Barony How to Mod: Your Complete Guide to Workshop Creation

Learn exactly how to mod Barony with our step-by-step guide. From map editing to Steam Workshop uploads, we cover everything you need to create custom content.

Getting Started with Barony Modding

Barony is a challenging first-person roguelike that thrives on its replayability, but once you've conquered the main game, the desire to create something new often takes hold. If you've been searching for a comprehensive guide on Barony how to mod, you've come to the right place. Whether you want to tweak the starting map, add custom loot, or design entirely new dungeons, the tools are more accessible than you might think.

The official Barony Workshop creation tutorial provides a solid foundation for beginners. The game's developers have made it possible to modify map files without touching a single line of complex code. This guide will walk you through the entire process, from setting up the editor to uploading your first mod to the Steam Workshop. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of the file structures, editor tools, and publishing steps required to bring your ideas to life.

Understanding Barony's Modding Capabilities

Before diving into the technical steps, it's crucial to understand what you can and cannot modify within Barony's current engine. The game's modding support focuses heavily on map files, but there are several other areas that are open for customization.

What You Can Easily Edit

The following table outlines the modifiable elements that do not require compiling the game's source code:

Modifiable Element	File Type / Location	Notes
Map Layouts	`.lmp` files in `maps/` folder	Includes static maps and procedural room templates
Item Sprites	Sprite system in editor	Place any item, set its type, status, blessing, and quantity
Item Properties	`items/` folder	Modify gold value, weight, and sprite images
Text and Books	`books/` and `lang/` folders	Replace in-game books or translate text
Music and Sounds	`music/` and `sounds/` folders	Swap out audio files for remixes or custom tracks
Model Textures	`.vox` files in `models/`	Remodel weapons, items, and monsters (requires external tools)

What Requires Source Code Compilation

Some deeper changes require compiling Barony's open-source C++ code. This is more advanced and not recommended for beginners.

Non-Modifiable Element	Reason
Random generation variables (monster spawn lists, traps, furniture types)	Tied to the level set (e.g., mines)
Player classes	Hard-coded into the executable
New spells or items	Requires engine-level additions
Core gameplay mechanics	Requires modifying game logic

Player Experience: According to the official tutorial by WALL OF JUSTICE, "At the time of writing, only map files are compatible with Barony's mod-loading capability." This means your first mod should focus on map editing.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your First Barony Mod

Now let's get practical. Follow these steps to create a simple mod that adds a Ring of Slow Digestion to the starting map.

Step 1: Launch the Barony Editor

Open the Barony Editor through Steam by selecting "Launch Editor" from the game's library page. Once the editor opens, navigate to the top-left menu and select Open.... Type or scroll to find start.lmp — this is the first map in the game.

Step 2: Understand the Editor Layers

The editor features three tile layers:

Layer	Function	Height
FLOOR	Players and monsters move on these tiles	Base level
WALLS	Blocks movement; diggable parts of walls	1 tile high
CEILING	Decorative passable tiles	2 tiles high

To toggle between layers, use SHIFT + scroll wheel (or CTRL + U / CTRL + P if you lack a scroll wheel).

Step 3: Place a Podium Sprite

Press S to open the sprite selection menu. Select sprite 125: PODIUM. Left-click to place it in the spawn area. Switch to the POINT tool (press 2) to select and edit sprites. Set the facing direction to 4 (WEST) by clicking F2 and entering the value.

Step 4: Add an Item

Press S again and select sprite 8: ITEM. The item property window allows you to configure:

Property	Value	Description
Item Type	Ring of Slow Digestion	The specific item to spawn
Status	0	Normal condition
Blessing	0	No curse or blessing
Quantity	1	How many to place
Identified	No	Item appears unidentified to the player

Place the item on the podium by left-clicking. Items placed on tables or podiums will automatically appear on top of them in-game.

Step 5: Save Without Overwriting

Press CTRL + D to open the directory menu. Change the save directory by typing a new folder name (e.g., myfirstmod) and clicking Set as save directory. This creates a new mod folder structure at steamapps/Barony/mods/myfirstmod/maps/. Use File > Save as... to save your map to this new location.

Step 6: Load Your Mod In-Game

Launch Barony from Steam. Click the Custom Content button on the main menu. Hit Local Mods to see your mod folder, then click Load Item. You'll see a "(Modded)" indicator during character creation, confirming your mod is active.

Mod Indicator	Location	Meaning
"(Modded)"	Character creation screen	Modified files are loaded
"Mods loaded"	Bottom right of main menu	Active mods are present
Separate save files	`savegame_modded.dat`	Prevents corruption of vanilla saves

Editing the Map Sequence with levels.txt

The levels.txt file controls the order of maps loaded during a game. You can find it in the maps/ folder of your Barony installation. This file uses two types of entries:

Entry Type	Syntax	Example	Function
Static Map	`map: [filename]`	`map: start`	Loads a specific `.lmp` file without randomization
Generated Level	`gen: [filename]`	`gen: mine`	Loads a base floor and randomly places subroom files

Subroom files follow the naming convention [basename]00.lmp, [basename]01.lmp, etc. The 00 file always spawns as the player's starting room.

Community Insight: Players have successfully extended the game to 40+ levels by editing levels.txt. One user reported, "All I did is save it as normal, and I was able to get a new area to work past level 35."

To edit levels.txt, use WordPad (Windows) or any text editor (Linux/Mac). Avoid Notepad as it may not display the formatting correctly. Changes take effect immediately after selecting Restart Game from the pause menu.

Uploading Your Mod to the Steam Workshop

Once your mod is complete, sharing it with the community is straightforward.

Upload Process

In Barony, click the Workshop menu option.
Click Upload Workshop Content.
Use the folder browser to select your mod folder (Barony/mods/myfirstmod).
Click Select Folder for Upload, then Prepare.
Choose a Workshop tag (e.g., "dungeons") and click Set Item Fields.
Click Upload! and wait for the green success message.

Adding a Preview Image

Your mod needs a preview image to appear in the Workshop. Place a file named preview.png, preview.jpg, or preview.gif (under 1MB) in your mod folder. Use the Update option in the Workshop menu to upload the image.

File Requirement	Specification
Accepted formats	PNG, JPG, GIF
Maximum file size	1 MB
Recommended dimensions	Square (e.g., 512x512)
File name	`preview.png` (or .jpg / .gif)

Making Your Mod Public

By default, Workshop items are hidden. Visit your mod's Steam Workshop page and set visibility to Public when you're ready to share.

FAQ: Common Questions About Modding Barony

Can I create custom procedural levels in Barony?

Yes, by editing levels.txt and creating your own subroom files (e.g., mycustom00.lmp, mycustom01.lmp). You can define new "gen:" entries that load your custom base floor and rooms. The game's engine will randomly place your rooms just like the default levels.

Do I need programming experience to mod Barony?

No. The official Barony how to mod tutorial focuses entirely on map editing using the built-in editor. You can create functional mods by placing tiles and sprites without writing any code. Advanced modifications (new spells, classes) require C++ knowledge and compiling the source code.

Will mods affect my achievements or multiplayer compatibility?

Mods use separate save files (savegame_modded.dat), so your vanilla achievements remain safe. However, modded games are incompatible with unmodded multiplayer lobbies. The game clearly indicates when mods are active with a "(Modded)" label.

How do I fix a broken mod or revert changes?

If you accidentally overwrite a base game file, use Steam > Verify Integrity of Game Files to restore the original data. For custom map issues, simply delete or rename the problematic .lmp file from your mod folder — the game will fall back to the default file.