Downloadable weapon mods and another thing...

[Mexer]

This is probably been suggested before by Terrordog but I only wanna know why don't they make a server side option that allows players to download a weapon mod so they all see it in that server (weapon mods are really small, can't see why this isn't being implemented).

My second idea is to have own mods for yourself on your weapons n such (but not necessarily viewable by the others). For example, if you throw a knife of yours and you pick it up again later you know it's yours n stuff.
Related to this idea, I think that if it was to have mods of your own and others could see it, you should only be able to customize those pixels of the weapon (only add colors to the weapon) so people won't troll around... e.g. having a hunge banana shooting sperm instead of a normal minigun.


Edit: think of a rambo server, where the only thing you change is the gfx of the weapon and 2 sounds. You could chage it to like a milk dispenser or crossbow or a much cooler rambo... Imagine entering a server of rambomatch and recognize that bow and remember the server because of it..

[L[0ne]R]

GFX-part of weapon mods is small, however don't forget there's also sounds, and they add up to several megabytes. Imagine a sci-fi or fantasy weapon mod that sounds like regular modern-age guns. Still, I fully agree that there should be a way to at least allow gfx-only server mods since it'll be better than no mods at all.

A basic mod would only weigh about 100kb (all weapons-gfx, gostek-gfx and weapon menu icons). If Sparks-gfx are included - the size would increase by 600-700kb, but if zipped it'll still only be around 250kb, which is still very much downloadable.

[Mexer]

GFX-part of weapon mods is small, however don't forget there's also sounds, and they add up to several megabytes. Imagine a sci-fi or fantasy weapon mod that sounds like regular modern-age guns. Still, I fully agree that there should be a way to at least allow gfx-only server mods since it'll be better than no mods at all.

A basic mod would only weigh about 100kb (all weapons-gfx, gostek-gfx and weapon menu icons). If Sparks-gfx are included - the size would increase by 600-700kb, but if zipped it'll still only be around 250kb, which is still very much downloadable.

The default sfx folder is 8 mb.. Only the fire sounds (exluding bow and chainsaw) reach up around 500 kb, which is, imo, pretty small.

If there are people still using 12 GB hard drives, there should be a warning question before entering a server  e.g. This moded server requires 600 kb of disk space to be downloaded. Do you agree to download it? each server with its mod being downloaded in a different folder..

But what about the player-side weapons idea? I still support it also.

[machina]

Something like this would be cool if it supported players' look. I mean about cops, pants, t-shirts, helmets and other addons those you could... (Mhm, for free?) do yourself...

[L[0ne]R]

Well, all of this has been discussed in some of the older threads..
The issue with downloadable player skins is that someone can easily make their skin small and hard to see, and this is just one of the problems. There should just be a larger selection of customization items in the vanilla game + server-side mods. Client-side soldier skins are more trouble than they're worth IMHO.

The default sfx folder is 8 mb.. Only the fire sounds (exluding bow and chainsaw) reach up around 500 kb, which is, imo, pretty small.

If there are people still using 12 GB hard drives, there should be a warning question before entering a server  e.g. This moded server requires 600 kb of disk space to be downloaded. Do you agree to download it? each server with its mod being downloaded in a different folder..

But what about the player-side weapons idea? I still support it also.

Age of dial-up connections is long past gone, so I guess 8mb doesn't seem like much. But imagine multiple people connecting to a server with a 10mb mod - it would have to keep streaming all the gameplay data to players already playing on the server, as well as sending over the mod files to multiple people. This could cause lag for people playing on the server AND slow down the download for those who are just trying to join. I really wouldn't go over 1mb for mod size. :/

Player-side weapons (each player will have his own custom weapon skins and sounds - is that what you mean?) sounds interesting, but it would make download size many times larger. Imagine even a single 5mb mod being distributed between 10 people - that's 50mb of data the server has to send. Imagine MULTIPLE people all with their own mods joining a server - amount of sent data could easily go over 200mb. And then imagine some of the players leaving and joining..
Even if the mods are limited to just graphics - it could still cause the problem of enemy's weapons becoming unrecognizable. "WTF is that green glowey thing in that guys hands? Is that a Ruger or MP5 or a saw? *explodes into bits* oh.. that's m79.."


We'll be very lucky if the initial suggestion will make it into the game anytime soon anyway. <_<

[Mexer]

Player-side weapons (each player will have his own custom weapon skins and sounds - is that what you mean?) sounds interesting, but it would make download size many times larger.

No, I'm talking about the player having his own mod for the weapon that nobody else sees it (like it is today) but only the player has that mod. For example from my team I'll be the one having a red sniper and the rest of the team will have everything on default and only I can see it, the others will see me holding a default weapon - no downloads.

[Bistoufly]

I don't like this idea.

I like to use my own setup. And I wouldn't want the server or other players to change the appearance of gosteks or weapons.

I think there are so many bugs to correct and game-play adjustments to make for the dev teams. That this complex feature would eat their valuable time.

And there are also all the problems that this feature would introduce.
( extra downloading, bandwidth, size, trolls, ... )



 

[Mexer]

I don't like this idea.

I like to use my own setup. And I wouldn't want the server or other players to change the appearance of gosteks or weapons.

I think there are so many bugs to correct and game-play adjustments to make for the dev teams. That this complex feature would eat their valuable time.

And there are also all the problems that this feature would introduce.
( extra downloading, bandwidth, size, trolls, ... )

We're not talking about each player having his own mod, only server side on every player. My second idea is local, doesn't imply downloading.

[Bonecrusher]

If soldat had something like fast-download option that would totally work

[L[0ne]R]

I don't like this idea.

I like to use my own setup. And I wouldn't want the server or other players to change the appearance of gosteks or weapons.

I think there are so many bugs to correct and game-play adjustments to make for the dev teams. That this complex feature would eat their valuable time.

And there are also all the problems that this feature would introduce.
( extra downloading, bandwidth, size, trolls, ... )

The point of server-side mods isn't "OH LOL IMA PUT SOME RANDOM CRAPPY SKINS IN MY SERVER", no. The point is so that players that join, let's say, a zombie survival server, Portal-mod, or a CS-mod server would see their weapons change to appropriate skins that fit the mod.
For example, in Last Stand (tactical zombie survival with soldier classes) there's a molotov cocktail, but it looks like knife unless each player manually replaces their knife skin. With downloadable server mods you'd be able to join a server and instantly get proper skin for the knife. And thats just one example.

Bandwidth and extra downloads would only be an issue with large mods. Like I said,

A basic mod would only weigh about 100kb (all weapons-gfx, gostek-gfx and weapon menu icons).

That's about the size of a Soldat map. And if zipped it'll be about half that size, so extra downloads is not an issue here at all. There can always be a size limit implemented, so that stupid server owners dont upload a 1gb mod.



I agree that there's a ton of bugs to fix, and it's up to devs to decide whether to spend time on this or not. But honestly, I'm starting to feel that even 5 years from now the dev team will still be fixing bugs. I'm not saying the devs are lazy and useless. I'm just wondering: if a game needs so much bugfixing that there's no time to add any kind of content - is that game really worth fixing? It might just be faster to code the game from scratch..

[Mexer]

There. Written in platinum card. Totally agree.

[Bistoufly]

The point of server-side mods isn't "OH LOL IMA PUT SOME RANDOM CRAPPY SKINS IN MY SERVER", no. The point is so that players that join, let's say, a zombie survival server, Portal-mod, or a CS-mod server would see their weapons change to appropriate skins that fit the mod.
For example, in Last Stand (tactical zombie survival with soldier classes) there's a molotov cocktail, but it looks like knife unless each player manually replaces their knife skin. With downloadable server mods you'd be able to join a server and instantly get proper skin for the knife. And thats just one example.

I know. And you could add other examples. Like skin knife to a ball for knife sports server.
Still. I don't like not been in control of my own interface.
If I could myself link mods to specific servers. I'd be ok with this.

Bandwidth and extra downloads would only be an issue with large mods. Like I said,

A basic mod would only weigh about 100kb (all weapons-gfx, gostek-gfx and weapon menu icons).

That's about the size of a Soldat map. And if zipped it'll be about half that size, so extra downloads is not an issue here at all. There can always be a size limit implemented, so that stupid server owners dont upload a 1gb mod.

Even if it's small; it's still something extra to load before joining. And it's still more weight on the server bandwidth.

I agree that there's a ton of bugs to fix, and it's up to devs to decide whether to spend time on this or not. But honestly, I'm starting to feel that even 5 years from now the dev team will still be fixing bugs. I'm not saying the devs are lazy and useless. I'm just wondering: if a game needs so much bugfixing that there's no time to add any kind of content - is that game really worth fixing? It might just be faster to code the game from scratch..

The amount of moves and tricks possible in Soldat is absolutely phenomenal.
Check what the best runners and climbers can do.
If you start from scratch you will lose all that awesomeness.

There are tons of little annoyances that could be fixed.
I hope the devs will focus on that before thinking about adding stuffs.

1.6. fixed the 2 bugs that were annoying me the most in the game ( fake cb flag throw, mouse button getting stuck )
So I trust in the dev team. they can make the tweaks and fixes needed.

[L[0ne]R]

I know. And you could add other examples. Like skin knife to a ball for knife sports server.
Still. I don't like not been in control of my own interface.
If I could myself link mods to specific servers. I'd be ok with this.

When you join a modded server - you agree to expose yourself to non-vanilla content. That includes new server rules, new weapons.ini, scripts, and I don't see why should graphics not be included as well. It makes more sense and is more convenient for most players to download a complete mod package where everything looks as intended without having to imagine the missing bits yourself.
If you still want to use your own mod instead of one intended by the server - I imagine it would be possible to just later go into the mod's folder and manually changing the graphics you don't like, or even just having an option "DisableServerMods=1" in Soldat.ini, but I honestly can't imagine most people going "I absolutely MUST have knives in a volleyBALL server, just because".

Bandwidth and extra downloads would only be an issue with large mods. Like I said, A basic mod would only weigh about 100kb (all weapons-gfx, gostek-gfx and weapon menu icons). That's about the size of a Soldat map. And if zipped it'll be about half that size, so extra downloads is not an issue here at all. There can always be a size limit implemented, so that stupid server owners dont upload a 1gb mod.

Even if it's small; it's still something extra to load before joining. And it's still more weight on the server bandwidth.

100kb. Tiny puny little kb. Probably even less. What difference does it make if a player joins and downloads a map (which, including new sceneries, would probably weigh more than that), or joins and downloads a mod? This is in the age when most people have at least a 512kb/s internet. I'm sorry, but I'm having trouble taking that argument seriously. :/

http://i.imgur.com/5Lq9N.jpg

There. Written in platinum card. Totally agree.

Oh wow, thanks. 

* L[0ne]R puts the card in his wallet.

[Mexer]

..Am i the only one now thinking that this Game Improvements / Suggestions subforum is almost completely useless? Because as far as I know, you fix things before adding new things. I also can't recall more than 3 changes this game has gone trough because of users speaking here...
The thing is, I don't think this idea of mine can ever produce any bugs if mediocrely scripted.

[Bonecrusher]

I also can't recall more than 3 changes this game has gone trough because of users speaking here...

nope.jpg

[machina]

The issue with downloadable player skins is that someone can easily make their skin small and hard to see, and this is just one of the problems.

(Mhm, for free?) do yourself...

That's why I stopped for a short moment. That means those things (special cops, helmets etc.) would have to be for registered only and they would have possibility to wear them (or like a DLC)...