Rules for modding lobbies without SoI DLC?

[Taylor_]

Lobbies are great vehicles for content and flavor, but they are a DLC feature. It's technically possible to script in lobbies for users without the SoI dlc, but to what extent is this allowed?

1. I assume removing the 'has_dlc_feature = lobbies' trigger from any existing vanilla content is a no-no?
2. Are we allowed to script the creation of vanilla lobby types that don't require the dlc?
3. Are we allowed to create lobby events that don't require the dlc? If (2) is allowed, they would have no access to events assuming (1) isn't allowed
4. Are we allowed to create new lobby types that don't require the dlc? I have domestic lobbies in mind for this, but it could also be done differently.
5. If (3) isn't allowed, are we still not allowed to create lobby events that don't require the dlc for modded lobby types if (4) is allowed?

Thanks!

 

[Toa Kraka]

Rules for modding lobbies without SoI DLC?

This thread contains the official modding rules (last updated in 2018) and discussion thereon. Nobody has received an official response to a question since 2018, though.

 

[Taylor_]

This thread contains the official modding rules (last updated in 2018) and discussion thereon. Nobody has received an official response to a question since 2018, though.

Thank you! Rule 7 isn't entirely clear to me what counts as 'content' owned by PDX, but this matches my question quite well. So based on this, I would assume we don't need to DLC lock lobbies if 1) its a new lobby type and 2) we create associated events and not use existing ones.

The next vague thing is what counts as 'new', like is taking existing events but adjusting them making something new? I imagine this is a case-by-case basis and how blatant it is interpreted to be at the time.

 

[CaesarVincens]

Was thinking about this today. Lobbies are themselves a free feature. It's only the "opportunities", "demands", and "fund lobbies" action which are DLC features. From the dev diary on Lobbies (cut to relevant sections)

All of these effects, as well as the actual creation of Lobbies themselves, will be available to everyone as part of the free 1.7 update.

For those with the Sphere of Influence expansion, Lobbies can also make their will known through an opportunity or a demand.

Also available for those with the Sphere of Influence expansion is the new Fund Lobbies diplomatic action.

Finally, I want to wrap up this dev diary by talking a little bit about the moddability and extensibility of the Lobbies system. Besides the Pro and Anti Country Lobbies mentioned above, the system also comes with built-in support for ‘neutral’ Foreign lobbies that have a goal relating to another country which is neither directly friendly nor antagonistic, and even for Domestic lobbies that pursue an entirely internal agenda in the country they are created in. The entire system of forming, appeasing and applying mechanical effects from lobbies is completely moddable, and we definitely intend to use this system to create new and interesting types of lobbies in future updates!

Given that, I think I can answer your questions a bit more clearly.

1. Yes, removing DLC checks from vanilla content is expressly forbidden (unless removing the content entirely of course)
2. Yes, lobby types don't require DLC, so as many new types as you like
3. As long as your new events aren't intended to circumvent 1 (i.e. a mostly cloned event), you should be fine.
4. Same as 2, make any new lobby types you like
5. Basically the same as 3, as long as you aren't trying to circumvent DLC checks, you should be fine.

Of course, disclaimer that I am not affiliated or employed by Paradox and so my opinion does not reflect their official policy.

 

[Taylor_]

Was thinking about this today. Lobbies are themselves a free feature. It's only the "opportunities", "demands", and "fund lobbies" action which are DLC features. From the dev diary on Lobbies (cut to relevant sections)



Given that, I think I can answer your questions a bit more clearly.

1. Yes, removing DLC checks from vanilla content is expressly forbidden (unless removing the content entirely of course)
2. Yes, lobby types don't require DLC, so as many new types as you like
3. As long as your new events aren't intended to circumvent 1 (i.e. a mostly cloned event), you should be fine.
4. Same as 2, make any new lobby types you like
5. Basically the same as 3, as long as you aren't trying to circumvent DLC checks, you should be fine.

Of course, disclaimer that I am not affiliated or employed by Paradox and so my opinion does not reflect their official policy.

Right, I think I may have been confused because I thought that catalysts triggered an event which created the lobby and every event which includes the creation of a lobby includes a dlc trigger. I guess these are just opportunities and demands?

 

[CaesarVincens]

Right, I think I may have been confused because I thought that catalysts triggered an event which created the lobby and every event which includes the creation of a lobby includes a dlc trigger. I guess these are just opportunities and demands?

Ah, good point.

I think those DLC events might be just more flavorful ways of creating lobbies. I think lobbies can form without an event, but I haven't tested that.