Dictionary of Modding, 2007 - submissions

Yes, it's that time of year again and we are preparing for the TIC Dictionary of Modding. Please state whether your word is a noun, verb etc. and give examples where they are necessary.

Approved Entries (as of 11th July, 2006):

All-nighter, noun. An impressive duration of time and expression of effort to everyone except modders, who pull them regularly and see the invoking of one as base. Submitted by snevets

Beta, noun. 1 modder's definition, unfinished mod that is still work-in-progress, but is released nonetheless to recieve comments and critics and discover any left over bugs; 2 player's definition, a bad mod with lots of annoying bugs. Submitted by Duke John

Coder, noun. Modder who spends 24/7 making mods. Then spends another 24/7 fixing the bugs he accidentally added. Submitted by Lusted

Dream-mod, noun. A mod where, despite having no skill in any area of modding or even any sense of grammar or spelling, the leader of the mod still believes that his chosen obscure time-period/fantasy setting which could never work as a mod will still take off and become hugely successful and popular. See also: dodo mod. Submitted by Silver Rusher

Modder, noun. Person afflicted with the need to change something from its original state into one that is (or is perceived as) better. Generally of pale complexion with bloodshot eyes. Submitted by Dol Guldur

Modding research, noun: the act of experimenting to discover something that is already known to someone else and could have been resolved within ten seconds had the informed party not refused to help shed light on the matter - see also, Government. Submitted by Wlesmana

Mod Leader, noun. 1 self-appointed leader in need of modellers and coders to realise his idea; 2 modder who attracts a following and as a consequence becomes a mod leader; 3 a true leader who has got the people skills to manage a team properly; 4 a frustrated optimist who still cannot understand why only 10% of a modding team truely contributes. Submitted by Duke John

Modding Question, noun. A question that has been asked many times before but which the asker is unable to find despite the answer being two threads down from his own post containing the question. Acute MQs are often typified by the poster phrasing the question in one of two forms: (1) The I-can't-be-bothered-to-be-anything-but-vague-and-I-don't-care-about-future-thread-searches form which one must click on to find out what on earth it is referring to (a common example of this type is "I have a question", which really is not surprising as they are actually making a new thread in a forum called "Modding Questions"), and (2) the this-will-make-them-look form which tugs at a modder's sense of wanting to know something new by leaving the question mark off the end of the question so, for example, rather than reading "How To Mod the New Cas Files in Alexander?" we read "How To Mod the New Cas Files in Alexander!". Submitted by Dol Guldur

Suggestions Thread, noun. 1. A diversion device used by modders to distract fans so that work on the mod can be done whilst fans request their wildest fantasies be included. 2. A never-to-be-included-in-this-mod list.

Total Conversion, noun. An amount of work where, as each step is completed, an additional amount is added exponentially leaving it scientifically impossible of ever being completed - see also, punishment of Sisyphus. (1) Submitted by Epistolary Richard

End Notes

1. Sisyphus. One of the first modders of the ancient world who studied rock textures and researched boulder size and mused upon their projectile value, though had to make do with a rather more manual approach when what he thought was softcoded turned out to be hardcoded. Link: http://stripe.colorado.edu/~morristo/sisyphus.html

Perfection, noun. Fabled state which all modders strive for. Modders have been known to collapse from exhaustion in search of this. No one has everr eached it as something is always "not quite right"

Beta Build, noun. New build. Hours of testing by modders to find that one niggling ctd

Coder, noun. Modder who spends 24/7 making mod. Then spends another 24/7 fixing the bugs they accidentally added

Vercingetorix, noun. God

CTD, noun. Pain in the ass

Plan, noun or verb (dependent upon usage). Detailed, extensive (frequently complex) notes made to lay down a structure for a modification. Whether the structure is followed or not is at the modder's discretion. Often influenced by unexpected beta-test results and / or random brainstorming sessions.

Total Conversion, noun. An amount of work where, as each step is completed, an additional amount is added exponentially leaving it scientifically impossible of ever being completed - see also, punishment of Sisyphus.

dodo mod, noun, epithet. A mod that flaps its wings wildly and makes an appalling noise, but which nevertheless everybody knows will never get off the ground.

vanilla, noun, colloq. derog.

Oh, that first one gets approval from the TIC Lexicographers' Committee. The initial post has been updated and includes an elaboration on ER's c.f.

Hard-coded - Game feature which cannot be modded. Usually features desired by modders, but unfortunately unattainable. See also punishment of Tantalus (2)

(2) Tantalus, who enjoyed the confidence of the gods by conversing and dining with them, shared the food and the secrets of the gods with his friends. The fitting punishment was to be immersed up to his neck in cool water, which disappeared whenever he attempted to quench his thirst, and lucious grapes above him that leapt up when he tried to take a hold.

EDIT: Am I being slow? What is TIC?

3ds max, perfect noun: The modder's fickle friend. Capable of creating great art and horrible, horrible pain.

All-nighter, noun: An impressive duration of time and expression of effort to everyone except modders, who pull them regularly and see the invoking of one as base.

Heaven, perfect noun: A location in space where coding, uv maps, and the ai always act the way you expect them to.

Modelling:
A more advanced form of the classic childhood game of "connect the dots".

Highly modable (adj): the state in which minimal changes can be made but still limited by strict, unchangable regulations. see also "marketing jargon" and "lie" (noun).

Skinner (noun): the principal in Bart Simpson's school. see also "The Simpsons".

Progress Bar (noun): a form of substenance to appease the addicted to a minimal degree and can be used to delay any posting of actual "progress". see also "crack coccaine"

Modding research (noun): the act of experiments to discover something that is already known to someone else and could have been resolved within 10 seconds but unable to be performed due to the knowing party's refusal to help giving light into the matter. see also: "government"

Expansion Pack (noun): an illusion of The Holy Grail which would only lead to research (see: modding research) and disappoinment (see: banging own head against wall) due to its highly modable state (see: highly modable).

Mod leader, 1 self-appointed leader in need of modellers and coders to realise his idea; 2 modder who attracts a following and as a consequence becomes a mod leader; 3 a true leader who has got the people skills to manage a team properly; 4 a frustrated optimist who still cannot understand why only 10% of a modding team truely contributes.

Lazy fan, "I want to help, but I do not know how to mod."

Beta, 1 modder's definition, unfinished mod that is still work-in-progress, but is released nonetheless to recieve comments and critics and discover any left over bugs; 2 player's definition, a bad mod with lots of annoying bugs.



And on slightly the same subject, how about writing a "Modding R:TW Post-mortem"? Just to warn the new modders who will arrive for M2TW for the pitfalls and to get a better grasp on how much time modding a 3D game takes. Although it probably wouldn't deter the first definition of mod leader :wink:

LOL...so true. But if you can get the mod team up to about 80-100 members the 10% contribution might just be enough ... :)

Will update later. Currently working on beta (def. 2 probably ;) )

Scripter noun Modder who spends 24/7 making scripts to improve the overall quality and flavour of the mod.

I'll add more. ~D

Modding support, 1 Public definition, Official tools and documention to edit practically all files except the executeable; 2 CA's definition, Incomplete documention in text files, new file formats that can only be opened or generated with tools that are not to be released, and locking/hiding tools in the executeable that are not be spoken off in public.

Release date, 1 Whatever plus three months; 2 "Release in September!" - updated 6-21-2005 by first definition of mod leader; 3 When it is done!

Suggestions Thread. 1. A diversion advice used by modders to distract fans so work on mod can be done whilst fans request their wildest fantasies get included. 2. A never-to-be-included-in-this-mod list.

fustration, when you receive 500 downloads and no thank you's.

Futility - Asking when the mod comes out

Dream-mod: A mod where, despite having no skill in any area of modding or even any sense of grammar or spelling, the leader of the mod still believes that his chosen obscure time-period/fantasy setting which could never work as a mod will still take off and become hugely successful and popular. See also: dodo mod.

EDIT: True frustration: When you release a piece of work that you think is good that took you a very long time to complete, yet you still get very few replies for it.

Modding Question, noun. A question that has been asked many times before but which the asker is unable to find despite the answer being two threads down from his own post containing the question. Acute MQs are often typified by the poster phrasing the question in one of two forms: (1) The I-can't-be-bothered-to-be-anything-but-vague-and-I-don't-care-about-future-thread-searches form which one must click on to find out what on earth it is referring to (a common example of this type is "I have a question", which really is not surprising as they are actually making a new thread in a forum called "Modding Questions"), and (2) the this-will-make-them-look form which tugs at a modder's sense of wanting to know something new by leaving the question mark off the end of the question so, for example, rather than reading "How To Mod the New Cas Files in Alexander?" we read "How To Mod the New Cas Files in Alexander!".

LoL. Added to paper.