Add camera Mods to fanpatch?

[yerkyerk]

I've been trying out a camera mod and, imho, it greatly improves the game. I can view angles I was always curious about, see better scenery, it is possible to prepare decently now while moving southwards, etc, etc.
The camera mod that seem to be the most likely candidate for inclusion is this: http://www.titanquest.net/forums/mod...ollection.html

The reason I mention this is because I think it's a good idea to include it in the fanpatch. It gives an additional feature without hurting the game in anyway, afaik.
It seems harmless for the people who do not want to use it, they can just leave it be; Nothing changes for them (at least not with the 360 degrees rotation mod). I can't really see a problem with it, unless someone's overly concerned with the size of the patch (which is probably kinda big anyway).

It's just an idea, I was wondering how you guys feel about it. Maybe you think other camera options ruin the experience, give unfair advantages, it'd be a beautiful feature, we should be concerned with fixing bugs instead of additional features, or whatever.
Cast your vote, complain, encourage, whatever you do, let your opinion be heard!

[JMD]

I don't really care, one way or the other, to be honest. I've messed with the camera angles myself, but I always seemed to go back to the defaults.

Either way, it couldn't hurt to be included for those that like it.

[Thermal Ions]

Personally I don't find I use the rotation mod, but I definitely do use the camera distance mod (still in isometric view, just scrolled out further). This currently requires replacing the database.arz file so I guess if the fan patch will already be replacing this file I wouldn't be able to subsequently replace it without losing the fan patch - I'd therefore like it included to have the option of using it. If the fan patch doesn't replace database.arz or would safely patch the camera distance mod database.arz if I'd installed it first then I wouldn't care.

I'll admit to not really understanding all the detail involved in patching / skins / meshes / tex files etc.

[lufe]

Thermal Ions, the fan patch for sure needs to change database.arz. Most changes on it are on this level.

I'd also like to see the isometric view included in the patch, since if it isn't I'm going to merge it there anyway.

[yerkyerk]

That is indeed another problem; since a lot of fixes adjust the database.arz, the patch should be as complete as possible, else it will become increasingly difficult for the non-experts to add fixes and additional features to the game.

[lufe]

yerkyerk, since it seems to me that you're coordinating this patch, why don't you do like the frenchies did?

They made:
a) 1 version of the patch for the "purists" (only the most incontestable changes added)
b) 1 version of the patch with some add-ons that fix contestable issues (RoT and Triumph come to mind
c) 1 version making monsters more difficult to kill
d) I can't remember (will check)

The versions were cumulative, i.e., whoever has b) has a) too, whoever has c) has b) and a), etc. That means that the database.arz includes some changes in a), then the same changes more some in b), etc...

They came to this after a lot of discussion and refinements so that everybody got happy.

I believe that a) should contain only the most obvious and irrefutable errors. Camera Mod should come on b), etc.

Also, you could join me in the plead for Bman or SoulSeekkor to fix (as a part of the Defiler) that part of the game that checks the database.arz. If this is overruled, different database.arz's can be used to play together in MP. That would be perfect, if the developers of the mods test that those versions can be played together. As it is now, we can't connect different database.arz even if we know 100% sure that they are compatible.

[yerkyerk]

Hm.. wouldn't it cause problems if people with incompatible databases could connect too? Oh well, it's a discussion for later.
This fanpatch was meant to fix stuff where everyone would agree on. If this patch would be a success, a new patch which focuses mainly on balance issues might be made.
And yes, the skins weren't broken and the camera is working fine, but adding skins and camera options doesn't seem to hurt anyone at all, while increasing the aesthetics of the game for many people. It'd also give these options to people who would normally never install game-enhancing mods for several diversing reasons.

[GuardianWarrior]

Voted: Yes!

"Isometric" view is necessary, cause it enhances the original one.
Does anyone still use the original view ?
Are there people who use "Top Down" view ?

"yerkyerk", you should have made a poll to ask around, which camera mod should be applied. If many people use different views, so the patch maybe should contain different databases.

[yerkyerk]

Oh, heh, I thought the mod allowed for both positions to be used :s

[Ganelon]

The default camera has such a small pan distance that it is borderline broken. Monsters will frequently use ranged attacks just outside of the camera radius. Usually, your ranged weapons have enough range to hit back, but the arbitrary camera distance makes this impossible.

I'm all for the isometric camera mod being included.

Maybe the installer can be modular, so that people can choose which, if any, camera mods they want.