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The BrawlEx Expansion project is a mod that allows up to a maximum of 100 characters in the roster. Moreover, it allows you to customize everything about a particular character slot simply using a set of configuration files in the SD card.
By default, BrawlEx doesn't actually change anything functional about the game. The original roster remains unchanged with their data in the exact order it is without the mod. However, BrawlEx both relocates and extends that data to make a total of 100 fighter slots, cosmetic slots, and CSS slots.
For players who are only interested in using custom characters and don't want to deal with configuring individual characters, skip to the downloads section to download Nebulon's pre-made BrawlEx package. Additional packs can be downloaded from the Packs section in the Brawl Vault
ExCharacter Slots
ExCharacter Slots are a feature of BrawlEx that provides are a convenient way of adding new characters into the game. They range from character id 0x3F up to 0x63. These slots can be added to the Character Select Screen roster using either the BrawlEx CSS Expansion or the Custom CSS v3 code created by Spunit. By default, the ExSlots are empty meaning that if you try to load them from the CSS the game will crash. However, These slots may be easily configured by using BrawlEx' config loader.
Config File Specification
BrawlEx supports 4 types of config files for customizing character slots. Each config file is numbered according to which slot is modified. If a config file is not found, the slot will not be modified. Paths shown in the following sections are example files for ExSlot 3F.
Fighter Config Files
(FCFG, or FITC)
Slot Config Files
(SLTC)
CSSSlot Config Files
(CSSC)
Cosmetic Config Files
(COSC)
Adding Characters Into Brawl
To add characters into the game, you will need at the very least one FighterConfig file. FighterConfig files can be created and edited using the BrawlEx Config Utility. This example will guide you through how to make a clone character of Marth. Because Marth (id 11) will be our base character, go into the Config Templates directory of the BrawlEx package and open Fighter11.dat in the FighterConfig folder. The only thing we want to change in the file is the name which we will be changing to MarthEx.
Once you have changed the name to MarthEx, save the file as Fighter3F.dat and add it into your SD card as directed in the FighterConfig section of this post. The file output shown at the bottom of the Config Utility will show you what files you need for your character as well as where to put them inside your patching directory. Once you have acquired either the original or modified Marth files and named them as directed, your copy of Marth is ready to be used.
Additionally, we will also need Slot, CSSSlot, and Cosmetic config files for our copy of Marth. As we are just copying marth, we do not need to edit these files (right now, we can only modify them with a hex editor anyways). We will be using Slot13.dat, CSSSlot11.dat, and Cosmetic10.dat from the template directory renamed to Slot3F.dat, CSSSlot3F.dat, and Cosmetic3F.dat for our Marth clone.
ExModules
ExModules are one of the resources required for adding characters into Brawl. Before being used, a character's ExModule must be configured for the slot it is going to be used in. To do this, open the module using the Module Editor 3.3 and open up Section[8] in the memory viewer. Edit the first value in the section with the id of the ExSlot that the character will be using.
It is also necessary to change the id of the module itself to avoid module reference conflicts. Each module used in the game at any time must be unique or the game will crash. Brawl already contains many modules, but module ids 0x8F and up are free for use. The module id can be changed by clicking on the root of the module tree and changing the id in the property window of the Module Editor.
Customizing the Character Select Screen
Once you have configured your character slots you will need to add them to the Character Select Screen. The BrawlEx CSS Expansion mod not only extends the maximum number of characters allowed in the roster up to 100, but it also provides a means for customizing the CSS roster. Adding a character to the roster is as simple as opening up CSSRoster.dat (provided in the BrawlEx CSS Expansion package) using the BrawlEx Config Utility and adding the CSS id of your new character to end of both lists.
Video Tutorials
Video tutorials by Sammi Husky
Channel
Regular Brawl:
Brawl Minus:
Cosmetic Data:
A Note On Config Slot Alignment
There are 4 types of config files used by BrawlEx and likewise there are 4 types of configuration data used in the game. Any one character is capable of using any combination the ids associated with this data. In the example of Marth, his default configuration is Fighter11, Slot13, CSSlot11, and Cosmetic10. For the ExSlots – that is, slot ids 0x3F up to 0x63 – this data is aligned, so a character in slot 0x3F will use 0x3F for all of their configuration ids.
This chart details the associations between config ids and characters.
Fighter Data Chart
Troubleshooting
Note: Ensure you have your mod launcher's hook method set to AxNextFrame. This fixes many of the issues new users are known to have.
New CSS Icons show up as Random and crash when highlighting them:
If an icon is shown as Random and is not intended as the regular random icon, then the icon has not been mapped by BrawlEx. This could mean that BrawlEx is not running. Ensure that both the Module/bx_fighter.rel and System/Common2.pac files included in the BrawlEx package are in your patching directory.
Icons periodically switch between proper icons and crashing Random icons between startups.
If you are using GeckoOS or USBLoader GX and BrawlEx periodically fails to start, go into ensure that you have your launcher's hook method to AXNextFrame.
New CSS Icons show up as Mario and crash when starting a match with them selected:
If an icon shows up as Mario when it is not intended to, then the character slot has not been configured. This could mean that the wrong id has been assigned to the CSS Icon or the BrawlEx config files have been improperly named. Non-configured ExSlots will try to load resources of the pattern Fighter<id>Ex.pac by default. As those files do not exist in the game, they are intended to crash if used.
New CSS Icons show up properly, but immediately crash when selected:
If an icon crashes immediately when selecting it, then the module used for that character is corrupt. Redownload the module and try again.
New CSS Icons show as Mario, but properly load the desired character when used in a match:
In general, cosmetic data for ExSlots default to Mario for compatibility purposes. An icon showing up as Mario means that the cosmetic data for that css slot is not configured.
New CSS Icons show up properly, but cause a soft crash both when attempting to enter a match or leave the CSS screen after selecting them:
If the game experiences a soft crash (the game endlessly loads, and can still access the Home Menu) both when you try to enter a match or leave the CSS, then either the Fighter Configuration for the slot is missing or one of the resources for the character is missing from you patch directory. Open the Fighter config file in the BrawlEx Config utility and make sure you have all the files shown in the bottom list inside your patching directory.
New CSS Icons show up properly, but crash only when attempting to enter a match.
If the game crashes only when you try to enter a match, then it is likely you are trying to use a v1.0 ExModule with BrawlEx v1.1.0.0 or a v1.1 ExModule with BrawlEx v1.0.0.0. Try redownloading the BrawlEx package and using the latest modules.
CSS Icons show up properly, but crash when highlighting them.
If simply highlighting a CSS icon causes the game to crash, then either you have an outdated version of BX CSS Expansion's Common3.pac, or that character is missing their character portraits that they are required to show when you highlight them.
If you have an issue that you think may be caused by BrawlEx, please post a copy of your .wgc code file as well as the configuration files that you are using so that I may identify the source of the issue and/or determine if the issue is with BrawlEx or the setup being used.
Downloads
BX Clone Engine v2.0.0.0 Stable
Extends the limit on the brawl character roster up to 128 characters and allows character slots to be customized using slot configuration files. This mod allows the creation of clone characters.
BX CSS Expansion v1.0.2.0 Stable
Extends the limit on the Character Select Screen to 100 character icons. It also allows the character select screen roster to be modified using an external config file.
Nebulon's BrawlEx Pack
Project Thread
The most complete BrawlEx package available by Nebulon featuring 44 extra characters properly configured for sound effects and graphics for a total of 85 playable characters.
BrawlEx Config Utility v1.3a
A tool for editing BrawlEx Config files. Currently, it only supports Fighter Config and Roster Config files.
Module Editor 3.3
A tool for modifying module data. Necessary for configuring ExModules.
BrawlEx Clone Tool
Not compatible with the latest version of BrawlEx
A tool developed by Sammi Husky to manage the creation of clone characters. The latest version of the program can be found in his signature.
Fighter Data Chart
A chart detailing the ordering of each character's configuration data type and the ids they are associated with.
Alloy Cosmetics
Even though the Alloys have Character Select Screen Ids, they cannot be added to the CSS without first adding their missing portraits and icons into the game. This package contains all the Alloy cosmetics required to make them usable.
Bowser/GigaBowser Resources
Merged resource files necessary for cloning Bowser and Gigabowser together or Gigabowser alone.
Additional BrawlEx Versions
BX Clone Engine v1.1.3.1
The BrawlEx clone engine configured for loading config files from the DVD instead of the SD card. Mainly developed to be used with Riivolution. Currently discontinued and out of date.
BX CSS Expansion v1.0.2.2
The current stable version of the BX CSS Expansion configured to use the regular merged behavior for Zelda and Sheik's icons instead of the adjusted behavior where they are separate.
BX CSS Expansion v2.0.0.x
Unstable Build
A new release of the BrawlEx Roster Expansion. It adds the ability to load character selection portraits from the SD card. Suffers from poor load times when loading character portraits.
Known Bugs
BX Clone Engine
-Game startup time is increased by approximately 10 seconds.
-Switching the game language to Japanese no longer replaces names for certain characters at the victory screen. (e.g. Bowser -> Koopa)
-A bug in the original File Patch Code v3.5.1 may cause issues when replacing Common2.pac. It is recommended that you use the File Patch Code v3.5.1b listed in Readme.txt if you are using v3.5.1.
BX CSS Roster Expansion
-Using the BX CSS Roster Expansion will prevent Final Smash music for Luigi, Peach, and Dedede from playing.
-The ordering of the characters in the Subspace Emissary character select page is slightly broken.
-Attempting to enter co-op mode at the character select screen for Classic, All-Star or any Stadium modes will cause the game to crash.
Version History
BX Clone Engine
BX CSS Expansion
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Dantarion and his help with the project as well as the documentation resources he posted on the OpenSA website. Brawl hacking wouldn't be anywhere near where it is now without your work on OpenSA, the Brawl Documentation project, and Project M.
I would also like to thank the rest of the Brawl modding community for keeping Brawl going for these past 6 years. I look forward to seeing what everyone is capable of in the following year
