#skinnypig2 modding thoughts

[skinnypig2]

looking through Sarah’s dialogue records working on that dialogue expansion mod, and I’ve found some references to interesting locations for which arrival dialogue was recorded and location data was programmed, but which never made it into the final game:

- Bautista Fellowship: a star station serving as an academic institution to which the “Settled System’s finest minds [would] flock.” Sarah says Matteo had mentioned it to her. Sam says he feels “out of place” as “a lot of smart folk graduated here.” Andreja thinks the number of scientists present may be something of a security risk. Barrett exclaims “science nerds! my people!” I couldn’t find anything to indicate which star system the station would have been in.

- Cody’s Hill: a small settlement on Polvo which would have had a few houses, a workshop, a general store, and a saloon. Sarah mentions they’re living on the fringes of technology. it seems this place would’ve been an old west frontier town type analogue. Sam says the place has a “colorful history.” Andreja muses about whoever Cody may have been and why he chose that hill. Barrett thinks it “certainly smells like a farm.”

- Chandra Vineyards: self-explanatory. Sarah says Chandra is the best wine she’s ever tasted. Barrett mentions that it’s the home of the “fragrant prasada berry.”

- Azure Brook Farms: presumably an automated farm on Jemison. Sarah says she “could see [herself] retiring to somewhere like [it] one day.” Sam says it looks “awfully prosperous.” Andreja says “the UC is fortunate to have robots to do their farming.” Barrett describes it as quaint.

Discovering these kinds of vestigial data records is so interesting to me because they highlight the differences between what was originally conceived of for Starfield and what was eventually settled upon.

In creating any kind of work of art, step one is to conceive of an idea or experience a feeling, before working to channel it and manifest it into something real. We don’t know exactly why these locations were cut, and it could be any number of reasons for a project like Starfield, but despite their absence in the final game, I think they’re still representative of that idea of Starfield. They are the difference between what was originally conceived and what was eventually settled upon, and so they’re evidence of that original idea from which Starfield was created.

These cut locations are no less Starfield than Starfield, even they’re not in Starfield. The idea of Starfield persists beyond its own restrictions as a real work of gaming media. (mouthful)

That idea of Starfield is what I’m drawn to, as a fan and a space nerd, and as a mod creator. That idea is something I’m always mindful of when creating mods. That abstract imagining of a grounded, optimistic future where, lead by our hope, our wonder, and our lust for the unknown, and despite the very human issues or societal issues which of course still exist, we may have the opportunity to experience firsthand the beauty of our universe and deepen our understanding of the nature of our existence.

Even when the execution of that idea may fall short of itself, or reach physical limits, or leave behind some of what enforces its identity, that idea persists.

I embrace that idea of Starfield.

[skinnypig2]

that’s my mod!!!! 😊

I was always so jealous of the other Constellation members’ suits having nameplates, luckily there's a mod that fixes that.

[skinnypig2]

i’m working on a mod right now (which I will be releasing for free) that is just an absolute joy to be working through. there’s so much detail in Starfield, but for some reason, this core area which the mod covers was left largely unattended to by Bethesda. it’s a minor thing, all things considered, but if you love exploring and collecting stuff this mod is going to be essential. I’m so excited to see it completed. For real. it’s so simple but it’s so perfect 🌱

[skinnypig2]

sarah morgan fan club! i have something for you

[skinnypig2]

[skinnypig2]

to the few who follow me on here to keep up with my mods or whatever..

i’m scared

i don’t know what’s gonna happen

i can’t sleep

but this whole modding thing was fun. a completely new experience to me to interact with so many people through the content i create…

and a joy. sort of bringing others joy too, you know, in a way.

i mean, obviously I’m not going anywhere tomorrow but like

i don’t know whats gonna happen

and i don’t know what to say

it’s funny too because i just started as a verified creator. my first paid mod came out this week. and, like, that potentially significant source of income from shit i enjoy doing literally could have changed my life. like to afford to move out of a red county in a red state, and start anew. if i had been given the opportunity to really cultivate this modding endeavor. what i mean to say is I’ve very been optimistic recently.

now, it really feels like that hope will be nothing more than a foolish memory

idk if I’m writing this down here more for me or more for you, but I don’t mind sharing

to be clear, it’s not yet been confirmed yet, but it’s looking bad. I’ll post this and leave it here whatever happens

I think to myself every day that i wish i could live on another planet. just away from all the fucking bullshit on earth. like truly just away, and new, and peaceful. i wish i could just live on another planet.

[skinnypig2]

i love cottagecore and i love nasapunk, so tell me, what is the marriage of those two things?

solarpunk

that is what i need more of. that is what i want to hone.

okay, simple enough, right, starfield’s already got its share of that aesthetic, but I’m just now putting the face to the name and i need more !

one thing I haven’t yet delved into with starfield modding is player homes, and I am so so so very excited to try out different architectural styles and aesthetics as well as interior design

and now i can’t get solarpunk out of my head

[skinnypig2]

[skinnypig2]

In my mind, paid creations should solely be content that is either cosmetic, optional (or, like, not imperative), sufficiently unique, or sufficiently complex.

The latter two are subjective, I suppose, but I don’t want to be charging for something that doesn’t really deserve to locked behind a paywall because it’s so simple or essential.

It’s hard to draw the line, though, as both a creator and a user, on what should be charged for and what should be free.

Similarly to how I actually actively use all the mods I make, I only want to charge for content that I would actually pay for, and at a price that I personally would be fine with paying.

I want to make high quality content that I don’t feel uneasy about charging for.

Calculating the possible revenue for other verified creators and their paid creations… that’s like life-changing money for me.

I think, often, when people turn their hobbies into their jobs, that can sour the enjoyment of it, lead to burnout, and ultimately loss of passion for that hobby. And I think (I hope) just by the very nature of this endeavor and my enthusiasm for it, that I won’t get burned out like that. It’s very at-your-own-pace and open-ended and expansive. I like Starfield, and I like creating stuff for it. A lot. To some extent, I’m in this for the long haul. Like, I’m gonna be making stuff anyway, so might as well try to survive on something you enjoy, right? Idk, we’ll see.

(I’m a verified creator now, by the way.)

Please feel free to chime in, I’d love to hear all your thoughts.

[skinnypig2]

inching ever closer to immersive landing ramps v2.0.0 release

[skinnypig2]

i want to dazra new atlantis

[skinnypig2]

today's update working on mods, and just thinking about paid creations:

i feel like releasing a skin pack as a paid mod is appropriate for me, given the rest of my work, because skins are completely cosmetic and optional, vs. the more functional and practical mods i release for free. by purchasing a skin pack, you'd be supporting me as a creator for all the work that i put out, but also with the bonus of some extra skins. like, that exchange isn't limited to solely the skins that you directly receive in return. then by virtue of it being cosmetic, you lose nothing if you don't buy it.

the problem with that is i hate editing texture UVs. i don't have the right tools for it and the best job i can do with the software i have is questionable (but i'm a perfectionist, so who can say, really?). i can't rightly charge for a skin pack when it just isn't my best work.

so that leaves me with the more functional or practical mods with logic and scripting at their core. i prefer scripting to texture editing, but i feel bad charging for content that should probably be free - that i would prefer to release for free - even though i can deliver a higher quality product through these types of mods over the cosmetic texture mods.

okay, so then what about paid content that's fully optional "cosmetic" mods focused on gameplay or quests, built on scripting? i feel uneasy treading into that territory because then where do i draw the line between what should be free and what should be paid? i feel better making that kind of content, and i'd feel better charging for work i'm proud of. but where do i draw the line? does it even matter?

here's a sample of one of the skins in the skin pack i'm working on. that pistol i posted the other day will also be in there, among a variety of others. both this and that pistol are yet unfinished. :/

[skinnypig2]

the way my brain works i swear to you it is a god damn blessing that i can write anything coherent.

you just read something i wrote? my brain just melted out my ears trying to organize my thoughts into that paragraph sentence clause

[skinnypig2]

with bethesda announcing achivement-friendly creations, any chance you plan on making your mods have that feature? i genuienly use most of your mods only and it would be great to have enabled achivements again! (especially immersive landing ramps)

Yes! I’m not yet certain if the achievement-friendly tag is only available to paid creations, or if it’s also available to any mod uploaded by a verified creator. I will have to investigate that, but I believe it may unfortunately be limited to the former.

For each of my mods that can be made achievement-friendly, though, paid or free, I will make them achievement-friendly. :)

[skinnypig2]

ilr v2