This isn't really a suggestion, more a question. It's been discussed before in one form or another, but I can't find a specific thread to revive.

How difficult would it be to create a directory like the HUD skins for custom ship textures/maps? Essentially the exact same process as HUD skins; replace the one you want to change with the same name and specs. Purely client side.

Interesting. This would circumvent the 'Dicks in Space' problem, while giving (limited) customizability of the ships' appearances.

Though you could make all ships glowing red so they show up better...

Perhaps certain maps could be left out of the process if they provide some sort of advantage to people willing to go to such lengths?

I WANT... SO MUCH, +9001

+9002

This is so abused in other games where people would make things like a flag look about a 100 feet tall so it's easy to spot in the field.

-1

How would a texture map, or even a normal map, affect scale? All a normal map does is add detail to the model, it doesn't add any bulk. The only thing I can think of that could possibly be abused, as Calder pointed out, might be the lighting map if there is one. But even still, all it would enable someone to do is make a ship glow brightly; not exactly a game changing hack.

Personally, I think, if it's possible, this would be a great way to get user generated artwork into the game without any sort of massive Q&A headaches on the devs part (again, only speculation).

Hey Whistler, would you move this to suggestions and delete this post?

Again, the "dicks in space" problem is easily solved by giving users a check box to turn off displaying the custom textures.

Or, more simple, only you see your textures... no automatic xfer nor upload

Yeah that's the whole point of the suggestion. One of the technical impediments to custom skins, afaik, has been the distribution and load times associated with delivering custom content through the client.

This would be purely client side (maybe that's the wrong term, it would be completely local). The only way you would be able to see the custom textures that I can see, is if you downloaded and installed them yourself, in the same manner as the HUD skin currently works. No need for in-game anything. You want dicks in space, you are more than welcome to it; it just won't be forced on anyone else.

Bump, because I wants it.