Problem with using TDM Modpack
 

Hi all,

Just upgraded my game from 1.35 to Version 1.41. I also just installed the TDM Modpack (v1.7 I think). Wanted to try to play against improved AI plus many new races that are in the Modpack. After configuring my game settings I hit "start", and SE4 tries to generate the galaxy, then comes up with several error Messages that is doesnt understand some of the stuff in the txt files of the new races that were in the Modpack.
Nevertheless it goes on and I could start playing now but...should I? Are these races now very much crippled?

Is the TDM Modpack incompatible with certain patch levels of SE4?

Thanks,

Dragonlord

Re: Problem with using TDM Modpack
 

The TDM-ModPack as posted is only compatable up to Version 1.35. We are working on the next Version. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif


Edited - Sorry for the confusion - that is what I get for replying while on a conference call at work! Version 1.72 is located here about 1/2 way down the page.
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/For.../000017-3.html

[This message has been edited by Tampa_Gamer (edited 20 June 2001).]

Re: Problem with using TDM Modpack
 

You have me slightly confused now.. up to 1.72? SE4's highest patch level is 1.41 ... so up to what level of SE4 is the modpack compatible? 1.30 ? 1.35?

I think you meant to say the latest Version of the Modpack itself is 1.72, (btw where can I find that, I only have 1.70) but that doesnt tell me (nor does the readme I think) to what level I should "downpatch" my copy of SE4 to be able to use all the cool features of the Modpack.

Re: Problem with using TDM Modpack
 

1.72 is the most current Version of the TDM mod pac and it is compatible with Version 1.35 of SE4. This is Version 1.08.9991.0 of this message http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Problem with using TDM Modpack
 

It should also be compatible with 1.41 since no major filetype changes where made from what I can tell. But don't quote me on that. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Problem with using TDM Modpack
 

I dont think it is compatible with 1.41. It gave me all sorts of errors. I now changed the path file back to "None", and can play the plain, unmodded 1.41. Then I added the custom shipsets and AI files to the standard SE4 directories (../Pictures/Races and Empires) and can use those in 1.41. However they seem to break 1.41. Using races from the modpack causes all diplomacy attempts not to work (no replies) and half the races in my testgame go through their turns in less than half a second, which is also suspicous...

I am now going to uninstall SE4 and reinstall in order to go back to patch level 1.35 and try the modpack's races then.

Dragonlord

Re: Problem with using TDM Modpack
 

I tried for several turns TDM mod 1.72 with the new patch and it seems to be working O.K.

Re: Problem with using TDM Modpack
 

OK, after several hours of experimentation, here are my results. Unfortunately I am still having problems.

Uninstalled SE4. Reinstalled, then patched to 1.35. Still using TDM Mod 1.70. I took about 5 different shipsets I found on these forums (in addition to the ones in the modpack) and added them to the /pictures/races directory of the modpack. I then made .emp files for races using these shipsets (all at 5000 racial points) and put them in the Mod's Empires dir.

So far so good. I create a game of my own race (the dragons, basically slightly modded Terrans) vs. 15 AI players. I used only one of the standard AI races, plus all the new ones from the Modpack and the others I added.
The game starts ("compiles") OK, no errors this time about unknown commands in .txt files. I happily start playing.

BUT: I noticed that the AI only seems to be commanding 4 of the 15 AI races ! When it is the turn of those races the AI takes about a second to compute the turn for that race, all others flash by in like 1/10th of a second. I also had to explore over a dozen systems before finding another player.
Furthermore, diplomacy still does not work. Once I found my first enemy player I offered him a NA pact, next turn I did not even get a reply back ! That's not how it should be, right?

Possible causes: modpack can't deal with races not included in the modpack? odd, but it also is not handling its own races...

I dont know if this is relevant but I'll mention it anyway: when setting up the game, I manually add the races I want to play against (add existing) but don't edit them one by one to turn them over to the Computer. I start the game and before I do anything else, I hit F2, Players, and use that dialog box to turn all other races over to the AI.
I had no random empires (neutral or otherwise) added to this game.

Please help !!

Thanks in advance,

Dragonlord

Re: Problem with using TDM Modpack
 

Before you turn the races over to the computer make sure to activate their AI ministers. That's the problem IMHO.
Alternativly you could create the race at startup and make sure it is on computer contorl before you launch the game.