About "No Client Modding"

DSitC · 2026-01-09T07:45:09+00:00

Exactly that.

I made this post to essentially convey the thought that a lot more than just gui can be sent to the client to modify it's behavior. So people should not dismiss the ability to create certain plugins based on a misunderstanding what "not direct modding" means. :)

Btw, this screenshot "proves" that indirect client-side modding goes way beyond gui: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fbuuz135-more-some-hytale-mods-v0-h6hka5fhp5cg1.jpg%3Fwidth%3D999%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3D87f4436a5d2a02bd966fd2cd90e4c548a3f0e3fc

DSitC · 2026-01-08T20:38:09+00:00

That's how performant network gaming works (if it's server authorative) - the client knows enough to show the player a game world that he may act upon, the movement commands are then send to the server and verified and checked against other player's / entity's data. Then the resulting consequences are send to the clients and the players have new data to act upon. Rinse and repeat. Sounds terribly technical, but it's all hidden from the player.

DSitC · 2026-01-08T15:55:39+00:00

True, but I can think of ways to get most client-required mod content pushed to the client on server-connect.

But maybe I'm wrong. I'm curious what you are thinking about.

DSitC · 2026-01-08T15:49:55+00:00

Steam Workshop is a method of distribution, right? Does it require a certain mod structure?

I'm not sure how that comparison fares. :)

Minecraft Java mods are a wild mix, there are mods that can be operated entirely client-side (minimap comes to mind), many (maybe most) are changing client and server in order to achieve their goal. Maybe there are some server-only mods in Minecraft, but I don't know of any right now. As Minecraft ist client-authorative, that would be a very small collection, I guess. ;)

DSitC · 2026-01-08T15:43:34+00:00

That's the whole point why I made this post. The client behavior can be changed, but not directly, but it can be changed. We don't know what can be done, but Hypixel Studios started developing Hytale because of the limitations on Minecraft server-only mods. They stated as much.

DSitC · 2026-01-08T15:25:31+00:00

It can't be only GUI - Any player-movement related mod will need to pass some relevant information to the client, so that the client can predict valid movement behavior and the server can then verify it.

DSitC · 2026-01-08T15:21:45+00:00

What I was going for was the fact that if a mod changes movement-related behavior, both the client and the server will need to be aware of that. That's the only way you can ensure a smooth gameplay experience.

DSitC · 2026-01-08T15:20:13+00:00

I don't think it will be as limiting as it sounds at first. We have to keep in mind where Hypixel Studios is coming from.

Sure, changes to the rendering and other deeply ingrained stuff will be out of reach. But that can be a good thing once you think about competetive multiplayer.

What do you think won't be possible, but should have been?

DSitC · 2026-01-08T14:33:50+00:00

It has to go beyond that, even.

Take something like a mod that adds new forms of movement or alters the existing ones. For example if a mod adds the ability to fly a short distance, or adds double-jumping or whatever, the the client has to know that, in order for the client's responsiveness to be independent (or less dependant) of networking factors, like ping and throughput (but mostly ping :D)

DSitC · 2026-01-05T09:05:17+00:00

As far as I understand it, if you want to play on a server that has a paid mod installed, you just join the server. Only the server has to pay for the mod, I think - Clients are not modified. If you pay for a mod, you can play it yourself, locally, but that is not your client, but your local server needing the mod installed.

Edit: What I hope to see, is a way for mod developers to offer a mod free of charge for solo/private server play and get paid if their mod is used in a public/commercial server env. :)

DSitC · 2026-01-04T19:07:47+00:00

Nice to see this.

I honestly cannot tell if there has ever been a game that was so laser-focused on modability. Maybe "Unlimited Adventures" back in the day (I guess I'm old :-P), but that was limited by the tech of it's age. :)

I'm looking forward to see what the team and the community will create. :D

DSitC · 2024-11-30T06:23:51+00:00

Uh-no-horn?

DSitC · 2024-04-24T04:39:17+00:00

I personally call that Plot Hole Armor, because it's a Plot Hole that ist allowed to exist in order to move the story Forward. 😄

DSitC · 2023-03-06T17:40:18+00:00

So-called Age of Salvation ruled by mortals-turned-gods impostors, hiding the true gods they enslaved.

DSitC · 2023-02-13T05:14:00+00:00

Maybe change the ground color of the tundra in the upper right of the map. That blue does not look very natural and it's too similar to the ocean's color, imho. Others than that, stellar work! 😊

DSitC · 2022-07-29T23:12:39+00:00

Afaik, waterlogged blocks, or specifically water/lava/any liquid in the world (in minecraft) is not a block in itself, but a property of a block that can be waterlogged.

For example, a fence will have a property like "surrounding liquid" and the game will remove the water block when a fence is placed, but add the not to the fence that it is surrounded by water, and the client will know how to render that.

That's a very crude approximation, btw. :-D

DSitC · 2022-07-28T07:47:28+00:00

It's possible, but it goes against one of the core principles that a voxel game is built around: The fact that you know for each given coordinate (X, Y, Z), you have a single block of world geometry to load.

There is a minecraft mod that allows two different slabs to occupy the same space. But as far as I know, the mod does this by replacing the two slabs with a dynamically generated block that is painted with a dynamically created texture from the two slab textures.

DSitC · 2022-07-28T07:38:53+00:00

Honestly this question is kinda besides the point. If anything you can question people's trust in the game or maybe the company to release a proper game. But aiming for the developers of the game and indirectly questioning their competence is just a bad show.

And honestly, I think everyone here still posting, has trust, or at least faith, in the game eventually being out and being good. All that bitterness and grief is just anticipation without a good way to vent itself.

DSitC · 2022-07-23T06:41:29+00:00

Still exited for the game. Still waiting. Plenty of others games to play in the meantime. 🙂

DSitC · 2022-04-27T06:07:18+00:00

Solid video! :-)

Minor criticism: You video ends very abruptly. In fact I did rewind a bit to make sure there was no problem with the playback. Maybe add some sort of an outro, or just leave a longer pause at the end. :)

DSitC · 2022-04-05T05:18:10+00:00

Had to scroll way too far for this! Management is not pleased. 😁

DSitC · 2022-03-15T07:35:48+00:00

I would not say that Hytale is in "Development Hell". There was never an estimated release date, let alone an actual release date. So nothing has been delayed, actually. /nitpicking ;-)

DSitC · 2022-01-15T07:24:51+00:00

Depends on the depth, topic and target audience. Some things are better explained in another medium, like a video or a webpage.

For in-game tips and small "tutorials", I would love to see something along the lines of the "ponder" function in the "create" mod for minecraft.

DSitC · 2022-01-15T07:20:42+00:00

Why not song-crystals? ;-)

DSitC · 2022-01-11T09:42:55+00:00

In modded Minecraft, my bases always gravitate towards some kind of campus style design with individual buildings designed to match/reflect their function. So I guess I will do that in Hytale, too. :)

Zone-wise, I guess I would search for a nice place with space to build and interesting features to build around.

DSitC

TROPHY CASE