Modding general questions

[KocLobster]

I have two really simple, quick questions I was hoping to have answered that I was not able to find out after a quick search.

I am assuming that Steam's workshop is the only place where I can find mods for this game? What about for people that didn't purchase it through Steam? If I buy the game through Introversion's website, do I get access to the Steam workshop where I can download mods, if I want any?

Second, I just wanted to confirm what I already suspected... Modding in PA is accomplished with the Lua scripting language?

Thanks guys!

[murgh]

Nope, it's not the only place. Go here for example: http://prison-exchange.com/

And semi nope again, you can mod may things without needing lua.

Also, Steam wants you to pay at least 5 bucks in order to be able to access community forums and upload to the workshop. Buying at Introversion gives you a retail key which is different than buying something at Steam. I just found out this confusing key stuff with the Humble store sales offer... A Steam key is not per definition a Steam key so you have to really read the small letters on their site as well to know about this.
But you can use the http://steamworkshopdownloader.com/ to download workshop items without using Steam.

[KocLobster]

Thanks for a fantastic answer, this is great. I can't believe I've never heard of that Steam Workshop downloader; what a useful tool. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense to buy through Steam.

So this leads me to an additional question. I generally try games before I buy them (yes, pirated software). I know this makes me the scourge of the planet, but I like to know what I'm buying. If I like a game, want it, and plan on continuing to play it, I will always go ahead and support the developer and buy it. I have not done that yet; I only discovered this game 6 month ago and didn't start playing it until a couple days ago.

Obviously I want to support the developers. Where should I buy the game? Seems I have at least four options: Steam, Humble, GOG, and Introversion's store? I lean towards Steam for the ease of using the workshop, I've always liked the platform and most of my games are on Steam, seriously easy updates, and achievements...hello! Either way, it's $30 everywhere and I'm happy to support Chris and Mark.

[KocLobster]

I seem to be having trouble with the website you suggested. The first site, the one with mods that can be downloaded not through Steam work fine, although the selection is really small and most mods are so out of date that I doubt most of them work. The second site, the one that downloads mods from Steam workshop for you when you supply a link doesn't work though. It downloads the a file, but it is a .mod file. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with a .mod file. I put them in the mods folder and the game doesn't load it or recognize it. From what I understand (and as is the case with the first website), I should be downloading a folder that contains multiple files, where the 'meat' of the mod is in a 'data' folder. That doesn't happen with all of the Steam workshop files, only with the first website.

What am I missing, and how am I supposed to use .mod files? They don't work by simply throwing them into the /mods/ folder. Maybe that works if you have Steam, but it isn't working for me.


Edit: I was able to figure out that the .mod file is just something Steam uses to basically compress files. I renamed it into a .zip and was able to unzip the archive and I had all the correct files. Now I have the mods I want.

Thanks again for the links!