all mods are made through TmodLoader, as it is the only mod making API available. You can download mods with out TmodLoader (such as downloading and extracting ZIP files from the forums) but all mods must use TmodLoader to function.

I appreciate your response! My next question then, evolves around how to get terraria workshop mods to work, the few I found on the workshop and subscribed to are not found on tmodloader, so I think I'm missing something.

My best guess from prior experience would be to locate where the workshop files are being downloaded to (program files > steam > steamapps > workshop > content > then open the numbered folder that contains the workshop files for TmodLoader > and finally open the numbered folder the the workshop mod you want to get working) and then drag and drop the folder contents into the appropriate place in the mods section of your TmodLoader installation.

As I have never done this before I make no guarantee that following these steps exactly will get your workshop mods to be found, loaded and initialised by TmodLoader. you may need to fiddle with what files go where to get it to work.

Thank you for the input! I truly appreciate it! I found what is probably the only post online that describes how to use mods on normal terraria without tmodloader, for those who come searching for the info later on. Open steam > library > right click terraria and go to properties > workshop then tick each mod you wish to use. In terraria, at the menu page, click on workshop > use resource packs > and move any mod from the left box to the right box. Any mods you do not see here may be auto active once you enter a single player game.

oh ♥♥♥♥ I thought you were talking about actual mods not the resource pack mods on this workshop.

Jesus loves y'all, ty for answering my question