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 # HelloModdingWorld
 
-Shell project for Gamecraft mods
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+Shell project for Gamecraft mods.
+Use this as a quick-start project structure for your own mods, or to learn how modding works.
+
+## Setup
+
+This project requires most of Gamecraft's `.dll` files to function correctly. 
+Most, but not all, of these files are stored in Gamecraft's `Gamecraft_Data\Managed` folder. 
+The project is pre-configured to look in a folder called ref in the solution's main directory or one level up from that. 
+
+You can make sure HelloModdingWorld can find all of `.dll` files it needs by copying your Gamecraft folder here and renaming it to `ref`, but you'll have to re-copy it after every Gamecraft update. 
+You can also create a symbolic link (look it up) to your Gamecraft install folder named `ref` in this folder to avoid having to re-copy files. 
+
+For any mod to work, you will have to patch your game with [GCIPA](https://git.exmods.org/modtainers/GCIPA). 
+[Direct link to install guide](https://git.exmods.org/modtainers/GCIPA/src/branch/master/README.md#how-to-install). 
+!!Download a release from git.exmods.org not github.com!! 
+
+This project also requires the [GamecraftModdingAPI](https://git.exmods.org/modtainers/GamecraftModdingAPI) library to be installed (in `ref/Plugins/GamecraftModdingAPI.dll`). 
+[Direct link to install guide](https://www.exmods.org/guides/install.html).
+
+## Building
+
+After you've completed the setup, open the solution file `HelloModdingWorld.sln` in your prefered C# .NET/Mono development environment. 
+I'd recommend Visual Studio Community Edition or JetBrains Rider for Windows and Monodevelop for Linux. 
+
+If you've successfully completed setup, you should be able to build the HelloModdingWorld project without errors. 
+If it doesn't work and you can't figure out why, ask for help on [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/xjnFxQV). 
+
+## Installation
+
+To install the HelloModdingWorld mod, copy the build's `HelloModdingWorld.dll` into the `Plugins` folder in Gamecraft's main folder.