Community Base Resources

I had often found myself in situations where I have to remake or reuse one element across multiple mods. With this project, I'd like to be able to standardize and package such content, and release to the community.
This would materialize in the form of a one time download which would provide resources for any mod that uses it.

Modders will have the option of referencing content from the pack, which requires users to have downloaded it, or they can bundle the content they use with their mod.
I would encourage the former, so as to reduce overall file size of the mod, and also for simplicities sake.

I have decided on a CC-BY-NC-SA license, which should allow widespread and flexible adoption of the pack, whilst ensuring it is not abused, and that credit is given to the original authors.

Currently, we need high quality content. If you have anything you are able to donate, either post it here, or pm me.
If you would like to create something for the benefit of the pack, then the following have been requested:

Effects:

• Smoke puffs, both smaller and larger than those in base.rte
• Muzzle flashes, both smaller and larger than those in base.rte
• Better looking ground fire
• Assorted pyro effects

Glows:

• Two colour gradients
• Smoke style glows
• Assorted shapes
• Assorted colours

If you think of something you think should be added to the pack, either post here, or try making it yourself.


Original Post:

This is a concept thread for a utility mod which could add content such as new smoke effects, nicer ground fire, different wounds, more sounds, et cetera, for the modding community as a whole to utilize.

I often find myself in situations where I have to remake or reuse one element across multiple mods. With this project, I'd like to be able to standardize such content, much in the same way that we all (can) use Vanilla wounds, sounds, effects, and so forth.

In many ways, this is very similar to the objects part of map pack 3, but for general modding, rather than for scenes.

Three problems immediately occur to me;

• Reluctancy amongst the general user base to download this, both for modders and for users.
• Finding and deciding upon what content to add.
• Licensing issues regarding content in this pack.

I'll tackle these in reverse order.

License-wise, I would opt for the entire pack to be distributed under a creative commons, something along the lines of both modification and distribution allowed, so long as credit is given. Alternatively, I would release it all as completely free, for any and all purposes.

As for content, either you have a few dedicated people produce all of the content, with the risk of a narrow selection of content available, or you have the entire community pitch in, which should ensure that most repeated elements of mods are included, but at the risk of a mish-mash of styles, and/or quality.

Finally, uptake throughout the forum really depends on the quality of the pack, until we (in theory, at least) get into a positive feedback loop of more people downloading this, meaning that more people use it, and so forth. Uptake is, in my opinion, going to be the single largest issue.

So, now that I have given you the gist of it, and have gone over the major issues, what do you all think?

Would you use it, would you contribute, or would you be happy for most mods to rely on it?

I would use it, if only because I hate having to redo smoke, fire, energy beams, etc, every time I make a mod. I generally make my own set of standardized ones anyway. This especially would be good for condensing code for making objects, like generic MOPixels, MOSParticles, MOSRotatings, AEmitters, etc, which I always have a file for.

As for licensing, a CC-BY-NC-SA license seems like it would promote the best community efforts.

I am in full support of this

So like... A big pack of stuff make by lots of different people to standardize certain things by only using the best of the best for certain things as to raise the level of certain things?

An expansion of base.rte's effects, I believe is the goal. Think Map Pack 3, but for mods in general.

Ah, gotcha.

I offer my Coalition Elite's head explosion wound. And also, maybe, my fire.

Get capnbubs on this, and it will be godly. I like the idea of this, hope it goes through.

I support this (and would use it)
The base files also have a file full of scripts, I have often wondered why there's no lua dump. Maybe after you make all the rest you could consider adding some general lua files.

I would also like to offer my help, my modding skills are limited but you can call on me.

There is a Lua dump. It's not very large though.

Is it the lua tricks topic? anyway I love the idea of a community base folder.

Now this sounds like a cool idea. I'd love to use the Crobo-style explosions. I hope Capnbubs allows it, as well as AAL effects, Cricket's sparkle magic, and TLB's ideas. Of course, other people should contribute too, or else this wouldn't be a "Community Base Resource". Question: Should this replace the vanilla FX? Cause then we could do "copyof = " and reference it in our mods. I cannot wait

Well, I will support this BUT
spriting is not easy for me, I prefer re-spriting.

Anyway I love this idea, I support this idea.

I love the idea. I generally suck at making neat effects.

Well, I'm (very) surprised at the amount of support, I must say.
A CC-BY-NC-SA license sounds good, especially non-profit, which I hadn't considered, would be an excellent addition.

Some commonly used Lua would probably be useful (gibthis and the like), so if anyone has any other scripts that are commonly reused, then submit those too.
This wouldn't replace the vanilla effects, but would augment and expand upon them. It would be used like the vanilla resources are now, hopefully.

But yeah, any submissions for effects, sounds, whatever, either post them here or pm me, I guess.

i offer my realistic bleedings .
i forgot , some sounds too.