Team up with the mod community.

[Rispek Cortez]

This request is simple, I would like to see Kenshi include the mods into the official release that meet Chris Hunts vision for the game.

In almost every game I regularly play, some modder or group of modders have created brilliant additions to those already brilliant games that do not detract from the games lore. I have always wondered why the development teams haven't included those mods as official changes to the game (with the Mod creators agreement of course). I suspect the number of modders that wouldn't want their mod added officially is vanishingly small.

As we all know the team working on Kenshi is very small, as such some features that we all want are just not going to be possible to add by the team on a reasonable timeline. Why not get the help of the mod community?

Thoughts?

[Mattk50]

To be perfectly frank we haven't seen any mods of that quality yet. Maybe the community just hasnt hit the critical mass yet, or maybe the modding tools are too shallow, hard to say.

The current modding tools are very "create your own adventure" oriented. They arent geared towards new mechanics or scripting or anything, the editor is really just for changing factions, global game settings, spawn rates, equipment values and so on and so fourth. the kind of stuff that is probably fine to stay as mods: personal factions, poorly made but personalized weapons and armor...

[Rispek Cortez]

Hmm.. Perhaps closer to release, or after release we will start seeing a more fleshed out crop of mods.

To be honest, I haven't actually looked at any of the Mods for this game (until a few minutes ago).

This may be a suggestion that should wait until after the game is actually released, and DLC's and Expansions are being considered.

Well... at least this time I didn't make a epic post/rant about a feature that was already in the game, I have done that in other game forums more than once... "I am strong with the fail"

[Hatsune_Neko]

that would depend on if Chris really really likes the mod and think it fits into his game
im sure he would contact the mod maker about it first though.

but would have to agree with Mattk50 as there really are no Mods at this time that fit that description.
until then we will wait and see.

[Zeal]

Yep.. Most of the mods currently are just minor tweaks to suit a specific crowd of players, rather than something that should be considered as universal.

Even still, I think mods should always remain mods. A game should be advertised as it's core game, and while I recognize you mean to simply add the mods with the download so they are there, it also means more data being downloaded that the majority of people are not going to be using, so why are they downloading it?

I think it's best to keep mods on the workshop. If people want to adjust features of the game to suit specific wishes, they can find the mod on the workshop and download it. Also prevents people from just checking every mod in the list and playing the game, then wondering why they're confused about something, or why their game is running at 6fps, and then complaining on the forums about how the game is broken. (not pointing at your mod or anything Hatsune)

Mods need to remain conscious additions. We've already had so much issues posted regarding effects of that no-hunger mod it's absurd.

[Mattk50]

I think it's best to keep mods on the workshop. If people want to adjust features of the game to suit specific wishes, they can find the mod on the workshop and download it. Also prevents people from just checking every mod in the list and playing the game, then wondering why they're confused about something, or why their game is running at 6fps, and then complaining on the forums about how the game is broken. (not pointing at your mod or anything Hatsune)

Mods need to remain conscious additions. We've already had so much issues posted regarding effects of that no-hunger mod it's absurd.

OP is more talking about mods that are good enough to incorporate wholesale into the game. As in, not in the mod menu and downloaded separately, literally taken into the base game. One of the games that has done this to significant success is kerbal space program, which incorporated countless spaceship parts, space navigation tools, timers, alarms, and various features that are great to have. however, KSP is absurdly well suited to those kind of additions, far more so than kenshi.

[Berzerker Jay]

I would look at it in terms of benefits. What is the actual benefit to having it included in the initial download? It only saves time for those who would download the mod (to be honest I've not downloaded a single one, though I've made several,) and maybe promotes a particular mod or creator of a mod. As for the disadvantages? Well...I'm one of those types that if I want something I'm perfectly happy to go and get it. If I download something and end up being given other things along with the download, I'm usually more suspicious than appreciative.

At most I would accept an option to also include certain mods with my download, but even that would leave a little bit of a bad taste. I would likely be less receptive to those mods presented that way, and would still look to the community first. The software company wouldn't make a positive impression with me doing this.

[Rispek Cortez]

I think it's best to keep mods on the workshop. If people want to adjust features of the game to suit specific wishes, they can find the mod on the workshop and download it. Also prevents people from just checking every mod in the list and playing the game, then wondering why they're confused about something, or why their game is running at 6fps, and then complaining on the forums about how the game is broken. (not pointing at your mod or anything Hatsune)

Mods need to remain conscious additions. We've already had so much issues posted regarding effects of that no-hunger mod it's absurd.

OP is more talking about mods that are good enough to incorporate wholesale into the game. As in, not in the mod menu and downloaded separately, literally taken into the base game. One of the games that has done this to significant success is kerbal space program, which incorporated countless spaceship parts, space navigation tools, timers, alarms, and various features that are great to have. however, KSP is absurdly well suited to those kind of additions, far more so than kenshi.

Mattk50, is correct, I am suggesting mods of a certain quality being not just added as an optional mod but becoming part of game "cannon".

For an example of the quality I am discussing:

- Medieval Total War 2 - Stainless Steel mod
Medieval total war 2 is on my top ten list of favorite games of all time, and the vanilla game is undeniably brilliant. However, after installing the Stainless Steel mod, I can never go back to just playing vanilla.

- X3 Albion Prelude - Rebalance Mod
Again, top ten list of favorite games of all time. However after installing the rebalance mod, I can never go back to playing the vanilla game. There is also a list too long to post here, of other mods that add so much to that game.

Than there are numerous games that are improved immeasurably by small additions that fit perfectly into the game.

Many players of those games will never get the full potential of those game because they are unaware those mods exist. That's why I think those companies, and this company, should consider fully supporting the mod community, as opposed to the usual of just not hindering the mod community.

Naturally not all mods would qualify, or even should qualify, but I would like to see the results of a mod community fully supported.

Again, this is probably a suggestion that should have waited until after release.

[Hatsune_Neko]

probably as the game is still getting lots of attention and development.

but yea i do agree with the other games that got after market attention and the Devs added in the best stuff.
Give Kenshi time and the modders as well.

you forgot Ark, which got a massive new map thanks to modders. so there is president for games in development like KSP and Ark where modders added something so good the Dev team did add it to the official game. in time we will see if anything like that is made for Kesnhi as well. but so far, there is nothing that fits that bill.

[Rispek Cortez]

you forgot Ark, which got a massive new map thanks to modders. so there is president for games in development like KSP and Ark where modders added something so good the Dev team did add it to the official game. in time we will see if anything like that is made for Kesnhi as well. but so far, there is nothing that fits that bill.

I didn't actually realize Ark and KSP are already doing that, good to hear. Perhaps we are seeing a seachange in the way games and their mods are treated. Even if it isn't a seachange, but just something the more independent developers embrace, I am good with that as well.

I briefly popped over to the modding forum and read the thread where Chris is explaining the editing suite, looks like he is already very supportive of modders. I didn't even realize it was him until one of the posters used his name. The way he was posting it seemed like he was just a modder himself, which I suppose makes sense considering he worked on this game for years by himself in his spare time.

This game has definitely joined the short list of games I will automatically buy anything related to it without a second thought, I can count these games on one hand (Crusader Kings 2, Sin's of a Solar Empire, and Kenshi). I would have purchased the new map without a second thought, as it really is sequel quality in my mind.

[swillo]

I like the options that Kenshi currently has for mods. You just check the ones that you like and they are included. In the recent update I posted a bug report because my food was not being consumed. I didn't realize that the no hunger mod had been Included in the update and was automatically added to the mods list. I was frustrated that they installed such a game breaking mod without saying so in the change log. But I once I realize what if was I was able to just uncheck it to remove it.

The issue with mods it that every time the game updates the mods need to be updated as well.
Many times modders lose interest in the game and move on to other games leaving their mods broken when a new update comes out. If these were included into the initial download you would be downloading broken mods that were useless. Or Lo-Fi would have to take over maintenance of them which would be a drag on their update efforts.

Also there are many times that mods are stored on sites that are at best Phishing sites at worst filled with Malware so that the modders can make money from their downloads. I can't tell you how many hours that I have had to spend cleaning viruses out of my computer because my son wanted a minecraft mod that was essentially malware.

The only thing that I would like to see for mods is a safe ad free place to look for and download them. It should be part of the Kenshi website so that we know it is their official approved cache. That way the mods could be insured to download and install correctly, and that they are virus free. With none of those ads that only say "Start Download" on their page.

[Rispek Cortez]

Your concerns are valid swillo, but what I am suggesting is not including mods as options to click on (like the "no hunger" mod). They would be included into the base game, and as far as we would know they are updates from the developers themselves (unless we dig into the update notes, and thank you credits). Of course they would have to pass muster with the dev's themselves, and ultimately Chris's vision for the game.

I am just suggesting that the developers be open to the option of taking mods they like and expanding their game in a way that may not be possible with a small team. Imagine some group of modders building an expansion to the map that perfectly and seamlessly fits in with the base game (with perhaps craftable boats to sail, or motor there). Or perhaps, some group of programming genius modders creates or modifies an AI that is superior to what the dev's can make in a reasonable time.

Sometimes modders are able to create things the dev's themselves wished they had time to create, but due to circumstances are unable to. These are the kind of mods I am talking about.

Now the mods that allow you to import your personal family crest and attach it to your armor (or something equally individual), are nice but should be left as downloadable mods. By the way, can someone make that? I would definitely download that in a heartbeat.

[Zeal]

Chris is developing this game in his own vision and what he thinks would make it a better game. That being said, if you're not talking about adding additional mods to the list upon download, i think it doesn't really need to be suggested that Chris add what he wishes to. If he sees something he likes, he'd probably just add it anyway.

I could understand a "teaming up" part if the mods included assets or IP that did not originate from lofi though.