STEP:Mandate: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 03:54, April 19, 2023

Step Mandate

Guiding principles for the Step Mod-Build Guides

| Forum Topic

Step Modding Guides

Figure 1: Workflow concept for incorporating mods into a mod list'.

Figure 1: Workflow concept for incorporating mods into a Core build'.

Step Modifications offers complete, stand-alone 'Mod-Build' Guides for supported games. These Guides provide start-to-finish instructions that result in Step's vision of an enhanced, vanilla gameplay experience for the game. Though customization is possible within these Guide, they are intended to be complete, 'Step-modded' solutions.

In addition to adding upon the visual and acoustic enhancements of vanilla games, Step Mod-Build Guides also modify aspects of the game in terms of gameplay mechanics. This may include mods that add or subtract specific, vanilla functionality to yield an overall more balanced and immersive experience.

Step Modding Guides are about ...

... bug fixes and corrections to malfunctioning aspects of vanilla games
... interface mods that improve the UI for the PC
... modifications to meet realistic expectations of intended game features
... modifications that improve continuity and qualitative consistency of all vanilla game assets, behaviors, and content
... new content and assets that are consistent with the game's style and lore, as established by game creators and extrapolated on by the Step Modifications community in accordance with resources:
- Skyrim: Imperial Library and UESP

Step Modding Guides are NOT about ...

... sex mods, skimpy clothing mods, body replacement mods that promote realistic nudity beyond the vanilla game, or beauty mods that unrealistically affect or digress from the ambiance and style of the vanilla game.
... content that conflicts with the game's lore
... sound replacement mods that digress from the game's vanilla ambience
... texture mods that significantly deviate from the game's original visual style
... mods that subjectively alter or contrast with the style of the vanilla game
... mods that are only required for a specific user base (e.g., a mod that fixes UI issues but only for users running at 4K)
... mods that have a high performance penalty

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-=={{fs|130%|{{fc|#84BBD8|Core STEP}}==
+{{PageTitle|title=Step Mandate|subtitle=Guiding principles for the Step Mod-Build Guides|forumtid=16085}}
-{{fc|#ccc|Skyrim was originally created for the console, and while Bethesda has released official texture packs and patches to correct for the PC platform, they missed a great deal. Core STEP comprehensively ''enhances vanilla Skyrim for the PC'' in order to properly finish what Bethesda attempted. Specifically, ...}}<br>
+=={{fs|130%| {{fc|#b0d864|Step Modding Guides}} }}==
+[[File:high_level_devel.png|thumb|right|450px|'''Figure 1:''' Workflow concept for incorporating mods into a mod list'.]]
+[[File:mod_consideration_flowchart.png|thumb|right|450px|'''Figure 1:''' Workflow concept for incorporating mods into a Core build'.]]
+Step Modifications offers complete, stand-alone 'Mod-Build' Guides for [[Property:Game|supported games]]. These Guides provide start-to-finish instructions that result in Step's vision of an enhanced, vanilla gameplay experience for the game. Though customization is possible within these Guide, they are intended to be complete, 'Step-modded' solutions.
-{{fs|130%|{{fc|#84BBD8|Core STEP is about ...}}}}
+In addition to adding upon the visual and acoustic enhancements of vanilla games, Step Mod-Build Guides also modify aspects of the game in terms of gameplay mechanics. This may include mods that add or subtract specific, vanilla functionality to yield an overall more balanced and immersive experience.
-:* ... bug fixes and corrections to malfunctioning aspects of vanilla Skyrim.
-:* ... HD asset replacements in the style of vanilla Skyrim.
-:* ... improvements to existing content that increases the consistency of vanilla Skyrim.
-:* ... new content that is indisputably missing from vanilla Skyrim.
-:* ... interface mods that improve the menus and UI for the PC.
-Core STEP can be defined as a comprehensive assemblage of game modifications that are 100% consistent with the above bullets. This will maximize the stability of a core "fix" whilst minimizing the possibility of conflicts. Another way to think of Core STEP is that it simply takes the Unofficial Skyrim Patches a step further by integrating them all along with other miscellaneous fixes and vanilla asset enhancements.
+<hr>
-{{Notice Small|width=80|We may want to offer a downloadable Core STEP modification consisting of a compatibility patch and a BAT file that assembles an asset compilation from resource-conflicting mods. These compilations would differ only with respect to performance (i.e., we strategically hand pick specific textures based on location, % coverage and resolution). Even better, we may be able to host such compilations ourselves with permission from the few mod authors whose assets are involved.}}
+==={{fc|bug|Step Modding Guides are about ...}}===
+:* ... bug fixes and corrections to malfunctioning aspects of vanilla games
+:* ... interface mods that improve the UI for the PC
+:* ... modifications to meet realistic expectations of intended game features
+:* ... modifications that improve continuity and qualitative consistency of all vanilla game assets, behaviors, and content
+:* ... new content and assets that are consistent with the game's style and lore, as established by game creators and extrapolated on by the Step Modifications community in accordance with resources:
+:** Skyrim: [https://www.imperial-library.info/ Imperial Library] and [https://www.uesp.net/wiki/Main_Page UESP]
-{{fs|130%|{{fc|#84BBD8|Core STEP is NOT about ...}}}}
+<hr>
-:* ... content that conflicts with TES lore or vanilla Skyrim lore.
+==={{fc|orange|Step Modding Guides are NOT about ...}}===
-:* ... mods that subjectively alter or contrast with the style of vanilla Skyrim.
+:* ... sex mods, skimpy clothing mods, body replacement mods that promote realistic nudity beyond the vanilla game, or beauty mods that ''unrealistically affect or digress'' from the ambiance and style of the vanilla game.
-:* ... new content that is out-of-scope with vanilla Skyrim.
+:* ... content that conflicts with the game's lore
-:* ... mods that subjectively alter game settings (GMSTs) of vanilla Skyrim.
+:* ... sound replacement mods that digress from the game's vanilla ambience
+:* ... texture mods that significantly deviate from the game's original visual style
-=={{fs|130%|{{fc|#d8B064|STEP Expanded}} {{Fs|.6em|(aka: the STEP Pack)}}==
+:* ... mods that subjectively alter or contrast with the style of the vanilla game
-{{fs|130%|{{fc|#d8B064|STEP Expanded is about ...}}}}
+:* ... mods that are only required for a specific user base (e.g., a mod that fixes UI issues but only for users running at 4K)
-:* ... content that is consistent with Skyrim and TEL lore.}} as established by Bethesda creators and extrapolated by the community according to the [http://www.imperial-library.info/ Imperial Library] and the [http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Main_Page UESP].
+:* ... mods that have a high performance penalty
-:* ... continuity and qualitative consistency of all in-game behaviors and assets (e.g., sounds, graphics, models, gameplay, etc.)
-:* ... new content, assets and effects that "fit" Skyrim and TEL lore.
-STEP Expanded is a somewhat subjectively creative extrapolation or the STEP community's vision of what vanilla Skyrim ''could'' and ''should'' be. Expanded STEP does come with a bit of a performance cost, but it is worth it for those that want to experience a more "realistic" style of play. In addition to adding upon the visual and acoustic enhancements of vanilla Skyrim, STEP Expanded modifies aspects of the vanilla game in terms of gameplay mechanics by using scripted mods that alter GMSTs and add or subtract specific functionality to yield an overall more immersive experience. The cost is paid in terms of a slight performance drop and a more advanced mod-maintenance overhead. STEP Expanded ultimately takes most of the vanilla-extraneous STEP experience of days past and adds the "best" options of Neovalen's Skyrim Revisited that adhere to the STEP Expanded Mandate, without the maintenance overhead of that Pack.
-{{fs|130%|{{fc|#d8B064|STEP Expanded is NOT about ...}}}}
-:* ... Sex mods, female body replacement mods or beauty mods ''that unrealistically affect or digress'' from the ambiance of the TES series.
-:* ... Music replacement mods or game ''style'' overhauls.
-:* ... Gameplay overhauls that affect a ''particular'' play style (i.e., gameplay alterations are chosen that affect all play styles without bias).