Looking for a non-serious SMAX/SMAC PBEM game... - Page 2

GeoModder · March 12, 2004, 14:34

Ok, normal map size then, please

And DataAeolus, you can be assured, my custom seafaction does not intrude on normal gameplay.

Think of it this way: you get a free faction out of it

Mart · March 12, 2004, 18:05

Quote:

Originally posted by Rubin

The custom faction needs to be intalled though, but it will not interfere with other PBEMs.

just another folder in scenarios....

Barinthus · March 13, 2004, 03:14

Ok cool

Maniac · March 14, 2004, 17:26

* bump for Obstructor *

Mart · March 15, 2004, 11:44

Map is ready, i'm in the middle of setting up factions, adjusting units and techs. Game starts very soon.

Needed one more preferred pasword from DataAelous, because i believe i received password from Sankis already in email. Please confirm.

GeoModder · March 15, 2004, 12:50

My password is sended

Barinthus · March 15, 2004, 13:48

Ok, apparently in one other PBEM I'm playing CyCon, not Believers as I thought. That's fine with me although.

However I prefer not to play same faction in two different games at same time so if it's fine with you folks, I'd like to change my faction for this one.

So if Data Angels has not been taken yet, I'd like to take that one. If it has been, any recommendations? I prefer SMAX faction if possible.

If this is an inconvenince, I'll stay with CyCon then.

GeoModder · March 15, 2004, 14:03

For me, no inconvenience.
But better PM Mart about this, since he's busy bringing the factions on the map.
Then he mustn't do that twice

Sankis · March 15, 2004, 14:12

I'm fine with you changing faction to Data Angels as well.

Rubin · March 15, 2004, 15:44

Data Angels are fine, DataAeolus

Barinthus · March 15, 2004, 18:13

Great, thanks, guys.

That's a good idea alto - I will PM him right now

Mart · March 16, 2004, 00:21

I'm not sure if this is important, but GeoModder - what color of your faction on the map would you choose?

Presently six factions are (i decided for AI):

Pirates
Angels
??? which faction color?
University
Gaians
Peacemakers
Hive

Choose color - i am not sure, but that color might be not possible to change later on other machine... I know SMAX is strange over there with those 14 factions

Mart · March 16, 2004, 03:14

Well, Geomodder please disregard that color issue, as you have specified the color in pcx file.

Currently i am having fun reviewing SMAX quirks, and with that one custom faction it is quirking

I believe Firaxis employees were underpaid fo making SMAX working like that.

It appears that in order to get the game working properly several Atlanteans faction files will have to be added to the root game directory. I wrote special "readme_naval_clash.txt" file.

GeoModder · March 16, 2004, 08:28

I don't get the problem, actually.

I play with this custom faction without any problem in my SP game. Colors come as I wish, graphics come as I wish, and only one Atlants faction set is needed.

Can you be more specific? Is it because this is a PBEM?

Mart · March 16, 2004, 09:50

yes, single player works on my machine ok too. problems start when i make multiplayer game....
It is with Atlanteans graphics, which is changing depending upon various conditions. I have 3 possible outcomes:
- Atlanteans have their graphic
- Atlanteans have Gaians graphics
- Atlanteans have Caretakers graphics, coz i used it in that very slot just before creation of the scenario.....

Graphics bug due to fact that there are 14 factions is known, is there any good way around it? i am not sure i have a control over that - one of the configuration files?

Mart · March 16, 2004, 10:13

Geomodder, start a 4 player game, as scenario in 2100 ! important - 2100. make third faction your atlanteans....
then start playing, setup some random passwords or even no passwords in 2100 and then when prompt for second round for the first faction in 2101 appears, save&exit. When you start the game (i simulate that as real starting the play on other machine) and go to the third faction (atlanteans) they do not have their graphics there, but caretakers or gaians..... Atlanteans have their graphics in turn 2100, but not later...

Firaxis could work harder on those bugs...

Rubin · March 16, 2004, 10:28

mart7x5, there is a workaround. You just need the custom files present in your main Alpha Centauri directory (SMACX) (.pcx files and the .txt file). You can manually add the custom faction in the alpha centauri.ini file (which the game reads at start-up) or apply the faction in the setup screen. Please note that the alpha centauri.ini file is important for getting the correct graphics.

Maybe you can use the 'reload faction' feature in the scenario editor.

All PBEM players should have the custom files installed in order to get the correct graphics and faction specific rules.

Please upload the custom faction files and I'll have a look at it. You may contact me if you need more help.

Mart · March 16, 2004, 11:05

Rubin, thank you for the clue
obviously 'reload faction' does not work correctly, i will play with ini file

GeoModder · March 16, 2004, 11:14

Ah, I thought that despites the factions were correctly named in the .ini file there still was a problem. I found it weird already, since in TP/ICP the graphics show as they should.

Ok, all players will need to copy the Atlants faction files in the root then, and the .MP3 file in the 'voices' folder.

Mart · March 16, 2004, 11:43

how about ini file? will all players need to manually change the ini too? and how? is the line enough:
....
Faction 3=ATLANTS
....

Rubin · March 16, 2004, 11:47

Yes mart7x5, all players should ideally have a customized alpha centauri.ini file for this PBEM; otherwise wrong graphics may appear. I have 5-6 different .ini files for all the games I have currently running. I find it most convenient.

Could you upload the files?

Mart · March 16, 2004, 11:54

Rubin, yes, i will upload in a moment, just about those ini files - can you keep a separate ini file in a scenario folder? or unfortunately you need to manually change the ini before loading every naval clash game?

in other words - does exe refers to only the same ini file in the root folder, or it scans first scenario folder for specific ini file for a scenario

GeoModder · March 16, 2004, 12:01

As far as I know, ini files in scenario folders are not looked upon, the same thing as with faction files then.

Actually, the only thing that the ini file changes, is the graphic appearance of the factions in ANY existing game you open that has it's roots in a scenario. Thus if a player wants the correct graphics, he simply copies the correct ini file in the root, or he opens the ini in the root and changes the 7 faction names on the correct spot.

Mart · March 16, 2004, 12:26

so manual manipulation is unfortunately only way to ensure the game working properly....

And here comes question for all players:
Will all players be willing to manually replace ini file each time the turn is going to be played?

GeoModder · March 16, 2004, 12:39

Well, if not, I suppose I better play another faction then. Spartans?

Mart · March 16, 2004, 13:07

GeoModder, let's wait for others, Rubin already is practicing that, You and Rubin that is already 50% of players.
Rubin, maybe you would share some of your experience how in practice changing ini file looks like for you. Is it much trouble or not? or after some time it is even convenient?

GeoModder · March 16, 2004, 13:11

It is, at least, less confusing for players.

Seeing you're enlightned Uni faction appear as a dum drone or believer on the map, is not very enchanting.

Rubin · March 16, 2004, 13:15

Regarding .ini files: I have renamed copies of the .ini files for each of the PBEMs I participate in, i.e. "alpha centauri ACDG.ini" (for the democracy PBEM here at Apolyton). Before loading the ACDG turn I rename the current "alpha centauri.ini" to something suitable, e.g. "alpha centauri NC.ini" (for the Naval Clash PBEM). I then rename the "alpha centauri ACDG.ini" to "alpha centauri.ini", load the ACDG turn and all graphics are correct.

I am not sure if the .ini file has any impact on the game other than the graphics (and there are alternatives to ensure correct graphics). So far though, I have only noticed graphics changes when applying different .ini files and I believe there is no harm done if only the graphics are incorrect. (mart7x5, you can test this if you wish.)

Graphics troubles like these may occur if there is a change in the default turn order (SMACX only), so the problem has nothing to do with custom factions.

I'm willing, of course, to accept a custom faction in this game--I'll have a separate .ini file anyway.

Finally, the PBEM is loaded like normal PBEMs in that there is no separate scenario folder for this game. All custom files (except sound files) go in the main Alpha Centauri directory.

Barinthus · March 16, 2004, 13:23

This is giving me a headache

.

Can you please explain in simple terms step by step what I would need to do to make this work?

I'm not saying no to custom faction or whatever - I just need some extra help.

Rubin · March 16, 2004, 14:14

DataAeolus:

1) You need to download the custom faction files and place them in the correct folder(s).
2) You probably need a 'special' alpha centauri.ini file that you use everytime you play this PBEM (I can send this file to you).

That's it! Headache cured?

(Though, it is always a good idea to keep a backup of your original alpha centauri.ini file. Once I have the custom faction files I can make a step-by-step 'installation guide'--if required.)