Bodygroups

Bodygroups are a feature in the Source engine, used by games such as Garry's Mod and Team Fortress 2, that allow for the customization of character models. They enable players to change specific parts of their character's appearance, such as clothing, accessories, or even entire body types, without altering the underlying model. This is achieved by overlaying different textures or models onto the base character model, creating a wide range of customization options.

Bodygroups are defined in the model's .qc (QuakeC) file, which specifies the different groups and their respective sub-models or textures. Each bodygroup can have multiple sub-models, allowing for a variety of customization options. For example, a character model might have a bodygroup for hats, with sub-models for different types of hats, or a bodygroup for clothing, with sub-models for different outfits.

In-game, players can change their bodygroups using the console command "setbodygroup" followed by the bodygroup index and the sub-model index. This allows for real-time customization of the character's appearance, enhancing the game's replayability and personalization options. Bodygroups are a powerful tool for game developers, enabling them to create highly customizable characters with minimal additional assets.