TechAngel85

Of course the original author could return and pick it back up, but it would, more than likely, be a group effort with whoever picked it up after it's been converted to Open Distribution and Open Modification due to an abandonment event. In true honesty, I feel if an author truly supports open modding they would not mind this happening so the mod does not become outdated during the time of their absence. I could put a clause in there that states if the original author returns to find the mod outside the scope of their original intent, the original author would have authority to correct the intent and direction of the mod. Also, if the changes are major, then the mod is to be forked where both the original and new mod exist.

What time frame would you all consider more appropriate? 60 days? 90 days would be the max I think I would be comfortable with. If an author can't make a single post within 90 days there's a more serious issue than abandonment, imo. The purpose of the short time frame is to prevent laziness on the author's part.

TES Alliance is probably the next best place after Nexus. I would avoid Steam. Bethesda.net has a 2gb limit if I recall correctly, but that might be only for consoles. Bethesda.net isn't a good platform yet anyway.

I must be the exception as a mod author myself because I don't find it abrasive in the slightest. Like DY, I'm pretty easy-going. If someone took my mod, I really wouldn't care. In fact, I'd have some fun with them by messing with them a little like updating the mod really often, putting in an easter egg about the theft, etc. But that's just the kind of person I am. STEP's stance on this single topic and it's posts is that it's all hypothetical. If we felt otherwise, we would have shut it down. If Synth posts otherwise, we will shut it down. Until then, feel free to debate the solution to abandoned mods that Synth presented and perhaps present your own.

I will post later this evening. I'm currently at work.

Just changed today.

No, we never intended the Rep system to work as such and it's mainly received negative feedback. Voiced opinions are better than a simple push of a button. We'll be changing how some of this works. I'll post an announcement topic explaining the changes once they are implemented, unless Z does it first.

The distinction is made and anyone who has been around STEP for a period of time knows our stance on the subject. There is no "coddling" being done. Only moderation and what I am addressing is the direct attacks towards Synth's views and/or proposed question. He has a right to his views and you have a right to yours. He's has not called out directly saying that anyone's views are wrong and unethical (unless I missed something). Please give him the same respect in return. If in doubt about the tone of your post, pause, grab a hot cocoa, a coffee, a beer, a glass of wine or a shot of tequila (for those legal aged members). Then come back and preview your post, read it, and ask yourself: "Is this offensive or needlessly provoking?". If the answer is anything but "of course not!", then please don't post it. Also, Synth's original question and views were asked and expressed in a "what if" matter and he even went on to later say: Granted he could have stated that earlier to prevent some harsh replies, but even after the post you guys just keep hounding on as if he's stated that he plans to do it. I've read this entire topic as a hypothetical and not as if he's actually planning on doing it or I would have shut the topic down a long time ago. I suggest everyone take a breather, lighten up a bit, and have a good debate; else I'll be forced to lock this topic.

Enhanced Skyrim Factions - Companions Guide: https://forum.step-project.com/topic/673-enhanced-skyrim-factions-companions-guild-by-dreamking/ That post should probably be moved to that topic or to the "pack" topic in question.

The mages are going to be a tough one to pick between STEP and Gamwich. I love the ones that are in STEP now, but Gamwich's are probably more true to vanilla and style of the game.

Please stop telling SynthetikHD that he's wrong, unethical, etc, etc. You claim he would be forcing his views on the author with his proposed actions...are you not doing the same to him by telling him your way is the right way and that he is wrong or unethical? That is your view; not his. You have the right to disagree and present your counter argument. You do not have the right to tell him what is right or wrong for him. He has to live with the consequences of his own actions just like all of us. So, you and I have our own views on ethics and morals from our culture, society, and upbringing. He has his which happen to be different (regardless or law, ToS, or not). If you can't convey your opinions and views without being directly negative towards him, then simply refrain from posting. Use Mono, GP, and my own replies as examples. I have reset SynthetikHD's Rep Points the best I could. I don't feel it is right for users to be down-voted for expressing their opinions which may or may not differs from others or the norm. Misuse of the Rep System is punishable on STEP so don't misuse it. One down-vote on the initial post is enough. This isn't Reddit.

I like what GP said. Modding for me is a past-time, a hobby, but it's one that I happen to love. I work in management at a national clothing retailer where I manage everything you see on the floor; from the merchandise to the associates helping customers and everything in-between. This is not the job I wanted to end up with. My formal schooling is in Computer Network Engineering, of which I have several internationally recognized IT certifications and lack only one year to get my bachelors degree (financial reasons have kept me from finishing). My passion lies in IT, but I'm am where I am now and that's not going to change anytime soon. The job is actually a good job with little complaints, but it's not my passion and it gets boring and monotonous more often than I'd like. There is no challenge in the work I do and my own history has taught me when I am no longer challenged by my job, I usually move on. However, I'm older now and realize I can't go job hopping. I need a stable paying job to survive and I usually just scrape by just like most. So how do I combat this? How to I keep walking into a job every day that isn't my passion and isn't providing a challenge for me? I mod. Since I'm no longer challenged at work I find the challenge at home, in modding. Modding keeps me interested and constantly provides some type of challenge to work through and figure out. It allows me to give back to a community that I love and care about which makes me feel good and keeps me from becoming depressed. Without modding, I would probably be a lot worse off than I am now because it provides me a sense of accomplishment that I don't get anywhere else in my life right now. I drive the other Staff around here nuts somethings because I sink myself into my role as a Staff member and modder because of what it provides me. They understand this to a degree and, thankfully, put up with me. :: The point I'm attempting to drive home is the same as GP's. Few to no one knows where those modders are in life. Few to no one knows their story and why they mod. By not respecting them, you could be doing far more harm than you realize. True, some just do it because they're good at it and have nothing else to do. True, some have egos that are way bigger than they should be. But that's always been a part of the community and you just learn to respect those modders just as you do any other. However, every once in a while you might run into a modder who mods because it provides them an escape from life; whether it be a bad home-life where their parents aren't the best of parents, a hard time in life from someone close passing or some type of trauma, or just needing to seek a challenge. These may seem like "extreme cases", but they are real stories I have had from other modders. You're "harmless act" could be far more harmful than you know...so respect others both online and in real life until you have taken a walk in their shoes. There are some straight argumentative replies here, but if you can look past those, the others provide some truly great insights into life and general respect of all. Assuming one cares about such things...the young usually do not until they are older and have experienced some of life's harsher moments...speaking from experience.

Yes, only said in humor, Mono.

What SynthetikHD is really trying to describe is open modding where you're free to do as you wish as long as credit is given. That's 100% open modding. However, I don't agree going against authors wishes is right. Basically it comes down to respect. You ask me not to smoke in your car and I do it anway. What's the worse that can happen? I get kicked out of your car.You are told no by an author about updating their mod but you do it anyway. What's the worse that can happen? You get banned from the site(s).Now the other approach... You ask me not to smoke in your car. I don't smoke because I respect you and your property. I have no right to force my habit upon you so I respect your wishes.You are told no by an author about updating their mod. You don't do it out of respect because that it's their work and their wishes. You get respect by giving respect. Your only option is to recreate the mod from scratch and release that with open permissions for all to use. Your mod eventually becomes better and you watch with pleasure as their mod fades into oblivion. Basically, there is a right way to do something and a wrong way. Make your choice and live with the consequences. And just it is clear, STEP doesn't allow links to such mods that have been made against their author's wishes. Any links and topics related to such will be shut down and potential warnings passed around to the posters of such content. Needed to say that just in case...

No more abandon mod talk here please. Lets stay on topic. I've split the posts off to here: https://forum.step-project.com/topic/10758-abandoned-mods/ Continue replying there please.

We (STEP) have a similar arrangement with kryptopyr and other authors. I have an Open Modding Agreement in the works that basically says the same thing as well: 30 days should be more than a reasonable amount of time for authors to respond to correspondences. It simply comes down to respecting the author's wishes and I that should sum up that topic.

I agree that it should be a choice. I just find it a shame that some authors completely shut down their mods from any sort of open permissions even after I they've retired from modding. It would be nice if they would open up the permissions so that the mod doesn't die or others be forced to redo all of the work. The community used to be far more open modding during Morrowind/Oblivion days, from my understanding, and was actually more of a "community" where everyone shared knowledge and helped one another. STEP follows this philosophy. The closed permissions and parlor view is a more recent popularity in comparison that I simply don't agree with, but authors will make the choice they make.

I was thinking the same this hole time. It might be as simple as xEdit script to make mods compatible. As far as abandoned mods, we can only hope that Nexus will change the views and ToS, but don't count on it. The parlor view in the community is really becoming apparent with this news. Open Modding! Viva la revolution!

Look in the Guides section of the forums. There is a new Guide for the new software.

https://twitter.com/ElPsyWeeaboo/status/743170942168268801 https://twitter.com/RealDouglasJr/status/743171144199639040 Good to know!

It's not something that has been officially confirmed. It'll probably be on the System Requirements when they are released.

Thanks! Nabbed my copy.

64bit it is! That should solve the memory issues with modding...one would hope.

Added. The randomness only comes into play for grass and landscape. Foliage (bushes, mushrooms, harvestables, etc...) are objects which have to be manually placed in the CK.

Thanks for that. I actually didn't notice the added foliage. Makes you wonder how far they went with added details. These details will might be an issue with some mods like ETaC and JK....possibly even ICAIO. Foliage will simply clip until disabled though so nothing major with it. But if they've expanded the towns at all...that will be an issue.