Anyone Interested in a Community Mod?

[Stonewall382]

It's a serious question.  I've done some work on my Empires mod already, and will continue to do so, but I want it to basically encompass every feasible idea surrounding the theme possible--obviously, I expect it to take a LONG time.  At any rate, I've been thinking about putting up a working version on the repository, updating it whenever a semi-major change is made, and having community members implement their own ideas to it.  It would be non-committal, and people could just test things out inside their own downloaded version of the mod.  If it works, they'd post the code in the thread, or email their work (for textures, sounds, models, etc.) to me, and I'd update the version on the repository.  The scope of the mod and the cultures involved is big enough, I think, to allow all kinds of ideas to be tested.
So, would anyone be interested?  Is it worth a try?

 

[The_Underliner_]

I second this as it would be very interesting to see the variety of mods bieng put out

also does your empires mod have a download.

 

[Matheus]

Could you tell mor about your mod?

 

[Stonewall382]

It's a mod that includes new castles, as well as many, MANY new things to do with the castles (though nowhere near everything has been implemented yet).  Castle-specific troops, castle-specific industires, population management, tax rates, real caravans (ones that carry goods from one castle to another, not ones that have randomized items), laws, religions, officers for regiments, watchtowers, and much more.  That said, out of the things mentioned, only the first five have been implemented in any way yet, though I have ideas as to how each thing can be coded.  I have a list of goals, as well, that I'd put up if people show interest in the idea.

 

[Chilly5]

To tell you the truth, I find it hard to understand why your posting this, not to mention that Im a little angry.

I believe almost all the mods on this forum is a "community mod", unless otherwise said so. This is a modding community, we should all be working around and doing stuff for each other, it is the way it should be, but its kinda like communism, looks perfect but in practice its rather bad. Still, if you can get the community up into making a whole mod together, prehaps we can see a new age to modding. 

 

[fisheye]

Chilly5, you don't get it.

Think of it as a wikimod.

Stonewall is proposing basically a common code repository to which anyone is welcome to submit material that adds directly onto the existing code. This is in contrast to self-contained modules like ExtraNPCs and Craftmod. People can just upload little tweaks or mini ideas and let other people enjoy them without having to pull off a standalone mod (like Dionysia, ExtraNPCs and Craftmod are).

The benefit of a wikimod over a mod amalgamation (like Hugemod was) is that no extra effort is needed to pull the pieces together since they're all designed to work together at the start.

Sounds like an interesting idea, but I doubt many modders would actually use it; they're too busy making their own full-fledged projects, if they're modding at all.

 

[bryce777]

Just go ahead and post it.  If it gets popular then people will add their own stuff.  Lots of people like to make minimods and if the source is available, so much the easier,a nd so much the easier to fold them in if people like them.

 

[Chilly5]

I knew that.  

 

[fisheye]

To tell you the truth, I find it hard to understand why your posting this, not to mention that Im a little angry.

All right then. Explain your deliberate rudeness if it is not caused by a misunderstanding.

 

[Chilly5]

I read it too fast. I was agitated, I was....emotional. But mostly I just read it too fast and interperated it wrong.

 

[Stonewall382]

@  fisheye--Thanks for both posts, I appreciate it.  Your comment about modders not contributing is why I made the thread.  Bryce has a good point, and I had considered it, but I didn't really want to put up an unfinished version if people are just going to play it and not comment or anything.  I saw what happened when I asked people not to steal an unfinished version of the mod earlier.  (Devilishly delightfully enough, I realize now that the mod wouldn't work for pretty much anyone, as it required other resources I didn't document.)  *shrug*  I'll give it a try.

@  Chilly--No worries, I can understand.  I've had a ****ty day myself.

You're right though that most mods should be community mods.  It's just that a lot of modders don't show their source files, or don't tell people how they did things, don't share textures, that kind of thing.  There's nothing wrong with that, but it isn't very helpful to newbies.  It is my sincere hope that a) a great mod comes out of this, and b) people learn many new things about modding (myself included).  With that, I'm off to make the thread.  Thanks guys.

 

[Chilly5]

Aye, I will definetly make my mod open source, incase anyone wants to study it, or incase I dissapear one day. 

 

[Tegan]

I would participate in such a project.  I think it's a good idea.  I have quite a few script ideas that aren't useful for 1066 but that I'd be happy to share with a "wikimod"; I imagine others would too.

 

[Stonewall382]

Ah fuggitall, my roommate just deleted a half hour's worth of work on a thread.  Will make when I get back from hall council in an hour.

Edit:  Sorry Tegan, didn't mean it to sound like I was brushing off your post, I was just in a rush.  Thanks for the support, I look forward to working with you.

 

[Yoshiboy]

I think its a good idea, but like fisheye said. I wouldn't have much time to do much with it. I'd do stuff with it where i could.

 

[Amman d Stazia]

I like it in principle, but how does it work if I do (for example) a new Salt Mine scene, with a town, but someone else prefers the salt mine scene as a tent camp?  How does anyone decide which will be implemented?  Or, will saltmine_scn1 and saltmine_scn2 both be available to download?

 

[jeansberg]

I guess all modules would be for download separately with disclaimers like 'NOT compatible with other saltmine mods'. Unless there are better ways.

 

[Highelfwarrior]

Sound like a good plan, but its the same here. Way to busy with one big growing mod right now to focus on a totally other min / side imod.

It looks and sounds interesting, so in the future as I finish more and more of my main project, I might mess with this.

 

[Ahadhran]

Does indeed sound like a good idea. One thing you might want to consider is having some guidelines for submissions, don't know what those would be offhand but this would help I think keep things compatible in the majority of cases.

Like others I couldn't contribute a whole lot, but there is some code I have written for darkmod that could be donated and would only need a little tweaking to work in the Vanilla game. (for example assasins)

 

[Stonewall382]

*Raises eyebrows*
Assassins were something I wanted in, but had only given a little thought to implementing.

@  Amman--That's a good question.  Do you think it would be a good idea to have the community vote on it?  Or would it be better to go with the one I think fits more, and then offer the other(s) for download in a seperate folder (though with the official download).

To those who say they wouldn't have time to help out much, that's fine.  The way I see it, I would've kept coding regardless of whether or not it "went public," but this way, other people can contribute, either through criticism or donations.  Since I plan on it taking awhile, people can take their time with other projects, and download the current version when they're ready, and contribute where they can.