PC To Mod or not to Mod: Why is it even a question?

[Ti2xGr]

I've used the Nitrogen mod a couple of times when the random maps were (more?) broken...but even then I didn't really want to do it.  As of the last few months and all, I've stopped doing even that.

Maybe for some folks who don't want to use mods, it's not a lack of desire to play with new things added in after the fact.  I think it comes down to people wanting the devs themselves to add the functionality, rather than rely on what is essentially strangers on the internet.  At least for me, there's a difference between TFP adding something to the game, and (insert random person here) making a mod for it.  Consider it a trust issue, if nothing else.

I don't mind if people use mods, as long as it doesn't break the experience someone else is having or function as a cheat that someone can use in an MP setting (as an example).  I'm just infinitely more comfortable with the devs folding those changes in organically, rather than having to rely on the modding community to get it done.

 

I completely understand your point and respect it. I've spent many hours adjusting modlets, repairing missing features, and just having to learn how they work in order to keep balance within our map. Add a food modlet and all of sudden, you're swimming in too much food. Add a weapon pack and everything becomes a one hit kill. I've got a pretty darn balanced server at this point (IMHO), but I'm still going back through some of our modlets to tweak settings to make it more vanilla and I'm having to learn as I go. It makes me really appreciate the Fun Pimps more and the modlet makers are amazing. Most of these modlets are pieces of art in my opinion. 

 

[Guppycur]

After reading some of the "why I don't mod" comments, I'm even more convinced one of the main reasons people don't mod is simple lack of understanding... 

Again, not an insult, but it tells me that we as modders need to work some to better educate the masses. 

 

[Styx7x]

Currently sitting with 51 modlets on a nitrogen created map. Sometimes I just disagree with TFP's visions ala LBD, other times I'm adding zombie clones and only changing their walk style for variety. Can't go back to vanilla, IMO, there's just no reason to delete my mods folder. 

 

[unholyjoe]

After reading some of the "why I don't mod" comments, I'm even more convinced one of the main reasons people don't mod is simple lack of understanding... 

Again, not an insult, but it tells me that we as modders need to work some to better educate the masses. 

so educate me and TRY to convince me i HAVE to mod or USE mods.

Spoiler

you will loose

 

[Guppycur]

Lose.

But this is where you miss the point entirely.  I don't care if you use mods, and I've zero interest in making you want to.

I simply want to understand the mentality that is "I will never under any circumstances".

...applies to life itself, not just mods.  Seems willfully stubborn. 

 

[Guppycur]

So to the others who are not being willfully stubborn, if modding isn't something you'd consider because of say, balance, well then you are in total charge of that balance.  That's the beauty of mods and especially modlets.  You decide what's balanced, but for YOUR playstyle.  Want fire breathing electric zombies to use your napalm gun on?  Install those mods.  Don't?  Then don't. 

There is no magic balance formula.  Tfp certainly doesn't have the magic formula either, nor do they claim to, which accounts for the constant changes in balances between alphas and builds. 

If modding isn't for you because you fear for the safety of your computer (someone mentioned that, right?) then why install anything.  I can guarantee "professional" software developers are gathering more information on you than any mod will... Especially since unless it's a mod that adds code (dmt/sdx mods), mods *can't* gather info.  Mods are safe, folks. 

For those that want to only play the "dev vision of the game", I'd say you're also being willfully stubborn and also that uh, the dev vision *includes you using mods* so not much of good reasoning to be found there.

For those of you unaware of how to mod and simply think it'll break your game... Well, this is the only good argument against modding.  Mods can break save games, can be difficult to install and more difficult to fix.  For that I can only reiterate Roland's point that there are resources out there to make it easier for you and to help you.

Most people who release mods provide their own customer support.  

But the bottom line is the dev diary is filled with requests for this and that.  Those requests have long since been in the game, via mods.

From fishing to boats, hangliders to hellcats, there are scores of new vehicles.  Want guns?  We have all of them.  All. Of. Them.  Bigger backpacks?  Done.  Food and health bars, something tfp can't seem to decide on?  Done.  More quests, more pois, less dungeons, more dungeons... Zombie variety, zombie bosses, check.  Better looking textures, done.  From Lbd to character classes.  Bigger maps, smaller maps.  Longer beginning game to faster leveling.  Npc followers, bandits, drones, pretty much everything on the tfp roadmap... Done. 

If you can imagine it, there's probably a mod for it.  And if not, there's probably a modder willing to make it.

 

[Tin]

so educate me and TRY to convince me i HAVE to mod or USE mods.

Spoiler

you will loose

 Who ever said you "Have" to use mods. Can you link that post? 

edit: obviously with your reaction, you can't.

edit2: At least be legit, when you are trying to start crap.

 

[hiemfire]

@Guppycur You seem awfully curious/frustrated about something that can be summed up by simple disinterest and are getting pretty insulting in how you're approaching it.

 

[Boidster]

Normally I'd say, "mods aren't going to sleep with you", but since you have literally* given birth to several mods I guess that doesn't really apply.

The only place where your persuasion falls apart is here:

For those that want to only play the "dev vision of the game", I'd say you're also being willfully stubborn and also that uh, the dev vision *includes you using mods* so not much of good reasoning to be found there.

This contradicts your initial "play how ya wanna play" position (a good position IMO) and reads as "stop not doing what I do". It's not willfully stubborn to play the game the way the devs built it, even if the devs enthusiastically support modifications. Some people just wanna play that way. Let them, and do not call them stubborn.

I personally love mods. In fact I recently won a million bucks in a lottery so I'm going to have two mods at the same time.

* By which I mean 'figuratively'

 

[Kraxin]

I voted:

I am unwilling to mod my game until the final version is released and workshop support is added. Then I might try out some mods.

I've kept track of a lot of mods out there for many years and not a single one of them is something I am willing to try yet due to too many tedious stuff loaded down in them I find aggravating. I can see myself using some modlets after game goes gold or even try one of the big mods but in their current state, not going to happen with me personally.

I've been playing since the alpha 5 if that matters any (around the end of alpha 5).

 

[Guppycur]

@Guppycur You seem awfully curious/frustrated about something that can be summed up by simple disinterest and are getting pretty insulting in how you're approaching it.

How am I getting insulting?  And hey, I'm not the one who perpetuated this conversation.  There's a poll and a discussion and I'm participating in it.  What's your value add other than to allude to some frustration that doesn't exist or insults that also don't exist?

Either participate or don't.  (Shrug) 

Normally I'd say, "mods aren't going to sleep with you", but since you have literally* given birth to several mods I guess that doesn't really apply.

The only place where your persuasion falls apart is here:

This contradicts your initial "play how ya wanna play" position (a good position IMO) and reads as "stop not doing what I do". It's not willfully stubborn to play the game the way the devs built it, even if the devs enthusiastically support modifications. Some people just wanna play that way. Let them, and do not call them stubborn.

I personally love mods. In fact I recently won a million bucks in a lottery so I'm going to have two mods at the same time.

* By which I mean 'figuratively'

The stubbornness is in absolute refusal to try something new without a decent explanation as to why.  If people want to only play vanilla, that's fine with me, I'd just like to understand *why*.  It doesn't compile in my head, and I'm a curious person.

if people don't want to say why (their right, idc) then why participate in a convo about why? 

These things make me curious. 

 

[hiemfire]

How am I getting insulting?  And hey, I'm not the one who perpetuated this conversation.  There's a poll and a discussion and I'm participating in it.  What's your value add other than to allude to some frustration that doesn't exist or insults that also don't exist?

Either participate or don't.  (Shrug) 

@Boidster puts it best, 2 posts above the one I'm quoting.

 

[Guppycur]

I voted:

I am unwilling to mod my game until the final version is released and workshop support is added. Then I might try out some mods.

I've kept track of a lot of mods out there for many years and not a single one of them is something I am willing to try yet due to too many tedious stuff loaded down in them I find aggravating. I can see myself using some modlets after game goes gold or even try one of the big mods but in their current state, not going to happen with me personally.

I've been playing since the alpha 5 if that matters any (around the end of alpha 5).

See?  A reason.  I can accept this.  I don't agree, but I also don't have to, but I can accept it.  He's/she's not closing the possibility with a "never".  

@Boidster puts it best, 2 posts above the one I'm quoting.

Then my answer to that should satisfy you as well. (Shrug) 

Wait... Is it *really* the word "stubborn" that is giving you fits?  

...does this not fit what we are talking about? 

having or showing dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position on something, especially in spite of good arguments or reasons to do so.

...do you realize nothing in that definition is insulting?  N.o.t.h.i.n.g.  

If you feel insulted then that's a good indicator you know being stubborn about this subject is wrong... I mean, I'm stubborn in that I'll never eat oysters, but I don't feel shame about being stubborn about it, so wouldn't be offended if someone called me stubborn... 

Neat, even more fascinating behavior. 

 

[Xtrakicking]

Lose.

But this is where you miss the point entirely.  I don't care if you use mods, and I've zero interest in making you want to.

I simply want to understand the mentality that is "I will never under any circumstances".

...applies to life itself, not just mods.  Seems willfully stubborn. 

Honestly, I think most people that never do mods are just folks who aren't interested. I don't think it's a matter of never doing it under any circumstances for a higher reason, but just sheer indifference towards it. In other words, I don't think there exists people that would never ever use mods at all in any scenario. The ones who don't would probably do it given enough devotion to the game. In reality, though, they just can't be bothered.

 

[Guppycur]

I'd agree, but what sparked this is Joe's "never will".  (Shrug) 

 

[Ti2xGr]

In reality, though, they just can't be bothered.

My money's on this.

 

[Guppycur]

Same.

 

[Laz Man]

I'd agree, but what sparked this is Joe's "never will".  (Shrug) 

It's not that difficult to understand really.  Look at this way.  Some people like certain types of cars but dont care to install accessories or performance enhancers.  There is nothing right or wrong about it.

At the end of the day they choose to put their time and energy into something else.

 

[Odetta]

I'm really fat

 

[Guppycur]

It's not that difficult to understand really.  Look at this way.  Some people like certain types of cars but dont care to install accessories or performance enhancers.  There is nothing right or wrong about it.

At the end of the day they choose to put their time and energy into something else.

Naw you're missing it too, so I must not be being very clear. 

I've zero care or interest in why people don't play a mod.  I have great interest in why people will *never* play a mod.  Like, that there is literally no scenario that would or could happen.

...going to steal this from a comedian...

It's like hitting a woman.  It's easy to say "I'd never hit a woman", but it's a strong statement.  If there's a woman drowning her kids in a tub, she's getting hit.

So as a person going through life, I *try* to avoid never, always, etc, unless there are implied exceptions. 

But here's the thing.  I asked.  There were no implied exceptions, it was a straight "I would never play a mod".

And that makes me curious as to why. 

Am I more clear? 

If this isn't clear then I give up.