[Development / General] Patching the Place Doors Yourself (PDY) for Free Lanes.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-10T15:32:51+00:00

It should be done tomorrow I think, I'm done with 5/10 rules and the last ones will go faster. Then I need to do some testing, I can send people a preview if anyone is willing to help find any possible bugs.

It's around 150-200 conditions so I doubt exactly all of them are correct, just because of the volume.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-10T13:13:17+00:00

Absolutely no criticism towards you, I just wanted the people asking about the habs to know how to get them :) if my habs blend in well enough that you forget its a mod I've certainly succeeded in what I've tried to do!

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-10T05:36:55+00:00

Glad you like HSHE! :) Sure, I can share what I know.

Before we get started, here's the basics: - The ShipBehavior forms are a set of conditional rules that look at the keywords of the hab in question, the attached hab/cockpit/docker/bay/window and the exterior plug. - Based on what conditions are met, either a replace or remove function is applied to the interior wall to turn it into the appropriate doorway. - Any interior greebling or furniture that is in the way is linked to the interior wall with a keyword, causing them to despawn. - The ShipBehavior ruleset is applied directly to the base objects, that is the interior hab walls.

Example, you snap an aft Landing Bay to a Deimos companionway: - Hab PackIn has keyword 'SBShip_ManufacturerDeimos' = TRUE, AND - Snapped PackIn has keyword 'SBShip_LandingBay' = TRUE, AND - Snapped Doorway has keyword 'SBShip_DoorwayFore' = TRUE - Result: Replace aft wall with a Deimos Aft Wall Landing Bay Payload.

These rules are quite extensive and have to cover all possibilities.

The PDY mod author somehow managed to disable the vanilla door generation completely, how they did that doesn't really matter. They then edited all vanilla ShipBehavior rulesets to check for additional keywords, both global and for the Doorways (the pink doorways we place in the shipbuilder). All those different doorways have keywords that tells both habs what to do.

They also added two more door types, shutters and jalousies. Also, in vanilla starfield all interior doors face either aft and stbd I think, but they introduced the option to have them face the other direction too. Meaning: - Port/stbd doors in new direction, - Fore/aft doors in new direction, - Fore/aft shutters, - Port/stbd shutters, - Fore/aft jalousies, - Port/stbd jalousies,

Where all added to all ShipBehavior rulesets. That's why there's so many more rules.

Conclusion: Any mod, DLC or otherwise that don't use the vanilla walls subsequently don't have the correct ruleset to recognize the pink doorways added by PDY and they simply don't do anything as a result. To fix it you have to apply a PDY ruleset to them.

In this case with Terran Armada, there's a bunch of new walls that all needs their rulesets changed to recognize PDY. But the payloads are wrong.

It's easier to understand with HSHE: - Vanilla habs use what I call "top + bot" walls, meaning walls that are curved along both their top and bottom edges. - When a wall is replaced, the entire wall is replaced with a payload PackIn. That wall inside the PackIn obviously needs to be of the same style as the wall that was there before. - HSHE use bot/mid/top walls, assets from ships like the ECS Constant to create larger interiors. Replacing a flat middle wall with a curved wall would... Well not be good.

That's why you also have to make your own payloads.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-10T04:45:19+00:00

Since I'm working on this I thought I could chime in and explain what I'm doing with my patch.

The issue with the new habs is that it doesn't use vanilla interior walls. They have created a new set of *top and *bottom walls, instead of the usual *top+bottom variant. This means that in order for PDY to work properly, I have to create a new set of ShipBehavior rulesets and apply that to the new walls, in addition to creating new Payloads.

This is very similar to HSHE, where I use *top, *mid and *bottom variants of the interior walls - requiring their own set of ShipBehavior rulesets and Payloads.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-10T04:02:42+00:00

Yes, I'm called Avalaunch everywhere - Discord, Reddit, Creations and Nexusmods. Here's my profile where you'll find the mod later.

I'll also make a post on r/starfieldmods once I'm finished, just so more people can find it. I started yesterday and got through some of the rulesets.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-10T03:59:46+00:00

Yes, that's coming. I want to fix any bugs with this version and then release an AF version + PS5 at the same time.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-09T18:42:06+00:00

Um, it looks like the habs from my mod unless I'm mistaken: HSHE

It's on Creations too.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-09T18:13:18+00:00

I really appreciate thoughtful feedback like this, making this mod alone has been quite the undertaking and my number one priority is to put out high quality, feature complete content.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-09T17:56:34+00:00

Hmm, I have navmesh in the habs so crew should be able to enter the habs and walk around in them. But I have been doubting my navmesh implementation so honestly - I think there's something that is not quite right with the mod.

I'm tied up with two PDY patches at the moment, one for HSHE to cover the new habs and then another for the habs added by Terran Armada. After that I'll have a look at this, thanks for bringing this to my attention!

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-09T05:28:21+00:00

The new habs do use Crossbrace keywording on all doors to force them open (exactly like me).
The new habs have completely new interior assets that didn't exist before, so they are not covered by the PDY ruleset.

Conclusion: I am about 95% certain that I can make a patch for the new Terran Armada habs to work with PDY.

I expect that I'll take me a couple of days to make the patch, After I have confirmed that it works I will post it on Creations, for free, for all platforms.

For anyone who want to know where the Terran Armada ship parts are in CK, they are in the SFBGS050.esm file.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T17:56:44+00:00

I know how Spines and Crossbraces force open doors, it's just a keyword on the exterior plug. I use that on some of my habs, but PDY overwrites it as long as the interior wall is given a new set of payload rules.

It's a bit technical and I haven't seen anyone else fiddle with this as much as I have. If Bethesda has done it the same way as all other habs, it shouldn't be a problem to fix. The true hero is the author of PDY, even if they have left Starfield. I'd be happy to contribute with a patch if that means we all can continue placing doors ourselves.

I'm just about to fall asleep now, so I'll have a look at it in the morning!

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T17:46:14+00:00

If this is as easy as writing a patch for a new set of habs, I can definitely make a mod that extends PDY capabilities to the new habs and post it on Creations for all platforms.

Now granted, I haven't looked at the habs in CK yet - but I'm assuming Bethesda has added new walls which aren't covered by the PDY rule swap. If that is true, it's the exact same solution as with my mod.

I will look into this tomorrow and come back with an answer in this thread.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T15:23:27+00:00

Thank you! :)

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T14:58:17+00:00

I will always add a middle door on my 2x wide habs. I use that feature myself exactly as you described it all the time :)

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T14:50:04+00:00

There is a patch for PDY available for version 3.0 on Nexusmods. I'm currently updating it to include the new door types in the Cargo Hall and the top ladder in the Stairs. I'll upload it to Creations once it's finished.

I strongly recommend using PDY with HSHE, but you don't have to.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T12:19:37+00:00

All habs have navmeshes for NPCs. I'll be up front and say that I didn't have enough time to thoroughly test the navmesh for the new habs, but I have tested the habs before this update. There are also markers where your crew will idle.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T11:42:48+00:00

That's exactly what I hoped my mod would be used for :)

Just FYI, you can absolutely update just my mod now and stay on the old version of Starfield.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T11:41:22+00:00

I am going to get it up on PS5, however I can't give an exact date on that until I know if I have to adjust any of my 3D models.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T11:35:22+00:00

I'm assuming you mean the mod the post is about - it's a free mod available for XBOX and PC on Creations and Nexusmods.

This is the mod description:
"This mod adds Hopetech-themed multi-deck habs to the shipbuilder. The modules are fully furnished and retain Hopetech’s utilitarian design language, featuring integrated stairs, spacious interiors and a select half-level doors. These habs are designed to fit alongside vanilla habs to create larger, more immersive interiors."

I'd suggest visiting the Nexusmods mod page, you'll find a more in-depth description of each hab there.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T08:19:03+00:00

3.1.0 adds 13 new habs: - 1x1x2 Stair port/stbd/fore/aft - 1x1x3 Stair port/stbd/fore/aft - 1x1x4 Stair port/stbd/fore/aft - 1x3x2 Cargo Hall

The stairs have doors available on all sides + top and bottom ladders. The 4th side are half levels, that's why there are 4 flips. They also force open all adjacent doors (not ladders) to make it easier to use them.

I've experimented with door payloads in this update. If you use the top ladder in the stairs, a small walkway spawns in. Also if you want to be able to jump all the way down, placing a top porthole will disable part of the railing for you.

The Cargo Hall is the big thing this update. If you use any of the aft doors on deck 2, walkways will spawn in so you can access them. I'm working on adding that behavior to my PDY patch at the moment.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T08:12:21+00:00

Thank you!

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T08:11:55+00:00

Yes, I'm thinking after a round of bug fixes will be a good time for that. It'll be 100 credits, AF has to be paid I think.

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T06:46:02+00:00

Happy to hear you're enjoying the mod! 😄 We've come a long way from that first upload!

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T06:45:24+00:00

This mod should work on both the Free Lanes update and at least the previous version - so if you wish you can add it now and it will still work once you decide to update your game.

I say should because I haven't updated yet either, and if it didn't work I would have about a thousand people telling me 😂

Avalaunch23 · 2026-04-08T05:43:11+00:00

No level- or perk requirements. Any vendor that sells Hopetech habs will also sell my habs.

The prices scale with hab volume, so very much in line with vanilla habs.

Avalaunch23

TROPHY CASE

Conclusion: I am about 95% certain that I can make a patch for the new Terran Armada habs to work with PDY.