Giving back!

[ReallyDedPoet]

I posted the below in the Anyone working on Atlantic Mod for 1.5? Thread,
in response to some stuff said there. In the past there have been threads and posts thanking modders done here before, this one is just to take it one
step further and mention what we can do as users of all of the great mods, to make life a little easier for all here.

I actually think that modding is in great shape. Having played SH4 since 1.0, I have seen a real spirit of cooperation amongst modders all in the spirit of making the experience a better one. As well, some of the modders have be tweaking the game from the very beginning, quite an accomplishment given the fact that there have been patches to 1.4 and an add on. If anything we should be giving them all medals rather than asking them to do even more.

Thus if the above is happening, then those of us using the mods should
do our part by:

- Reading documentation that comes with the mod. This in itself would make many folks very happy. If one researched some of the older threads\posts, you would find they could have been avoided by simply looking at the mod read-me.
- Researching the mod's thread a bit to find out about compatibility
with other mods, etc.
- Using the search option. I can handle newer players not doing this, but when
folks who know better post something like " I would search for this but I am to lazy, or I did not want to read the thread ( even parts of it ) ". Many answers for existing questions are in older threads.
- Folks starting new threads with questions rather than posting that question in the original thread.
- Asking questions in away that people will respond to.

I don't mod ( except for a few unofficial tweaks, have been a tester for a few projects here, and released a little mod at Christmas ) but SH4 would have been shelved long before this if not for the great work here done by modders. I don't expect them to do it all, in fact if they are doing there part then I will do mine by paying attention to what's going on in the modding scene and if I can, figure stuff out on my own. It's my way of giving back to a great, great community.

Let's remember to do our part.


RDP

[Digital_Trucker]

Well said, RDP

[DrBeast]

Hear, hear!

[skwasjer]

Idea!

Have a website where you are asked a random question where the answer is somewhere in the readme, before providing the download link...


I know, I know... :rotfl:

j/k 2

[Nisgeis]

Originally Posted by skwasjer

Have a website where you are asked a random question where the answer is somewhere in the readme, before providing the download link...

Wow, that takes me back to the old copy protection. What is the seventh word on page 42 of the manaul.

[momo55]

2 nd idea !

Maybe it's easyer to use symbols for each major mod * (like in a campingbrochure :hmm
You put the symbols in the exact following ordre of install (no more repeated questions about that) and your compatibility question should be solved .

You put for example so every body knows you have to be in the harbour (office) to enable this mod.
or.....
For example en you know you may enable it wile on patrol .

Make a symbol for JSGME ....and it is clear that you can enable the mod with it.
etc....etc........


*just determin witch mod get's the status of MAJOR MOD .(moderators)

I always read the readme's....i speak and understand English , French and German enough so you can drop me in any country where that language is spoken ...i'll be ok for simple things .
But with some readme's ...i'll have to read over and over again if it get's to technical. For example.......

The MultiSH4 install readme ....i read it several times and even printed it to read it again and again for almost a week and hadn't the courage to try it .
Then one day i read a post on this forum about it and i saw and understood it and that it was realy easy .

Just the 2 € cents from a dutchspeaking greatfull subsimmer

Thank you modders for all the hard work and making my SH4 a real adventure .

[ReallyDedPoet]

Originally Posted by momo55

Maybe it's easier to use symbols for each major mod *

You put for example so every body knows you have to be in the harbour (office) to enable this mod.
or.....
For example en you know you may enable it wile on patrol .

Make a symbol for JSGME ....and it is clear that you can enable the mod with it.
etc....etc........

Symbols are an interesting concept ^^^^ , especially with SUBSIM attracting folks from around the world. As it relates to this, the point you raise about being in port or at sea is often not asked or overlooked.


RDP

[LukeFF]

Originally Posted by momo55

2 nd idea !

Maybe it's easyer to use symbols for each major mod * (like in a campingbrochure :hmm
You put the symbols in the exact following ordre of install (no more repeated questions about that) and your compatibility question should be solved .

Geez, let's make it all complicated, why don't we!

Look, I have this revolutionary idea: read the readme file, and if that doesn't answer your question, then ask the person who created the mod.

[JScones]

Originally Posted by skwasjer

Idea!

Have a website where you are asked a random question where the answer is somewhere in the readme, before providing the download link...


I know, I know... :rotfl:

j/k 2

Trust me, it has been considered. :rotfl:

[Wilcke]

Sad to say for you modders, this is never going to end. Here is my story! My name is Wilcke and I am a recovering mod junkie.

Take it from someone who has been into the subsims for a little over a year. Starting with SH3, I just blended in a bunch of mods, conflicts and all with JSGME and then sat and wondered why the game was acting funny.

Starting out you don't even have a clue as to what is what and how the mods interact and that in just the right combinations will just totally screw up your SH3 install. The worst part of it is that you are out on patrol the thing is hosed and you don't even know it.....

I started reading and reading...I came to the conclusion that I was a idiot. So I settled down re-installed SH3 from an original install I had saved in a little hidden corner of my drive....I at least had learned one thing!

I then just settled on the two big mods available for SH3 and just ran those....and read and read and read. I learned that in order to use other mods you really had to have a good understanding of how SH3 works. You also had to read the README's and ask the author about their mod and how it would interact with what you already had installed. Most of the time the answer was NOPE it would not work or maybe.

There was a lot of stuff I just could not use. It looked tempting, some people would post "oh I am running it with X, Y and Z and no problem" again user beware. I just shyed away from 90% of the stuff.

I then began to figure out who is who in the Modding business. That was a great help because that turned out to be a pretty short list of folks that were putting out quality mods that fit my style of play.

Then along came SH4, I jumped in on the first day warts and all....WOW, what an experience in adding mods. I am not a modder but just to expand my understanding I jumped into combining different mods that I liked into bigger bundled mods for my personal use; I even modded the dreaded menu.ini file. I did this for a bit and gained even more respect for the folks that mod...wow what a headache.

Well here I am and what have I learned in the past year, I run multiple installs with the really big mods for SH3 and SH4. Right now I have two installs of SH3, 2 installs of SH4 1.4 and 4 installs of SH4 1.5. This keeps everything nice and tidy and easy to maintain. All the major mods are in separate installs with their respective patches, complimentary mods and some skins.

This way I stay on patrol and I keep my conflicting file headaches under control. So next time you see that exciting new MOD at the top of the file list.....think carefully before you download it......if you do download it check out the file structure and files it contains....then read the README...then talk to the author. This is a collaborative of sorts and MODS should add to the quality and immersion of your gameplay not to stress and headaches which make you reach for the Advil and a bottle of booze.

Remember stress and headaches belong to the MODDERS, and I say that in jest as they do deserve much praise and thanks. Believe me from the smallest mod to a "super" mod its really a lot of hard work.

Well I went a bit long on this...but again thanks to all that contribute and to all the folks that download these great mods.

Happy Hunting!

[Ducimus]

How to communicate with modders

1. When something doesn't work right, immediately address the author of the mod you were using. Clearly it is something they did, because no stock bugs could possibly exist after their magnificent makeover of the game. It lets them know you think highly of their work.

2. If using multiple mods and something doesn't work right, immediatly address the author of the biggest mod your using, or the one first installed. Their mods the biggest in size or was installed first, it must have been their mistake, and they'd want to know about it so that they can improve! It also lets them know your their number 1 fan.

3. PM your favorite mods author every day, or at least once a week with an inane request. Modders enjoy having a fan club who writes to them regularly, and they appreciate the attention. Nothing says "I love you" to a modder more then having to clean out their full inbox once every week or two.

4. When talking about improving the game, make references about how great it would be if other modders not present did it instead. It lets the existing modders know how much their work is appreciated.

5. When talking about changes in a mod, speak about how its totally unrealistic, or the physics involved doesn't match your vast experiences in real life. It lets the modder know that he has to try harder to overcome limitations imposed by the game engine. Nothing a super computer and 5 years of code development couldn't fix, the modder will get right on it, I promise!

6. When trying to get a modders attention, approach them in a direct, confrontational manner. Demand a response until you get one, and tag all PMs with "have read notifications" to make sure they saw your PM. It lets the modder know how much you care, and that your needs have priority!

7. Do not read the readme file - ever. Its just a formality. The modder types it up to brush up on his typing skills, and for no other reason. Answering the same questions over and over again lets the modder know how popular his work is, he'll love you for it, trust me!

8. Last but not lest, mention that a modders work sucks. After spending more time working on the game, then some people spend on part time jobs, and without pay; nothing motivates modders better then by using reverse psychology!

:rotfl:

[iambecomelife]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

How to communicate with modders

1. When something doesn't work right, immediately address the author of the mod you were using. Clearly it is something they did, because no stock bugs could possibly exist after their magnificent makeover of the game. It lets them know you think highly of their work.

2. If using multiple mods and something doesn't work right, immediatly address the author of the biggest mod your using, or the one first installed. Their mods the biggest in size or was installed first, it must have been their mistake, and they'd want to know about it so that they can improve! It also lets them know your their number 1 fan.

3. PM your favorite mods author every day, or at least once a week with an inane request. Modders enjoy having a fan club who writes to them regularly, and they appreciate the attention. Nothing says "I love you" to a modder more then having to clean out their full inbox once every week or two.

4. When talking about improving the game, make references about how great it would be if other modders not present did it instead. It lets the existing modders know how much their work is appreciated.

5. When talking about changes in a mod, speak about how its totally unrealistic, or the physics involved doesn't match your vast experiences in real life. It lets the modder know that he has to try harder to overcome limitations imposed by the game engine. Nothing a super computer and 5 years of code development couldn't fix, the modder will get right on it, I promise!

6. When trying to get a modders attention, approach them in a direct, confrontational manner. Demand a response until you get one, and tag all PMs with "have read notifications" to make sure they saw your PM. It lets the modder know how much you care, and that your needs have priority!

7. Do not read the readme file - ever. Its just a formality. The modder types it up to brush up on his typing skills, and for no other reason. Answering the same questions over and over again lets the modder know how popular his work is, he'll love you for it, trust me!

8. Last but not lest, mention that a modders work sucks. After spending more time working on the game, then some people spend on part time jobs, and without pay; nothing motivates modders better then by using reverse psychology!

:rotfl:

Pretty funny. Still, IMHO this is one of the most mod-supportive communities that I have encountered. With a few notable exceptions, people around here are civil and actually try to resolve the problems themselves before bothering the modder.

In general, many flight sim forums have a pretty hostile climate. And on some of the "Rome: Total War" forums the rudeness was just extraordinary. I think I mentioned once before that a RTW modder designed an excellent skin pack for the Roman Legions, and the first comment someone made after he posted the download link was "F___ you". Totally classless.

[Ducimus]

Before my last post bites me in the buttocks - it was meant as tongue in cheek humor.



But yeah, this community is fairly civil. (its crotchety folks like me that are the problem. :rotfl: )

[ReallyDedPoet]

Quite the list there Ducimus

Kidding aside though, the one below always makes me go when I see it in the forums.

When trying to get a modders attention, approach them in a direct, confrontational manner.

- Asking questions in away that people will respond to.

This one ^^^ from my list above Whether a modder or not, it always pays to play nice here


RDP