Improved description and instructions for mods

[Fatalmasterpiece]

I apologize in advance for this rant. :geek:

 

While many users are guilty of not reading instructions, many mod authors are just as guilty of not writing detailed instructions. Lately its been frustrating to see lots of vague descriptions on mods from authors who assume most users know how to perform advanced functions which may seem easy to them. I suppose I'm writing this to ask mod authors to consider that many users are not familiar with operations such as these and it can help to write out detailed explanations. While you're surely going to still see an onslaught of questions from people who didn't read your instructions, it can be helpful to those of us who actually do and still can't figure out how to use your mod.

 

 

In many mods I've been seeing instructions like this:

"If you want to change the outfits you can batch build them in Body slide. It takes 5 minutes"

"If you're using an other mod that alters this NPC, just create a merged patch in FO4Edit and drag over the red portions"

 

Instructions like this are incredibly unhelpful and assume the user already knows how to do what you suggest but needed your prompt to do it. Instead, something like this is much more helpful:

"After installing this mod and BodySlide, open Bodyslide and select X outfit in the top left drop down menu. Then select X preset below that drop down menu and make any adjustments on the sliders you want. Make sure you have used a word filter in the top write field to select only models from this mod. Then select Batch Build and hit ok at the prompts with your selections. After it loads, you're done!"

 

I know you're thinking, "but users will still write stupid comments on my mod!" Yes, that's true but you've done your part at least.

My 2 cents, hopefully it is helpful. :sweat:

 

 

[JimboUK]

There's a thread on descriptions here http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/2489909-mod-descriptions-order-and-content/ and yeah, many authors bring problems on themselves with instructions that are worse than useless.

[Calzien]

I take this into consideration when I try to explain things. Kind of learned to do so after watching some of Gopher's tutorials. The guy goes into painstaking details I don't know how many times on the same subject throughout many of his videos. Anyway, I try to keep in mind when I'm trying to explain something or how to do something that someone may really not know HOW to do it. Saying "You open this and mark that" is easy, but saying "You open this which can be found here, navigate to this, highlight that, and then mark this, do this, save this, and you're done" is a lot more productive.

[minngarm]

I apologize in advance for this rant. :geek:

 

While many users are guilty of not reading instructions, many mod authors are just as guilty of not writing detailed instructions. Lately its been frustrating to see lots of vague descriptions on mods from authors who assume most users know how to perform advanced functions which may seem easy to them. I suppose I'm writing this to ask mod authors to consider that many users are not familiar with operations such as these and it can help to write out detailed explanations. While you're surely going to still see an onslaught of questions from people who didn't read your instructions, it can be helpful to those of us who actually do and still can't figure out how to use your mod.

 

 

In many mods I've been seeing instructions like this:

"If you want to change the outfits you can batch build them in Body slide. It takes 5 minutes"

"If you're using an other mod that alters this NPC, just create a merged patch in FO4Edit and drag over the red portions"

 

Instructions like this are incredibly unhelpful and assume the user already knows how to do what you suggest but needed your prompt to do it. Instead, something like this is much more helpful:

"After installing this mod and BodySlide, open Bodyslide and select X outfit in the top left drop down menu. Then select X preset below that drop down menu and make any adjustments on the sliders you want. Make sure you have used a word filter in the top write field to select only models from this mod. Then select Batch Build and hit ok at the prompts with your selections. After it loads, you're done!"

 

I know you're thinking, "but users will still write stupid comments on my mod!" Yes, that's true but you've done your part at least.

My 2 cents, hopefully it is helpful. :sweat:

 

 

This is what we call a learning curve. You get far less hassle when you make your desc. and details easier for the masses.

[billyro]

I've just linked to Gopher's tutorials in my descriptions. He explains it better than I ever could.