[This thread isn't about me doing or promoting a compilation. It's just a curiosity.]

Hi,

Compilations and Oblivion don't make a good couple, it's obvious.
Now, what I want to ask to all the modders that don't like (or like, if there are some) compilations is:

If a compilation respects all these criterias:

- Permissions asked and obtained
- Clear documentation
- Support forum
- Customizability (a good number of customizations, this also means multiple choiches between many variations of replacers/mods)
- Auto-installation (that works pretty well)
- Auto-Update feature (a patcher program that connects to the server and downloads updates automatically)

will you support it? (and if not: why?)

Just wanted to hear your opinions about it without ending with a closed thread and maybe a warn :toughninja:

This is probably better done as a poll. My answer to your question would be yes. Though when you say "Permissions asked", it should be "Permission obtained".

I find it hard to believe that such a compilation would come into being, at least before Oblivion modding slows down a lot.

I guess the idea for this topic originated here? http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1241908-oblivion-overhaul-where-to-get-started/

Yeah I meant obtained, I edited the post.
And I added the poll, too


Yes and no. That topic "forced" me to open this thread, but it's something I've been curious for long.

Thanks

It's the modders works we're talking about and in the end they will end up supporting and troubleshooting any such beast, regardless of promises made by any uploader.

Of course, most users will vote for the easy all-in-one installer option.



edit - sorry guys - I should learn to fully read posts :blush2: :rolleyes:

As I said this poll is for the modders, in fact.

Uhh, did you read the OP?

"I want to ask all modders ... will you support it?"

:facepalm:

I'd say it worked out well for Morrowind, and the idea has potential for Oblivion as well.

No.

I don't think compilations are a good thing. I think users need to understand how mods work. And I think it's preposterous for anyone who is already volunteering so much time and effort to offer any more for the sole purpose of mollifying user laziness.

There is absolutely nothing to gain, and many headaches to be had, from a compilation. Even one as well done as described.

That's a point I never understood.
Why do someone need to understand how they work to simply use them?
A lot of people uses a computer, but many of them have no idea on how it works, for example.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't user-friendlyness something important for every end-user product?

I think people should have to know how to use a computer, too.

Ignorance is bad, full-stop. Using things you do not understand is bad, full-stop.

Good point, but there may be people that know how things works but they are simply too lazy to do it themselves.
How about that?
Laziness is bad, but isn't a compilation a good way to help?
Could be lack of time, too.

I voted no.

As long as I am an active modder, I wouldn't consider any work of mine as "finished". Therefore, I wouldn't want to see my mods in any compilation. Simple as that. I would hate to see say Companion Vilja ver 4 included in a compilation while we were in fact tinkering on ver 6.



Laziness is bad. Compilations is a good way to encourage laziness. Which would be bad.

But since ver. 6 isn't out yet, any mod user (expert or not, and without a compilation) will use version 4 anyway. Wouldn't you hate it?

no, they would use ver 4.02, as the latest update was made yesterday.


With a complilation, none such quick updates would work.

Yeah, but hey, you got what I was saying.

The fact is, that not all the users update the mod the exact same day an update comes out. This happens with and without compilations. And since an auto update is pretty the same quick, an hypothetical compilation with that feature will avoid your troubles.
Or not?

I still prefer it to happen *without* compilations.

+1, also +1 to Emma's comments.

It's difficult enough to support just my one mod on it's own. If it was used in a compilation, I'd feel ethically bound to support that as well. I wouldn't want older versions of my mod floating around in compilations. I barely have time for my own mod. And tech support is VERY time consuming, regardless of how much effort you put into it. I wrote an 18 page manual for my mod which answers everyone's questions. It took a long time to write it. And every version I release I have to go back through the whole thing and double check it for updated material, errors and omissions. And yet I still get people asking me questions that would have been answered had they read the support documentation. I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating that is.

Society is getting lazier and lazier. They don't read help files, the don't read support documentation, they won't type full words and have terrible grammar (which is fine if English is not your first language), but things like "r u 4 rlz?" - I mean, honestly?

I answer the same questions over and over again. It eats up my time. I started working on my mod back in February, and I have yet to play the game further than getting through the a few of the Thieves or Dark Brotherhood quests, mainly just to test my mod. A compilation would eat up even more of my time, for sure. Just fielding the requests for changes takes up time too. I would like to actually play a game with my mod and all the other cool mods installed one day. If agreed to participating in a compilation, I doubt that would ever happen.

I understand the idea behind a compilation. But it's better for folks to educate themselves than to be spoon fed. ESPECIALLY because we are doing this for free, in our spare time. If we were getting paid and were part of a company like Bethesda, it would be a different matter. Thinking of modders as an organized group is a mistake. Yes there are times when we collaborate, but the more people involved, the less likely anything will get done or properly maintained.

Truly the best solution is for modders to take responsibility for making their mods as compatible as possible, regardless of whatever other mods have been installed. Then compilations are not necessary. You would pick and choose which mod-components you want from the smorgasbord that is out there, maybe tweak an .ini setting here and there, and you are good to go.

I apologize for being a grumpy guy this morning, but you caught me on a bad weekend.

Not voting - Not a modder; Just here to pose a question.

How do you know that your pole is not being influenced just by none modders wanting it to swing the favourable view for an easy install, there may be more of those than actual modders voting, making it look to real modders as if the rest of the community is up for supporting the idea? They are sensible enough to make their own minds up of course, but you cant really judge with a poll anyone can vote on.

Edit: Just had to sign out to check the score - There are 6 modders above my post, and currently 9 votes in. 5 of which are in favour?

The poll is the less important thing in this thread.
What is important in this thread are the opinions. I don't want to see numbers, but what modders have to say about compilations.

No.

1) I have enough work to do just supporting my mod on it's own.

2) Why would I want someone else getting credit for my work. Like it or not the 'compilation' author WILL get the credit/endorsemants etc..whatever. The actual author is just a name in the readme that no one bothers to read. So...

No.

I don't know where all the yes votes are coming from.
From input so far the only active modders to agree are wrinklyninja and puvuholo.

No voter here. The scenario in the OP is a pipe dream and could never happen. The reality is much worse and deep down, everyone knows this. Most users don't bother to read readmes, which is the entire problem. I suspect we could write readmes that have nothing to do with the game or our mods and it would take weeks before some people even noticed that.

Support? Again, the reality is that users would get frustrated and impatient when their question was not acknowledged right the hell now and start badgering anyone who's attention they could get to find the answer. Most of us just don't have time for the Twitter/Facebook generation's impatience. God forbid someone should have to wait a day or two to get a response.

Based off the experience I'have had with Morrowind, this is, more or less, what Morrowind Overhaul (no propaganda purposes, I promise ) is. I realize that Oblivion is another scenario and may be more problematic.
But actually the point of the thread is not about "if something like this can be done. The real question is: If this will come true, will you support it?

Plain and simple

Well, thanks to this thread, I have just digged up and posted in http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1211599-wipz-morrowind-overhaul-game-experience/ in the Morrowind forum, which I have up to now been completely unaware of.