Clarification on Mods please

Hunkpapa · #1 February 28th, 2003, 04:36 PM

Do I have to install a different Version of the game for each mod I wish to use...TDM, Proportions, etc.

I also read during my search there is a program that will allow you to pick which mod Version you wish to use, where can I find it and do I have to do the same as above for it to work?

Through research I I think I will like TDM and Proportions, what is everyone's thought on those mods, how does TDM differ from BOD and Devnull.

Also can Nomad-Pirat and Ultimate strategies be used in conjunction with the above mods. i.e. use the enhanced AI with a pirate player?

Thanks, sorry this is soon long.

HP

dogscoff · #2 February 28th, 2003, 05:33 PM

No, you do not need multiple installations of the game for your different mods. The only time you'd want multiple installations is if you wanted to play with earlier Versions of the game (ie play without the latest patch).

You are also correct in that there is a mod picker program. There is a perfectly functional Version on your Gold CD (look under "extras".) There is also a more recent Version available from these message Boards, and that Version is also bundled in with the TDM Modpack. I'd recommend downloading and installing TDM and the modpicker first, then installing whatever other mods you want to try out.

Quote:

Through research I I think I will like TDM and Proportions, what is everyone's thought on those mods, how does TDM differ from BOD and Devnull.

TDM does not change the standard game at all, it just improves the AIs and introduces new ones.

The changes in Proportions are mainly about economics and the rate of play.

Devnull is a festival of boy's toys =-) New ship sizes, new weapons, space monsters...

I don't know what BOD is.

As for combining mods... this can't be done easily in most cases. Pirates and nomads comes with an AI-patcher program that can convert normal AIs (including TDM) to work with P&N, but they will not take advantage of any of the cool new stuff in the mod.

Ultimate strategies and TDM are completely compatible becasue they don't mess with the technolgies or game settings, and FQM can be made to work with most mods without too much trouble. If you wanted to combine, say, P&N and Proportions however, you'd come across some real problems. You would effectively have to make your own hybrid mod...

Slick · #3 February 28th, 2003, 05:40 PM

You do not need to have different installs of SE4 unless you are using mods that require different Versions of SE4. Most mods have been updated to the latest SE4 revision, so you probably can just use the latest Version. Mods each go in a unique subdirectory and most mods use .zip or installers that put the files in the right places.

The modpicker is on your SE4 Gold CD. There is an updated Version posted here in the upload section. Search for Matryx's mod picker.

Different people like different mods, you will have to make up your own mind. Most mods have a readme or similar that gives an overview of the mod. Most of the bigger mods also have a discussion thread here in the forums.

In general, mods cannot be combined. If 2 mods do not modify the same files, they could be combined, but even in those cases the AI might not work as intended. There is a file on the SE4 Gold CD for identifying conflicts. Some mods have instructions on combining with other mods. Additionally, if you want to combine mod A and mod B, you probably want to install mod A and mod B and then create a 3rd folder for mod A+B so that you can still play them individually. For details on combining 2 different mods, I suggest you go to the mod threads here first and/or contact the mod creator(s).

Slick.

Slick · #4 February 28th, 2003, 05:41 PM

Beaten by a faster typist. Amazing how similar the responses are.

Slick.

[ February 28, 2003, 15:42: Message edited by: Slick ]

Fyron · #5 February 28th, 2003, 10:01 PM

Ultimate Strategies Mod can easily be combined with any mod out there. All you need from it is the Formations.txt and DefaultStrategies.txt files in the Data folder. As it has nearly all the formations from mods that I could find, it won't hurt to overwrite the formations files in those mods. I don't think many (if any) other mods make changes to DefaultStrategies.txt. I could be wrong, but I haven't seen mods with differences in that file.

FQM Standard can be used to generate maps, and then you can load them in most other mods. For info on how to combine the mod with other mods, look in the Help folder for FQM STD 1.18. When I release FQM DLX 2.02, it will also have this info in it. Or, you can go to the FQM web site, which is linked from my home page, at *my web site*. Combining FQM Deluxe with other mods gets a little trickier, but can be done if you follow the instructions.

Combining tech/comp mods together gets really tricky, and I would not recommend it until you learn more about modding SE4. You can visit the SE4 Modding 101 Tutorial (linked in my sig, or from my web site I linked to earlier), which will introduce you to the wonderful world of making mods for SE4.

Atrocities · #6 March 1st, 2003, 02:08 AM

I used the FQM mod with portions of P&N, and others to make up the basis for the http://astmod.com

I am not working on it anymore, but CNC is. So if you want a fun mod to play with, try it too.