Create your own Bandits Integrations

Project Zomboid415 views2 favorites4 min readby JusblazmUpdated Apr 3View on Steam ↗

Getting Started

You need to own Project Zomboid
https://store.steampowered.com/app/108600/Project_Zomboid/

You need to download both Bandits NPC and Bandits Creator by Slayer
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3268487204
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3469292499

You need a text editor of your choice. I use VSCode (Visual Studio Code), but any text editor will do. I often make quick small changes with notepad.

First Steps

The first thing you need to do is create your own bandit clan in game. If you've already done so, feel free to jump to the next section.

Load the game, enable Bandits Creator and go to town building your clans. Move on to the next step once finished.

Setting up a Project Zomboid Mod

You now need to set up a mod folder. If you've already done so, feel free to jump to the next step.

The Project Zomboid wiki has a solid tutorial for a full mod structure setup, including a video, which can be found on the Project Zomboid Wiki - Mod Structure[pzwiki.net] page.

While the wiki goes over everything in the mod structure. the mod structure for your bandit clan mod is going to be very simple.

<UniqueFolderName>/ ├─ 42/ # required for build 42 │ ├─ mod.info │ ├─ poster.png # optional │ └─ icon.png # optional │ ├─ common/ # required for build 42 │ └─ bandits/ │ ├─ bandits.txt │ └─ clans.txt │ ├─ media/ # required for build 41 │ └─ bandits/ │ ├─ bandits.txt │ └─ clans.txt │ ├─ mod.info # required for build 41 ├─ poster.png # optional └─ icon.png # optional

The bandits.txt and clans.txt files were created for you by Bandits Creator in the last step, so you don't need to create those, but you do need to create the folder structure and the mod.info file.

The mod.info file tells the game what to do with your mod. You can learn more about the file on the Project Zomboid Wiki - mod․info[pzwiki.net] page.

Your mod.info file only needs 2 fields to technically work: name= and id=, however I recommend including required=. If you decide to create a poster and icon for your mod, you need to include poster= and icon=.

name=<Name of Mod> id=<UniqueModID> required=\Bandits2 # for build 42 required=Bandits2 # for build 41 poster=poster.png icon=icon.png

Mods added to the required= line will automatically enable when you enable your mod. I don't add Bandits Creator as a required mod, because the mod functions properly without it. Bandits Creator just allows you to further modify the clan.

Putting it All Together

Now you need to go to your zomboid folder: C:\Users\<user>\Zomboid

You can also use the following shortcodes

Windows: %USERPROFILE%\Zomboid Linux/macOS: $HOME/Zomboid

Inside the Zomboid folder, you'll find a Lua folder and inside the Lua folder you'll find bandits. Inside the bandits folder is the bandits.txt and clans.txt files you need.

You can get there quickly with: %USERPROFILE%\Zomboid\Lua\bandits

Move both text files from here into your mod folder that you previously set up. After confirming you've transferred the files, delete them from %USERPROFILE%\Zomboid\Lua\bandits.

Time for Some File Editing

Now you need to modify bandits.txt and clans.txt.

Open bandits.txt. This file could be rather large depending on how many bandits you've created and how much equipment you gave them. You will see something like the following for each bandit you created:

[33df95fb-4744-4d72-b66b-aa5ccab2ef13] general: modid = JusBanditsVanillaHANDCRAFTED general: cid = 6a757368-0703-4e3f-9130-363b5a33d722 general: name = Military_001 general: female = false general: skin = 2 general: hairType = 9 general: beardType = 5 general: hairColor = 8 general: health = 5 general: strength = 5 general: endurance = 5 general: sight = 5 general: exp1 = 0 general: exp2 = 0 general: exp3 = 0 clothing: Hat = Base.Hat_BonnieHat_CamoGreen clothing: Necklace = Base.Necklace_DogTag_Male clothing: Tshirt = Base.Tshirt_CamoGreen clothing: UnderwearBottom = Base.Boxers_White clothing: RightWrist = Base.WristWatch_Right_ClassicMilitary clothing: Pants = Base.Trousers_CamoGreen clothing: Socks = Base.Socks_Heavy clothing: Shoes = Base.Shoes_ArmyBoots weapons: primary = Base.AssaultRifle weapons: melee = Base.FightingKnife ammo: primary = 1

You need to replace every instance of LOCAL with the id you used on the id= line inside your mod.info file. In the above example, my modid is JusBanditsVanillaHANDCRAFTED.

Open clans.txt. You're going to see every clan currently available to you in game here. Delete all of them except the one(s) you plan to use in this mod. It should look something like the following:

[6a757368-0703-4e3f-9130-363b5a33d722] general: name = Jus_Military spawn: friendly = true spawn: companion = true spawn: defenders = true spawn: campers = true spawn: assault = false spawn: wanderer = true spawn: roadblock = true spawn: dayStart = 1 spawn: dayEnd = 1000 spawn: spawnChance = 2 spawn: groupMin = 2 spawn: groupMax = 5 spawn: zone = 0

With the exception of deleting the clans you don't need, you don't need to make any other modifications to this file.

Confirming Everything Works

It's time to load the game up and ensure everything is working.

Boot the game up, and click on Mods. Search for your newly created mod in the list. If it's present, enable it.

If you added the required= line in your mod.info file, when you enable your new mod, Bandits will automatically enable as well, however, Bandits Creator will still need to be enabled.

Wrapping Up

Now you should be capable of creating your own bandit clan mods.

You can always visit my Collection of Bandit Integrations to download ones I've created
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3479480823