HPL3/SOMA/Getting Started/Create and Launch Your Mod

In this step, you will copy SOMA's known-working example mod and launch the copy before changing it.

Make your own copy

1. Open SOMA/mods/.
2. Copy the entire MinimalCustomMapMod folder.
3. Rename the copy to a short project name, such as MyFirstMod.
4. Open the copied entry.hpc in a text editor.
5. Change at least Title, Author, and Description. Leave Type="StandAlone" and InitCfg="config/main_init.cfg" unchanged for this tutorial.

Warning: Do not rename or edit the original MinimalCustomMapMod. Keeping a clean copy gives you a working comparison if your configuration later breaks.

Your copied folder should contain at least:

MyFirstMod/
├── config/
│   ├── lang/
│   │   └── english.lang
│   └── main_init.cfg
├── maps/
│   └── sample_map/
│       ├── sample_map.hpm
│       ├── sample_map.hpm_*
│       └── sample_map.hps
├── entry.hpc
├── LauncherPic.png
└── resources.cfg

The .hpm_* entries above represent the map's split data files. They are part of the map and must remain beside sample_map.hpm.

Launch the untouched copy

1. Run ModLauncher.exe, or ModLauncher_NoSteam.exe for a non-Steam installation.
2. Choose Play Custom Content.
3. Select the title you placed in entry.hpc.
4. Launch the mod.

The included config/main_init.cfg starts sample_map.hpm from the maps/ folder at PlayerStartArea_1.

Checkpoint

Continue only when your copied mod appears in the launcher and loads its sample map.

If it does not work

• The mod is absent from the launcher: confirm the copy is inside SOMA/mods/ and has entry.hpc at its root.
• The game starts but the map does not: restore config/main_init.cfg, resources.cfg, and the complete maps/sample_map/ folder from the clean example.
• You want to understand the files: read Creating a Mod, Resources Configuration, and Launch Configuration.