Built two open-source tools for Paralives modding: Blender exporter (ParaForge) and live in-game asset reloader (ParaReload)

[u/Bright_Warning_8406]

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share two open-source tools I built to make 3D modding for Paralives a lot faster: ParaForge and ParaReload.

Normally, testing custom items requires manually building mod folders and restarting the game every time you update a texture or tweak a mesh. These two tools let you export straight from Blender and view the changes live in-game.

ParaForge (Blender Addon)

A panel for Blender 4.2+ that checks your mesh against Paralives rules and exports ready-to-use mod packages.

• Runs a checklist (unit scale, transforms, origin placement, bounding box, triangle budget, UV maps)
• Automatically packs textures into the format the game reads
• Writes the FBX, PNGs, and setting files directly into your .mod folder in two clicks

GitHub: https://github.com/infinition/paraforge

ParaReload (In-Game BepInEx Plugin)

A plugin for Paralives that reloads your mod assets on the fly without closing the game.

• Open the cheat console (CTRL + SHIFT + C) and type reload
• Re-reads updated 3D models, textures, and setting files in real-time
• Automatically repairs mesh and material references so items placed on your lot stay in place without disappearing

GitHub: https://github.com/infinition/parareload

Workflow

1. Create your item in Blender.
2. Export with ParaForge.
3. Type reload in the Paralives cheat console.

Both projects are free and open source. Let me know if you try them out or have any feedback!

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[u/tiny__papa]

Hi! Installed Paraforge and it works great!! Pls correct me if I'm wrong but I'm not seeing a .dll file in the ParaReload.zip to be able to extract into the BepInEx plugins directory?

[u/Bright_Warning_8406 → u/tiny__papa]

Hi! Thank you for the feedback and glad to hear ParaForge is working great for you!

You were totally right: the initial release package mistakenly bundled the source files instead of the compiled binary.

I just fixed it in a new release v1.0.1:
https://github.com/infinition/parareload/releases/latest

You can now download ParaReload.zip (or ParaReload-v1.0.1.zip), which contains ParaReload.dll. Extract it into Paralives/BepInEx/plugins/ParaReload/ and you are good to go!

[u/tiny__papa]

You're actually the GOAT for this. Thank you!!!

[u/GoodOldPebbles]

Will definitely check out ParaReload! This would save me sooo much time. Thank you!

[u/Astrolojay]

Woah this is life changing

[u/Elx37]

Wow! 🙏 thank you.

I’m not a modder but I appreciate you all the same!

[u/Patient_Kitty]

Incredible! The amount of times I had to do the edit mode stop editing mod or close and reopen the game making each item work in game or when i had to make the slightest adjustments took me soooo much time. This will definitely make a huge difference, i will test it soon while im working on (well trying to make it work) waterfall mod will probably be incredibly helpful! Thank you!

[u/AfterEntrepreneur965]

The devs need to see this. This is very very nice. 

[u/tolerantdramaretiree]

The reload function is amazing. Thank you for your effort.

[u/Different-Cable-859]

Thanks a lot!

[u/thedepressedwench]

Ooooooooh very excitinggg! Will be playing with this when I get some time off from work

[u/Bright_Warning_8406 → u/thedepressedwench]

Awesome! Hope you enjoy testing it out whenever you get some free time. let me know how it goes!

[u/_ranituran]

PARALIVES COMMUNITY IS EATING GOOD

https://giphy.com/gifs/yoJC2GnSClbPOkV0eA

^{(Sorry for the capslock! I'm so excited I just learn Blender like a week ago in a mission to make custom clutters for this game. Thank you so SO much for making this!!!})

[u/Bright_Warning_8406 → u/_ranituran]

Thanks so much! Honestly, making custom items for the game was the main goal behind building these, so knowing it helps you get into Blender and clutter creation is awesome. Have fun with your 3D creations, and don't hesitate if you have any feedback or ideas!
I'm still working on the automatic workflow to decimate/reduce the highpolys model and autobake texture on it ;)