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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.

 

 

 

 

 

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