So, I have a question, but I'm not sure it is simplified enough or if it is appropriate for the thread. However, I thought I'd give it a shot.
I've been working with creating new texture skins for the various demigods Models. These changes are purely cosmetic and do not change gameplay or unit stats in any way. They are also mod independent. One thing I'd like to be able to do is have multiple skins for each demigod and have the game randomly choose one to use at the begining of every match. If curious, you may refer to: https://forums.demigodthegame.com/370232/ for some examples of what I've accomplished so far.
The problem is that the texture skin files (at this point: *albedo.dds and *SpecTeam.dds) are referred to within the blueprint files. To change these blueprint files would require making a non-ui mod, which would either require all users to have the mod, even though it only affects the visual display of the player using the mod, or to have the selection of the albedo be removed from the blueprint and placed in a file that is mod-ui friendly.
I can see two possible ways that Stardock could be interested in this.
1. By making this change, you do a nice thing to the community. Yay for Stardock.
2. This change could be used to make money. If this change is implimented, it could be added to each player's account separately like the new demigods would be added. The files enabling or disabling control over the multiple skins would be protected, and thus just like the new demigods would only work if a player purchased this change. The change itself seems to a relatively trivial task, Sorian could probably do the coding in a day, and the rest is up to the QA process. Stardock could charge ~$1 or so to any player that would want to unlock this feature. Player who wouldn't want to unlock the feature could still use all of the skins made available, but wouldn't be able to do it easily. Thus players would be buying convience. This price tag is trivial enough that many players would get it, because no one cares about $1. However, if 50,000 people buy it that is $50,000 that costs relatively little.
One additional cost would be that GPG or another company would have to come up with some starter skins. However, once started and with the skin-randomizer available, the community should be able to start mass producing skins themselves (This would also increase the number of people who would want the skin randomizer). Creating modifications to the skins isn't that difficult. I've been able to do it with hacked together tools, so it can't be that hard. It doesn't require the use of an SDK at all.
So, after all of that, the question is: Would SD/GPG consider implimenting a skin randomizer or selection program that is ui-only friendly?
