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Ravenswatch Mod ManagerRSMM Docs

Set up the modding tools

The modding tools are a program called rsmm that you use by typing commands. You need them to make mods beyond what the web editor can do, to test mods quickly, and to publish them.

Only want to play with mods? You don’t need any of this. Use the app instead.

Setting up takes about 15 minutes the first time. You’ll install two free programs (Python and Git), download RSMM’s tools, and check that everything works.

Before you start: the terminal

Section titled “Before you start: the terminal”

A terminal is a window where you type a command and press Enter, instead of clicking buttons. Every code box on this page is something to type (or paste) into it.

Press the Start button, type cmd, and open Command Prompt.

Use Command Prompt for everything on this page. PowerShell works too, but it blocks one of the steps by default (see the note in step 4).

1. Install Python

Section titled “1. Install Python”

rsmm is written in Python, so your computer needs Python 3.11 or newer.

  1. Download the latest Python from python.org/downloads.
  2. Run the installer. On the first screen, tick “Add python.exe to PATH” at the bottom. This is easy to miss and important.
  3. Click Install Now.
  4. Close any open Command Prompt windows and open a new one. Then check it worked:
    Terminal window
    python --version
    You should see something like Python 3.13.1.

2. Install Git

Section titled “2. Install Git”

Git downloads RSMM’s tools and keeps them up to date.

Download Git from git-scm.com and run the installer. The default answer on every screen is fine. Then open a new Command Prompt.

3. Download RSMM’s tools

Section titled “3. Download RSMM’s tools”

This makes a folder called RavenswatchModManager in your Documents folder and moves the terminal into it.

Terminal window
cd %USERPROFILE%\Documents
git clone https://github.com/Ovilli/RavenswatchModManager.git
cd RavenswatchModManager

cd means “change directory”, which is the terminal’s way of opening a folder.

4. Install the rsmm command

Section titled “4. Install the rsmm command”

This creates a private Python environment (a folder called .venv) so RSMM doesn’t mix with anything else on your computer, then installs rsmm into it.

Terminal window
python -m venv .venv
.venv\Scripts\activate
pip install -e .

When the environment is switched on, your terminal shows (.venv) at the start of the line.

5. Check that it works

Section titled “5. Check that it works”
Terminal window
rsmm doctor

rsmm doctor is a health check. It looks for your game and checks your setup, then prints one line per check:

  • [OK] means that part is fine.
  • [WARN] is worth reading but won’t stop you.
  • [FAIL] needs fixing. The line under it usually says how.

If it can’t find your game, tell it where Ravenswatch is. Use the folder that contains Ravenswatch.exe (in Steam: right-click Ravenswatch → Manage → Browse local files):

Terminal window
setx RSMM_GAME_DIR "D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Ravenswatch"

Then close the terminal, open a new one, and repeat the “every time” steps below.

Change the path in quotes to your own game folder.

Every time you come back

Section titled “Every time you come back”

A new terminal window starts fresh, so before using rsmm again, go back to the folder and switch the environment on:

Terminal window
cd %USERPROFILE%\Documents\RavenswatchModManager
.venv\Scripts\activate

If you see 'rsmm' is not recognized or rsmm: command not found, this is almost always the step you skipped.

Get the newest tools

Section titled “Get the newest tools”

From the RavenswatchModManager folder:

Terminal window
git pull

Script (Lua) mods

Section titled “Script (Lua) mods”

Mods that only change looks, numbers or text work as they are. Mods with a Lua script also need the loader, a small file that goes next to the game:

Terminal window
rsmm install-loader

On Linux and Steam Deck, Steam also needs a launch option to load it. Close Steam completely, then run:

Terminal window
rsmm run --set-launch-options --no-launch

A good text editor

Section titled “A good text editor”

A mod is mostly a text file called manifest.toml. Any text editor can open it, but Visual Studio Code with the Even Better TOML extension is worth it: it suggests the right names as you type and underlines mistakes before you even run the game.

Commands you’ll use most

Section titled “Commands you’ll use most”
Command What it does
rsmm new MyMod Create a new, empty mod called MyMod
rsmm editor Open the item, talent and ability editor in your browser
rsmm lint MyMod Check MyMod for mistakes
rsmm apply Put every switched-on mod into the game
rsmm run Start the game through Steam
rsmm restore --all Undo every mod and put the original files back
rsmm watch Re-apply your mods every time you save a file
rsmm doctor Check that everything is set up
rsmm --help List every command

Every command explains itself with --help, for example rsmm lint --help. The full list is in the CLI reference.

Next

Section titled “Next”
Make your first modA step-by-step walkthrough that ends with your change in the game.
TroubleshootingIf a step on this page didn't work.