I figured it was time to make this thread.
This isn’t the first game I’ve written addons for and its also not the first time I’ve seen players cowering in fear over the idea of addons.
##Don’t Fear Power
For far too many games where users could modify interface components with scripting, I’ve seen people freak out over things like DPS meters, information, get into massive arguments on whats too much or too little. Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Addons exist to augment your gameplay experience and they’re not required.
We have an opportunity to help grow Tree of Savior in the best possible way. Its the ability to influence the game itself and demonstrate to the development team we are passionate about their game. Show them what needs to be fixed, what needs to be updated, how the interface should really flow and work. We can become the driving force which pushes the game forward. Look at MMOs and games out where the development team has embraced user addons. Players began to create amazing addons which helped improve the gameplay experience and some really unique user addons exist if you look hard enough.
##You Won’t Get Banned For Using An Addon
If the addon isn’t directly controlling your character, altering game files, botting around the world, or exploiting some weird obscure bug / function in the interface to get an advantage in the game. You’re not going to get banned.
If you do find an addon doing something like this, let IMC know it would be for the best.
##What We Have
Right now, those of us writing addons for Tree of Savior have a giant sandbox of an environment. But this isn’t the correct environment for user addons, its too open and possibly dangerous. Preferably, we need a unique environment for all IMC addons and User addons. Where anything considered ‘internal’ is secured, separated, and protected by its own environment and cannot be accessed by user code. This is considered good practice if you’re using LUA for more than just UI code.
Seriously, IMC. I would love to speak with you about this. You have my info.
##What We Need
We need an official line of support from IMC. Someone on their Community Team or even a Developer to step up and work with Addon Creators . Blizzard has a forum designated for User Addons with MVPs and Employees from the WoW UI Team helping users with their own projects. Sticked posts detailing what API has changed, new features going in, etc. I would love to see something akin to this for Tree of Savior.
@hkkim @TOSTeam @STAFF_John @STAFF_Ethan @GM_Francis @GM_Sebastian @STAFF_No @Staff_Julie
##Distribution
Another problem with addons right now is distribution of user addon code.
We have 2 methods in use right now,
- Gibbed’s Method: Packages which load like an IMC addon and can register for events, uses unicode as workaround. Very few users have reported issues with unicode characters on certain language font sets. Requires some tools for packaging, unpackaging, and encryption.
- Excrulon’s Method: Modified package and requires user interaction at runtime to activate. May come into conflict with other addons using this method. Requires loose lua files to be places in root ToS folder.
If IMC ever implements proper addon support in the future. The addon itself should have its own folder under a directory like ./TreeOfSavior/release/user/ui where it can be loaded at runtime and the code easily accessed by all players in an open format. This would be a better solution for everyone as it would make it far easier for users to install and manage their addons.
