Cool! Off the top of my head, here's the definitions you'll need to add the custom weapon:
/* Research tech for your custom laser rifle */
tech rs_weapon_custom_laserrifle
{
type "weapon"
up_chapter equipment
description {
default "*msgid:custom_laserrifle_txt"
}
pre_description {
default "*msgid:custom_laserrifle_pre_txt"
}
mail_pre
{
from "*msgid:mail_from_paul_navarre"
to "*msgid:mail_to_base_commander"
// subject defined by "name" (which in turn is parsed from weapon*.ufo files)
icon "icons/mail_tech"
}
mail
{
from "*msgid:mail_from_paul_navarre"
to "*msgid:mail_to_base_commander"
// subject defined by "name"
icon "icons/mail_tech"
}
require_AND
{
tech rs_laser
tech rs_skill_assault
tech rs_alien_body_armour
}
provides custom_laserrifle
time 2000
producetime 50
}
/* Research tech for your custom laser ammo */
tech rs_weapon_laserammo
{
type "weapon"
up_chapter equipment
description {
default "*msgid:custom_laser_ammo_txt"
}
pre_description {
default "*msgid:custom_laser_ammo_pre_txt"
}
mail_pre
{
from "*msgid:mail_from_paul_navarre"
to "*msgid:mail_to_base_commander"
// subject defined by "name" (which in turn is parsed from weapon*.ufo files)
icon "icons/mail_tech"
}
mail
{
from "*msgid:mail_from_paul_navarre"
to "*msgid:mail_to_base_commander"
// subject defined by "name"
icon "icons/mail_tech"
}
require_AND
{
tech rs_laser
tech rs_damage_laser
tech rs_alien_body_armour
}
provides custom_laser_ammo
time 750
producetime 15
}
/* Equipment definition for custom laser rifle */
item custom_laserrifle
{
name "_Custom Laser Rifle"
model "weapons/custom_laserrifle/custom_laserrifle"
weapon true
type "rifle"
animationindex 1
holdtwohanded false
firetwohanded true
shape "0 0 5 1"
shape "0 1 4 1"
center "4.5 0 .5"
scale 1.26
ammo 28
reload 14
reloadsound "weapons/reload-rifle"
price 2500
size 35
is_primary true
weight 2.5
}
/* Equipment definition for custom laser ammo */
item custom_laser_ammo
{
name "_Custom D-F Cartridge"
model "weapons/custom_laserrifle/custom_laserrifle_clip"
type "ammo"
animationindex 0
shape "0 0 1 2"
center "0 0 0"
scale 1.8
price 210
size 7
is_primary true
dmgtype "laser"
weight 0.3
weapon_mod
{
weapon custom_laserrifle
firedef
{
name "_Wave Fire"
skill "assault"
projtl laserBeam
impact laserImpact
hitbody laserImpact
firesnd "weapons/laser-medium"
impsnd "impact/laser-impact"
bodysnd "impact/laser-bodyimpact"
speed 0
spread "0.8 0.8"
crouch 0.85
range 200
shots 1
ammo 2
time 8
damage "62 10"
dmgweight "laser_medium"
reaction true
}
firedef
{
name "_Pulsed Fire"
skill "assault"
projtl laserBeam
impact laserImpact
hitbody laserImpact
firesnd "weapons/laser-medium"
impsnd "impact/laser-impact"
bodysnd "impact/laser-bodyimpact"
delaybetweenshots 6
speed 0
spread "0.9 0.9"
crouch 0.85
range 200
shots 3
ammo 6
time 12
damage "62 10"
dmgweight "laser_medium"
reaction true
}
}
}
/* Research texts for custom laser rifle and ammo */
msgid custom_laserrifle_pre_txt {
text "_Enter your pre-research text here"
}
msgid custom_laserrifle_txt {
text "_Enter your post-research text here"
}
msgid custom_laser_ammo_pre_txt {
text "_Enter your pre-research text here"
}
msgid custom_laser_ammo_txt {
text "_Enter your post-research text here"
}
You should be able to save this as a yourfile.ufo file, add it to your /mods/yourmod/ufos/ folder and load the mod in game. If you're still on 2.4, though, you'll have to add this file to /base/ufos/yourfile.ufo. It's possible that it won't work as one combined file, in which case the tech entries should go in base/ufos/research.ufo, the item entries in base/ufos/weapons_laser.ufo and the msgids in /base/ufos/msgids/weapons.ufo.