Subscribe to download
Shootable Switches

Starbound mod: Shootable Switches

Have you ever wished your character could shoot a switch or button to activate it? This mod provides a framework to enable shootable objects, and provides versions of some base game switches and buttons that can be triggered by being shot, without being destroyed, in addition to being triggered by the usual manual interaction or wiring.The mod provides shootable versions of the following base game switches:

• Foundry Console[starbounder.org]
• Foundry Switch[starbounder.org]
• Industrial Computer[starbounder.org]
• Boiler Valve[starbounder.org]
• Research Terminal[starbounder.org]
• Gem Switch[starbounder.org]
• Suspicious Display Armour[starbounder.org]
• Switch Lever[starbounder.org]
• Sewer Valve[starbounder.org]
• Standard Lever[starbounder.org]
• Iron Lever[starbounder.org]
• Tungsten Lever[starbounder.org]
• Small Wall Switch[starbounder.org]
• Tiny Wall Switch[starbounder.org]

Additionally, shootable versions of the following base game buttons are provided:

• Foundry Button[starbounder.org]
• Blue Base Button[starbounder.org]
• Small Wall Button[starbounder.org]
• Tiny Wall Button[starbounder.org]

Also, a shootable version of the Data Station[starbounder.org] is provided. This object is an interactive light source in the base game, but the shootable version has an output node, making it a switch-like object.The shootable versions of the objects can be differentiated from their base game equivalents by a small bullseye on the upper left of their inventory icons, as well as having their names prepended with a (+) symbol. They can be crafted in the Switch tab of the Wiring Station[starbounder.org]. The crafting of each shootable object consumes one of its non-shootable equivalent. Recipes for shootable objects are learned by picking up either the non-shootable or shootable version of the object.To shoot a switch or button, you must aim for a specific target on the object. For buttons, aim at the button. Most switches chosen for this mod have a moveable handle or lever at which you must aim. Note that the position of the target may change depending on the orientation of the switch, and depending on whether the switch is on or off. A small red polygon appears around the target part of shootable objects when in debug mode.A tileset is provided so that modders can add the shootable versions of objects directly into their dungeons using the Tiled map editor.

Who Can Shoot Shootable Switches?

Despite the name, shootable objects can be hit by any type of weapon, including melee weapons. But what types of entities can hit them?Players can hit shootable objects, obviously. Friendly NPCs and pets in the base game will not target them, but may hit them accidentally during combat. Likewise, defense turrets[starbounder.org] will not target them, but may hit them if they are between the turret and a hostile target.Hostile NPCs and monsters in the base game are generally incapable of hitting shootable objects, even accidentally.Two base game mech weapons, the swarm drone[starbounder.org] and the plasma drone[starbounder.org], will target and attack shootable objects continuously. If you prefer to play with either of these mech weapons, the Less Awful Mech Drones mod is strongly recommended.

Compatibility

This mod does not make any major changes to base game objects, other than adding recipes for the shootable versions of the objects on pickup of their base game equivalents. As such, it should have a high degree of compatibility with other mods. It is known to be compatible with Frackin Universe as of 2025-07-04.This mod provides shootable objects only for some base game switches and buttons. Mod authors are encouraged to read the modding guide[github.com] to learn how to make their own objects shootable.

Uninstallation

If this mod is uninstalled, all shootable objects will cease to exist in worlds as soon as the game attempts to load them. This will leave error messages in the starbound.log but should not cause problems. If characters had any shootable objects in their inventories, the game will crash on startup, but afterward should start up normally with characters loading onto their ships and all of their shootable objects having converted into Perfectly Generic Items.

Collaboration

If you have any questions, bug reports, or ideas for improvement, please contact me via Chucklefish Forums[community.playstarbound.com], Github[github.com], Reddit, or Discord (rl.steam). Steam users may wish to subscribe to my workshop profile for updates on this and my other mods. Also please let me know if you plan to republish this mod elsewhere, so we can maintain open lines of communication to ensure timely updates.

License

Permission to include this mod or parts thereof in derived works, to distribute copies of this mod verbatim, or to distribute modified copies of this mod, is granted unconditionally to Chucklefish LTD. Such permissions are also granted to other parties automatically, provided the following conditions are met:

• Credit is given to the author(s) specified in this mod's _metadata file;
• A link is provided to the Chucklefish Forum page[community.playstarbound.com] or the source repository[github.com] in the accompanying files or documentation of any derived work;
• The names 'Shootable Switches' and 'rl_shootableswitches' are not used as the metadata friendlyName and name, respectively, of any derived mod without explicit consent of the author(s); however, the name may be used in verbatim distribution of this mod. For the purposes of this clause, minimal changes to metadata files to allow distribution on Steam shall be considered a verbatim distribution so long as authorship attribution remains.