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Evolutions Mod Version 1.28 Further Information
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Things in THIS part are to do with problems
and the
general changes to the game.
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www.pathfinderstudios.com = contact and support
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mikeygarlick@hotmail.com = msn (live support)
(only available depending on
my availability of course)
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Sections Covered:
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Section 1 - Updates and patches
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1.0 - Reason and installation of updates and patches
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Section 2 - Game issues
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2.0 Activation of the mod
2.1 Trouble shooting activation
2.2 Troubleshooting crashes
2.3 Reporting bugs and crashes
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Section 3 - Server Operators
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3.0 Running a server
3.1 Cheaters on servers
3.2 Extra files
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Section 4 - Other Changes
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4.0 Other changes made
4.1 Ships locations
*END*
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SECTION 1 - PATCHES AND UPDATES
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I Believe
that the secret to a good mod is the support it gets. If i
am aware of a problem, i won't wait until the next
version is out to fix it, and neither (if possible)
will i release the WHOLE mod again!! I do try my best
to test everything to destruction before release, but some things slip by us!!
So, I release patches. The patches are just replacement files in the form of
FLMM mods. They work by having EXACTLY the same
filenames and structure as the mod itself. The updates then also contain the SAME
filenames as the mod too - but with new information (to fix handling, bugs
etc). When these come out, ALL you
have to do is follow these simple steps.
1. Ensure that the mod is NOT
activated
2. Exit FLMM
3. Download the mod (Open
from location)
4. When the mod auto-unzips,
it will prompt you due to a clash of mods. It will
inform you that it will overwrite the files of another mod. This is okay and
correct. Please click on OKAY or the patch won't install.
5. Once finished, FLMM should
start up, but if not, start FLMM
6. Activate the mod and play
BE WARNED, if SERVERS don't
have the update, then may crash upon connection!!
There are TWO types of
updates.
1. CRITICAL - the critical
updates are JUST THAT - you NEED the update. This is to fix crashes, and also
when things have been added that require you to have the same as the server
2. NON CRITICAL - these are
typically to fix minor issues,such
as infocards, ship handling, loot properties.
You don't need to download
NON CRITICAL updates to play, but i advise that you
keep up to date as regularyly as possible.
All news about updates is
available at the website.
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SECTION 2 - GAME ISSUES
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2.0 Activation of the mod
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The mod uses FLMM (Freelancer
Modification Manager) to activate the mod. This makes backups of files, before
copying the files across to the games folder, and also adding some scripting if
included.
The mod is making changes to
a considerable amount of files. It is replacing around about 40% of the files
upon activation and also adding an extra few hundred files as well.This takes time, and it may appear that FLMM has
'frozen' –especially since the progress bar turns 'white'. Be patient it WILL
activate fine. Upon activation of the mod - click on the
normal FL icon to launch your game.
Please Ensure that ALL MODS
HAVE BEEN DEACTIVATED AND BACKUPS RESTORED before activating the mod It is also
adivsable to install the Freelancer SDK by the
-=EOA=- Players consortium before activation. This is only the decompressed ini files of the game, however, if you haven't reinstalled
it will ensure that your game files are correct. Also - it has been said to
increase game performance, and it DOES fix some errors in microsofts original coding!! I say why not
basically!! Give it a go!
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2.1 Trouble Shooting Activation
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An error may occur. In the
first instance, you can scroll through the activation logs of all the mods - this is the 'scan' that FLMM undertakes during loading.
This will give you some details as to the problem. If it says that the mod
cannot activate for any reason, the please read it carefully. Ensure you are
not trying to activate it with ANY other mod running. Ensure that you have not
had a previuos mod running. It is advisable to actaully install the Freelancer SDK which is just 1200
decompressed ini files. This, however, will ensure
that the ini files are correct before preceeding.
However, if that doesn't
solve the problem, try to install the game again. You can do this by just
deleting you Freelancer folder, then inserting the CD and installing again.
This will NOT loose your MP account.
After this, you can also try
to reinstall FLMM, but check you are downloading the LATEST version, as the mod
supports FLMM, and therefore, i will have tested the the mod USING the latest versions available!
After this, please take a readout of the error from FLMM, and then email me. Contact
details are available at the website.
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2.2 Troubleshooting crashes of the game upon loading
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PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
If you have activated the mod and are crashing on loadup.
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This is nearly ALWAYS caused
by autosaves and save game folders. Please delete all
your autosave files (FLMM can do this for you) and if
the problem persists, in the options nav bar at the
top of FLMM - you can find a 'Go to save games folder' Use this to take you to
the save games folder.After that DELETE ALL SAVE
GAMES FOLDERS. Try the mod again. If after this you are still not able to load
the game, then please REINSTALL FREELANCER FIRST and then try again. Remember to
de-activate the mod first though!. If you are still
having problems after this time, then contact me. Please DO NOT email or
contact me without having done the above. I regularly get people telling me
that this is crashing, but it is
because of the autosave usually. If
you email or contact me without trying this, i will
ONLY say exactly the same thing again to you. After all this, then i will try to help more. It HAS been tested,
the mod DOES WORK - so therefore it stands to reason that the problem is at
YOUR END and NOT the mod!
If you are crashing after
deactivating the mod, then the same applies. Its most
likely due to having problems with save games folders and the autosave. Do the above. It might also be due to improper
deactivation of the mod as well. In that instance, the only fix is to reinstall
the game again. This is because FLMM may occasionally not deactivate the mods and restore the backups correctly, at which point you
have files missing. Once again - it is NOT the mods
fault!
Crashing when joining servers in MP
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Check that you have the
latest patch for the mod. Patches as said before are brought out to fix things.
They may include updates and extra stuff though, so keep up to date. If you
crash when connnecting to a server, it might be that
you don't have the latest update, however, this can also mean that the servers
DOESN'T YET have the update as well. Try another server
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2.3 Reporting bugs and crashes of the mod
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It does happen, i make mistakes, mispell things,
or just the game dies! If this happens i need
information!
Basically - the more info,
the better. NEVER bother to contact me with the words of 'I crashed' and thats all. Don't even bother if its just 'I crashed in New York System' - as that is still
FAR TOO VAGUE!! I need details, where were you – what were you doing, who was
around, what had you just done??
Ie - i would like to know:
Ship
Loadout
Location (exact if possible)
Action at crash
(launching from a station, docking with a tradelane,
pressing dock button, shooting a gun?)
Is it repetative
in the location? - Yep - thats
right, TRY SEVERAL TIMES PLEASE, as this helps narrow the problem to ONE file immediately.
Believe it or not, i do need massive detail. If the effect for a gun is wrong,
it will crash the game when you shoot it. Not only do i
need to know which gun, but what you are loaded up with too.......
As you can see, if you shot
and crashed, but told me you were near a base in an eagle, the chances of
finding the crash are next to ZERO!!! It can take HOURS or even DAYS to find
bugs sometimes, so DETAIL DETAIL DETAIL!!!!!
ideally i
could do with knowing EVERYTHING you were carrying, what exactly you were
doing, notice anything strange before it, and of course, if you could PLEASE
try it again, and again and again. If i know its in the same spot, then its great, if i
know that it occurs all over the system, that is just as good.
To report bugs, there is a
link for emails at the top of the mainpage of the
website.
www.pathfinderstudios.com
There is also one for BUGS -
which are NOT crashes, but everything else. They are split like this for two
reasons!!
1. I don't have to sift
through posts about bugs to find a crash somewhere, and then decided which
parts are relevant or not
2. It stands out, i read it first, i
get to work on it.
Basically - crashes can spoil
the game, unmountable guns and incorrect names is NOT
a major problem at all, but repetitive crashes are. Get the mail title correct,
and i DO respond to emails within about 5 mins of reading them :)
The forums are also a very
good way of alerting the problems, and finding out if there are patches
available already.
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SECTION 3 - SERVER OPERATORS
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3.0 Running a server
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Running a server is a
tiresome buisness, and can be stressful. The reason
for the CHANGE OF VERSION NUMBER in this mod is to HELP EASE the most common
problem. People without the mod trying to connect.
There is NO other reason why i did this, other than
people seem to be incapable of reading server instructions!!
However, other things can
help to run a server.
1. INSTALL THE MICROSOFT
PATCH!!!! This is a MUST on your server. It will remove mods
that include buying ships and weapons at locations they are not sold at,
selling things for way above price, and most other things.
however, the patch CAN be got around. Next up, is increasing
the security. I have attempted to implement some things into the mod to make it
more difficult, but it is still as easy as pie to mod. Basically i cannot stop poeple from modding the game at all. So, using something like FLAdmin might help. I personally haven't tried this as of
yet, but if you DO try it, then please let me know. Another popular one is to
use ioncross server operator. Now if you do this, you
can use datastorm to help identify the new components
of the mod. Just activate the mod and then run the data storm as normal.
ONE thing that i ask, is for you to REGISTER on
the forums of my site. We can start a thread for your server, but it also means
that i can contact you via email when releasing
updates. Also - i can then give you access to the
extra files without the publics knowledge (a secret area if you will.....hidden
section of the forums!)
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3.1 Cheaters
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They are the bain, and this mod increases the load of a normal server
due to encounters. However, the increase is NOTHING compared to the increase of
a modder. I am affraid that
there isn't much that can be done. However, if you have problems with people
using cloaks, ubershields and uberhulls,
then i can make a SERVER ONLY patch that will render
these objects USELESS. If you have problems, then PLEASE contact me, and i will help.
I have a proposal for us all
though. I propose that the server admins take active
interest in beating the cheaters!! If i start a forum
up for Server ADMINS only - (not server police), then perhaps the sharing of
account details for cheaters can be imposed. This way, like is done for pubs
around many countries, when someone is banned from ONE FL:Evolutions server, he is then banned from ALL the
servers. This would greatly help to deterr cheaters,
and make it tougher for them,including
those who change IP. Although they can change IP, they usually keep a 'clean'
IP addy for servers, so they can play, However, if they are banned by IP from all, rather than just
one server, any slipup or clumsyness means that they
loose ALL characters.
Please sign up to my forums,
email me with your name, screen name, server names, server details and
descriptions. Then i can create a thread for your
server on the forums, allow access to extra server admin areas, and hopefully
set up a method for all to contact with details for cheaters needing banning.
Of course, you can sign up anyway, and receive any admin benefits WIHTOUT
having to take part in the banning ideas, that is up to your discression!
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3.2 Extra Files?
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For multiplayer, i offer the poeple running
servers the chance to semi 'customise'
the mod. Let me know if you would like:
Different NPC loadouts
Different drop rates
Different difficulties
Different Encounters
Simulated invasions
Different loot for wrecks
Of course, they are done in
the same method as the patches, but they also include the fact that I make
restore files for them as well. This means you can either simulate nomads
invading Rheinland or not, and after a week, use the
restore patch and then restore the files. I will be making some of these files
very shortly. Of course, this all takes effort, and whilst updating the mod, it
is difficult to keep producing everything at the same time!
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SECTION 4 - OTHER CHANGES
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4.0 - Changes to the SP game mainly
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I am aware that the increased
pricing has made the mod more difficult, but please, that is what the mod
should be. It would be poor if the mod was easier than the original game!! I
would like to quickly point out though, that the mod actually really only
includes the regen shields during the storyline. Other things, like nano regens are ALREADY included in the storyline, and infact, i haven't TOUCHED the loadouts of the NPC's in the mod.
I left the strength of the capships as they were, so
that you can kill them JUST as easily as before.
Also - payout for first
mission is a slightly improved 5000 credits. I also edited the ids files, so
that they read out the amount of increase.
Also included was the removal
of capships at Planet New London to Planet Cambridge.
This was to facilitate the location of fighters that can be used in the
storyline.
Ships prices are higher, but i have also taken this into consideration. You will find
when Tobias gives you some money, he now gives you
145,000 credits. This too is included in the ids information files, so reading
your characters logs during the story will inform you of some changes that i made.
If you have any other
problems, then please let me know.
Thankyou for reading, and enjoy the game.
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4.1 - Ships Locations
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Well - to be honest, did the original game give you
the names of bases and where they were?
Neither do I then. Half the
fun of the original was having to search, visit and
TRY everything.
I don't see why i should
kill that original feature off by doing the same here!!
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Please DON'T cheat in MP
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HELP keep FREELANCER SERVERS CLEAN!! - Report Cheaters
to the admin
Take a screenshot of the
offender, and email it to the admins, or post on
forum boards. Work with your admins to beat the vermin
cheaters. It makes for a better game.
Yours
Michael 'Chips' Garlick
Mikejgarlick@aol.com
AIM: Mikejgarlick@aol.com
MSN: Mikeygarlick@hotmail.com
PLEASE DO NOT SPAM MY EMAIL!
I ask you this because it takes alot of effort
(several months) to create this mod It also then
occupies months MORE of my time giving support and updates to the mod. IF i get spammed, then obviously i
will change email addresses, and the only way of contact, will be the slower
method of forums. One thing that i promise is that IF
you email me with problems, then i will email you
BACK as SOON as possible with an answer (if required).
I also welcome suggestions
and support.
*END*