sorry about that title; it was going to be a plaintive 'answer me this", but while typing it I wondered if anyone here was familiar with the old Jim Goad 'zine, so I changed it.

...anyway; has anyone here used Danwood's FCOM Superpack? Controversy concerning permissions aside, it is a stellar compilation. The reason I ask is that I am rebuilding my installation, and I notice that when I use this compilation my test games continually (started using Alternative Beginning Revamped) throw me back (automatically) to the Imperial Prison cell (like a 'normal' beginning, though any equipment / quests I've gotten remain); this irritates me beyond my ability to express it rationally. I have also used dev.akm's equally stellar guide to installing FCOM (along with Nice One's installer) without this happening.

There's the rub; does anyone know why this happens while using Superpack?

Thank you

No! Controversy regarding permissions not be swept aside.

You download compilations that people put together without authors permission you get what you deserve. People put hundreds and thousands of hours of their own time into making mods and along comes some arrogant little 'expletive' who says 'sod the original authors, I am going to do what I please with other peoples work because I have absolutely no concept of the term 'theft' and absolutely no consideration for anyone else.'

Do you know that there are authors not releasing public mods because of people like that. There are, and the community is all the worse for it. Fantastic mods that people are reluctant to release because of a few selfish little 'expletives'.

So my answer is this....

Go find Danwhatshisname and ask him. Bet he runs off because he knows nothing about the makings of those mods and is providing a broken package of stolen work.

This is exactly why we do not compile our work into large compilations. because it cannot safetly be done. Updates cannot be added and conflicts run rampant.

Seriously, you think these people would get it...

It is not that we don't want to make compilations, WE CANNOT MAKE THEM. Anyone who thinks otherwise is deceiving themselves. I don't mean to come off super harsh on you, but if you download these compilations you are asking for trouble...period. And the snotty little 'expletive' that made the compilation will not/cannot help, because they have no friggin idea.

Do yourself a favour, download the official FCOM and then if you have a problem come and ask the authors here. They are only to willing to go out of their way to help you.

As it is the authors cannot help you. They do not keep up with 'illegal' compilations and they understandably are not going to take the time to investigate how the compilation was put together and find you an answer. So if you choose to continue using the 'superpack' you are completely on your own. Good luck getting it figured out.

Meek has a point, we have no idea how it's been integrated. which of the many mods that override each other have priority, etc.. It really just sounds like a textbook case of why compilations don't work- integration problems, no testing, no support and they're generally compiled by people who have no idea how to mod because the people who do know it's not a good idea.

I would suggest that if you dont like FCOM as it is, that you change it yourself for your own use (and headache!) then possibly gain some appreciation for how much effort is taken to make them.

Uh... that doesn't really have any relation to his question at all. Danwood's compilation is supposed to be FCOM as it is, and the errors show it fails at that.

That's one of the reasons why unauthorized compilations are frowned upon here (along with the lack of obtained permissions): They tend to have lots of compatibility issues and the mods in them become outdated over time.

It'll take you a lot longer to download and install each individual mod, but that way you can be sure just what you are adding to your game, that you are using the latest version of these mods, that your list is compatible, and that if there is a problem with any of the mods you can contact the original author instead of some vague compilation guy.

Just thought I'd bump this as the FCOM SuperPack in mention has just been updated. I'm not familiar with the history, but it now has a file listing the credits of all the mods, although permission has still not been obtained for anything.

I've asked the uploader to remove stuff I've worked on, just posting here to bring it to others' attention.

I saw that the Nexus thread for it was still alive a few days ago and was appalled. Someone even had the nerve to respond to my post, in all of their ignorance...still gets me fuming...

For certain it is rude and disrespectful, but it does make me wonder why this pack would have any appeal to anyone.

Convenience and pleasure are more important than intellectual rights and respect for others.

Why is it most of these compilation guys don't like my stuff Well, except for All Natural anyway. They always seem to grab that.

Seriously though, why do these guys keep doing this? I don't know for sure what Quarn and Kivan's policy was on including the UOP in such things but the guy didn't even bother to ask if he could use the UOP Supplemental and I don't know whether to be flattered that he cared enough to do it, or hopping mad that I'm only just now finding out about this through back channels.

I wish that thread could be removed...

You know, the way his "full credits" text file reads it heavily implies the FCOM team beta tested the mod pack. I doubt they'd appreciate even the hint of this sort of thing.

I was actually going to ask if that "super FCOM" pack was legal or not. I don't want it, but I sensed (forgive me it is 4AM and I am tired as hell) mischief in the mod...but I briefly ran over the description (so I missed some key points) but it almost seemed like the guy actually got permission for it when I skimmed through.

Nonetheless, I am glad to see it is illegal and hopefully action will be taken quickly. lol...why wasn't my mod included in it though? ha ha ha ha ha...
speaking, anyone remember the "let's make the impossible possible" guy that popped ontot he forums a little while ago...I wonder if this mod has anything to do with him....more than likely not since others make "Super Fun Packs" all the time...but still....I remember seeing in the "Super Fun Pack" description that he also uploaded it to a torrent (where unfortunately action cannot be taken) and I remember "making the impossible possible" guy say he was going to upload his package via torrent.
anyways...

Let's not bring that one up again...

It's not rocket science. But I'm starting think a DEGREE IN ROCKET SCIENCE IS REQUIRED.

Generally speaking~

ASK FOR PERMISSION. CHANCES ARE THEY WONT SAY NO.

SOME PROJECTS CANNOT BE FEASIBLY DONE/FINISHED.

Look man, I been here a little after Oblivion was release and was a 360 player before even getting the PC. This kind of crap, I have seen made modders quit. I still remember ALL the threads, all the fights, and all the good mods I still have that you can't get anywhere else because they were taken down. Even the modeling community prefers to keep to themselves because of stealing/not asking for permission - lol I get to see all that awesome armor thrown in my face and I can't even use it. Some modders are even on edge now. Quit RUINING things and ASK. If you can't contact them, leave it alone.

/end rant

As for the topic, lol?, don't need a compilation. Just download the required files for FCOM -.-. Seriously, dive in the water and set it up like everyone else. It's not hard.

You would have to remember a particular sketch in a particular British children's TV comedy show from the late 80s and get the specific cultural reference that sketch was making to understand why I even bothered clicking on this thread!

IS making modders quit. There are so many *click* file has been hidden by the author messages on TESNexus these days. I seriously thought that Nexus was having server trouble when I checked back in March. Elsweyr was down, AlexScropion's mods disappeared, AmpolX's mods are gone... Those are just a few I happened across. Then I find out Exnem pulled, and I know a number of modders are moving their stuff to the more private communities trying to get away from this mess. It is awful, really awful. I am so glad Slof put her mods back online, but with some of the comments I have read at TESNexus, who can blame them...

(AlienSlof is a girl?)

well wouldn't putting mods up on small places like TESA not change anything? I have not ever downloaded from there but can't you download from there even if you are not a member?
Which means those mods are still accessible to be taken - with or without permission. And honestly how I see it in this case, if there it not an email attached to the readme when the mod is downloaded, I doubt who ever is taking the mod to pop into their "Super Happy Fun Time" pack would want to sign up for whatever website just to send a message asking for permission (that is - if the package maker was curtious enough to ask permission.)
Honestly I think if you are going to run to a little modding community and withhold the mods from the masses - punish them for something they didn't do because of one person - then wouldn't it be a better idea to put it on a more safer site? If you want to fight these people doing this you have to prevent them 100% from doing it or none at all, even a small chance they can get to download a mod I promise they will find a way and take up on that chance. This means either stop releasing the mods to the community, which is a cruel way to deal with this as the entire modding community did not steal your mod, just one, or find a secure place to upload where downloading can easily be monitored. In this case, TESA is fine, but like I said, if you can download without signing up, that is not preventing anything. Even still if you make it so only members can download, some would be as desperate enough to just join for that one mod and that is it.
And unfortunately we really cannot take REAL legal action for repackaging mods...besides it would be silly; "Group of avid game players sues avid game players for taking their work." as a title for the newspaper. Honestly, I believe picking on those guys who steal the stuff (I am reading the lovely comments on the "FCOM Superpack") and doing whatever we can to prevent it is the best measure. You know, if you see it happen then report the file on Nexus. Sure it won't stop them from uploading it elsewhere, but I know a lot of modders (including myself) do not like having to leave Nexus for a mod unless they REALLY want it. Aside from that; let's face it. Stealign is part of communities. Even Bethesda themselves have stealing. Just the other day a guy brought up how he pirated Oblivion since he already own the 360 version. Bethesda cannot do anything to stop it, not even legal action, because he is safe behind his computer monitor. Nonetheless, I am saying, feel proud your intellectual property is a target. That means you did an excellent job worthy of praise in the modding community. The community is no different from any other community: There are the normal ones who respect the "law", There are those who do not do the illegal action but do not care if someone else does, and then there are those who don't care and will do what they want.

That is incorrect. Downloads on TESA are for registered members only. Our site is heavily moderated and anyone caught siphoning mods for controversial packs like the one described here are banned for that behavior. Please don't make comments like this without the facts.

excuse me for trying to get a point across. The point of the response was not to say TESA doesn't moderate downloads, the point is, if someone joins a seperate community they need to know that it is secure, there is no point of in going there to upload the mods.

I'm not sure she'd answer to 'girl' - to quote the entry page to http://www.slofshive.co.uk/index.php "I am long past my youth"

You used TESA as a negative example to make your point, a point drawn from supposition since you are no longer a member of TESA and have (by your own admission) never downloaded from there. You said that TESA does not require registration to download mods and that makes it a less secure alternative. My response was to point out this fallacy in your logic. TESA is a site for modders, by modders, and protecting the modder is one of our primary goals. It's a goal that has given many modders on their way out the door a second life in this community and that should not be taken lightly.

Closed to review

Aaaand,,,, we'll leave it closed. :stare:
Thread necromancy, sniping at each other, talking about a thread on a completely separate forum. Take yer pick.