Those who mod and those who play.

I'm a "casual modder", I preffer play, but I've modded some stuff I like. All are minor change, but I'm working on a heavy mod... but I'm still thinking about it.

So, I play my little mod based heavily on stock game

Play Stock with a few minor alterations.

I feel an urge to majorly mod Especially the AI, but thnat urge is on hold for now.

At the moment I'm playing a multiplayer game where I'm playing all the Empires...10 empires in a 255 quad... its taking ages...even without a job...sleep and food!

This is really the way I can get an idea of how all the techs compare to each other AND its alot of fun too(at least for me)...each of the empires are using different weapons, ship designs, amounts, tactics, etc.

Once I finish the epic game...I'll look into creating a mod...I must be honest...the one thing that does put me off modding is the idea of doing the AI...but I'll give it a try.

btw I dont play stock...using the BM

If "doesn't touch AI" means "casual modder", then a casual modder am I. I could be considered "intermediate" in the sense that I'm willing to fiddle extensively with the data files however. Usually I grab BM or IRM and add my own personal tweaks (all logged now, so it only takes some 20 min) then start.

Then again, I get easily put off by poor AI performance. Back in SE III I did the "research everything possible and go manipulate the galaxy in every way possible" 'campaign', and I've gone high in the tech tree once for BM and IRM each. After that, it's a matter of waiting until more bugs are fixed and the AI is improved.

If I had all the time I wanted, I'd dive into AI.

---Sig---
Playing Touhou games (Go here if interested . No, nobody else is that good/insane as that replay). No rush for SE V bug fixing.

Casual. Just fiddle with small parts from time to time. Bigger quadrant, more names for systems, higher max AI empire count. Simple stuff like that.

Would never create a mod entirely, but hoping to eventually learn modeling and turn out a shipset or two. Would really like to see the IG2 shipsets here, but we have to convert them by eyeball. Will if I can.

Also want to create a Hardware Wars shipset eventually, just for that oddball race in space that seems out of place. A toaster in space is just fun.

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and will always long to return." ~Leonardo DaVinci

id see myself as a advanced modder

im new to SEV but custom to SEIV and i do love modding and is a quick learner. Im currently working on a mod that adds complexity and fun to the game

I've never modded this game in particular but I have modded Paradox Interactive games. Hearts of Iron, Victoria, or Europa Universalis.

I mod those games so I can play the country I choose the way I want to. Like, for example, the game has lots of events that pop up with choice. In Europa Universalis 3 you can play a Morea, a greek successor state in the Peloponesian area.... I made a mod that made it if I take back Athens and become greece and move my capital to there. Then if I defeat the ottomans I have another event that moves the capital to Constantinople.

Modding in games like this is really making the game a way that you prefer to play. Like, for example, in balance mod I love how the technology tree works and I would have done some thing simular there.

Being a casual modder or advanced modder really depends on how much you would want to change in the game your playing and your willing to do it.

Modders either make games they want to play or make the game they like better for them and they hope others as well. Thats pretty much it.

I play with balance mod and will probably mod this game eventually. I would love to write AIs as I did that in other games for mods and that used scripted events. Another thing I would like to do is design races, but my artistic skills are bad. I would like to do concepts of races and the AIs for them though.

NWN2 is another one, you can be a serious modder on that and only do modules. You dont touch modeling, AI, or anything like that. You would need to script and do conversations of course but scripting is the beginning of modding.

I think that mostly the modders will post. I believe that the vast majority of customers just play the game from time to time.
I do not mod. I'm happy if I can spend a day on the weekend and maybe some hours during weekdays playing. I prefer official(stock) upgrades and expansions.
The creators make and upgrade the games so I pay for them and just spend some time playing them. If a game is in much need of upgrading then I will play other games and return to it later. I'm currently playing Civilization IV:Warlords and will then play Galactic Civilizations:Dark Avatar. Then I will check the progress of upgrades for Space Empires V. I love these three games! I hope to see an expansion soon for SEV.

-Wade