Currently, what modding is possible?

[REDJOHNNYMIKE]

I've gathered from looking around that there is no full editor for BF2.
So what can be done that doesn't require one?

[drummerzoid1]

pretty much just wate a week or so for the tools, unless you are interested in ex. imps vs cis mods, use a hex editor.

[Leviathan]

Hex-editing does not only allow you to change factions playing on a level... You can also edit localization keys, the equipment used by a chosen unit, skins of buildings or players, the vehicles called on maps, etc... As you'll probably notice, possibilities are endless !...

[REDJOHNNYMIKE]

I've only used a hex editor once or twice. Will pretty much anything work because I still have one I used for KotOR?

[Leviathan]

The process you've used to hex-edit KotOR files may not be applied to SWBF's...
Also, what's the name of the hexa-decimal editor you've talked of ?

[REDJOHNNYMIKE]

XVI32 I think.

Also, when I opened anything with it, I only see a little bit of recognizable words near the top, as I scroll down it just turns into large sections consisting of only one symbol, what am I supposed to be looking for?

[-=Sithicalohiny=-]

It's a long story. Go to some of the previous pages, you will find all the info there.

[Leviathan]

RED', the "large sections" composed of only incomprehensible symbols are in fact the "borders" placed between two "understandable" parts, which are compiled files merged into the *.LVL file you're browsing through XVI 32... Moreover, we might help you if you told us what you're trying to tweak exactly...

[-=Sithicalohiny=-]

Basically you replace units or vehicles. There are sections for all maps for all their game modes. Each mode has a set of units for each of the two factions.

Hope that gave you a rough idea.

[REDJOHNNYMIKE]

Well, mainly I wanted to try map/story type stuff, but if the options are limited to the above mentioned, I'd settle for being able to swap the engineers torch for a pistol;)

As for the actual editor, it's not so much a problem of incomprehensible symbols as much as it is finding anything in them, as far as I can tell there's only a few distinguishing words in the beginning of a file, after that I see large clumps consisting of only one symbol.

[Leviathan]

The sections composed of only one symbol may be the "body" of textures, sounds or other stuffs which can't be modified efficiently using an hex-editor, MIKE'... That's why some softwares like LVL Extractor have been designed, so as to get and edit such files more easily...

[-=Sithicalohiny=-]

But how do you get them back to the lvl file?

[Leviathan]

That's a good question, which I'll start to study again as soon as possible...
However, I already know the "compiling" of user-made textures can only be done through hex-editing, since BCompiler seems not to handle SWBF II *.DDS files...

[REDJOHNNYMIKE]

I didn't know there was a file extractor, where can I get it?
Does it just translate them into a useable file, or actually let you edit them?

[Leviathan]

LVL Extractor can be got here, JOHN'... However, it can only pull out some usable textures from *.LVL files, which can be opened and edited through softwares owning the *.DDS file-format support...

[REDJOHNNYMIKE]

Could I use GIMP or the PS trial version to edit them without any conflicts?

[Leviathan]

In order to manipulate *.DDS files in Adobe Photoshop, you'll have to download this plug-in... Regarding The Gimp, you can get a similar add-on by looking there...