcher can be found here if you wish to make a shortcut to that, then go into bin where you can also find modlauncher, export2bin, Radiant_modtools and all other applications in BO3 Mod Tools

Other Software

If you wish to do scripting, a text editor is required, preferably one which is dedicated to scripting. E.g. Sublime or Notepad++
2D Art and Texture creation will require software, this can be done in any image editing software and to an extent in modern text editors:
- Free → Gimp 2; Pixlr - online editor with many features; Paint.net - do not get confused with MS Paint, this is way more advanced and was very useful in WaW Modding; see more free software here and decide which suits your needs.
- Paid → Photoshop; Microsoft Office Package - the likelihood of you having access to some features of this package are fair; in some of the software, images can be moved around, grouped, layers changed. Shapes and text can also be edited.
3D Modelling software - use paid (free for 3 years for students) Maya or free Blender. Animations can also be made in these softwares.
Audio Editing - use free Audacity
Video Editing (maybe for cutscenes or trailers) - use any: Sony Vegas - advanced; Windows Movie Maker - basic; Adobe Premiere - advanced.
Porting Tools // COD Model Tools for Maya // Wraith // Kronos

TUTORIALS

Mapping - Environment Design

Introduction to Radiant
Prefabs/Object Grouping
Detail - Models, FX, Textures
Using Layers // Entity List
Brush Editing
Making Stairs
Patch Detailing
Arches and Tunnels
Curved Wall and Floor
Roofs and Domes
Curb/Kerb Creating (Useful Patch Demos)
Texture Blending
- Texture Blending
- Patch Colouring
- Using gVertex Tool
- Realistic Blood Detailing
Volume Decals
Adding Detail
- Making Detail
- Barrier Detailing
- Highly Detailed Cracked Wall
Pose Manipulator
Effects in Radiant (FX)
- FX, Simple Guide
- FX Properties
- Making Sure FX Play!
- Showing FX and Lighting Options on Camera
- Cloud Caustic FX
Sky & Lighting
- Skyboxes and Lighting
- Alternate Guide
- Sunlight
- Caustic Lighting
- Changing Skybox/SSI
- Rotating Skybox
- Lightstates
- Volumetric Lighting
  - Volumetric Lighting
  - Alternate Guide
- Complete Lighting Guide
- Fix Light Bleeding
- Alternate Methods to fix light bleeding
- Reflection Probes
- Advanced Reflection Tutorial
- Continued Reflection Guide
- Continued Reflection Guide 2
Sounds Throughout the Map
Breakable Glass
Dynamic Objects
Liquids in Radiant
- Water
- Custom liquids - water, lava, slime
Weather Grimes and Local Wind

Mapping & Scripting - Gameplay Objects

Setting Up Sublime for GSC
Scripting Text Tutorial // Scripting To Radiant, Shootable EE Reusable Code Demo Video, Part 2 - Points Reward and Scripted FX, Part 3 - Random Target Spawn Locations, Removing Clips, and Sound // Basic Scripting Tutorial by IceGrenade
Different Clips and when to use them // Fitting Clips to Objects
Colour Values for Scripts [20secs]
Zones and Zombie Spawners // Water Risers
Making a Very Basic Map Overview - Adding Zombies, Barriers, Zones, Player Spawns and Lighting
Making Zombies Jump over Objects // Updated Traversal Prefabs // Debugging Zombie Pathing
Doors and Debris
Adding Buyable Weapons // Quick Changing Buyables / Change wallbuy values // Changing weapon attachments
Adding Mystery Box Locations
Adding Perk Machines // Gobblegum // Change from prone - use this for custom perks, for stock perks you can follow this: Quick guide
Fix Perk Lighting
Fix Perk Sounds
Increasing Perk Limit
Changing Starting Points: Specific Player // All
Changing PAP Camos
Buyable Endings
Adding a Zombies Counter
Change the Starting Weapon // Player Specific Start Weapons
Changing Weapons in the Mystery Box // Prevent Arnie from taking up weapon slot
Removing Dog Rounds
Adding Map Intro Text
Wall Running // Slides
Music Easter Egg
Widow's Wine
Electric Cherry // Updated Version
Shootable Easter Eggs
The Giant Teleporters // SOE Teleporters
Buildable Rocket Shield
Buildable Power Switch
Buyable Power-up
- Powerups Pack
Keycard Doors
Making FX that damages players
Growing Soul Boxes
Moving map components, elevators, rotating objects and jump pads // Adding Moveable Vehicles
Adding Brutus
Adding Flogger
Teleport Zombies from A-B
Moving Vehicles
Fire Trap

Assets

Introduction to Asset Property Editor
Creating Textures // Importing Materials/Textures // High Quality Textures
Setup Export2Bin
Maya Plugins & Xmodels
Importing Models from other COD Games (Maya) // Alternate Guide // XModels into BO3 Format // Converting AI Animations (Maya)
Importing Weapons (3arc) // Converting Weapon Animations (Maya) // Merge Fire and Settle Anims (Maya) // Ghosts ADS Anims // Setting Up in APE (+stats) // Convert Old Weapon Files //Weapon Sounds // Adding them to the mystery box // Setting Up Upgraded Variant // Setting Up Weapon Camo Tables - this allows camos to be applied to the weapon
Starting and Laststand Pistols
Custom Weapon Chalks // Weapon Port Infopedia Program
Making Weapon Animations
Installing JBird's Claymores
Change Zombie Models
- Parasites & Meatballs
Custom Music // Custom Announcer Quotes // Custom Round Change Music
Custom Shaders // Alternate Guide // Alternate Guide // D-Pad HUD Setup
Custom Perk Machine Models
Custom Fonts
Custom View Legs
Waving Flag
Video Playing // HANDLEBREAK for MKV converting and remove the audio, play it separate in script)

Finishing Touches

Debugging Issues

Radiant Black - Keyboard Shortcuts

XY View Window

` - Grid .5
1 - Grid 1
2 - Grid 2
3 - Grid 4
4 - Grid 8
5 - Grid 16
6 - Grid 32
7 - Grid 64
8 - Grid 128
9 - Grid 246
[ - Smaller Grid
] - Bigger Grid
LeftClick (Hold and Drag) - Draw Brush
RightClick - Context Option Menu
RightClick (Hold and Drag) Move Grid Position
Scroll Wheel - Zoom In/Out
Insert - Zoom Out
Delete - Zoom In
Ctrl-Tab - Swap between XY, YZ, etc views

Camera

RightClick - Context Options Menu
RightClick (Hold and Drag) - Move Around
RightClick (Hold) MouseWheel - Forward Backwards
Ctrl-RightClick (Hold and Drag) - Move Up Down Left Right
Ctrl-Shift-RightClick (Hold and Drag) Look Around
Shift-Alt-RightClick (Hold and Drag) - Select Multiple
End - Fix Camera Position
Shift-LeftClick - Select Object (Drag To Select Multiple)
Ctrl-Shift-LeftClick - Select Object Face (Drag To Select Multiple)
Middle Mouse - Apply Texture Clicked on To Selected Object

It's best to use a combination of right click hold + ctrl and shift to move but you can move with the keyboard:

A - Pivot Up
Z - Pivot Down
D - Go Up
C - Go Down
, - Move Left
. - Move Right
Page Up - Move Up More
Page Down - Move Down More
Arrow Up - Move Forward
Arrow Down - Move Backwards
Arrow Left - Pivot Left
Arrow Right - Pivot Right

Misc

I - Select All
H - Hide
Shift H - Unhide
Space - Duplicate Selected
J - Toggle Wire Frame On Selected Object
X - Cutting
V - Show Vertexes on Selected Object
(- numbpad ) Move Selected Object Down Grid
(+ numpad) Move Selected Object Up Grid
Ctrl-Z - Undo
Esc - Deselect Everything
Ctrl-Shift-A - Subdivide patch
W (with two vertices selected) - Weld Vertices
Ctrl-Shift-X - Unweld Vertices
Ctrl-I - Invert Texture

Windows

B - Entity Browser
F - Filter Window
G - gVertex Color/Alpha Editing
K - Brings Up Colors on Selected Object
L - Layers
M - Models
N - Entity Info
O - Output
P - Preferences
S - Surface Inspector
T - Textures
Y - Advanced Patch Editing Options

You can find all keybinds in the Key Binding Window with Ctrl+K, either type in a cmd or action to find it, then you can set it to what you like, or enable the edit mode and drag out buttons into your radiant interface! See a full tutorial on keybinds IceGrenade Keybind Master Video

The Following Section has been taken from The Official Guide

RAM consumption values from an internal test Open Radiant with no map loaded, model and texture browser closed Base Mod Tools installation: 950MB With additional assets installed: 950MB Open Radiant with no map loaded, open Model and Texture browser and start scrolling through both Base Mod Tools installation: 6.5GB-7.5GB With additional assets installed: 6.5GB-8.5GB Open Radiant with no map loaded, open Model and Texture browser and scroll through all model assets Base Mod Tools installation: 9GB With additional assets installed: 13GB Open Radiant with ZM_Giant open, open Model and Texture browser and scroll through all model assets Base Mod Tools installation: 12GB With additional assets installed: 19GB

With this information and personal experience, I can recommend a minimum of 16GB to work on most projects. For larger projects a minimum of 32GB RAM is recommended. You can reduce the amount of RAM required by taking advantage of cubic clipping, prefabs and other resource management tools within Radiant.

Additional Support with Modding YouTube Channels