[LQ Feature Request]: Global Spawn Weights

Hey there, fellow modding enthusiasts and Lethal Company aficionados! Today, we're diving deep into a fantastic feature request aimed at streamlining and enhancing the modding experience within LunarConfig. Specifically, we're talking about implementing global spawn weights for both scraps and enemies. This idea stems from a similar, highly effective feature found in the LQ mod, and it's something that can significantly improve how we manage spawn rates and item distribution across various moons. Let's break down why this is a great idea and how it can make your modding life a whole lot easier!

The Problem: Tedious Spawn Weight Management

Currently, when customizing the spawn rates of scraps and enemies in LunarConfig, we often face a repetitive and time-consuming process. The challenge lies in the fact that, to modify these elements, we usually need to specify the spawn weight individually for each moon. Imagine you're working with a plethora of scraps, each with its own specific weight, and then you decide to adjust the spawn rate of a particular item globally. You'd have to painstakingly go through each moon's configuration, manually altering the weights. This process is not only tedious but also prone to errors, especially when dealing with a large number of moons or scraps.

The current alternative involves establishing default weights, which then need to be replicated and pasted across each moon's spawn weight list. Moreover, this manual method requires a complete overhaul if you ever decide to globally increase or decrease the spawn weight of an item. It's time-consuming, repetitive, and increases the likelihood of inconsistencies across your mod's configuration.

The LQ Mod Inspiration

The inspiration for this feature request comes from the LQ mod, which had a "Global" section in its configuration. This section allowed users to define spawn weights for enemies and scraps that could be inherited by other moons. This inheritance system was a game-changer, simplifying adjustments and ensuring uniformity. With a global setting, you can instantly modify the frequency of an item across all moons. This is particularly advantageous when dealing with many scraps, as it negates the necessity of manually entering and re-entering spawn weights for each moon. You modify the setting in one place, and your changes are immediately reflected across the board.

The Benefits of a Unified System

Implementing global spawn weights in LunarConfig would dramatically improve the user experience. You'd be able to centrally manage item and enemy spawns. Instead of repeatedly copying and pasting the weights, you’d modify the settings in a single spot and observe the changes across all moons. This saves time and minimizes the potential for configuration errors. Also, it adds a degree of consistency to the game's spawning mechanics. When players understand that certain items are rarer than others, they can adapt their strategies. This clarity supports a well-balanced gameplay experience.

The Proposed Solution: Global Spawn Weight Fields

The solution is simple yet effective: Introduce "Global Spawn Weight" fields for scraps and, for enemies, consider three fields to cover different encounter pools. This adjustment would significantly streamline the setup process and give modders greater control over the spawn rates throughout their mods.

Scrap Management

For scraps, the system could work as follows: Each scrap item would have a default spawn weight specified in the "Global Spawn Weight" field. This setting ensures that, unless specified, the scrap has a uniform weight across all moons. Players can then change the weight of the items on specific moons, effectively overriding the global weight. This approach allows for a flexible system where global settings can be easily tailored for specific locations, ensuring a balance between global consistency and individual customization. This makes the system extremely flexible.

Enemy Encounter Pools

Enemies, due to their various spawn pools (inside, outside, and daytime), would benefit from three separate global fields. This design would provide fine-grained control over enemy encounters, which is crucial for managing the game's challenges. Having control over these fields allows modders to precisely balance the difficulty across different areas and times. Each encounter can be tuned independently to match the intended difficulty of each situation, adding depth to the player experience. By adjusting these global weights, modders could ensure the gameplay remains challenging and enjoyable, without requiring tedious per-moon adjustments.

Visualizing the Implementation: A Practical Example

Let's imagine how this could work in practice. Let's say you want to introduce a new scrap item, "Kasane Teto Fumo," to your mod. Currently, you'd need to add this item to each moon's scrap list and specify its weight. With the proposed global system, you would set a "Global Spawn Weight" for the "Kasane Teto Fumo" scrap, say, a weight of 1. This means that, by default, the item will spawn with a weight of 1 on every moon. Now, if you want the item to be rarer on a specific moon, you can adjust the weight directly on that moon's configuration, perhaps setting it to 0.5 or 0.2. This overrides the global setting for that specific location, giving you precise control while maintaining a consistent base setting.

How it Impacts Modding

The advantage to modders is a significant reduction in the amount of repetitive work. This not only speeds up the configuration process but also decreases the likelihood of errors. It simplifies the overall process, meaning less time spent on setup and more time spent on creative aspects. Implementing a global system would make the modding experience much more streamlined and enjoyable.

Conclusion: Enhancing the Modding Experience

In conclusion, adding global spawn weight fields for scraps and enemies in LunarConfig is a feature request that addresses a critical need for efficient and streamlined mod management. It would save time, minimize errors, and improve the overall modding experience for everyone involved. The benefits are clear: reduced setup time, consistent spawn rates across all moons, and the ability to easily make global changes without repetitive tasks.

By implementing this feature, LunarConfig could further cement its position as a powerful and user-friendly tool for the Lethal Company modding community. It's a change that improves workflow and enhances the overall creative experience, ultimately leading to a more vibrant and adaptable modding scene.

If you're interested in making your own mods or diving deeper into Lethal Company, check out the Lethal Company Wiki. This wiki is a valuable resource for information on game mechanics, items, enemies, and more, providing everything you need to develop engaging mods and dive deeper into the game's mechanics.