Download mods when joining servers automatically

[XGhozt]

Hi all, just registered on the forums here to post about this. I'm not sure if it's been suggested before, I did do some searching but I didn't see anything obvious. I wanted to suggest that we make joining multiplayer servers significantly easier by automatically downloading mods and toggling them as needed when you try to join a server.

This behavior takes me back to how it used to function on Unreal Tournament servers (it still might). When you join the server, it would download the map, and then along with it any resources you would need to play on that server. Such as custom graphics, mods / mutators, etc.. It might function something like this:

1. Player ops to connect to server
2. Server requires 4 custom mods
3. Player downloads 4 mods immediately (from the server directly or from the official site?)
4. Player downloads map
5. Player's client toggles mods config to only activate those that are needed
6. Player joins server
7. ???
8. Profit!

I believe some of the mods now are loaded when the game is launched, so this might cause some issues. As to where on Unreal Tournament, things are loaded when the player join a game/server. Perhaps a quick solution might be to just restart the game for the user and then attempt to connect immediately. This might be nice to have anyway because people could post a "link" that when clicked would trigger steam and load right into the game/server (but that's another topic).

[mattj256]

This is a good idea.
There's some complexity if the server isn't running the latest version of a mod. Right now I don't think there's any in-game way to download a mod that's not the most recent version.

[Zeblote]

This is a good idea.
There's some complexity if the server isn't running the latest version of a mod. Right now I don't think there's any in-game way to download a mod that's not the most recent version.

Maybe download the mods directly from the server?

[ssilk]

Absolutely great id. The problem is, what should I do with the others: viewtopic.php?f=80&t=27805 Suggestion around Game-Internal Mod-Handling/Mod-Management

[XGhozt]

This is a good idea.
There's some complexity if the server isn't running the latest version of a mod. Right now I don't think there's any in-game way to download a mod that's not the most recent version.

Maybe download the mods directly from the server?

Downloading directly from the game server would be the best route. Even if they're stored somewhere temporarily just for playing on that one server with the client. Just because we need the mods to play on a specific server doesn't mean the user needs to be able to use them locally outside of that server. They could be downloaded, cached, and loaded while joining that one server. This also allows server owners to easily create their own mods that might not need to be published to the mods archive because they just do something dumb like add their website logo somewhere. I'm sure there are some security issues that need to be addressed, but that's for the devs to solve. This isn't a new concept, so it's got to be possible.

The alternative method is to pull mods from repositories which means we need a regulated way of handling versions, etc..

Absolutely great id. The problem is, what should I do with the others: viewtopic.php?f=80&t=27805 Suggestion around Game-Internal Mod-Handling/Mod-Management

There's a lot going on in that thread. Having not read every single thing there.. the goal should be to make it easy for the end user to just jump in and play the game. Anything beyond a single button that says something like "join server" and it just works, is going to cause frustration. I noticed a few of those threads are on the same track as my OP here, I'm sure there is a hybrid solution that can be found. I usually suggest starting with the basics, and developing further as times allows to simply the user experience more then anything else.

[supernet2]

I completely agree with previous statements. Enable auto downloading the mods from the host server. For players who have limited bandwidth though... i suggest giving the option in the mods section to enable "auto mod download from server". This would be the easiest route for the player to join the server. The mods SHOULD be downloaded though and auto enabled forcing the client to reboot. Then the player can re-browse back to the server they wanted to join with the mods enabled and ready to go. If the player so chooses to disable the mods they can, and the re-enabling of the mod happens again when attempting to join same server mods were downloaded from (or redownloading from the new server they connect too that is modded)

[Jap2.0]

I completely agree with previous statements. Enable auto downloading the mods from the host server. For players who have limited bandwidth though... i suggest giving the option in the mods section to enable "auto mod download from server". This would be the easiest route for the player to join the server. The mods SHOULD be downloaded though and auto enabled forcing the client to reboot. Then the player can re-browse back to the server they wanted to join with the mods enabled and ready to go. If the player so chooses to disable the mods they can, and the re-enabling of the mod happens again when attempting to join same server mods were downloaded from (or redownloading from the new server they connect too that is modded)

There's an option planned to sync mods with the server in 0.17.

[Philip017]

https://factorio.com/blog/post/fff-248

looks like 17 already has plans to sync mods with servers, but man it's been a long time coming, i really hope it makes it in!

[frostedclaws]

This needs implemented! had to spend 15-20 minutes coaxing my friend to play modded factorio only to have him poof on me because trying to setup a way to send him files, upload, and then download them again took more than he wanted to wait.

[supernet2]

https://factorio.com/blog/post/fff-248

looks like 17 already has plans to sync mods with servers, but man it's been a long time coming, i really hope it makes it in!

Yup on 18.x build. Seems like they did integrate it. Downloads from what appears to be the host which is great, because i literally custom patch mods to function with my server for gameplay. Finally, its been implemented!

[Philip017]

oh brother a 2 year old comment being quoted, yes i know factorio has automatic mod syncing now and it was sorely needed, makes joining a modded game so much better now.