Companions use to be very simple and their modded AI had little chance of overwhelming or conflicting with existing vanilla AI or even other mods temp AI tokens. These days Companion mods have become very complicated and in some cases bloated with new, extremely powerful OBSE commands that can remove other mod's AI tokens, take over AI packages and cannibalize other mods AI Scripts. Consequently companions have the potential for serious conflicts with other mods that try to work its magic on them. Now this is perfectly workable with well planed and complicated scripting. But the more "tricky" the mod is the more often a detailed Read Me file is needed as well.
What happens when there is a detailed Read Me file necessary to run a mod properly? Well let me answer that with my favorite "mod consumer" quote:
"why should I read a read me file just to run a mod?"
I see little logic to burning hundreds of hours of my free time making overhaul mods to get grief from the people that do not read read me files.
Until I find a mod upload site that has in their User Agreement that the mod user must agree to read the read me files (or risk being banned from further downloading) I will not be uploading any non-casual mods with out password protection. The password is not hidden, it is not given out to only those I select, it is available to anyone that reads the read me file. The files are not protected, you can see all my source code, the mod will just not start up if you do not put the password in the INI file. I was the first to start doing this a few years ago and it has proved to do what it is intended to do. Some other modders have started to do this as well. But it cuts down on the mods getting downloaded and voted on so the trade off is not worth it to many modders. It is worth it to me as I do not make mods to be popular.
I make mods to test video game ideas I have had for over 30 years. Until Oblivion came along I could only write them on paper. Oblivion is made to be modded, it is the first modding community I have seen where the creative original ideas type person AND the master of logic technical genus can both find common ground.
It is my free time I am using to support the mods. Time I would rather use to to make more mods. Is it fair for me (and to other players that are waiting for me to finish my upcoming mods) to waste my free time answering questions that are already answered in the read me file?
Or to have my unpaid hours of work lambasted ONLY because they damaged their save-game loading a mod with out knowing what the mod is going to do or cant do?
I would rather my mods just be ignored by mod consumers if they are not going to spend 1/10 the time on my mod (reading the instructions) as I did to make the mod using my vacations days, weekends, holidays and hours I should be sleeping.
I will assume your question about the password was sincere and not a "remark". So I apologize if I sound like I am "ranting" at you. It is just that this is a big pet peeve for me.
I only use 1/4 the mods and modding tools I would like to use because I have not read the read me files for them yet! The mod and the modders that make them deserve better than for me to just shovel them onto my game like "unlabeled" condiments on a hot dog from a quicky mart.
Could you elaborate on the companions part?
What's the deal with the password protection in the mod anyway?
» Tue Sep 28, 2010 11:28 pm 
I'll just hope he releases the password in due time then. 
