Ideas for improved mod support

[upyr1]

As someone who loves using mods to add assets to DCS here are some ideals I would like to see.

First a mod manager- ideally something built into DCS.

Clearly it should be able to install and uninstall mods but I would also like it to support repositories. I figure this could be done with a file like ver.lau which would contain a download link so the player could check for updates. Next, here is where being part of DCS core would be nice, on the part of a mission where it says- "this mission requires the following modules" the list should include the link to the repository so the player can download the mod.

Next as the mods don't currently work with historical mode, I think it would be nice to give the user the option of creating a file with countries and service dates for their mod. I believe there is a database for the historical mode in DCS core, so while I don't think we should be able to modify that I do think we should be able to create our own for mods.

Next in the same line of thinking we should have be able to add a line for the type so the mod can work with the type drop down menu. 

I've said it before, I'd also like to see an asset cache, so that a user could access assets while connecting to a server that is using them.  

[Tank50us]

One that I'd add is that the mods should all be uploaded to a specific area where people download them from. This way we don't run into the problem of "Where do I get the mod from?", you just hand the other person a mod list, and their games searches for, and downloads it automatically. Similar to a certain ground combat sim we all know.

[upyr1]

1 hour ago, Tank50us said:

One that I'd add is that the mods should all be uploaded to a specific area where people download them from. This way we don't run into the problem of "Where do I get the mod from?", you just hand the other person a mod list, and their games searches for, and downloads it automatically. Similar to a certain ground combat sim we all know.

The ability to browse for mods would be great- 

[MAXsenna]

Yup! An official launcher like Skatezilla's with support for a mod repository/user files would be most welcome.

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[Tippis]

44 minutes ago, MAXsenna said:

Yup! An official launcher like Skatezilla's with support for a mod repository/user files would be most welcome.

If we're allowed to feature creep, add auto-downloading with server white/blacklisting as an option on top of that.

[upyr1]

29 minutes ago, Tippis said:

If we're allowed to feature creep, add auto-downloading with server white/blacklisting as an option on top of that.

That could be a good feature, unless Eagle decided to limit it to their server- which I wouldn't object too either

[Spino]

18 hours ago, Tank50us said:

One that I'd add is that the mods should all be uploaded to a specific area where people download them from. This way we don't run into the problem of "Where do I get the mod from?", you just hand the other person a mod list, and their games searches for, and downloads it automatically. Similar to a certain ground combat sim we all know.

There are a couple of places I know of.  One is of course the User Files, but they do have a file size limit.  Another good one would be combatace, they host mods/skins for several games/sims including a whole section of DCS stuff.  They also have a file size limit, but IIRC it's bigger than ED's limit on the User Files section.