Announcing #MODJAM2025

[malakhglitch]

The four themes are:

• Major Event Chain - modders would be asked to make a major event chain similar to the Horizon Signal, that is either associated with a solar system initializer or planet type
• Origins - we have done origins before, back when they were first introduced, but it’s been five years and this theme is a strong contender - modders would be asked to create one unique origin
• Precursor Event Chains - this is another strong contender. With the ability to choose what precursors spawn in the galaxy introduced in 4.0, there’s plenty of room for more (non-canonical) galactic history to be told!
• Crisis Paths - since the introduction of Cosmogenesis in The Machine Age, crisis paths have been moddable, but generally require a lot of work to add to the game when it comes to scripting and artwork (which means we might see fewer finished mods). Modders would be asked to create one unique crisis path and final objective - completing the final objective should trigger the victory screen.

My vote ranked in order:

1. Major Event Chain
2. Precursor Event Chain
3. Origins
4. Crisis Paths

 

[Ranadiel]

Hmm, part of me wants to try, but I'm not sure if I would be motivated enough to pull this off. I'll have to see which category wins to figure out if I think I can make it work or not.

If you’re a modder, sign ups for #MODJAM2025 are open now and will be open until June 20th!

Just to clarify do sign ups end on the 20th or 23rd? Because the image says 23rd.

 

[WoodenP]

Why would modders do a modjam when whatever mod they will make won't be compatible with 4.0.googolplex by the time the modjam is over? Surely you modjam the phoenix after it's risen from its ashes, been shot in the heart by a psionics DLC and rerisen from it's ashes again....

Also how can modders possibly modjam when the game is getting hotfixed every 18 hours...

Oh we're coming up on vacay time....the modders can modjam a broken game over vacay....cool cool...cool...

You've written it really rudely but everything you say is a valid point.

I've made and maintain several mods on the workshop but I'm not updating anything out of of 3.14 until after the hotfixes settle down and 4.0 delivers real performance. Otherwise, what's the point? Phoenix design for trade / pops / districts is all basically just a side-grade anyway. Mid design all around.

Given that I'm not even updating my own stuff it's just not realistic that I'll participate in a mod jam. Sorry.

 

[hart30]

Is there a way to vote for a bugfix mod instead of more features?

Ariphaos with his already existing inofficial patch would win that.
That would be a pretty boring modjam.

 

[Imp0815]

Hm these sound easy and rather dull or obsolet. Can we get something more exciting to vote on? Like military systems? Planetary additions? Gameplay changes?

 

[LayZboy]

The lag crisis path all empires take needs to be fixed before you start doing these types of events, both glu glu and now this.

 

[Masked Ermine]

You've written it really rudely but everything you say is a valid point.

I've made and maintain several mods on the workshop but I'm not updating anything out of of 3.14 until after the hotfixes settle down and 4.0 delivers real performance. Otherwise, what's the point? Phoenix design for trade / pops / districts is all basically just a side-grade anyway. Mid design all around.

Given that I'm not even updating my own stuff it's just not realistic that I'll participate in a mod jam. Sorry.

I think it was rather rude Paradox ignored the beta testers and destroyed a product I've put hundreds of dollars into. Sorry if I have no patience for it any more.

 

[MrFreake_PDX]

Hmm, part of me wants to try, but I'm not sure if I would be motivated enough to pull this off. I'll have to see which category wins to figure out if I think I can make it work or not.

Just to clarify do sign ups end on the 20th or 23rd? Because the image says 23rd.

Signups will be open till the 23rd. We've had a lot of things shuffle around with the timeline for this, and I missed updating that line. Thank you!

 

[MrFreake_PDX]

A note about the #MODJAM2025 vote:

The Crisis Path UI is DLC-locked to Nemesis, The Machine Age or BioGenesis. This means that if Crisis Paths wins, the #MODJAM2025 content will only be usable to those who have those DLCs.

If you do not have those DLCs, and want to play with the Mod Jam content, you should probably consider changing your vote.

Sorry for the confusion, and thank you for your interest in #MODJAM2025!

 

[grommile]

Is there a way to vote for a bugfix mod

No. Why would there be?

The voting period for the mod jam itself ends on 2025-08-25, 36 days before the latest permissible* release date (2025-09-30) of Shadows of the Shroud.

Asking people to write, and vote on, mods that should** become obsolete no more than 36 days after the vote would be a really weird look.

Also, constraining the development window of a bugfix mod to a specific date range misses the point of bugfix mods.

* If they miss 2025-09-30, Steam offers people refunds on the balance of the season pass.

** I make no comment either way on whether a bugfix mod written for the jam would become obsolete by then.

Create an enjoyable system of trade routes and piracy. I guess this would be an 'Overhaul' category.

A working system of trade routes that isn't an infinite mare's nest of ugly scripting hacks would require engine support.

 

[Masked Ermine]

No. Why would there be?

The voting period for the mod jam itself ends on 2025-08-25, 36 days before the latest permissible* release date (2025-09-30) of Shadows of the Shroud.

Asking people to write, and vote on, mods that should** become obsolete no more than 36 days after the vote would be a really weird

Looks at burning tire fire of hotfixes nullifying mods now*

Uh huh...

 

[grommile]

Looks at burning tire fire of hotfixes nullifying mods now*

Notice my use of the word 'should'.

A bugfix mod for 4.0 should not remain relevant past the release of 4.1.

A new-content mod for 4.0 should, in general, remain relevant with only "maintenance"-level adjustments all the way to the release of 5.0.

 

[Jokka]

Origins

 

[SirBlackAxe]

Summing the votes here and on discord, the winner looks like crisis paths:

1. Crisis Paths: 97 + 832 = 929 votes (41%)
2. Origins: 98 + 647 = 745 votes (33%)
3. Major Event Chains: 65 + 318 = 383 votes (17%)
4. Precursor Event Chains: 49 + 155 = 204 votes (9%)