LINUX / STEAM PROTON · EXPERIMENTAL

Linux installation guide

Built on Windows. No Linux runtime test performed. B.A.R.O. upstream currently lists Windows; Proton compatibility remains unconfirmed.

Download Linux installer 1.3.5 · Download the complete text guide

Complete installation and restore instructions

THUNDER BUDDIES MOD PACKAGE 1.3.5 — LINUX / STEAM PROTON
Experimental distribution. Built on Windows; not executed or verified on Linux.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
One self-contained .run installer. No separate Workbench ZIP or payload download.
Unchanged B.A.R.O. 5.9.5, official MelonLoader 0.7.3 Windows x64 files,
Windows .NET 6 runtime files, Studio UI 5.3.6, Overwatch Sandbox 0.1.2,
Gaza test maps, Workbench 0.3 Windows build, optional Titan creator samples,
notices and documentation from the Windows package.
Titan samples are creator assets, not working combat units.

COMPATIBILITY: WHAT WE KNOW
The existing .exe installer uses Windows Forms/.NET Framework, Windows registry
Steam discovery, Windows paths and Windows shortcuts. Those are not native Linux
installation mechanisms. Running it through Wine does not guarantee it can find
the host's Linux Steam library. No Linux error log was supplied, so this is a
source-level diagnosis, not confirmation of an individual machine's failure.

MelonLoader officially documents Windows Unity games through Wine/Proton:
https://github.com/LavaGang/MelonWiki/blob/master/docs/gettingstarted.md
Use its Windows loader files for this Windows game, not a native Linux bootstrap.
The Windows .NET Desktop Runtime must be present in the game's Proton prefix.
Having a Linux dotnet runtime installed is not the same thing.

B.A.R.O.'s current public README explicitly lists Windows in its requirements:
https://github.com/tassassinno74/Broken-Arrow-Mod-Realism-Overhaul
It does not document Linux/Proton support. Proton is a plausible route, NOT a
verified compatibility claim. The DLL stays byte-for-byte unchanged.

REQUIREMENTS
Linux x86-64; Python 3.9+; an installed legitimate Steam copy of Broken Arrow;
a Steam-selected Proton compatibility tool; writable game library; disk space
for the package and backups. Do not run this installer with sudo.
Target game version: 1.2.0.3. Linux check prints Steam build ID, not a guessed
semantic game version. Package versions are identified by matching file hashes.

BEFORE INSTALLATION
1. In Steam, install Broken Arrow and select an appropriate Proton tool in
   Properties > Compatibility if Steam has not already selected one.
2. Launch vanilla through Steam's Play - Anti-Cheat Disabled option once.
   Wait for the menu, then exit completely. This creates the game Proton prefix.
3. Install Protontricks using your distro package manager or the official Flatpak.
   Official instructions: https://github.com/Matoking/protontricks
   Flatpak Steam with external libraries may require filesystem permissions for
   Steam and Protontricks. Grant only the relevant library folder using your
   Flatpak permission manager. This installer does not broaden sandbox access.

INSTALL
Open a terminal in the folder containing the downloaded .run file and run:
  sh ThunderBuddiesSetup-Linux-1.3.5.run --setup-proton

This installs the package and asks Protontricks to install Windows .NET Desktop
Runtime 6 and Visual C++ 2022 into the existing Broken Arrow prefix. Protontricks
may show dependency installer dialogs and requires internet for these downloads.
Its upstream tools obtain dependencies; the package does not use mod mirrors.
If dependency installation fails, the package files remain installed. Resolve
the error and retry dependencies without reinstalling the package:
  sh ThunderBuddiesSetup-Linux-1.3.5.run --check --setup-proton

Steam roots are searched in ~/.steam/steam, ~/.steam/root, ~/.local/share/Steam
and Flatpak Steam's ~/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share/Steam.
Additional libraries come from libraryfolders.vdf, then appmanifest_1604270.acf.
If Steam is elsewhere, set STEAM_DIR to its root or specify the game folder:
  sh ThunderBuddiesSetup-Linux-1.3.5.run --game-dir '/mnt/Games/steamapps/common/broken_arrow' --setup-proton

Optional component exclusions (all included by default):
  --no-workbench   Omit Windows Workbench and Titan samples
  --no-titans      Omit Titan samples only
  --no-maps        Omit Gaza test-map files
  --no-sandbox     Omit Overwatch plugin and its dedicated scenario
Combine flags on the installation command. Use --help for all options.

STEAM LAUNCH OPTIONS — REQUIRED
In Steam > Broken Arrow > Properties > General > Launch Options, use:
  WINEDLLOVERRIDES="version=n,b" %command%
Merge this carefully with existing options. Do not discard personal options.
The installer deliberately does not edit Steam's configuration or launch a game.
At Steam Play, ALWAYS choose the official Play - Anti-Cheat Disabled entry.
The DLL override loads MelonLoader; it does NOT disable anti-cheat.
Never connect to official Broken Arrow servers with the mod installed.
No EasyAntiCheat files or game executable are changed by this package.

FIRST MODDED LAUNCH
Wait for MelonLoader initialization and the main menu, then close the game.
The first launch can require network access for loader assembly generation.
Run:
  sh ThunderBuddiesSetup-Linux-1.3.5.run --check
This reports package file matches, prefix existence and loader initialization.
It cannot prove that gameplay, multiplayer, maps or mod UI work on Linux.

WORKBENCH ON LINUX
Included Workbench is net8.0-windows/Windows Forms, not a native Linux build.
It is optional and unverified under Proton. No Linux desktop icon is generated.
For an experimental manual attempt, install Windows .NET Desktop Runtime 8
into the game prefix using Protontricks, then use its official executable launcher:
  protontricks 1604270 dotnetdesktop8
  protontricks-launch --appid 1604270 '/absolute/game/path/Tools/BrokenArrowWorkbench/BrokenArrowWorkbench.exe'
Flatpak Protontricks also provides a desktop executable launcher: consult its
official documentation for your distribution's integration.
This launches only Workbench, never Broken Arrow or EasyAntiCheat.
Windows registry discovery and Blender connection paths may fail under Proton.
Native Linux Blender round trip, drag/drop and native Workbench support require
additional development; they are not promised by this installer.

BACKUPS, UPDATES AND UNINSTALL
Every overwritten file is backed up under:
  <game>/UserData/ThunderBuddiesSetupLinux/backups/<transaction>/
Installation records are saved incrementally to installation.json in that folder.
Original game executables, saves, decks and personal settings are not removed.
UserData entries belonging to bundled mods are backed up when replaced.
Linux installation cannot safely share ownership records with the Windows
installer. Use the Linux installer for both install and restore on that system.
Before installing a newer Linux package, restore this one first:
  sh ThunderBuddiesSetup-Linux-1.3.5.run --uninstall
Then run the newer installer. Restore also works after an interrupted install.
Files changed by you after installation are preserved and reported as conflicts.
Backups remain after restore. Do not delete them until you confirm restoration.
For vanilla official play, remove all remaining mods/loader, including any files
present before this package; restore reinstates those previous files as well.

REPORTING A LINUX PROBLEM
Include distro, Steam native/Flatpak, Proton version, game build ID, installer
terminal output and MelonLoader/Latest.log. Do not include account credentials.
Say whether vanilla loads with Anti-Cheat Disabled and whether failure occurs
before the loader, during assembly generation, during B.A.R.O. loading, or in UI.
No runtime acceptance test has been performed on this Windows development PC.