[sniperton]

"Why is a common ground mandatory?" It is not, but it would be reasonable to find one. In the present situation the average user (like me) profits less from the improvements than he/she could if we take into consideration the total time and work invested in the game by the various groups and individuals. So it should not be a matter of pride, it should be a matter of work economy to have some sort of 'common sense' development strategy. The various parties would not even be required to actively cooperate, only to reflect upon their strengths and weaknesses. I have something like this in mind:

Originally Posted by HundertneunGustav

How that? Let me dream for a moment.
Hmm, maybe TD could focus on the code, the features, the "stuff behind the curtain" while the Modders could bring new content , to make use of the "code behind the curtain".

For example:
Let TD Implement the ability to have 12 prop pitch and 12 power axis per plane.
Let the Modders Make a Plane that has 12 prop engines.
[...]
Let TD implement advanced plane features and malfunctions, failures and Systems (icing on wings, freezing guns and windows, ... the forum is full of stuff like that)
Let the Modders create planes that were well know to suffer from said failures, or put the necessary code into the old planes that have existed for a decade now.
(assymetrical Slats on the 109, de-icing ballons on the american Bomber wings, damaged oxygen systems letting AI gunners die, and AI pilots dive for the deck... your imagination is the limit)

I think such a setup would be ... awesome.
Then it is a Matter to decide whet mods come into the official Updates.

But it aint gonna happen...