Formless Gameplay Settings Expanded

Formless Gameplay Settings Expanded adds a suite of customizable gameplay sliders designed to replace and expand upon the vanilla difficulty system.

This mod gives you precise control over combat balance, letting you scale difficulty to match your build, gear, and mod setup—without altering enemy stats directly.

In addition: there are sliders to alter space encounter chances and frequency; sliders for the maximum number of cargo links, crew stations, mannequins, robots and turrets you can build; as well as an experience-boosting slider you can use for utility or cheating if you wish.

Features

• Fully functional custom difficulty sliders
• Independent control over player and ship combat
• Adjustable space encounter frequency
• Optional experience gain multiplier
• Vanilla settings for damage remain untouched (uses multipliers only)
• Designed for compatibility with modded load orders

How It Works

• After installing the mod:
• Open the Pause Menu
• Navigate to Gameplay Settings
• Look for settings labeled:

Formless

Alternative Damage Control Sliders These sliders replace the need for vanilla difficulty settings by offering finer control and scaling rewards.

• 7 difficulty levels per slider
• Each level grants +5% XP
• Default = Vanilla Normal (100%)
• No edits to NPCs or enemies—player-side multipliers only

Player Damage Dealt

• Controls how much damage you deal on foot.
• Range: 100% → 3% (up to 97% reduction)
• Ideal for balancing high-damage weapons and modded gear
• Changes are reflected in your Inventory
• Vanilla Extreme ≈ 25% damage

Player Damage Received

• Controls how much damage you take on foot.
• Range: 100% → 800% damage taken
• Vanilla Extreme ≈ +300% damage taken

Ship Damage Dealt

• Controls how much damage your ship weapons deal.
• Range: 100% → 3%
• Visible in Ship Menu / Ship Builder
• Vanilla Extreme ≈ 25% damage
• Note: Missile shield damage may not display correctly, but functions properly in combat.

Ship Damage Received

• Controls how much damage your ship takes.
• Range: 100% → 800% damage taken
• Vanilla Extreme ≈ +300% damage taken

Space Encounter Sliders

• Control the frequency of random space encounters.
• Includes a slider that can boost all Space Encounter chance types or just Hostile Encounters
• Includes a Global Encounter slider for overall encounter frequency
• Includes a Free Lanes slider to boost the chances of all space encounter types from the update. This includes Interdictions.
• Compatible with encounter mods (e.g., DarkStar - Crossfire)

Experience Boost Slider

• An optional XP multiplier for faster progression.
• Range: 1x → 10x (up to +900%)
• Adjustable in lower increments at first
• Functions as a cheat/utility option ⚠️ Warning: Can significantly affect game balance. Back up your save before using.

Outpost Build Limit Sliders Cargo Links Limit Slider

• Allows 3 (Vanilla), 6, 9, or 12 Cargo Links. Does not change the bonus from the Outpost Engineering skill.

Crew Stations Limit Slider

• Allows 3 (Vanilla), 6, 9, 12, or 15 Crew Stations. Does not change the bonus from the Outpost Engineering skill.

Mannequins Limit Slider

• Allows 6 (Vanilla), 12, 18, or 24 Mannequins.

Robots Limit Slider

• Allows 3 (Vanilla), 6, 9, 12, or 15 Robots. Does not change the bonus from the Outpost Engineering skill.

Turrets Limit Slider

• Allows 6 (Vanilla), 12, 18, or 24 Turrets.

Milliwhale Pets & Milliwhale Bowls Slider

• Allows 1 (Vanilla) to 16 Milliwhales to be placed (from the Free Lanes update).
• Due to a limitation in Bethesda's design for Milliwhale Pets, every Milliwhale will have the same skin when you alter it's appearance.
• The slider changes your maximum available Milliwhale Pets, not the maximum per Outpost

Compatibility

• Does not modify vanilla difficulty settings
• Uses multipliers only, ensuring broad compatibility
• Works well alongside mods that increase player power