My Trouble With Stepmania

[TheSaxRunner05]

TL; DR - Half time tempo changes with halved note values are retarded

Why do you stepartists feel the need to pit in so many half time tempo changes? It makes it impossible for me to pick a speed-mod sometimes. For example, Excalibur from the summer pack is a great song and was well stepped until the very end - when the stepper decided to put thirty seconds at a slow tempo (92?). If I raised the speed mod for that part, it would be to fast for me to pass the beginning. It's a good file I will probably never play again because I can't read the ending. Why wasn't it stepped with 16ths at the previous tempo to sustain readability?

That is not the only song like that, either. While it isn't always fatal to my life bar, it makes the song harder to read for no good reason. Another file I have with for that reason is AA. I could easily combo it if it wasn't for that retarded halftime section in the middle (jn fact, AAA has one too, but only one measure of 32nds).

Please stop this practice. It's dumb.
/Rant

[Gundam-Dude]

use a cmod

it's hard to believe anybody present day still uses an xmod for keyboard spread files that are not intended for xmod play. stepping decisions are completely up to the simfile author themselves and frankly one person complaining about something in a simfile isn't going to change anything. just learn to cope and adapt otherwise just don't play files you don't like in the first place. community packs are made to appeal to various audiences therefore it's only natural that you'll find files you won't like.

[TC_Halogen]

One of the things that you have to understand with community packs like these is that many of the files are catered to being expressive and correct with the song -- if the song takes a breather and relaxes (for example, lack of percussion), then a half BPM tempo is justifiable. In addition to this, most charts aren't created with x-modifiers in mind (which is why certain files will have NO C-MOD on their banners to indicate that you should in fact use a x-mod).

I understand the frustration, but a lot of stepartists make their files with the intent of you following the rhythms/patterns properly without having to memorize slight (or vast) changes in tempo, which is why a very large majority of the players who are strong SM players use C-mods unless the song specifies otherwise.

[TheSaxRunner05]

I'm still using 3.9 and there are only two C-MOD options on the right of all the x2,x3s ect. Do I need higher than 3.9 to set my own CMod?

[Ohaider]

Basically go to themes > metrics.ini, then scroll down till you see a list of speedmods, just copy the format they use in the first 13(?) and create as many as you'd like

Then go to Themes > Default > Languages > English.ini and scroll down till you see something that looks like 1x=1x 2x=2x etc and enter in whatever speed mod you added = itself


(if i added C750 i'd add C750=C750)

It's kind of a pain to locate all of it but best of luck

Here's what my metrics.ini looks like

[ScreenOptionsMaster]
# Player options
Speed=6
SpeedDefault=mod,C700
Speed,1=mod,1x;name,x1
Speed,2=mod,3x;name,x3
Speed,3=mod,4x;name,x4
Speed,4=mod,C500;name,C500
Speed,5=mod,C600;name,C600
Speed,6=mod,C700;name,C700

and here's my english.ini

x1=x1
x3=x3
x4=x4
C500=C500
C600=C600
C700=C700
Flat=FLAT

Bada bing

Edit: Oh yeah if you run Windows 7 like me, you probably need to grant yourself access to changing the documents, simply right click metrics.ini and english.ini and go to properties, click the security tab, click edit, then it should pull up a box named "Permissions for (blah)" Highlight "Users" and check the boxes so it looks like this

[SkRAWRk]

I think you can still set your own c-mods in 3.9. I did it a while ago when I had 3.9, it's not too hard, just look it up~

[who_cares973]

you probably hate my files then lol

[psychoangel691]

Originally Posted by who_cares973

you probably hate my files then lol

Ron Pauls OP <3333333333333

[Patashu]

I actually kind of agree, in that it's arbitrary that since the bpm halves the speed mod should half as well. Why not a gradual speed mod change, or just a 3/4ing, or whatever? This is why I like PIU's model of separating speed mod changes from bpm changes (and in fact allowing them to be per chart, which is something I think SM5 can do now).

[dAnceguy117]

I've found this to be a problem in the past. Sometimes people halve the default bpm which makes sense theoretically but hurts when it comes to playability. I hopes this makes sense b/c im drunk

[who_cares973]

nope

[skorpion9x]

I've never used a C-mod. I think if a step artist uses half/double-time tempo changes, they are not intending for players to use c-mods! Otherwise, no reason not to just leave it the same tempo throughout.

I'm working on a simfile that ranges from 111 to 890 bpm. They're not really gimmicky bpm changes either - the song's bpm actually gets that high, and there are steps during each of those speeds and speeds in between. I think it would take away from the experience if you use a c-mod on it!

[Gundam-Dude]

You haven't been up to date with stepmania stepping techniques, skor, so it's understandable why you'd think that. Multiplying a file's BPM is an easy way to change a file's colour of notes, which can be used in discretion to better represent sections in a song. For example, if a song has a calm, chill section, some people would take the opportunity to use colour theory and represent that one section using -only- cyan/blue notes. To sync it properly, of course you'd need to thoroughly use BPM changes via DDReam.

Similarly, moches and I are responsible for the present day 192nd note usage trend which purposely offsets certain notes by a 192nd to represent specific sounds, just like how you would use holds or mines.

All in all, most people don't even use xmods nowadays other than for files -intended- for xmod (e.g. if it says no cmod in the song banner somewhere). Cmods are the standard.

[Xx{Midnight}xX]

Don't play MFDFY V2 then. It drops 3/4th of it's bpm in one section. (240 -> 60)

Like they said Use a C-Mod.

[dAnceguy117]

wow I should not be allowed to have a smartphone. ANYWAY

Originally Posted by Gundam-Dude

it's hard to believe anybody present day still uses an xmod for keyboard spread files that are not intended for xmod play.

I personally use xmods once in a while just for kicks. I think playing half-tempo sections with xmods can be a lot of fun, even if the simfile author probably planned on everyone using cmods.

Originally Posted by TC_Halogen

I understand the frustration, but a lot of stepartists make their files with the intent of you following the rhythms/patterns properly without having to memorize slight (or vast) changes in tempo, which is why a very large majority of the players who are strong SM players use C-mods unless the song specifies otherwise.

that's probably the best explanation I've seen. no one should have to commit every song and its tempo changes to memory. there are far, far too many simfiles in existence.

Originally Posted by skorpion9x

I'm working on a simfile that ranges from 111 to 890 bpm. They're not really gimmicky bpm changes either - the song's bpm actually gets that high, and there are steps during each of those speeds and speeds in between. I think it would take away from the experience if you use a c-mod on it!

you should definitely include "NO C-MODS" in the file's banner or subtitle. 99% of players use cmods unless specifically told not to do so.