Good day,
So you've decided you wanted to make a mod. That's a noble choice, you're going to experience a whole new world of being a content creator, and you'll learn more than you ever thought .But before you even think about starting, you need to make sure of a few things:
1. Do you have the skills to make a mod?
A lot of would-be modders decide that they want a mod, but have no real marketable skills. If you know how to do vehicle lights, and that's about the extent of a mod, you're not qualified to make a full mod. Assess your current skills, and go from there. The website has a tutorials section that explains all the basics, but if you don't know what you're doing, don't start with the big mod right away. Work on adding a vehicle to another mod, maybe editing what is in another mod. The basics are what you build on, but remember, someone who can model, is 1000x more useful than someone who can do lights, reskins and populate a map with decorations. The most basic things, like models and adding them to the game is much more useful than the finishing touches, like the light patterns.
If you don't have the skills, don't start a mod. Instead, start learning the skills to mod. You'll have a better outcome.
2. Do you have the dedication to complete a full mod?
It's taxing, time consuming, and doesn't go away once you announce it, or even when you finish it. If you want to begin on this endeavor, make sure you can complete it. The best way? Get the skills required, before even starting. You'll regret it if you don't.
3. XYZ member has created a mod, or appears to know what they're doing. They would be perfect on my team! Let's recruit them to do all the work!
No. Just no. No body will make your mod except you. If you don't have the skills, don't make a mod. People have an idea that all you need is the ability to lead to get your own mod, and most of the people that go in with this idea don't even have THAT ability. Don't even think about a team. If you and a friend or two don't have the skills already? You need to develop them before you start the mod. The experienced modders certainly will not even consider your mod something to help with until you have shown them there's something you've done and it's good. Even then, they'll approach you, not the other way around.
4. Can someone give me a walkthrough or a tutorial on how to make this exact object? The general tutorial is no good.
The thing is with modding, if someone else makes something for you, or tells you only how to make that thing, you're not going to learn. That's why we as a community often point out tutorials.
If you heed these guidelines, you'll be a modder in no time. If you ignore them, you'll be in trouble.
