Character (RoRbot) is now a mod type (select in Settings UI).

The usage is equivalent to other mods: a ZIP/directory under 'ROR_HOMEDIR/mods' containing a '*.character' file.
To select character, open Settings UI, go to Gameplay tab, scroll to "Player character:" at the bottom and press "Select" button - the standard Selector UI will appear.
Character is always loaded with terrain. If the character fails to load, a "Cannot load terrain" messagebox appears and user remains in main menu.

The classic character resources were deleted from /resources and will be added to /content (a Git submodule).

source/main/Application.cpp

@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ CVar* sim_no_self_collisions;
 CVar* sim_gearbox_mode;
 CVar* sim_soft_reset_mode;
 CVar* sim_quickload_dialog;
+CVar* sim_player_character;
 
 // Multiplayer
 CVar* mp_state;

source/main/Application.h

@@ -243,6 +243,7 @@ enum VisibilityMasks
 enum LoaderType //!< Operation mode for GUI::MainSelector
 {
     LT_None,
+    LT_Character, // No script alias, invoked from Settings UI.
     LT_Terrain,   // Invocable from GUI; No script alias, used in main menu
     LT_Vehicle,   // Script "vehicle",   ext: truck car
     LT_Truck,     // Script "truck",     ext: truck car
@@ -294,6 +295,7 @@ extern CVar* sim_no_self_collisions;
 extern CVar* sim_gearbox_mode;
 extern CVar* sim_soft_reset_mode;
 extern CVar* sim_quickload_dialog;
+extern CVar* sim_player_character;
 
 // Multiplayer
 extern CVar* mp_state;

source/main/GameContext.cpp

@@ -693,10 +693,17 @@ void GameContext::OnLoaderGuiApply(LoaderType type, CacheEntry* entry, std::stri
 // --------------------------------
 // Characters
 
-void GameContext::CreatePlayerCharacter()
+bool GameContext::CreatePlayerCharacter()
 {
     m_character_factory.CreateLocalCharacter();
 
+    if (!this->GetPlayerCharacter())
+    {
+        App::GetGuiManager()->ShowMessageBox(_L("Terrain loading error"),
+            "Failed to create player character, see console or 'RoR.log' for more info.");
+        return false;
+    }
+
     // Adjust character position
     Ogre::Vector3 spawn_pos = App::GetSimTerrain()->getSpawnPos();
     float spawn_rot = 0.0f;
@@ -744,6 +751,8 @@ void GameContext::CreatePlayerCharacter()
     {
         App::GetCameraManager()->UpdateInputEvents(0.02f);
     }
+
+    return true;
 }
 
 Character* GameContext::GetPlayerCharacter() // Convenience ~ counterpart of `GetPlayerActor()`

source/main/GameContext.h

@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ class GameContext
     /// @name Characters
     /// @{ 
 
-    void                CreatePlayerCharacter(); //!< Terrain must be loaded
+    bool                CreatePlayerCharacter(); //!< Terrain must be loaded
     Character*          GetPlayerCharacter();
     CharacterFactory*   GetCharacterFactory() { return &m_character_factory; }
 

source/main/gameplay/CharacterFactory.cpp

@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@
 #include "CharacterFactory.h"
 
 #include "Application.h"
+#include "CacheSystem.h"
 #include "Character.h"
+#include "Console.h"
 #include "GfxScene.h"
 #include "Utils.h"
 
@@ -32,6 +34,26 @@ CharacterFactory::CharacterFactory()
 {
 }
 
+CharacterDocumentPtr CharacterFactory::FetchCharacterDef(CacheEntry* cache_entry)
+{
+    if (!cache_entry->character_def)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            Ogre::DataStreamPtr datastream = Ogre::ResourceGroupManager::getSingleton().openResource(cache_entry->fname, cache_entry->resource_group);
+            CharacterParser character_parser;
+            cache_entry->character_def = character_parser.ProcessOgreStream(datastream);
+        }
+        catch (Ogre::Exception& eeh)
+        {
+            App::GetConsole()->putMessage(Console::CONSOLE_MSGTYPE_INFO, Console::CONSOLE_SYSTEM_ERROR,
+                fmt::format("Could not load character, message: {}", eeh.getFullDescription()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    return cache_entry->character_def;
+}
+
 Character* CharacterFactory::CreateLocalCharacter()
 {
     int colourNum = -1;
@@ -46,7 +68,21 @@ Character* CharacterFactory::CreateLocalCharacter()
     }
 #endif // USE_SOCKETW
 
-    m_local_character = std::unique_ptr<Character>(new Character(m_character_defs[0], -1, 0, playerName, colourNum, false));
+    CacheEntry* cache_entry = App::GetCacheSystem()->FindEntryByFilename(LT_Character, /*partial:*/false, App::sim_player_character->getStr());
+    if (!cache_entry)
+    {
+        App::GetConsole()->putMessage(Console::CONSOLE_MSGTYPE_INFO, Console::CONSOLE_SYSTEM_ERROR,
+            fmt::format("Could not find character '{}' in mod cache.", App::sim_player_character->getStr()));
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+
+    CharacterDocumentPtr document = this->FetchCharacterDef(cache_entry);
+    if (!document)
+    {
+        return nullptr; // Error already reported
+    }
+
+    m_local_character = std::unique_ptr<Character>(new Character(document, -1, 0, playerName, colourNum, false));
     App::GetGfxScene()->RegisterGfxCharacter(m_local_character.get());
     return m_local_character.get();
 }
@@ -59,9 +95,29 @@ void CharacterFactory::createRemoteInstance(int sourceid, int streamid)
     int colour = info.colournum;
     Ogre::UTFString name = tryConvertUTF(info.username);
 
-    LOG(" new character for " + TOSTRING(sourceid) + ":" + TOSTRING(streamid) + ", colour: " + TOSTRING(colour));
+    std::string info_str = fmt::format("player '{}' ({}:{}), colour: {}", info.clientname, sourceid, streamid, colour);
+
+    LOG(" new character for " + info_str);
+
+    std::string filename = App::sim_player_character->getStr(); // TBD: transmit and use the actual character used by the player
+
+    CacheEntry* cache_entry = App::GetCacheSystem()->FindEntryByFilename(LT_Character, /*partial:*/false, filename);
+    if (!cache_entry)
+    {
+        App::GetConsole()->putMessage(Console::CONSOLE_MSGTYPE_INFO, Console::CONSOLE_SYSTEM_ERROR,
+            fmt::format("Could not create character for {} - character '{}' not found in mod cache.", info_str, filename));
+        return;
+    }
+
+    CharacterDocumentPtr document = this->FetchCharacterDef(cache_entry);
+    if (!document)
+    {
+        App::GetConsole()->putMessage(Console::CONSOLE_MSGTYPE_INFO, Console::CONSOLE_SYSTEM_ERROR,
+            fmt::format("Could not create character for {} - cannot load file '{}'.", info_str, cache_entry->fname));
+        return;
+    }
 
-    Character* ch = new Character(m_character_defs[0], sourceid, streamid, name, colour, true);
+    Character* ch = new Character(document, sourceid, streamid, name, colour, true);
     App::GetGfxScene()->RegisterGfxCharacter(ch);
     m_remote_characters.push_back(std::unique_ptr<Character>(ch));
 #endif // USE_SOCKETW

source/main/gameplay/CharacterFactory.h

@@ -46,15 +46,13 @@ class CharacterFactory
     void DeleteAllCharacters();
     void UndoRemoteActorCoupling(Actor* actor);
     void Update(float dt);
-    void DefineCharacter(CharacterDocumentPtr doc) { m_character_defs.push_back(doc); }
+    CharacterDocumentPtr FetchCharacterDef(CacheEntry* cache_entry);
 #ifdef USE_SOCKETW
     void handleStreamData(std::vector<RoR::NetRecvPacket> packet);
 #endif // USE_SOCKETW
 
 private:
 
-    std::vector<CharacterDocumentPtr>            m_character_defs;
-
     std::unique_ptr<Character>              m_local_character;
     std::vector<std::unique_ptr<Character>> m_remote_characters;
 

source/main/gui/panels/GUI_GameSettings.cpp

@@ -264,6 +264,17 @@ void GameSettings::DrawGameplaySettings()
     DrawGCheckbox(App::io_discord_rpc, _LC("GameSettings", "Discord Rich Presence"));
 
     DrawGCheckbox(App::sim_quickload_dialog, _LC("GameSettings", "Show confirm. UI dialog for quickload"));
+
+    // Character
+    ImGui::TextDisabled("%s:", _LC("GameSettings", "Player character"));
+    ImGui::SameLine();
+    ImGui::Text("%s", App::sim_player_character->getStr().c_str());
+    ImGui::SameLine();
+    if (ImGui::Button(_LC("GameSettings", "Select")))
+    {
+        LoaderType* payload = new LoaderType(LoaderType::LT_Character);
+        App::GetGameContext()->PushMessage(Message(MSG_GUI_OPEN_SELECTOR_REQUESTED, (void*)payload));
+    }
 }
 
 void GameSettings::DrawAudioSettings()

source/main/gui/panels/GUI_MainSelector.cpp

@@ -582,28 +582,46 @@ void MainSelector::Apply()
     ROR_ASSERT(m_selected_entry > -1); // Programmer error
     DisplayEntry& sd_entry = m_display_entries[m_selected_entry];
 
-    if (m_loader_type == LT_Terrain &&
-        App::app_state->getEnum<AppState>() == AppState::MAIN_MENU)
-    {
-        App::GetGameContext()->PushMessage(Message(MSG_SIM_LOAD_TERRN_REQUESTED, sd_entry.sde_entry->fname));
-        this->Close();
-    }
-    else if (App::app_state->getEnum<AppState>() == AppState::SIMULATION)
-    {
-        LoaderType type = m_loader_type;
-        std::string sectionconfig;
-        if (sd_entry.sde_entry->sectionconfigs.size() > 0)
+    switch (m_loader_type)
+    {
+    case LT_Character: // Invoked by Settings UI button
+        App::sim_player_character->setStr(sd_entry.sde_entry->fname);
+        this->Close();
+        break;
+
+    case LT_Terrain: // Invoked by Main menu button
+        if (App::app_state->getEnum<AppState>() == AppState::MAIN_MENU)
         {
-            sectionconfig = sd_entry.sde_entry->sectionconfigs[m_selected_sectionconfig];
-        }
-        this->Close();
+            App::GetGameContext()->PushMessage(Message(MSG_SIM_LOAD_TERRN_REQUESTED, sd_entry.sde_entry->fname));
+            this->Close();
+        }
+        break;
 
-        if (m_loader_type == LT_Skin && sd_entry.sde_entry == &m_dummy_skin)
+    default: // Vehicle in simulation (Invoked by: top menubar, hotkey, or spawner)
+        if (App::app_state->getEnum<AppState>() == AppState::SIMULATION)
         {
-            sd_entry.sde_entry = nullptr;
-        }
+            // Make a copy because `Close()` will reset it.
+            LoaderType orig_loader_type = m_loader_type;
 
-        App::GetGameContext()->OnLoaderGuiApply(type, sd_entry.sde_entry, sectionconfig);
+            // If no config was selected, use the first one.
+            std::string sectionconfig;
+            if (sd_entry.sde_entry->sectionconfigs.size() > 0)
+            {
+                sectionconfig = sd_entry.sde_entry->sectionconfigs[m_selected_sectionconfig];
+            }
+
+            // Close the UI so that GameContext can reopen it if needed (used for skins)
+            this->Close();
+
+            // If the dummy item was selected, clear the selection.
+            if (orig_loader_type == LT_Skin && sd_entry.sde_entry == &m_dummy_skin)
+            {
+                sd_entry.sde_entry = nullptr;
+            }
+
+            App::GetGameContext()->OnLoaderGuiApply(orig_loader_type, sd_entry.sde_entry, sectionconfig);
+        }
+        break;
     }
 }
 

source/main/main.cpp

@@ -220,20 +220,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             App::GetGameContext()->PushMessage(Message(MSG_APP_MODCACHE_LOAD_REQUESTED));
         }
 
-        // Load classic character
-        try
-        {
-            Ogre::DataStreamPtr stream = Ogre::ResourceGroupManager::getSingleton().openResource("classic.character");
-            CharacterParser character_parser;
-            App::GetGameContext()->GetCharacterFactory()->DefineCharacter(
-                character_parser.ProcessOgreStream(stream));
-        }
-        catch (Ogre::Exception& eeh)
-        {
-            App::GetConsole()->putMessage(Console::CONSOLE_MSGTYPE_INFO, Console::CONSOLE_SYSTEM_ERROR,
-                fmt::format("error loading classic character, message:{}", eeh.getFullDescription()));
-        }
-
         // Load startup scripts (console, then RoR.cfg)
         if (App::cli_custom_scripts->getStr() != "")
         {
@@ -534,9 +520,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
                     App::GetGuiManager()->LoadingWindow.SetProgress(5, _L("Loading resources"));
                     App::GetContentManager()->LoadGameplayResources();
 
-                    if (App::GetGameContext()->LoadTerrain(m.description))
+                    if (App::GetGameContext()->LoadTerrain(m.description)
+                        && App::GetGameContext()->CreatePlayerCharacter())
                     {
-                        App::GetGameContext()->CreatePlayerCharacter();
                         // Spawn preselected vehicle; commandline has precedence
                         if (App::cli_preset_vehicle->getStr() != "")
                             App::GetGameContext()->SpawnPreselectedActor(App::cli_preset_vehicle->getStr(), App::cli_preset_veh_config->getStr()); // Needs character for position
@@ -563,8 +549,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
                         if (App::mp_state->getEnum<MpState>() == MpState::CONNECTED)
                         {
                             App::GetConsole()->putMessage(Console::CONSOLE_MSGTYPE_INFO, Console::CONSOLE_SYSTEM_NOTICE,
-                                                                  fmt::format(_LC("ChatBox", "Press {} to start chatting"),
-                                               App::GetInputEngine()->getEventCommandTrimmed(EV_COMMON_ENTER_CHATMODE)), "lightbulb.png");
+                                                                    fmt::format(_LC("ChatBox", "Press {} to start chatting"),
+                                                App::GetInputEngine()->getEventCommandTrimmed(EV_COMMON_ENTER_CHATMODE)), "lightbulb.png");
                         }
 #endif // USE_SOCKETW
                         if (App::io_outgauge_mode->getInt() > 0)
@@ -574,6 +560,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
                     }
                     else
                     {
+                        // Failed to load terrain or character - messagebox is already displayed
+                        if (App::GetSimTerrain())
+                        {
+                            delete App::GetSimTerrain();
+                            App::SetSimTerrain(nullptr);
+                        }
+
                         if (App::mp_state->getEnum<MpState>() == MpState::CONNECTED)
                         {
                             App::GetGameContext()->PushMessage(Message(MSG_NET_DISCONNECT_REQUESTED));