A few attempts and proposals have been made but nothing is actually working now (correct me if something is currently being done "behind the scene").
Not that I want to have my personal proposal just as everybody else ;) but I have tried to find a solution.
I have always favored the idea Tet proposed of a Net Art but at the same time I considered it to be still a bit complicated and especially not flexible.

So my idea would be to use the "Net Art" folder then to have a sub-folder "Units" in which units would be gathered into "Unitpacks" folders.
These unitpacks would be simply called Unitpack1, Unitpack2,.....
and each would be focusing on gathering units linked to a certain theme, era, area (ie Asian Medieval, North American tribes units, Modern tanks,... ) to define. Each pack should be between 20-30 MB (to decide) allowing for both a possibility of download for low bandwidth users and at the same time be big enough to gather many units (the aim here is of course to have much less packs than actual units). This system is flexible because nearly anyone (I volunteer to try since it is my idea but just in case) could just add one unit pack, clearly identified. Each would have a listing of the units it holds, both to help modders/scenario makers and as way to replace a unit library.

When modders/scenario-makers release their work, rather than making a huge package with units most players already have, he/she could just provide a small file and say you need to download Pack 2,3 and 7 (ex) for this mod. Another one might need Packs 3 and 4 but the user who has already downloaded it does not need to do it again.

Advantages would be :
- gather and list units
- limit download sizes
- avoid multiples downloads of the same
- avoid multiple stocking of the same on CFC server and the users' HD
- allow for small mod/scenarios files
- users don't have to download all units/packs but just the ones whose thematic they are interested in and that the mods/scenarios they play use.
- easy evolution (Pack name + title for thematic), no need to upgrade anything, just download additional ones.

Shortcomings :
- needs some maintenance (for units but for leaderheads as well) to make the packs, check the units, etc...
- modders need to use the "official" pack calling system of units (relatively easy to do since the PTW editor but that might mean some rework for some mods).
- Modders need to check and use the Pack system for their mods/scenarios (it is in their interest too but...) and in their readme, presentation
- since Packs would need 20 units or so to be complete, special (theme) individual units might take a while to find a pack (so short or longer delay between a unit release and its actual presence within the Pack system.

OK, here is a brief and hopefully clear presentation.
I am asking here for your ideas about it or your questions or the improvements you could have in mind. Of course at least another person would be needed at the start for leaderheads and this system can only work with the support of the admin (mostly Thunderfall here to allow the posting of these packs).

Up to you now !

But there are the same problems of custom INI's, installation for newbs, and the amount of work that needs to be done on the player's side... (players - the lazy sort that want to download a mod and play). 20 units per packs you say - then I imagine that my not so big mod (over 120 units from various themes actually) will need 8-12 packs... then leaderhead pack(s), then the base, and a patch...
One advantage of this over the original Net Art is that units can be at least checked for all possible errors etc. then re-packed into something error-free, however this was also proposed before, but put down as impossible, because no one will do it ;)

I dont really see a point in having a unit library. Its not that much easier than just browsing around the unit forum..

Originally posted by embryodead
But there are the same problems of custom INI's, installation for newbs, and the amount of work that needs to be done on the player's side... (players - the lazy sort that want to download a mod and play). 20 units per packs you say - then I imagine that my not so big mod (over 120 units from various themes actually) will need 8-12 packs... then leaderhead pack(s), then the base, and a patch...
One advantage of this over the original Net Art is that units can be at least checked for all possible errors etc. then re-packed into something error-free, however this was also proposed before, but put down as impossible, because no one will do it ;)

I don't remember it was proposed before so sorry for that.
On the other hand I disagree about INI's. Since the PTW editor these don't need to be changed, you can just rename them in the editor.
About the number of units, I am pretty sure the ones you use could be found in a few themes : 1, 2 and 3 fantasy for example + some medieval ones like 4, 6, 7 (just examples).
Dedicated players (or Steph's mod players) would probably download all packs anyway and the others would just fill in the gaps for their needs.
What you must remember is that for the medieval ones, MEM players for exemple won't need to download the ones they already have downloaded for yours. Leaderheads would be the same, of course it does not mean people won't have to download the stuff but once will be enough, provided modders accept to recheck their mods. And I guess it is no surprise the two first negative answers came from modders.
On the other hand I agree about the patch pb if it concerns recent units.
And I agree it is a heavy system that requires a lot of organization at the beginning but could be easier on the long run.
Imagine for a new version of your mod, you would just need to update the biq, add cities, resources maybe and that's about it.

Don't get me wrong I am not just trying to prove you wrong on every point. :p

Players' opinions (probably a minority in this forum but anyway) would be welcome .

Besides for the "no one will do it", I already said I could volunteer to start it and (considering the scope of it) to make it work with enough packs otherwise it will be indeed a waste of time. But others could work on filling the packs gaps too since the packs are more or less independant from one another.

Originally posted by Yoda Power
I dont really see a point in having a unit library. Its not that much easier than just browsing around the unit forum..

Actually the first aim is to ease downloads for mods/scenarios, the fact it could be used as a library is just a bonus.

It would be a useful thing. How many time did I download some differents mod with 80% of identical units ? Units that I've already downloaded anyway :roll:

It would be really good for those with a limited bandwith and for those with small connexion.

Originally posted by LouLong
On the other hand I disagree about INI's. Since the PTW editor these don't need to be changed, you can just rename them in the editor.

:rolleyes: I'm speaking about custom INI's, not names. 90% of INI's I use in my mod were changed somehow. Half of those were error fixes, the rest were custom/different sounds, switched animations. It was brought up as major problem for Net Art, believe I'm not the only one who edits INI's.
Additionally I actually edited lots of .flcs ie. resized some units, so I'd still have to include them separately. That's recently a common practice, as mrtn can confirm :p


About the number of units, I am pretty sure the ones you use could be found in a few themes : 1, 2 and 3 fantasy for example + some medieval ones like 4, 6, 7 (just examples).

You haven't played my mod, have you? :p I have musketmen there and there, cannons, some cossacks units, some AoK, ironclad(ironram), typical asian, arabian or egyptian ones. That's why I bet much more than 6 packs.


Dedicated players (or Steph's mod players) would probably download all packs anyway and the others would just fill in the gaps for their needs.
What you must remember is that for the medieval ones, MEM players for exemple won't need to download the ones they already have downloaded for yours. Leaderheads would be the same, of course it does not mean people won't have to download the stuff but once will be enough, provided modders accept to recheck their mods. And I guess it is no surprise the two first negative answers came from modders.

But you assume that all players are dedicated and play every mod that is downadable at CFC. As far as I see, people don't download even 1/4, because they are not interested in most themes. Also, there is a world outiside of CFC. If I recommend someone a mod, it's pretty easier to tell him to "download a file", rather than go to CFC, install 10 unit packs, 3 leaderhead packs, then the file, then the update... ok I'm repeating myself, but I'm just stressing that dedicated players who want to save their bandwidth are just a small part of the whole community, and you want to turn the world upside down ;)
BTW in case you wondered, I don't have a broadband.


Imagine for a new version of your mod, you would just need to update the biq, add cities, resources maybe and that's about it.


But I do it this way right now ;) I don't have to release a new 150 MB version just to change some files.

OK, project forgotten for lack of interest (thanks Supa though) and some organization reasons.

Embyodead, I have actually played your mod :) but every time I get killed pretty quickly :o so I guess I did not see the "extra" units.
And I did not think modders were playing with the INIs like that.
:(

Actually, I agreed to the project back when Tet proposed it. I also alter ini files, but the system would still work. I could send my custom ini with the mod, and any custom sound files, but since all the animations are teh same, there is no need to include those in the mod as well.

If this idea does go any further, PLEASE PM me. In the next week or so I should have an additional 500MB of web space, adn would host the unit packs on my site if the idea is ever finalized.

- GIDustin