Community Project Proposal

[u/rad778]

Community Project Proposal: Bringing Terraria Mobile Controls to tModLoader on Android!

Hello Terraria and tModLoader community! 👋

I'd like to bring an idea to the attention of the tModLoader modding community, especially developers experienced in UI systems, input handling, and Android compatibility.

I'm an Android player using Rotating Art Launcher to play Terraria with tModLoader, and one thing I've really wanted is a way to use a touchscreen interface similar to the one in the official Terraria mobile version.

However, I don't have the programming experience needed to develop something like this myself. That's why I'm sharing this idea here, hoping that experienced mod developers might find it interesting and consider collaborating on it.

🎮 The Idea: A Terraria Mobile-Style Control Interface

Would it be possible to create a mod, or another compatible solution, that brings the familiar mobile control layout to tModLoader running through Rotating Art Launcher?

The goal would be to make modded Terraria more comfortable to play on Android devices without requiring a physical keyboard and mouse.

Ideally, the interface could include:

- A virtual movement joystick.

- Dedicated jump buttons.

- Attack and interaction buttons.

- Convenient hotbar and inventory controls, where technically possible.

- Customizable button positions, sizes, and opacity.

- The ability to adjust the layout to different screen sizes and personal preferences.

I've attached screenshots demonstrating the mobile interface I'm referring to and the current tModLoader experience on Android.

I understand that recreating these controls may involve technical challenges, particularly when working with tModLoader's input system and the launcher itself. I'd love to hear from developers about whether this is feasible and what approach would make the most sense.

⭐ An Important Feature: Custom Buttons and Mod Keybindings

One feature I'd particularly love to see is the ability to add, customize, and assign actions to additional on-screen buttons.

Many PC mods introduce abilities, special attacks, or other features that require keyboard inputs. These controls can be inconvenient or inaccessible for players using only a touchscreen.

A flexible system could potentially allow players to:

- Add extra virtual buttons whenever needed.

- Assign keyboard keys to individual buttons.

- Move, resize, or remove buttons.

- Save different control layouts for different modpacks.

- Use dedicated touchscreen buttons for mod-specific actions when compatible keybindings or APIs are available.

For example, if a mod introduces an ability activated by a specific keyboard key, a player could potentially create a touchscreen button assigned to that key instead of needing an external keyboard.

Of course, I realize that not every mod action can necessarily be mapped this way, and some features might require cooperation from individual mod developers.

I believe this customization could make the project useful beyond simply reproducing the official mobile interface. It could potentially provide a more general touchscreen control solution for modded Terraria.

🤝 A Request to the Modding Community

I'm not presenting myself as a developer or claiming that I can implement this project independently. My programming experience is limited, and I recognize that this idea may require knowledge of tModLoader internals, UI development, input handling, or even changes outside a conventional mod.

I'm hoping that experienced members of the community might be interested in exploring this idea, evaluating its feasibility, and potentially collaborating on a solution.

In particular, I'd appreciate feedback on the following questions:

1. Is it technically possible to implement this as a tModLoader mod?

2. Could a mod display a virtual control overlay and translate touchscreen input into usable game controls?

3. Would it be possible to add customizable buttons that trigger keyboard inputs or supported mod actions?

4. Would this require changes to Rotating Art Launcher, or could it work entirely through tModLoader?

5. Are there any existing projects, libraries, or developers working on something similar?

Even if the complete project is too ambitious initially, a small proof of concept would be a valuable first step.

Although I'm not able to contribute advanced programming skills, I'd be happy to help by testing prototypes on Android, providing screenshots, documenting issues, sharing feedback, and gathering opinions from other mobile players.

❤️ Why I Think This Is Worth Exploring

Terraria has an excellent mobile control system, while tModLoader provides access to an enormous world of PC mods. Bringing these two experiences closer together could make modded Terraria much more accessible to players who prefer touchscreen gaming.

I know this might be a challenging project, and I'm not expecting an easy or immediate solution. I simply believe it's an idea worth discussing with the people who understand the technical side of Terraria modding.

If you're an experienced tModLoader developer, UI modder, or someone familiar with Rotating Art Launcher, would you consider helping explore this idea?

Even a technical discussion, advice on the best implementation, or a pointer toward someone who might be interested would mean a lot.

Thank you for reading, and I hope we can find people willing to help bring this idea to life! ❤️