Chapter 8.11: Creating Custom Clothing

Home | << Previous: Creating a Custom Vehicle | Creating Custom Clothing | Next: Building a Trading System >>

---

Summary: This tutorial walks you through creating a custom tactical jacket for DayZ. You will choose a base class, define the clothing in config.cpp with insulation and cargo properties, retexture it with a camo pattern using hidden selections, add localization and spawning, and optionally extend it with scripted behavior. By the end, you will have a wearable jacket that keeps players warm, holds items, and spawns in the world.

---

Table of Contents

• What We Are Building
• Step 1: Choose a Base Class
• Step 2: config.cpp for Clothing
• Step 3: Create Textures
• Step 4: Add Cargo Space
• Step 5: Localization and Spawning
• Step 6: Script Behavior (Optional)
• Step 7: Build, Test, Polish
• Complete Code Reference
• Common Mistakes
• Best Practices
• Theory vs Practice
• What You Learned

---

What We Are Building

We will create a Tactical Camo Jacket -- a military-style jacket with woodland camouflage that players can find and wear. It will:

• Extend the vanilla Gorka jacket model (no 3D modeling required)
• Have a custom camo retexture using hidden selections
• Provide warmth through heatIsolation values
• Carry items in its pockets (cargo space)
• Take damage with visual degradation across health states
• Spawn at military locations in the world

Prerequisites: A working mod structure (complete Chapter 8.1 and Chapter 8.2 first), a text editor, DayZ Tools installed (for TexView2), and an image editor for creating camo textures.

---

Step 1: Choose a Base Class

Clothing in DayZ inherits from Clothing_Base, but you almost never extend that directly. DayZ provides intermediate base classes for each body slot:

Base Class	Body Slot	Examples
Top_Base	Body (torso)	Jackets, shirts, hoodies
Pants_Base	Legs	Jeans, cargo pants
Shoes_Base	Feet	Boots, sneakers
HeadGear_Base	Head	Helmets, hats
Mask_Base	Face	Gas masks, balaclavas
Gloves_Base	Hands	Tactical gloves
Vest_Base	Vest slot	Plate carriers, chest rigs
Glasses_Base	Eyewear	Sunglasses
Backpack_Base	Back	Backpacks, bags

The full inheritance chain is: Clothing_Base -> Clothing -> Top_Base -> GorkaEJacket_ColorBase -> YourJacket

Why Extend an Existing Vanilla Item

You can extend at different levels:

1. Extend a specific item (like GorkaEJacket_ColorBase) -- easiest. You inherit the model, animations, slot, and all properties. Only change textures and tweak values. This is what Bohemia's Test_ClothingRetexture sample does.
2. Extend a slot base (like Top_Base) -- clean starting point, but you must specify a model and all properties.
3. Extend Clothing directly -- only for completely custom slot behavior. Rarely needed.

For our tactical jacket, we will extend GorkaEJacket_ColorBase. Looking at the vanilla script:

class GorkaEJacket_ColorBase extends Top_Base
{
    override void SetActions()
    {
        super.SetActions();
        AddAction(ActionWringClothes);
    }
};
class GorkaEJacket_Summer extends GorkaEJacket_ColorBase {};
class GorkaEJacket_Flat extends GorkaEJacket_ColorBase {};

Notice the pattern: a _ColorBase class handles shared behavior, and individual color variants extend it with no additional code. Their config.cpp entries provide different textures. We will follow the same pattern.

To find base classes, look in scripts/4_world/entities/itembase/clothing_base.c (defines all slot bases) and scripts/4_world/entities/itembase/clothing/ (one file per clothing family).

---

Step 2: config.cpp for Clothing

Create MyClothingMod/Data/config.cpp:

class CfgPatches
{
    class MyClothingMod_Data
    {
        units[] = { "MCM_TacticalJacket_Woodland" };
        weapons[] = {};
        requiredVersion = 0.1;
        requiredAddons[] = { "DZ_Data", "DZ_Characters_Tops" };
    };
};

class CfgVehicles
{
    class GorkaEJacket_ColorBase;

    class MCM_TacticalJacket_ColorBase : GorkaEJacket_ColorBase
    {
        scope = 0;
        displayName = "";
        descriptionShort = "";

        weight = 1800;
        itemSize[] = { 3, 4 };
        absorbency = 0.3;
        heatIsolation = 0.8;
        visibilityModifier = 0.7;

        repairableWithKits[] = { 5, 2 };
        repairCosts[] = { 30.0, 25.0 };

        class DamageSystem
        {
            class GlobalHealth
            {
                class Health
                {
                    hitpoints = 200;
                    healthLevels[] =
                    {
                        { 1.0,  { "DZ\characters\tops\Data\GorkaUpper.rvmat" } },
                        { 0.70, { "DZ\characters\tops\Data\GorkaUpper.rvmat" } },
                        { 0.50, { "DZ\characters\tops\Data\GorkaUpper_damage.rvmat" } },
                        { 0.30, { "DZ\characters\tops\Data\GorkaUpper_damage.rvmat" } },
                        { 0.01, { "DZ\characters\tops\Data\GorkaUpper_destruct.rvmat" } }
                    };
                };
            };
            class GlobalArmor
            {
                class Melee
                {
                    class Health    { damage = 0.8; };
                    class Blood     { damage = 0.8; };
                    class Shock     { damage = 0.8; };
                };
                class Infected
                {
                    class Health    { damage = 0.8; };
                    class Blood     { damage = 0.8; };
                    class Shock     { damage = 0.8; };
                };
            };
        };

        class EnvironmentWetnessIncrements
        {
            class Soaking
            {
                rain = 0.015;
                water = 0.1;
            };
            class Drying
            {
                playerHeat = -0.08;
                fireBarrel = -0.25;
                wringing = -0.15;
            };
        };
    };

    class MCM_TacticalJacket_Woodland : MCM_TacticalJacket_ColorBase
    {
        scope = 2;
        displayName = "$STR_MCM_TacticalJacket_Woodland";
        descriptionShort = "$STR_MCM_TacticalJacket_Woodland_Desc";
        hiddenSelectionsTextures[] =
        {
            "MyClothingMod\Data\Textures\tactical_jacket_g_woodland_co.paa",
            "MyClothingMod\Data\Textures\tactical_jacket_woodland_co.paa",
            "MyClothingMod\Data\Textures\tactical_jacket_woodland_co.paa"
        };
    };
};

Clothing-Specific Fields Explained

Thermal and stealth:

Field	Value	Explanation
heatIsolation	0.8	Warmth provided (0.0-1.0 range). The engine multiplies this by health and wetness factors. A pristine dry jacket gives full warmth; a ruined, soaked one gives almost none.
visibilityModifier	0.7	Player visibility to AI (lower = harder to detect).
absorbency	0.3	Water absorption (0 = waterproof, 1 = sponge). Lower is better for rain resistance.

Vanilla heatIsolation reference: T-shirt 0.2, Hoodie 0.5, Gorka Jacket 0.7, Field Jacket 0.8, Wool Coat 0.9.

Repair: repairableWithKits[] = { 5, 2 } lists kit types (5=Sewing Kit, 2=Leather Sewing Kit). repairCosts[] gives material consumed per repair, in matching order.

Armor: A damage value of 0.8 means the player receives 80% of incoming damage (20% absorbed). Lower values = more protection.

Wetness: Soaking controls how fast rain/water soaks the item. Drying negative values represent moisture loss from body heat, fires, and wringing.

Hidden selections: The Gorka model has 3 selections -- index 0 is the ground model, indices 1 and 2 are the worn model. You override hiddenSelectionsTextures[] with your custom PAA paths.

Health levels: Each entry is { healthThreshold, { materialPath } }. When health drops below a threshold, the engine swaps the material. Vanilla damage rvmats add wear marks and tears.

---

Step 3: Create Textures

Finding and Creating Textures

The Gorka jacket textures live at DZ\characters\tops\data\ -- extract the gorka_upper_summer_co.paa (color), gorka_upper_nohq.paa (normal), and gorka_upper_smdi.paa (specular) from the P: drive to use as templates.

Creating the camo pattern:

1. Open the vanilla _co texture in TexView2, export as TGA/PNG
2. Paint your woodland camo in your image editor, following the UV layout
3. Keep the same dimensions (typically 2048x2048 or 1024x1024)
4. Save as TGA, convert to PAA using TexView2 (File > Save As > .paa)

Texture Types

Suffix	Purpose	Required?
_co	Main color/pattern	Yes
_nohq	Normal map (fabric detail)	No -- uses vanilla default
_smdi	Specular (shininess)	No -- uses vanilla default
_as	Alpha/surface mask	No

For a retexture, you only need _co textures. The normal and specular maps from the vanilla model continue to work.

For full material control, create .rvmat files and reference them in hiddenSelectionsMaterials[]. See Bohemia's Test_ClothingRetexture sample for working rvmat examples with damage and destruct variants.

---

Step 4: Add Cargo Space

When extending GorkaEJacket_ColorBase, you inherit its cargo grid (4x3) and inventory slot ("Body") automatically. The itemSize[] = { 3, 4 } property defines how large the jacket is when stored as loot -- NOT its cargo capacity.

Common clothing slots: "Body" (jackets), "Legs" (pants), "Feet" (boots), "Headgear" (hats), "Vest" (chest rigs), "Gloves", "Mask", "Back" (backpacks).

Some clothing accepts attachments (like Plate Carrier pouches). Add them with attachments[] = { "Shoulder", "Armband" };. For a basic jacket, the inherited cargo is sufficient.

---

Step 5: Localization and Spawning

Stringtable

Create MyClothingMod/Data/Stringtable.csv:

"Language","English","Czech","German","Russian","Polish","Hungarian","Italian","Spanish","French","Chinese","Japanese","Portuguese","ChineseSimp","Korean"
"STR_MCM_TacticalJacket_Woodland","Tactical Jacket (Woodland)","","","","","","","","","","","","",""
"STR_MCM_TacticalJacket_Woodland_Desc","A rugged tactical jacket with woodland camouflage. Provides good insulation and has multiple pockets.","","","","","","","","","","","","",""

Spawning (types.xml)

Add to your server's mission folder types.xml:

<!-- Values based on vanilla GorkaEJacket pattern from DayZServer types.xml -->
<type name="MCM_TacticalJacket_Woodland">
    <nominal>4</nominal>
    <lifetime>14400</lifetime>
    <restock>600</restock>
    <min>2</min>
    <quantmin>-1</quantmin>
    <quantmax>-1</quantmax>
    <cost>100</cost>
    <flags count_in_cargo="0" count_in_hoarder="0" count_in_map="1" count_in_player="0" crafted="0" deloot="0" />
    <category name="clothes" />
    <usage name="Military" />
    <value name="Tier2" />
    <value name="Tier3" />
</type>

Understanding the values (based on vanilla patterns):

• nominal=4 — CE tries to keep 4 in the world (vanilla military jackets use 4)
• min=2 — CE starts spawning new ones when count drops below 2
• restock=600 — CE checks every 10 minutes if more are needed
• lifetime=14400 — items on the ground despawn after 4 hours
• count_in_map=1 — counts items on the ground toward the nominal
• count_in_player=0 — items worn by players do NOT count (so more spawn)

Tip: Check vanilla types.xml in your server's mission folder to see real values for similar items. For example, GorkaEJacket_Autumn uses nominal=4, restock=600, lifetime=14400.

Use category name="clothes" for all clothing. Set usage to match where the item should spawn (Military, Town, Police, etc.) and value for the map tier (Tier1=coast through Tier4=deep inland).

---

Step 6: Script Behavior (Optional)

For a simple retexture, you do not need scripts. But to add behavior when the jacket is worn, create a script class.

Scripts config.cpp

class CfgPatches
{
    class MyClothingMod_Scripts
    {
        units[] = {};
        weapons[] = {};
        requiredVersion = 0.1;
        requiredAddons[] = { "DZ_Data", "DZ_Characters_Tops" };
    };
};

class CfgMods
{
    class MyClothingMod
    {
        dir = "MyClothingMod";
        name = "My Clothing Mod";
        author = "YourName";
        type = "mod";
        dependencies[] = { "World" };
        class defs
        {
            class worldScriptModule
            {
                value = "";
                files[] = { "MyClothingMod/Scripts/4_World" };
            };
        };
    };
};

Custom Jacket Script

Create Scripts/4_World/MyClothingMod/MCM_TacticalJacket.c:

class MCM_TacticalJacket_ColorBase extends GorkaEJacket_ColorBase
{
    override void OnWasAttached(EntityAI parent, int slot_id)
    {
        super.OnWasAttached(parent, slot_id);
        PlayerBase player = PlayerBase.Cast(parent);
        if (player)
        {
            Print("[MyClothingMod] Player equipped Tactical Jacket");
        }
    }

    override void OnWasDetached(EntityAI parent, int slot_id)
    {
        super.OnWasDetached(parent, slot_id);
        PlayerBase player = PlayerBase.Cast(parent);
        if (player)
        {
            Print("[MyClothingMod] Player removed Tactical Jacket");
        }
    }

    override void SetActions()
    {
        super.SetActions();
        AddAction(ActionWringClothes);
    }
};

Key Clothing Events

Event	When It Fires	Common Use
OnWasAttached(parent, slot_id)	Player equips the item	Apply buffs, show effects
OnWasDetached(parent, slot_id)	Player unequips the item	Remove buffs, clean up
EEItemAttached(item, slot_name)	Item attached to this clothing	Show/hide model selections
EEItemDetached(item, slot_name)	Item detached from this clothing	Reverse visual changes
EEHealthLevelChanged(old, new, zone)	Health crosses a threshold	Update visual state

Important: Always call super at the start of every override. The parent class handles critical engine behavior.

---

Step 7: Build, Test, Polish

Build and Spawn

Pack Data/ and Scripts/ as separate PBOs. Launch DayZ with your mod and spawn the jacket:

GetGame().GetPlayer().GetInventory().CreateInInventory("MCM_TacticalJacket_Woodland");

Verification Checklist

1. Does it appear in inventory? If not, check scope=2 and class name match.
2. Correct texture? Default Gorka texture = wrong paths. White/pink = missing texture file.
3. Can you equip it? Should go to Body slot. If not, check the parent class chain.
4. Display name shows? If you see raw $STR_ text, the stringtable is not loading.
5. Provides warmth? Check heatIsolation in the debug/inspect menu.
6. Damage degrades visuals? Test with: ItemBase.Cast(GetGame().GetPlayer().GetItemOnSlot("Body")).SetHealth("", "", 40);

Adding Color Variants

Follow the _ColorBase pattern -- add sibling classes that only differ in textures:

class MCM_TacticalJacket_Desert : MCM_TacticalJacket_ColorBase
{
    scope = 2;
    displayName = "$STR_MCM_TacticalJacket_Desert";
    descriptionShort = "$STR_MCM_TacticalJacket_Desert_Desc";
    hiddenSelectionsTextures[] =
    {
        "MyClothingMod\Data\Textures\tactical_jacket_g_desert_co.paa",
        "MyClothingMod\Data\Textures\tactical_jacket_desert_co.paa",
        "MyClothingMod\Data\Textures\tactical_jacket_desert_co.paa"
    };
};

Each variant needs its own scope=2, display name, textures, stringtable entries, and types.xml entry.

---

Complete Code Reference

Directory Structure

MyClothingMod/
    mod.cpp
    Data/
        config.cpp              <-- Item definitions (see Step 2)
        Stringtable.csv         <-- Display names (see Step 5)
        Textures/
            tactical_jacket_woodland_co.paa
            tactical_jacket_g_woodland_co.paa
    Scripts/                    <-- Only needed for script behavior
        config.cpp              <-- CfgMods entry (see Step 6)
        4_World/
            MyClothingMod/
                MCM_TacticalJacket.c

mod.cpp

name = "My Clothing Mod";
author = "YourName";
version = "1.0";
overview = "Adds a tactical jacket with camo variants to DayZ.";

All other files are shown in full in their respective steps above.

---

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Consequence	Fix
Forgetting scope=2 on variants	Item does not spawn or appear in admin tools	Set scope=0 on base, scope=2 on each spawnable variant
Wrong texture array count	White/pink textures on some parts	Match hiddenSelectionsTextures count to the model's hidden selections (Gorka has 3)
Forward slashes in texture paths	Textures fail to load silently	Use backslashes: "MyMod\Data\tex.paa"
Missing requiredAddons	Config parser cannot resolve parent class	Include "DZ_Characters_Tops" for tops
heatIsolation above 1.0	Player overheats in warm weather	Keep values in 0.0-1.0 range
Empty healthLevels materials	No visual damage degradation	Always reference at least vanilla rvmats
Skipping super in overrides	Broken inventory, damage, or attachment behavior	Always call super.MethodName() first

---

Best Practices

• Start with a simple retexture. Get a working mod with a texture swap before adding custom properties or scripts. This isolates config issues from texture issues.
• Use the _ColorBase pattern. Shared properties in scope=0 base, only textures and names in scope=2 variants. No duplication.
• Keep insulation values realistic. Reference vanilla items with similar real-world equivalents.
• Test with script console before types.xml. Confirm the item works before debugging spawn tables.
• Use $STR_ references for all player-facing text. Enables future localization without config changes.
• Pack Data and Scripts as separate PBOs. Update textures without rebuilding scripts.
• Provide ground textures. The _g_ texture makes dropped items look correct.

---

Theory vs Practice

Concept	Theory	Reality
heatIsolation	A simple warmth number	Effective warmth depends on health and wetness. The engine multiplies it by factors in MiscGameplayFunctions.GetCurrentItemHeatIsolation().
Armor damage values	Lower = more protection	A value of 0.8 means the player receives 80% damage (only 20% absorbed). Many modders read 0.9 as "90% protection" when it is actually 10%.
scope inheritance	Children inherit parent scope	They do NOT. Each class must explicitly set scope. Parent scope=0 defaults all children to scope=0.
absorbency	Controls rain protection	It controls moisture absorption, which REDUCES warmth. Waterproof = LOW absorbency (0.1). High absorbency (0.8+) = soaks like a sponge.
Hidden selections	Work on any model	Not all models expose the same selections. Check with Object Builder or vanilla config before choosing a base model.

---

What You Learned

In this tutorial you learned:

• How DayZ clothing inherits from slot-specific base classes (Top_Base, Pants_Base, etc.)
• How to define a clothing item in config.cpp with thermal, armor, and wetness properties
• How hidden selections allow retexturing vanilla models with custom camo patterns
• How heatIsolation, visibilityModifier, and absorbency affect gameplay
• How the DamageSystem controls visual degradation and armor protection
• How to create color variants using the _ColorBase pattern
• How to add spawn entries with types.xml and display names with Stringtable.csv
• How to optionally add script behavior with OnWasAttached and OnWasDetached events

Next: Apply the same techniques to create pants (Pants_Base), boots (Shoes_Base), or a vest (Vest_Base). The config structure is identical -- only the parent class and inventory slot change.

---

Previous: Chapter 8.8: HUD OverlayNext: Coming soon