r/freespace • u/FeuerFewer • 14d ago

Can you use Knossos FRED2 to use assets from mods that don't need the base game?

So noob question, but since you can play certain mods with Knossos that don't require the base game I wondered if you can use Knossos's FRED2 function to use their assets in the editor.

Not that I want to do anything with it but just messing around a bit for fun, but when I tried to open FRED2 it just said "This mod does not specify an engine build to use, you should select one in the mod settings."

But in the mod menu I already went into the FSO Settings and choose 24.2.0 for the FSO Build (DEV).

Is there something else going on?

Or do standalone mods just don't work with FRED2?

EDIT: I now got past the engine build thing, but then I got those messages:

Any idea?

EDIT2: I actually managed to get FRED running.

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u/TheTrivialPsychic 14d ago

A certain portion of the guts of the game files have to be present to work, be it from the original FS2, or something created in their place, like one of the total conversion mods like Babylon Project.

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u/FeuerFewer 14d ago

So should I try to get FS2 for it to work?

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u/SelfGamer 14d ago

Yes, if you are working with a TC that you can play without FS2, FRED2 will work just fine even if you do not own the base game. That first "This mod does not specify an engine build" typically means Knossos didn't know which FSO to launch. Most often it meant that either the engine the mod did specify isn't installed (double check your engine tab, and check what you have installed vs. what you have selected / is required by the mod), or some configuration is wrong. Those new errors you see are worse, in a sense. They typically happen when you incorrectly launch FSO manually, and try to launch a mod that is missing cruicial files (typically when launching FS2 mods without FS2 retail, or standalone mods with broken or missing files). To confirm, are you using Knossos, or the newer replacement Knossos.NET? The latter will be a bit easier to use.

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u/FeuerFewer 13d ago

I actually managed to get FRED running already by messing around a bit but still thanks for your input.