So you can only have one MOD at a time?

[JC the Builder]

I don't see any way to enable multiple addons at the same time. Does this mean you have to incorporate them all into the same skin? That would be very annoying if someone comes out with a nice one and you want to add it to your current setup.

Why isn't it like Warhammer Online where you can have multiple addons at once?

 

[Kiminality]

I've thought the same, but assumed that the coding to allow/manage multiple addons would be much more complex.
However, I liked the ability to pick and choose addons, to suit what you wanted.

 

[Fink]

I think - at least in terms of skins - we can maintain a certain level of compatibility if we adhere to the default template, meaning the layout and specfic use of textures as they exist in the default UI. In this way you could combine your favourite look with your favourite function by copying art files from the former over the top of those from the latter.

At least, that's my aim.

 

[JC the Builder]

I think - at least in terms of skins - we can maintain a certain level of compatibility if we adhere to the default template

If something isn't compatible then it won't work. Then you remove the conflicting addons.

If someone makes a nice party healing mod, I just want to drop that into my folder and use it. I don't want to have to edit several files to make it work. They are using the same system as from Warhammer Online, even some of the UO documentation refers to Warhammer examples.

In a sense all skin creators are now competing with each other to get people to use their creation. That is not good in my opinion.

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

You can "stack" mods together in Windows assuming they run with different filesets or you know which lines of code to merge in the files themselves. If they're different mods for different UI aspects, then all you have to do is create a folder to place the smaller mods in to make a larger mod consisting of the various parts (it's what I did with the mods I used in KR that got noticed that helped start the Exchange... no coding prowess, just throwing stuff together).

Once we get FULL access to the custom UI code (XML and SVN mainly), you can probably expect to see more "Enhanced" or combined UI packages such as the Enchanced packages for KR.

For now, UI modding is back at the early stages compared to KR and is involving a lot of testing different things to see what will and will not work.

Once we can get that full access, I'm pretty sure from chatting with a few of the Exchange modders that we'll start seeing the combined mods that letr you turn the modded features on and off to your liking.

I have to disagree with the "competition" between modders being a bad thing. Graphically, people have different tastes and it isn;t a popularity contest between mods. If for instance a new Bitter Black is released and gains a bigger following than a Nautical theme, it's not saying that BB is better than Nautical or that Nautical is worse, it's just a matter of tastes. The modders of the Exchange have been working together to produce the mods on that site since it started and by pooling efforts have done some pretty impressive stuff. Credit is always given to the contributors as well.

Not every modder has the same ideas, and if we can come up with a good core set of UI mod functions that can be ported to different UI skins, then SA will benefit all the more from it. I haven'tseen it as competition as much as it has been the pooling of resources.

 

[Kiminality]

Even a skin that combines various elements isn't really ideal.

To break a moment to say that I have full respect for the modders, who do an excellent job with the tools available to them. None of what I say is against any of you.

To use a WAR screenshot I already have uploaded:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w85/kirainotenshi/ScreenShot542.jpg
On that shot, I can see Squared, FPSbox and SoR.
Squared is the rather ugly grid of squares, which is actually an awesome party/warband healing addon.
FPSbox is the embarrassing white text that reminds me just how badly the game ran.
SoR is State of the Realm, which tracks the status of the server's RvR zones.
There were a ton of others I used, for cultivating and such. Each addon has different purposes, perhaps essential for one character, and pointless to another.
The feature JC and I are talking about is the ability to select what addons you want to use. If I didn't want one of the addons, I wouldn't have to have it, while if I wanted another, I could add it easily.

Edit: I did consider a possible workaround.
If standalone UI elements can be written, and saved in a subdirectory, could a custom "gump" be used to list all the subdirectories and allow them to be included?
I'm no expert, but it seems possible, with defined standards.
Although it would be better if support for it was implemented by the devs.

 

[Heartseeker]

...

You can "stack" mods together in Windows assuming they run with different filesets or you know which lines of code to merge in the files themselves. If they're different mods for different UI aspects, then all you have to do is create a folder to place the smaller mods in to make a larger mod consisting of the various parts (it's what I did with the mods I used in KR that got noticed that helped start the Exchange... no coding prowess, just throwing stuff together).

Once we get FULL access to the custom UI code (XML and SVN mainly), you can probably expect to see more "Enhanced" or combined UI packages such as the Enchanced packages for KR.

For now, UI modding is back at the early stages compared to KR and is involving a lot of testing different things to see what will and will not work.

Once we can get that full access, I'm pretty sure from chatting with a few of the Exchange modders that we'll start seeing the combined mods that letr you turn the modded features on and off to your liking.

I have to disagree with the "competition" between modders being a bad thing. Graphically, people have different tastes and it isn;t a popularity contest between mods. If for instance a new Bitter Black is released and gains a bigger following than a Nautical theme, it's not saying that BB is better than Nautical or that Nautical is worse, it's just a matter of tastes. The modders of the Exchange have been working together to produce the mods on that site since it started and by pooling efforts have done some pretty impressive stuff. Credit is always given to the contributors as well.

Not every modder has the same ideas, and if we can come up with a good core set of UI mod functions that can be ported to different UI skins, then SA will benefit all the more from it. I haven'tseen it as competition as much as it has been the pooling of resources.

Well said Dermott.

 

[Fink]

I can't say that I will produce popular skins. I'm just making stuff I want to use myself and, if anyone's interested, I'm willing to share. If the skins can be merged with mods (ie: code) then all the better.