Doki Doki Literature Club YouTuber Modding Guide
Step 1
Play DDLC & understand the game, characters, and the themes that it presents. WARNING: Do not play this game if you are under the age of 13 years old, as the game covers very sensitive topics. You can download the game to play for yourself at https://ddlc.moe/
Step 2
Download the Mod Template, and create a folder in your Documents to unzip the contents of the template. You may download the Python 2 or the Python 3 version, but this will depend on the version of Ren'Py you will have to use. Click here to go to the GitHub page, and there should be a mini drop down menu for you to select your Python version. Then click on the green Code drop down menu, and click Download ZIP.
Step 3

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Before you begin Step 3, it is very important to know which version of Ren'Py you should install. Don't worry, this is very easy to figure out. If you installed the Python 2 version of the mod template, you must use any version of Ren'Py 7. If you installed the Python 3 version of the template, you must use any version of Ren'Py 8.
Download & Install Ren'Py. Create another folder in your Documents to install the software. You can either download the .exe file if you use Windows, the .dmg file if you use a Mac, or the .tar.bz2 file if you are on Linux. Or, you can download the .zip file instead. If you downloaded the .exe, .dmg, or the .tar.bz2 file, it will prompt you where you want to install Ren'Py. Select the folder in your Documents that you created and continue. If you downloaded the .zip file, you can unzip its contents in the folder you created in your Documents.
Open Ren'Py and select your language, then click preferences, and set your Projects Directory by clicking on "Not Set", and click on the Libraries drop down, and select the Mod folder you created in your Documents.
Before you click Launch Project, it is CRUCIAL that you copy the .rpa files from the original game into the game folder in your mod template.
Step 4
Download & Install a text editor. You may use text editors such as Notepad++, Visual Studio Code, BBEdit, etc. There are many free text editors that you can install and use.
Step 5
Learn how the Ren'Py language works. Use the first letter of each of the characters' names, put a space, and create double quotation marks, and insert your dialogue for that character inside them.
Step 6
Decide on the plot of your mod. It can be about anything you want, just be sure that you understand the characters well enough so that no one will fall out of character.
Step 7
If you want to add custom assets such as music, backgrounds, other sprites or sound effects, you will have to learn about copyright. Be sure that the creator of said assets will allow you to use them in the video you will create, otherwise you will be forced to take it down.
Step 8
Test your mod to check for grammar, spelling mistakes, & syntax errors. One pet peeve of many mod creators and viewers will point out grammatical and spelling mistakes if there are any, which can spoil the tone and mood of the mod itself.
Step 9
Use a video recorder to record your mod in a video. On Windows, press the Windows key + G to open the Xbox Game Bar. On Mac, you can press Command + Shift + 5.
Step 10
Use a video editing software to crop and/or edit the newly created video. You can use software like DaVinci Resolve to edit your video.