ModSync - Chat-Based Mod Synchronization
A plugin for Mage Arena that synchronizes mods between host and clients.
Features
- Automatic Detection: Detects when players join and automatically checks their mod compatibility
- Lobby Lock: Host can enable lobby lock (F9) to kick players with mismatched mods (clients get 10 seconds to respond to mod requests)
- Visual Feedback: Shows success/error messages in the game UI
How It Works
For Hosts:
- When a player joins, ModSync sends a mod request to the player.
- If the player has ModSync, they respond with their mod list
- Host compares mod lists automatically and either accepts or kicks the player.
- Mods with the "all" tag will be considered when matching mod lists. This means that client side mods should not affect the compatibility between host and player.
For Clients:
- When joining a lobby, clients automatically send their mod list to the host
- Clients respond to mod requests from the host
- If mods don't match, clients receive a mismatch message
- Most client side mods should be fine to run without getting a mismatch error.
Installation
- Install BepInEx for Mage Arena
- Place
ModSync.dll in the BepInEx/plugins folder
Usage
For Hosts:
- Press F9 to toggle lobby lock on/off
- When lobby lock is enabled, players with mismatched mods will be automatically kicked
- Check the game logs for detailed ModSync information
For Clients:
- No manual intervention required
- ModSync automatically handles synchronization when joining lobbies
- Check the game logs for detailed ModSync information
Configuration
If your mod can be considered a "cheat" - You MUST add the "all" tag and follow below, or you risk your mod being removed.
Mod developers can specify their mod's sync type by adding a static field or property named modsync:
public static string modsync = "all"; // Requires matching on both host and client - This is what is considered when syncing lobbies
public static string modsync = "host"; // Only required on host - These do not count for syncing lobbies
public static string modsync = "client"; // Only required on client - These do not count for syncing lobbies
here is an example of how an all mod should act:
namespace ExampleMod
{
[BepInPlugin("com.example.mymod", "My Example Mod", "1.0.0")]
[BepInProcess("MageArena.exe")]
[BepInDependency("com.magearena.modsync", BepInDependency.DependencyFlags.HardDependency)]
public class ExampleMod : BaseUnityPlugin
{
// This mod requires both client and host to have it
public static string modsync = "all";
private void Awake()
{
// ModSync dependency is guaranteed by BepInEx hard dependency
// If ModSync is not present, this mod won't even load
Logger.LogInfo("ModSync found! Initializing mod...");
// Your mod initialization code here
}
}
}
Note the Bepinex Hard Dependency. This is REQUIRED for mods that can be considered cheats.
Troubleshooting
Common Issues:
-
Timeout Errors
- Players without ModSync will timeout after 8-10 seconds.
- This is expected behavior for players without the mod.
-
Mod Mismatches
- Check that all required mods are installed. Mods with the "all" tag are considered for syncing.
- Verify mod versions match between host and client
- Turn off Lock Lobby if experiencing many mod mismatch issues.
-
Host doesnt have ModSync
- Two potentional causes here. Either the host doesnt have modsync, or you are not matching the mods/versions of mods of the host.
- Unfortunately a known bug for the visual alert to be wrong in this instance. Check log if you need detailed reports.
Debugging:
- Enable BepInEx logging to see detailed ModSync messages
- Check the game logs for
[ModSync] entries
Donations
Donations are never required, but appreciated. The mod will always remain free and up-to-date.
Support Development
Modding Discord & Support
You can submit issues or questions in the modding discord, on my mod-releases thread.
