How to Edit BAR Widget Files Locally
The quick path to tweaking widget code on your own machine — download the source file, drop it in the right folder, and start editing.
Download and drop
Editing a BAR widget takes about one minute once you know the folder path. Open the raw widget file on the Beyond All Reason GitHub repository, press Ctrl+S to save it directly to your computer, then drag it into data/LuaUI/Widgets/ inside your game folder. The local copy takes priority over the game's default version. No special software needed. A plain text editor handles Lua code fine.
The same process works for gui_flanking_icons.lua or any other widget sitting in the luaui/Widgets/ directory on the repository.
What you can change
Widget edits cover UI positioning, display toggles, icon sets, and information panels. A common request involves tweaking or removing specific visual lines in the flanking bonus icons widget. Open the saved .lua file, find the relevant block, and remove or modify the lines. Save, launch a game, and the widget picks up the local version automatically.
Some changes affect only the client running them. Hosted lobby behavior depends on whether the modification lives inside a widget or touches deeper game code.
Sharing modified widgets
Getting a custom widget into a multiplayer lobby with randoms takes extra steps. Peer-to-peer hosting requires distributing the modified folder manually. Running an autohost or private lobby infrastructure gives the smoothest playtesting experience for gathering feedback on widget changes. If the feature makes sense for the base game, submitting a pull request becomes the cleaner long-term path instead of manual distribution.
True mods that depend on BAR as a base game need their own mod packaging. Simple widget tweaks stay as local edits until they prove useful enough for wider release.
When to contribute upstream
Features that solve common problems for most players belong in a pull request to the core game. Things like model scaling customparams ported from similar engines help both modders and the development team with fast iteration. Cosmetic-only additions tend to stay as personal mods or widget edits without needing upstream inclusion.
Creed of Champions
Creed of Champions runs a structured BAR environment where players share knowledge freely and keep the tone constructive. Finding a group that supports learning makes the whole improvement cycle faster and less painful.
[Crd] The removal of toxicity, the goal of fun and learning, makes for a refreshing spot to play and spend time. It has also made a game with plenty of complexity a bit less daunting to dive into.