Multiplayer Modding

[Kiryuu Sonya]

If me and a friend wanted to use mods in multiplayer, would we both need the mod installed?

[Seraphita]

Depends which. Same rules apply to about every game. Consider it like a MMO. If it's only client based change (aka user stuff that only the user sees) then no. If it's core changes then yes...

[itsEthan]

I would actually disagree. If the user only sees it, you would both need it installed for the other to see it also. For examples the extra accessories mod. Your character has a mod specific say tie. The other person wouldn’t see it, and it might even cause a render error. To be safe, I would say both needs it installed

Originally posted by Zero:

Depends which. Same rules apply to about every game. Consider it like a MMO. If it's only client based change (aka user stuff that only the user sees) then no. If it's core changes then yes...

[Seraphita]

I think you didn't understand. I am speaking of compatibility. Client only mods will not crash the other if only the user can see it. Such as different face set for NPCs and the likes. If you change something that the other is SUPPOSED to see as well, they WILL need the mod installed, too...

By example, if you mod something that differs from core datas of the other people. Weapon mods or etc. But client sided mods are safe to be used individually. Any system core mods NEED all to use it to avoid crashes. Hence what I said in my very first post: It depends what they are...

Any client mods will be fine since they will only load for the person using them. Face mods will still load the faces they have stored in their own files, even if they don't use the mods. Aka safe.

[チーズケーキ]

has anyone solved this? i tried to play with the mod bbut i couldnt in mp co-op with my friends

[Mondai]

Originally posted by princeps12:

has anyone solved this? i tried to play with the mod bbut i couldnt in mp co-op with my friends

It depends on exactly what you're asking. The problem is, it's kind of unclear. If both players (or all, if there's more than 2) want their games to be modded in the same way, then yes, both players would need to have the same mods installed to their game.

And as an added point of interest, not all mods are compatible with the 1.3 beta. You're going to need to check every mod you want to use to make sure that it is compatible. If not, then you might not be able to use it.

[Jigain]

In addition to what Mondai said (which is all correct), the frequency of Stardew Valley beta updates will continue to break the functionality of mods as well as SMAPI, the API used to run most mods.

Ultimately it comes down to which mod it is. We don't know which mod "the mod" refers to, but the general answer is no, both players don't need the mod, only the individual client does. HOWEVER, in some cases, like with Automate or Timespeed, the host needs it but the clients themselves don't. HOWEVER, in some cases, like mods that make sheds bigger or adds bathrooms, both players need it or the one(s) without the mod will see your character walking around off-screen and not be able to reach where you are. These two HOWEVERs are reasonably rare, but they do exist.

We can give you a better answer if you let us know which mod you're talking about.

[Kiryuu Sonya]

The mod I refer to use a XNB mod that adds events, makes one of the NPCs a marriage candidate, and adds an item.

[Jigain]

I generally don't use XNB mods, so I'm afraid I can't answer that. Hopefully Mondai can. But at the very least anything that the content adds should not be able to be seen or used by anyone without the same file, which may include the spouse.

[Mondai]

Originally posted by Kiryuu Sonya:

The mod I refer to use a XNB mod that adds events, makes one of the NPCs a marriage candidate, and adds an item.

Fairly certain both (or all) people would need to use that mod. If you were using it, but your friend was not, and you put the new item in the chest, their game might (?) crash if they open the chest with the mod in it. Also, I have no idea what would happen if you were in a cutscene that the other person's game didn't know what it was. And I think the NPC's movements is based on the host's game, so if a farmhand had this mod and married the NPC, they might not be on the farm like they should? ... hard to say... But yes, by the sound of it, this is one I would definitely recommend ALL players would have.

[Mondai]

Originally posted by Jigain:

I generally don't use XNB mods, so I'm afraid I can't answer that. Hopefully Mondai can. But at the very least anything that the content adds should not be able to be seen or used by anyone without the same file, which may include the spouse.

hahah.... I don't use them either... I literally only have 2 sprite replacements. But I can assume bad things...

[Jigain]

Yeah, fair enough. All I have is a portrait pack, everything else is a SMAPI mod or via Content Patcher. :)

[チーズケーキ]

thanks for the clarification everyone! i fixed it already! (i missed a " on the path)

[Jigain]

Originally posted by princeps12:

thanks for the clarification everyone! i fixed it already! (i missed a " on the path)

Glad to hear it. Guess it was SMAPI itself you had an issue with then. Happy gaming!

[Sweet 'N Low]

I just began a multiplayer game with a friend where only I have mods and he doesn't. I'm the host. Here's my experience thus far:

For the most part, SMAPI mods work just fine for both of us. However, there's an odd problem with the Movement Mod (which makes your run speed faster). Both of our run speeds are increased, but mine is significantly faster.

XNB mods work for me but not him. In this case, I'm referring to A Less Yellow Stardew. I see the changes, he doesn't. The game still runs just fine for both of us.

I'm also playing a multiplayer game with my friend as the host, and she uses no mods. In this case:

SMAPI crashes the game. I have to use the regular "Stardew Valley.exe" file to open the game and cannot use "StardewModdingAPI.exe" (or whatever it's called) to open the game.

XNB mods that just change apperance work fine for me.

TL;DR Because one player is specifically the host, I believe the game runs off of all their files and thus only they need to have mods installded for both players to use the mods. I can't confirm this for all mods, though.

[Jigain]

Originally posted by queerelves:

TL;DR Because one player is specifically the host, I believe the game runs off of all their files and thus only they need to have mods installded for both players to use the mods. I can't confirm this for all mods, though.

This isn't strictly true. The game runs completely locally on the client. The farmhand doesn't use the host's files in any way. Each client calculates everything locally, then exchanges information. If this information is discrepant between the two, either the host's information overwrites the farmhand's (I've seen this happen with mods that allow you to pause the game; if you are not the host, as soon as you unpause the game will update to the host's time), or an unhandled exception occurs causing the non-host to crash.

The end result of your conclusion is accurate, though. If both players use the same mods, the chance of discrepant information is reduced significantly, as is the likelihood of crashes.