MODS OFF

[FuriousMeow]

Mods came to 1946 when the official development ceased. It extended the sims life when the sim was no longer being developed. The entire Il-2 series' success did not hinge on mods, only its extension of life because people, for some reason, can't stand to play a game without new content, of varying quality, constantly being pumped out. And when I say mods, I clearly mean hacks because there were no modding tools for the original Il-2 series. The first was the sound "mod," at that splintered the online play. The more packs that came out, the further it splintered online. I stopped playing Il-2 altogether at the release of the sound "mod" because it was no longer controlled. You had no idea if the person you were playing against had a Wildcat with a Zeke's FM, or the attributes of a F-16.

 

Mods only extend the life of a sim that is no longer being developed and has the need for many things to be fixed or changed due to the lack of development. As someone said, look at ArmaIII for mods, well that those mods totally change the game from zombies to role playing (Altis) to capture the flag types - which none of those will matter for a flight sim - so the only point of mods on is to add objects. But those objects can only be used in offline, or "mods on" servers that few play.

 

Mods ruined MP for the Il-2 series - they were all hacks to the core game, uncontrolled and varied in quality from amazingly shitty to very nice but ruined MP because of the uncontrolled aspect. RoF had a mods on option, so at least it could be separated so you knew you were flying against standard players or modded which wasn't the case with the Il-2 series, but very few servers were mods on. Mods are effective only for single player, and the only mods that can be done for RoF were ground objects or removing the ambient flak, or changing the shapes of the clouds - all aesthetics. You won't get new planes or changed sounds in RoF mods. The only thing it allowed was new ground vehicles or some small aesthetics.

 

There were no official mod tools for Il-2, and the only "modding" was because the end of the series and modifying the sound. From there the flood gates opened, and the game was ruined for people who played MP because there were no standards in place and the FM/DM/everything was getting hacked. With RoF, and could be with BoS, there will be controls in place but again - the only mods will be basic aesthetics and ground objects. The rest is locked. But mods, by no means, dictated the success of the Il-2 series, the only came about due to the cessation of development of the product.

[LizLemon]

Mods ruined MP for the Il-2 series - they were all hacks to the core game, uncontrolled and varied in quality from amazingly shitty to very nice but ruined MP because of the uncontrolled aspect. RoF had a mods on option, so at least it could be separated so you knew you were flying against standard players or modded which wasn't the case with the Il-2 series, but very few servers were mods on. Mods are effective only for single player, and the only mods that can be done for RoF were ground objects or removing the ambient flak, or changing the shapes of the clouds - all aesthetics. You won't get new planes or changed sounds in RoF mods. The only thing it allowed was new ground vehicles or some small aesthetics.

 

You classify DM mods as aesthetic? 

[EAF_Paf]

We have some nice possibilities in ROF and I hoped for the same in BOS.

Its right, we don't have many mods in ROF, but its only a handful of people trying to mod. WW2 scene is much bigger. There is so much talent around.

I hope the devs reconsider.

[Rama]

Mods came to 1946 when the official development ceased.

No, this isn't the correct figure. Mods started long before, even before 1946... a big proportion of 1946 (terrain, planes, etc...) was made of mods. There were plenty of modders working for IL2 and submitting their works to the devs (you can check the .

But the mod integration within the game was totally controlled by the dev until some of the modding tools (ungtp) were made public and used in an uncontrolled way. (that also started a little before development ceased).

 

With RoF, and could be with BoS, there will be controls in place but again - the only mods will be basic aesthetics and ground objects. The rest is locked.

No, you can do more and not much is locked (except FM and DM). And even when it is in game (like for new maps for example), you can still watch your work with the FMB.

Also in RoF, some work that was initially mods became official, sometimes before the forums knew someone was working on a mod.

There was some good modding also on RoF, largelly less than on Il2 original, this for 2 reasons:

- the user crowd was much smaller, and so was the modder's crowd.

- modding on RoF is much more complex and time consuming than it was on Il2 original

 

That's said, the "mod's on" mode absence, isn't a modder's stopper, but it makes it easier to see some mods "in action", so I would say it's usefull, and I don't really understand why it can't be included in BoS.... except maybe it could conflict with unlocks feature (who stay in the game, even if it was mostly removed for premium users).... if it's the reason, then it would be IMO another proof of the unlocks nuisance.

 

Also.... even with "mod's on" mode, modding will stay complex and very time consuming, so you will see less mods than you saw with il2.

[Livai]

Also.... even with "mod's on" mode, modding will stay complex and very time consuming, so you will see less mods than you saw with il2.

 

If modding will stay complex is a point what you want to mod. If you have files from Early Access for example and see how many effects are reduced you can add them back and thats not very complex its like copy & paste. Texture Modding is not complex. To change the Environment is not complex . All its a matter what you want to mod.

[Tiger_33]

P.S. Tiger, you did it again? 

 

This question is for me ? ..if so yep..

Edited February 20, 2015 by Tiger_33

[yeikov]

It was

[Uufflakke]

We can discuss as long as we want about what kinda mods we want, the complexity of modding for BOS, the quality, the skills, the history of IL2 modding but realize modding for BOS is not going to happen.

 

The BOS team don't want it, won't let you and want a 100% control of everything. 

 

Can't imagine they even bother about a thread like this despite its good intentions.

 

I am still curious to know who the evil genius is who really pulls the strings in relation to their decisions.

[Y-29.Silky]

At least "approved", or "official" mods that the devs like and can add in would be better than no mods at all.

[Uufflakke]

At least "approved", or "official" mods that the devs like and can add in would be better than no mods at all.

 

But that is the thing. Who is the one/are the ones that approve a mod - in case mods were allowed - and on what conditions?

 

Modders come up with ideas you never had thought of that could be improved or added to the game. Unless you see it. And once you have seen it it can not be unseen.

 

Better embrace it than behave like a control freak and overprotect your little baby from the mean and evil outside world.

[Rama]

 but realize modding for BOS is not going to happen.

 

modding for BOS allready happened (for example with the VL map), do happen now and will happen in the future.

[SharpeXB]

I think perhaps people are confusing modding with hacking. Nobody said there wouldn't be quality community or third party generated content added to BoS.

[sop]

We can discuss as long as we want about what kinda mods we want, the complexity of modding for BOS, the quality, the skills, the history of IL2 modding but realize modding for BOS is not going to happen.

 

The BOS team don't want it, won't let you and want a 100% control of everything. 

 

Can't imagine they even bother about a thread like this despite its good intentions.

 

I am still curious to know who the evil genius is who really pulls the strings in relation to their decisions.

Have some respect for the team, good intentions? lol what is % of mod teams that dont deliver anything...let me tell you its alot. re personal mods that is a different matter.

[Uufflakke]

modding for BOS allready happened (for example with the VL map), do happen now and will happen in the future.

 

To quote my post:

 

"But that is the thing. Who is the one/are the ones that approve a mod - in case mods were allowed - and on what conditions?"

 

It suggest openness to mods but it is still fully 100% controlled.

Edited February 20, 2015 by Uufflakke

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

modding for BOS allready happened (for example with the VL map), do happen now and will happen in the future.

Which has been implemented in the game though with a clear intention to make profit. That has more in common with 3rd party development than true modding (which usually is free and truely optional in it's nature).

Edited February 20, 2015 by Stab/JG26_5tuka

[Rama]

It has been implemented in the game though with a clear intention to make profit. That has more in common with 3rd party development than true modding (which usually is free and truely optional in it's nature).

wrong, all the modders that start modding you can later see in the game didn't start for profit. A very few of them then are hired by the dev, but it wasn't the initial intention.

There are plenty of stuff in IL2 (in the official versions), RoF or BoS that has been done, is actually done, and will be done, truely freely (without 1 kopek profit).

I did some myself, and know lot of guys who did to, so I know what I'm talking about.

"But that is the thing. Who is the one/are the ones that approve a mod - in case mods were allowed - and on what conditions?"

Doesn't matter much. Lots of modder don't really care if their goal is to do something they want to have in game and are good enough to do it.

It's quite normal that a dev still developping a game want to have some control to what is added into it by modders.

Some refuse quality control, they have the dead sims to express themthelves without any constraints.

 

It suggest openness to mods but it is still fully 100% controlled.

Some opennes is good, full openness isn't IMO (I remenber CFS and the mess it was, not really userfriendly).

[Uufflakke]

Some opennes is good, full openness isn't IMO (I remenber CFS and the mess it was, not really userfriendly).

 

Contradictio in terminis:

"Some opennes is good, full openness isn't IMO"

 

 

CFS... lol! I still have CFS1, 2 and 3.

I was referring (of course) to old IL2. When a mod is pure bullsh!t or historically incorrect it would not be accepted by the community and disappear into cyberspace.

You know, I know, we all know.

 

Don't forget that withouth modded IL2 there was no vivid WWII flight sim community around anymore, or at least way less populated. Which means less traffic here at this site = less revenue..

Second: no modding is less activity from the community after a certain amount of time. 

Released mods gives you the feeling like walking around as a kid in a toy store and see what is new on the shelves. You like what you see? Well, take it! You don't like it? Oh well, leave it or try it out and throw it away in case it is not what you expected. If hardly anyone likes it we take it away from the shelves anyway.

 

Another side effect of modding: in case a mod is interesting but not good enough. That particular mod got modded again by others. And again and again.

That is the way it works in life.

We call it... development or evolution.

 

Accept it/ embrace it/ assist it or at least guide it.

Edited February 20, 2015 by Uufflakke

[Brano]

Released mods gives you the feeling like walking around as a kid in a toy store and see what is new on the shelves. 

 

More like second hand store with broken toys.But some kids like to play with even broken ones.I used to be like that,then I grew up.

[Rama]

Contradictio in terminis:

"Some opennes is good, full openness isn't IMO"

You probably missed "IMO". So no, there's no internal contradiction in this opinion.

 

CFS... lol! I still have CFS1, 2 and 3.

That is the way it works in life.

Works for you, don't work for me or many others...

CFS1, 2 and 3 modding were ugly mess for me and lots of other peoples..... that played IL2 and prefered it even if the modding was "under control".

 

We call it... development or evolution.

 

Accept it/ embrace it/ assist it or at least guide it.

You can leave the ideology aside, this is a discussion, not a preaching arena.

 

It's clear you're a tenant of "free modding".... good for you, that's an opinion like another.... but accept that other don't share it, and that in any case you will never see total free modding in a game which is still in development.

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

wrong, all the modders that start modding you can later see in the game didn't start for profit. A very few of them then are hired by the dev, but it wasn't the initial intention.

There are plenty of stuff in IL2 (in the official versions), RoF or BoS that has been done, is actually done, and will be done, truely freely (without 1 kopek profit).

I did some myself, and know lot of guys who did to, so I know what I'm talking about.

I though we were talkign about BoS? At least that's what I was referring to (you were too in the post I quoted).

 

This map that has been implemented was been created by Zeus (great work) who is now part of the developer team workign on new game content. So while not being primarily financially profitable the devs hired a good 3rd party developer to help them working on future projects = profit.

 

The things I look ahead to when speakign aout modding is mainly graphic and sound mods. It's no secret BoS offers only little acessebility to such especially when talking about multiplayer unlike some other sucessfull sims on the market.

 

I'm not die hard modder and Zak's announcement doesn't mean the end of the world but it's disappointing for all those waiting for mod support to contribute to the game or to enjoy other's contributions.

Edited February 20, 2015 by Stab/JG26_5tuka

[Yakdriver]

ey!
cfs3 was a mess to mod, but it was a good learning ground for computer noobs.
What? "file" "folder" "directory" "zip" WTFFF!!!

very very fond memories of busting my knuckles on my first PC, old piece of heap...

[steppenwolf]

More like second hand store with broken toys.But some kids like to play with even broken ones.I used to be like that,then I grew up.

Yeah, now you pay full price for busted ones. Hehe. Sorry couldn't resist.

[Feathered_IV]

I prefer to plan my own adventure, rather than sign up for the package tour. The mod system such as that in RoF gave people choices and the ability to personalise their game. Mp players require a uniform experience, and the mods on/off mode was perfect for that. For SP it allowed the player to select from a host of quality modifications to best suit their taste.

[Rama]

I though we were talkign about BoS?

I am also , you missed it?

 

This map that has been implemented was been created by Zeus (great work) who is now part of the developer team workign on new game content.

keyword is "now"... when zeus started, it wasn't for the dev team and not for profit. I know, I helped him a little bit.

 

The things I look ahead to when speakign aout modding is mainly graphic and sound mods. It's no secret BoS offers only little acessebility

Little accessibility isn't none.... so there will be mods in this area too, as there are allready in the work in other areas.

 

Zak's announcement doesn't mean the end of the world but it's disappointing for all those waiting for mod support

I'm also disapointed, I told it clearly.... I would like to have a "mods on" mode.

.... but not only isn't it the end of the world, but it isn't also the end of modding.

[Feathered_IV]

I'm also disapointed, I told it clearly.... I would like to have a "mods on" mode.

.... but not only isn't it the end of the world, but it isn't also the end of modding.

I disagree and think the Devs decision is indeed the end of modding, because it takes away the end users freedom to pick and choose which mods they use or to make ones which are entirely their own. I think it would be more correct to say it is not the end of third-party content, but it will only be work which meets with official approval and has to be coded into the game.

[Yakdriver]

no modding! nix! njet! nada!

everything you want in the game, has to go through my hands, and my hands only.
only when you meed my standards AND i approve, will i put it in the game.

maybe.

 

... or something like that was the original stance.

Yea.
and then came the Spitfire Mk.I with the LaGG3S4 spinner.

and that didn't go thorough the hands of uncle oleg.
whoops...
 

[Rama]

I disagree and think the Devs decision is indeed the end of modding, because it takes away the end users freedom to pick and choose which mods they use or to make ones which are entirely their own. I think it would be more correct to say it is not the end of third-party content, but it will only be work which meets with official approval and has to be coded into the game.

Even with no "mods on" mode, some third party content will not have to be coded into the game to be used, like for example the BOSparser or the "simple mission builder", and....

No, I don't see much difference between a third party content that can be used in game (and choosen to be used or not by the player) becausit it was officially approved and some non-approved usable on "mods-on" mode.

And it's anyway a will for a lot of modders to see their work being fully integrated in the core game.

 

I still agree a "mods on" mode in desirable.... but if it can help the modders (so they can see their mods "in action" before submitting them), I don't really see the added value for the player.

as for example, PWCG for RoF was first an external campaign system, that you had to launch separatelly. Then it was integrated into the game with an added interface... tell me what the user "lost" in the integration process?... actually he gained ease of use, and lost, IMO, nothing.

Other example, you have new vehicles that you can first use only while in "mods on" mode.... then they make their way to the core game, and you can use them as you want in any scenario you create either in "mods on" or "mods off" mode.... what did you loose in the process?

[=CFC=Conky]

Hello all,

 

When modding of IL2:1946 started there was a lot of angst over the possibility of hacked fm's & dm's. Thankfully, this did not occur, but what did fragment the community was the different mod packs that were produced. Some servers used HSFX, others UP3, and others Modact 5.x, and it became a bit of a pain to continually have to change versions in order to play. 

 

Still, we've been spoiled with IL2:1946, in all its iterations.

 

As long as the sim continues to be developed, and with the upcoming ME, we should have plenty of content to keep us busy for a while.

 

Good hunting,

Conky

[Feathered_IV]

I was thinking of personalisations that would not necessarily meet with official approval. An example would be the default summer skins for aircraft. It is unlikely that the devs will change these, despite many people expressing their dissatisfaction with them. The mod user could easily create a simple modification that allowed them to substitute their own choice of paint schemes. It takes about fifteen minutes, hurts nobody and adds a new level of enjoyment to the game. That simple option is gone now.

 

Devs, if any of you are reading this thread at all, please reconsider adding a mods-on mode to the game.

[Bearcat]

Mods came to 1946 when the official development ceased. It extended the sims life when the sim was no longer being developed. The entire Il-2 series' success did not hinge on mods, only its extension of life because people, for some reason, can't stand to play a game without new content, of varying quality, constantly being pumped out. And when I say mods, I clearly mean hacks because there were no modding tools for the original Il-2 series. The first was the sound "mod," at that splintered the online play. The more packs that came out, the further it splintered online. I stopped playing Il-2 altogether at the release of the sound "mod" because it was no longer controlled. You had no idea if the person you were playing against had a Wildcat with a Zeke's FM, or the attributes of a F-16.

 

Mods only extend the life of a sim that is no longer being developed and has the need for many things to be fixed or changed due to the lack of development. As someone said, look at ArmaIII for mods, well that those mods totally change the game from zombies to role playing (Altis) to capture the flag types - which none of those will matter for a flight sim - so the only point of mods on is to add objects. But those objects can only be used in offline, or "mods on" servers that few play.

 

Mods ruined MP for the Il-2 series - they were all hacks to the core game, uncontrolled and varied in quality from amazingly shitty to very nice but ruined MP because of the uncontrolled aspect. RoF had a mods on option, so at least it could be separated so you knew you were flying against standard players or modded which wasn't the case with the Il-2 series, but very few servers were mods on. Mods are effective only for single player, and the only mods that can be done for RoF were ground objects or removing the ambient flak, or changing the shapes of the clouds - all aesthetics. You won't get new planes or changed sounds in RoF mods. The only thing it allowed was new ground vehicles or some small aesthetics.

 

There were no official mod tools for Il-2, and the only "modding" was because the end of the series and modifying the sound. From there the flood gates opened, and the game was ruined for people who played MP because there were no standards in place and the FM/DM/everything was getting hacked. With RoF, and could be with BoS, there will be controls in place but again - the only mods will be basic aesthetics and ground objects. The rest is locked. But mods, by no means, dictated the success of the Il-2 series, the only came about due to the cessation of development of the product.

 

No that is not quite the case. In fact wide open modding probably hastened it's abandonment.

 

That is debatable.. If modding is made available from the developers and certain things like FMs and DMs in particular are left unaccessible.. modding can be a good thing and the community will decide what is a good mod or not.

 

That will be a good thingin the case with BoS as well..

 

The success of the IL2 series was dictated by the core of the sim itself.. Even before mods there was little doubt save in the minds pf simmers who were convinced that their sim of choice that was not IL2 whether it was AH, Warbirds, CFS, FA or what have you  was "superior" but in every way that counted for the most part IL2 was the best thing going .. and in many ways it still is.

 

 

Hello all,

 

When modding of IL2:1946 started there was a lot of angst over the possibility of hacked fm's & dm's. Thankfully, this did not occur, but what did fragment the community was the different mod packs that were produced. Some servers used HSFX, others UP3, and others Modact 5.x, and it became a bit of a pain to continually have to change versions in order to play. 

 

Still, we've been spoiled with IL2:1946, in all its iterations.

 

As long as the sim continues to be developed, and with the upcoming ME, we should have plenty of content to keep us busy for a while.

 

Good hunting,

Conky

 

 

I agree although I think the beginning of the reunification to some degree was when HSFX was released.. Remember.. the 242 guys were the first modders to use the SFS compiler which compressed a lot of the files. At one point it could take up to 90 seconds for the sim to load before that was done depending on how many mods you had.. I think the best thing to happen to the modding was when HSFX continued on with staying current with the official sim.. and now with the CFM coming with what amounts to a merger of SAS,UP&DBW there will basically be two mod choices for IL2 .. which is a good thing IMO...

[DD_Arthur]

The mod system such as that in RoF gave people choices and the ability to personalise their game. Mp players require a uniform experience, and the mods on/off mode was perfect for that. For SP it allowed the player to select from a host of quality modifications to best suit their taste.

 

All this talk about mods and what they did to IL2 1946 is fairly irrelevant in the context of BoS.  Feathered gives the best description of mods on mode.  No effect on multiplayer - a good thing - but gives the single player plenty of opportunity to enhance his own game.  BG, you said what mods would you like to see and the first that came to mind would be different textures at Gumrak airfield to reflect its use and piles of wrecked, burnt out aircraft along the runway perimeter.

 

From RoF experience we know this could be done.  Visual effects such as smoke trails and columns could be re-worked too.  Without a mods on mode we will be missing out on lots and lots of good stuff and - once again - the community are hardly being given the feel good from the devs. 

 

Really looking forward to this weeks update and been using this great new simple mission generator but the news on mods has certainly been another  moment this sim could do without. 

[unreasonable]

I still agree a "mods on" mode in desirable.... but if it can help the modders (so they can see their mods "in action" before submitting them), I don't really see the added value for the player.

as for example, PWCG for RoF was first an external campaign system, that you had to launch separatelly. Then it was integrated into the game with an added interface... tell me what the user "lost" in the integration process?... actually he gained ease of use, and lost, IMO, nothing.

Other example, you have new vehicles that you can first use only while in "mods on" mode.... then they make their way to the core game, and you can use them as you want in any scenario you create either in "mods on" or "mods off" mode.... what did you loose in the process?

 

A mods on mode allowed the mods to appear and be tested by a range of players who gave feedback. This is a large part of ensuring that mods are good enough to be integrated, just as the devs use forum feedback to see what is working and popular and what is not (one hopes). Without a mods on facility this would probably never have happened in many cases.  Take PWCG for example: the GUI integration was introduced after much previous play, player feedback and change. DCG could be integrated into IL2, but doing so lost some of its flexibility in playing linked campaigns.

 

Secondly, the most useful mods (IMHO) have not been integrated into RoF at all: these are the DM, rate of fire, AI rear gunner and AAA changes that turn RoF into a reasonable simulation of WW1 combat rather than a fun game for kids. In vanilla RoF the easiest way to down an enemy aircraft is still to saw its wings off; an absolute absurdity. Flak is ridiculously overpowered because MP players are afraid of vulching, do not even get me started on "ambient flak".

 

BoS seems better than RoF in these realism aspects, which I applaud, but it still has to cope with the competing pressures of SP vs MP, and the varying needs of players for quick intense action vs a more realistic varied pace. Having a mods on mode is one way of providing these choices.  Unfortunately, 1CGS seems to be becoming increasingly anti-choice.

[KodiakJac]

Zak, on 19 Feb 2015 - 04:12, said: Feathered, there won't be a mods-on mode in BOS. It didn't bring much content to ROF within the 6 years, so we find it unnecessary in BOS.

 

Nonsense.  I use in the neighborhood of 30 community made mods in RoF that GREATLY enhance gameplay for me.  I find "Mods On" mode in RoF very necessary and BoS could benefit greatly from the same type of community content.

Edited February 21, 2015 by Bucksnort

[Feathered_IV]

Currently I'm using 27 must-have mods for Rise of Flight.  The other panel of JSGME shows a similar number that I activate as and when needed.

 

[IRRE_Belmont]

I'm warning you guys

 

 

I won't rest in peace till i have my fully operationnal X-Wing in BOS

[von_Tom]

 

 

Mods aren't the answer and not having them isn't critical. Continual improvement, enhancement and expansion is all you need. That is really what most of the mods for other games have done.

 

That might mean all of those things that you'd consider mods being incorporated into the core of the game but I for one am happy with the sim being one version.

 

von Tom

[Feathered_IV]

but I for one am happy with the sim being one version.

 

von Tom

 

If BoS just used the system already developed for Rise of Flight, nobody would be taking that away from you. 

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

If BoS just used the system already developed for Rise of Flight, nobody would be taking that away from you. 

Indeed. Mods are fully optinonal comunity created content or modifications everyone can use on his own. Yes there are mods currently in BoS (like modified setting file for increased ground texture resolution) which even work in MP and are not essential to use for everyone at all, but truely optional.

 

The system in RoF let's you chose to launch the game in a MOD ON or MOD OFF mode. The first one enables you to play with modified textures (landscape, clouds/sky, ect), ai - coding, added meshs ect while the latter is the game in it's current shape. The MOD ON mode players are automaticly excluded from servers hosted in MODS OFF mode so players flying without mods don't have to bother about it.

 

The advantage of it is simple yet effective, an increased target audience by keepign the "playgroudn" big. The more options you have the more you can play it the way you like it to be -> more satisfied player.

 

Even in a die hard sim like DCS mods are fully working and supported even in MP. Today I couldn't think of flying without sound and graphic mods there and have equal fun developing personal mods as actually flying in their sim.

Edited February 21, 2015 by Stab/JG26_5tuka

[Livai]

If BoS just used the system already developed for Rise of Flight, nobody would be taking that away from you. 

 

"Technically, such a system is ready, simply create your own objects and put them in the game folder." was said in the Developer Diary 3.

[Rama]

A mods on mode allowed the mods to appear and be tested by a range of players who gave feedback. This is a large part of ensuring that mods are good enough to be integrated, just as the devs use forum feedback to see what is working and popular and what is not (one hopes). Without a mods on facility this would probably never have happened in many cases.

I totally agree with this. "Mods on" mode helps the modders a lot.

 

 

Unless the developers release mod tools to everyone, then yes, it is effectively the end of modding.

This doesn't resist the hard facts. Modding has been done on IL2, RoF and BoS without mod tools delivered to everyone by the developers.... Many mods (most of them actually...) have still been done without any official mod tool released.