LSPDFR - Backup Configuration Menu/Modding Menu

Introduction

After a thought and post of mine in the recent LSPDFR 0.4 preview thread, I decided it was an idea built up enough to have its own thread. If you're short on time or not willing to read my gibberish, these are my words from that thread: 

Quote

This might be a possibility for a different mod and not completely relate to LSPDFR, but wouldn't it be sweet if we could configure our own backup in some kind of menu (sort of like LCPDFR config menu during installation) and we could select units, cars, weapons, etc. in that menu? Then we save it, and it's usable in the game. It would be even cooler if LSPDFR added a vehicles DLC, then using the menu we could add add-on vehicles with just a few clicks and some [drop]-down menus for things like handling, sound, flags, etc.

 

That would be awesome. Unlikely, especially for the vehicles DLC, but it would be an extremely useful feature to be able to configure the backup in a menu.

Please don't make comments on the idea, though, unless you seek out the specific part in the writing below that you would like to discuss. In the writing, I provide more information and pictures on each idea. 

For everyone else, here's a small elaboration of that idea.

LSPDFR Backup Configuration Menu and Modding Menu

The LSPDFR Backup Menu and Modding Menu would be two separate menus that are included in the download of the decided LSPDFR version. The two menus would offer separate functions but both would work together to offer a smoother and more satisfying experience to both gameplay and installation. Both menus could be similar to the LCPDFR installation/configuration menu or integrated into the LSPDFR Configurator, and both could feature tick ([]multiple choices and ()single choices) as well as drop-down options. The Backup Menu, to put it simply, allows the user to personalize his/her backup that can be called during gameplay without the need to edit text files. The Modding Menu, on the other hand, utilizes addons (addon folders/DLC) to simplify and accelerate the process of adding mods into the game. Similar to the Backup Menu, the Modding Menu would use tick options as well as drop-down options to allow the user to configure the modifications to their needs. This could be a mod by itself, however.

Backup Menu

The Backup Menu would be a menu that allows the user to individually choose options that he/she wants in the backup units that he/she wants while playing with the LSPDFR mod. The intent of the Backup Menu is to almost completely replace the backup.xml text file in order to quicken the currently tedious process of adding custom units without using third party mods.  Options would range from categorizing departments and their patrol/response locations all the way to editing the shoes on the ped and choosing what hat he might wear when he responds. 

The organization of the options on the menu are as follows: 

Department (FBI/Sheriff/Police/[Your Choice Here])

Patrol Location (Potentially down to micro-management level, as in beaches, airbase, etc.)

Vehicles

Peds

Potential Traits/Extras per each ped

The list is quite simple and similar to the current backup.xml, but the menu is designed to replace that file.

Once the user has edited the information to his/her preferences, a "save" button in the corner would then be clicked in order to save the file. The file could still be accessed by the user, but the goal of the Backup Menu is to prevent the current need to edit that file in a text editor or download a third party mod. If anyone can't visualize what the menu might look like, I can come up with one but I can't do it the same day.

Modding Menu

The Modding Menu is a little bit more experimental because currently LSPDFR doesn't offer this feature in any form. The Modding Menu is similar to the Backup Menu in that it appears similar and also handles alike, but the Modding Menu instead uses custom DLC folders in order to add cars, peds, weapons among other things. Because of the modification of the game folder (although addons in "mods" folders don't affect the files), users would of course have to check an agreement. Configurable options might include the option to add the vehicle, for example, through a blank box and several drop-down menus. For example: 

Model name of vehicle: [Name here, blank box].wft/wtd/etc

In-game name of vehicle: [Name here]

Make name: [Same as manufacturer in "In-game name"]

Handling line of vehicle: [Vanilla vehicle handling here]

Sound of vehicle: [Vanilla vehicle sound here]

[Whatever other options the game has here]

Layout:

( )LAYOUT_STANDARD

( )LAYOUT_TRUCK

(x)LAYOUT_HELI

( )ETC

Flags:

[ ]FLAG_BIG

[x]FLAG_HAS_LIVERY

[x]FLAG_LAW_ENFORCEMENT

[ ]FLAG_ETC_YOU_GET_THE_GIST

OTHER OPTIONS

The menu would then adjust or create the required text files for the vehicle that the user wants to add, followed by a pop-up that tells the user that he/she will need to add the vehicle through OpenIV (if not handled by the menu/if necessary). The same might apply to peds, weapons, textures, etc. 

Of course, my idea is completely subjective. Everything I have written is completely up to interpretation and I don't expect any of it to be added to LSPDFR. Regardless of whether or not this idea is even considered, I present it on this forum so that it can be considered by other users who can either build upon it or develop their own idea based around mine. I'm not asking for a heated debate, but if anyone has their own thoughts I'm completely open to read it, so please share. I'm also open to editing or fixing my post if anyone thinks something should be changed, whether that be ideas, grammar, words, or formatting. Sometimes I think faster than I can speak and begin to write letters and not words, so if I need to clarify something please let me know.

Thank you for taking your time to read this post and/or consider the proposal contained within the reading.

Edited February 28, 20188 yr by theninja35