Skip to main content

​
Expanding Your Tactical Arsenal

Weapon modifications represent the core gameplay loop for most Garry’s Mod communities, particularly within the DarkRP, MilitaryRP, and Sandbox genres. Selecting the appropriate weapon base is a strategic balance between visual fidelity (animations and attachments) and server-side performance (tickrate and netcode overhead). This guide will help you choose the correct system for your community and ensure your players can use these assets without technical errors.

Difficulty

Beginner

Time

5 Minutes

​
Technical Comparison of Weapon Bases

Choose the framework that best aligns with your server’s performance goals and gameplay depth.
Base NameTechnical ComplexityPerformance ImpactIdeal Use Case
M9KLowVery LowHigh-population DarkRP servers.
TFAModerateModerateTactical Sandbox and Serious RP.
CW 2.0HighModerateAttachment-heavy competitive gameplay.
ARC9 / ArcCWExtremeHighUltra-realistic combat and simulation.

​
Installation & Content Synchronization

Simply uploading the weapon scripts is insufficient. If your players do not possess the corresponding models and textures locally, they will observe floating red “ERROR” markers instead of weaponry.

​
Step 1: Workshop Integration

1

Initialize the Collection

Add your chosen weapon pack and its mandatory Base Resource to your server’s Steam Workshop Collection.
2

Define the Manifest

Ensure the unique Workshop IDs are registered within your /lua/autorun/server/workshop.lua file to force client-side downloads.
resource.AddWorkshop("WORKSHOP_ID_HERE")

​
Advanced Deployment Considerations

Many premium-quality weapon systems (specifically Arc9 and TFA) are distributed across multiple Workshop entries: the Base Logic, the Texture Repository, and the Audio Assets. You must include every component in your collection. Failure to do so will result in silent weapons or the infamous “purple checkered” texture errors.
High-fidelity weapons use complex netcode for synchronized animations. If you notice server “Hitching” during large firefights, consider using a more lightweight base like M9K or reducing the number of simultaneous active weapon resources.

​
Verification

After restarting your server, join as a player and attempt to spawn a weapon via the “Q” menu. If the weapon appears correctly and plays audio, your synchronization is successful.

​
Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

​
Save on Your Hosting

Ready to get a new server? Use code KB20 at checkout for 20% off your first month!
Last Updated: January 2026 | GMod: Firepower initialized.