Posted September 20, 2018

"The game that this item belongs too does not allow downloading of its items" on https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1370035983
Guess GOG users are not allowed to use mods for that game.
"I think it's not actually possible to use a downloader for newer steam workshop stuff, because it uses the same download depot system for mods as for games. It all goes through the steam client now.
In the past the steam workshop used to use a different system where the game itself would download mods using an API, which I think is what that steam workshop downloader is trying to use. "
- GGLucas (https://steamcommunity.com/app/282590/discussions/1/405694031552470211/)
Ah ok.. so... vendor lock in completed. Congratulations you guys.
The API Steam downloader (and similar web pages and tools) uses is a web-based API - it never had anything to do with the game itself.
If you want a mod that's currently "locked" for you because you don't have it on Steam, your options are:
1) Contact the publisher of the game and get them to unlock it (this sometimes works - Klei unlocked Invisible Inc workshop mods for example).
2) See if the mod is available elsewhere, such as Moddb or NexusMods - if not, contact the developer of the mod and get them to get their shit together.
3) Buy the game on Steam.
I suspect that Steam "locks" the workshop by default, which is why newer games tend to often not be accessible via the downloader - meaning it's up to the game's publisher to explicitly set the workshop to be available.