Before you start, make sure you have the following:
: A powerful, long-standing character editor. You can open your file, click the "eye" icon
: The most popular tool for managing Starbound mods is the SMAPI (Stardew Modding API) or, more specifically for Starbound, the Starbound Mod Manager. These tools make it easy to install, update, and manage mods.
Starbound does not natively allow players to change a character’s species, hair, clothing colors, or body type after character creation. Third-party mods circumvent this limitation using scripted commands, item-based triggers, or database edits. This report explains the technical and gameplay mechanisms behind these mods.
Before you can start changing your character's appearance with mods, you'll need to set up a modding environment. Here's a basic guide to get you started: starbound change character appearance mod work
This leaves players asking one question: Does a Starbound change character appearance mod actually work?
If an appearance mod is broken, you will see a line like: [Error] Application: exception thrown, caught: [AssetException] Could not locate asset /humanoid/human/hair/customhair1.png
Appearance Change Items (Add-on Mods)Several smaller mods introduce specific "Barber Chairs" or "DNA Modification Stations" as craftable furniture. Once placed, these stations open a menu that mimics the character creation screen.Pros: High immersion; feels like part of the game.Cons: Can sometimes be buggy if you are using custom races (like the Avali or Elduukhar).
Starbound is a massive universe where you can be anything from a robotic glitch to a sentient plant. But after fifty hours of gameplay, you might realize that the neon-green mohawk you chose at the start wasn't your best decision. Unlike many modern RPGs, Starbound does not include a built-in "magic mirror" or barbershop to change your looks after the initial character creation screen. Before you start, make sure you have the
A third-party external save editor that lets you change almost anything about your character, including species, colors, and hairstyles.
If you prefer not to install engine-level mods like StarExtensions, you can manually edit your character's save file. This involves converting your binary
This file defines the character's appearance. You will need to replace the model , textures , and animations fields with your own custom assets.
This provides a more immersive way to change your look by creating a specialized workbench for character appearance adjustments, rather than just opening the character creation screen. How to Install Appearance Mods (Steam Workshop) Starbound does not natively allow players to change
Without installing external tools or mods, , you cannot change your character's race, gender, or base appearance (hair/color) once you have left the creation screen. You can only change the clothing your character wears.
Go to your Starbound folder ( storage/player ) and find the .player files for both your old and new characters.
If you prefer not to use external software, you can manually edit your .player files using and the game's built-in utilities . Simple Extended Character Creation 2.0 - Steam Community
Appearance mods often fail because two mods are trying to edit the same file (e.g., humanoid.config ).