In the past, amateur modders haven’t gotten the credit they deserve for their ability to create amazing content on a low budget. The assumption that player-created content isn’t as good as the stuff that comes from big developers is utter garbage — and unfounded.
While the Steam Workshop has had some issues in the past, I don’t think that’s a valid reason to avoid the marketplace forever. Staying away from all Workshop mods because some have had bugs in the past not only doesn’t make sense, but it keeps you from having the most customizable gaming experience you can with Steam RPGs. (And really, look at all the buggy content coming from AAA devs these days…)
We’ve all seen the wild success of Workshop mods for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Skyrim, and this isn’t without reason. The Steam Workshop allows modders to flex their creative muscles and produce imaginative content that big developers don’t think of or weren’t allowed to create. While there have been some great mods from the Steam Workshop, we need more than just mods for RPGs like Skyrim.
I (along with many others) would love to see Steam Workshop mods for Fallout 4, Dark Souls III, and The Witcher 3, for example. While the mods for these games are on Nexus, I would argue that famous modders like FMPONE have shown us that the Steam Workshop has the capacity to produce amazing game modifications. However, there is a lack of awesome modders like FMPONE — a CS:GO modder — for Steam RPGs. I know that for games like Dark Souls III, the lack of Workshop mods is due to a lack of Steam support for the game. Maybe this is out of our hands, but I think there is a need and a demand for mods with verified support. This is why I’m coming out and saying that we need more Workshops for Steam RPGs.
Great Mods Make for an Even Better RPG Experience
I love modding my RPGs, and if you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend it. You can change anything from your character to the landscape to the sound effects you hear in the game. Mods range from functional texture improvements to ridiculous Staff of Sweet Rolls for Skyrim that turns your enemies into pastries. While FPS mods are cool, there’s something about mods for RPGs that can make you feel like a master of your own universe, which is pretty awesome.
Staff of Sweet Rolls Mod for Skyrim by Nebior
Having the ability to completely customize your gaming experience makes an RPG so much more personal and exciting. Steam Workshop mods really allow a player to become so much more invested in the story because you have more control over your world. In addition to the fun and sometimes hilarious mods you can download, there are also really functional mods like this Incandescent Reshade mod for DS3 that adds more color and light, which really helps gamers like myself whose vision is going down the tubes. Simply put, mods make for an all-around better gaming experience.
You Can Never Have Too Much of a Good Thing
If more modders put out content on the Steam Workshop, it would become flooded with more epic content and dilute the amount the poorly-made mods, improving the platform as a whole. Since the Steam Workshop is somewhat limited, it increases our chances of downloading bad mods. If there was a larger selection of content, we’d have better chances of avoiding game-breaking downloads, ultimately giving us the best gaming experience possible.
There is no downside to having a wider range of Workshops and mods to choose from when you want to add new weapons, items, landscapes, and other game-improving mods to your RPG. More content means Workshops would have to put out better content with more efficient support in order to rise to the top. This type of competition would separate the standout modders from the Workshops that push half-baked mods.
King Crusader Armor for Skyrim by JDGameArt
Anyone who has ever gotten sucked into the trap of trying to download all the mods knows that it can be extremely addictive. Gamers can be greedy, and once you start customizing your RPGs to your desires, it’s easy to want to have all the textures, new weapons, and map additions. Personally, I can never have enough, and from looking at tons of message boards, I see that there is a demand for more Steam Workshops.
Modders Would Have a Chance to Stand Out
If anything, the Steam Workshop is a great way for modders to gain a following and potentially improve their resumes if they have professional aspirations. There are a lot of RPGs on steam that could really use more Workshop mods. If modders created Workshop mods for the RPGs that could really use some love (like the ones mentioned above…just saying), it would give them a chance to really stand out on the Steam Workshop.
There’s so much you can do to mod RPGs with regards to character features, items, and maps. I’ve seen some really creative mods I never would have thought of, like this Realistic Weather mod for TW3 that gives users snow, fog, and rain. For any aspiring modder, creating a Steam Workshop would be a great way to really showcase your talent to prospective employers. It might be more work to get a Workshop page, but it’s worth it for modders who want to stand out professionally.
Realistic Weather mod for TW3 by Wzol
Everyone Wins if Steam Workshop Gets More RPG Mods
There is so much potential in the Steam Workshop for great RPG mods that simply isn’t being utilized. I don’t know about you, but I need more re-shading options and textures for Dark Souls III on the Steam Workshop (maybe not that crab one from the video above… but I’d like to have the option)! Other RPGs on Steam need the same amount of Workshop mods as games like Skyrim.
We’ve all known for a while that Nexus has more mods than the Steam Workshop, but I, personally, want to see more amazing mods with official support. If RPG players get more mods and modders get more exposure and a stronger platform, everyone wins.
Stormtrooper Armor for Fallout 4 by stiptikspec
Do you use the Steam Workshop? What games would you want to see more mods for? Let us know in the comments below!
