Alpha Centauri 2

Community => Chiron News Network => Topic started by: Yitzi on November 23, 2016, 01:41:51 AM

Title: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: Yitzi on November 23, 2016, 01:41:51 AM

Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c

http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=349 (http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=349)

This should fix the crash that some people encountered during the native units' turn.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: ikonoklast61 on December 19, 2016, 04:58:37 PM

I've played AC since 1999 but have never tried any of these alternate versions. I downloaded Binary Dawn and the 3.5 patch.  How do you use these? I don't see an EXE file to install. Are these supposed to be moved into the AC folder? I wanted to put these in a new folder so I don't disturb the original files.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: Mart on December 19, 2016, 06:59:04 PM

Good idea with folder copying. Download basic 3.5 first, then the patch 3.5c.
There is link to terranx.exe, find it above stats:
...
terranx.exe
Filesize: 2.93MB  Views: (422)  Downloads (253)  Last Download: Today at 19:43

The link to 3.5 base:
http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=346 (http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=346)

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: ikonoklast61 on December 19, 2016, 07:29:45 PM

I downloaded everything I'm supposed to download, AFAICT, both Binary Dawn, basic 3.5 and patch 3.5. The only EXE file I see is terran.exe and it doesn't do anything when clicked upon. How do I install these files so I can play this alternate version?

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: ikonoklast61 on December 19, 2016, 07:32:44 PM

Okay, I found the patch readme with installation instructions, thanks.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: ikonoklast61 on December 20, 2016, 08:49:34 PM

Okay, got it working and played yesterday. Not fond of learning a new tech tree, but I'd like to experiment more with the new factions. How do I load them int ACX without changing any of the rules or techs?

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: Yitzi on December 25, 2016, 12:50:43 AM

Quote from: ikonoklast61 on December 20, 2016, 08:49:34 PM

Okay, got it working and played yesterday. Not fond of learning a new tech tree, but I'd like to experiment more with the new factions. How do I load them int ACX without changing any of the rules or techs?

After downloading the new factions, find the part in alphax starting with "#FACTIONS" (you can use ctrl-F); there should be "#FACTIONS", "#NEWFACTIONS", and "#CUSTOMFACTIONS"; each of these three can have 7 factions listed (just put in the name used in the file names), like they are for the ones already there.  This won't change the tech tree, rules, or anything else, but will change the factions available.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: ikonoklast61 on December 25, 2016, 05:12:28 PM

Don't the faction files from the FACTIONS folder in Binary Dawn also have to be copied into alphatxt? I copied #customfactions into alphatxt from Binary Dawn alphaxtxt, then copied the individual files for each faction into alphatxt and it won't start.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: Yitzi on December 25, 2016, 06:07:25 PM

Quote from: ikonoklast61 on December 25, 2016, 05:12:28 PM

Don't the faction files from the FACTIONS folder in Binary Dawn also have to be copied into alphatxt? I copied #customfactions into alphatxt from Binary Dawn alphaxtxt, then copied the individual files for each faction into alphatxt and it won't start.

You probably should not copy the individual files for each faction into alphax; it certainly won't help, and depending on how you do it, it might hurt (though it probably won't).  You should copy the faction files into your Alpha Centauri folder, not into alphax.txt.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: ikonoklast61 on December 25, 2016, 06:51:57 PM

Ah, thanks. So move both Faction folders into the AC folder and only copy the #customfactions section into alphatxt. I'll try this, thanks.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: Yitzi on December 25, 2016, 06:56:25 PM

Quote from: ikonoklast61 on December 25, 2016, 06:51:57 PM

Ah, thanks. So move both Faction folders into the AC folder and only copy the #customfactions section into alphatxt. I'll try this, thanks.

Don't just move the faction folders into the AC folder; move all the files in them into the AC folder.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: ikonoklast61 on December 25, 2016, 07:17:48 PM

Okay, I started from scratch: I copied all the patch files into the AC folder, replacing files there; I copied the contents of the faction folder in Binary Dawn into the AC folder, replacing files there; I copied #customfactions from Binary Dawn into alphatxt. They are not showing up on the selection list.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: gwillybj on December 26, 2016, 12:46:47 AM

Are you playing Alpha Centauri or Alien Crossfire?
The original, Alpha Centauri, uses terran.exe and alpha.txt and won't work with Yitzi's patch.
The sequel, Alien Crossfire, uses terranx.exe and alphax.txt -- those are what Yitzi's patch is written for.

Would you mind attaching your alphax.txt here so someone can look at it and see why it's not working?

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: ikonoklast61 on December 26, 2016, 01:21:57 AM

I'm using the ACX I bought on disk. Ah, you found my problem: there is both an alphatxt and an alphaxtxt. I modified alphatxt, not alphaxtxt.  Okay, I returned alphatxt to its original state and added #customfactions to alphaxtxt. The new factions were listed but it started what looks like accelerated start although this is unchecked in rules. alphaxtxt is attached. thank you so much!

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: Yitzi on December 26, 2016, 02:05:27 AM

If you provide a savegame (preferably from as soon as it starts), that may give some hints as to what is going on with the accelerated start.  No promises, but it might help.

EDIT: You should probably try gwillybj's advice (on page 2) first, though.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: gwillybj on December 26, 2016, 02:11:09 AM

Ok, you almost have it! ;b;
Notice under #FACTIONS and #NEWFACTIONS that the faction names are repeated with a comma separating the first and second item in each line. You need to do this for your entries under #CUSTOMFACTIONS. It doesn't matter if they are capitalized.
Also, be sure each faction has both its ".txt" and ".pcx" files in your AC folder.
That should do it.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: ikonoklast61 on December 26, 2016, 03:27:48 AM

Thanks to both of you! I got it working right.  Lack of pcx files explains another thing wrong (no pictures), and I figured out the accelerated start (don't ask).  Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: gwillybj on December 26, 2016, 03:42:22 AM

 :wave: Sometimes a little thing can cause a lot of  :wall:, as any of us who have done any modding know. I've been playing since 2000, and do a lot with factions and the alphax.txt, and I still forget small things. I'm not always sure if that's the game's complexity or my age.

Title: Energy unequal allocation penalty bug
Post by: Alpha Centauri Bear on January 29, 2017, 12:32:47 AM

Hi Yitzi.
Thank you for your patch and continuous efforts to improve the game. The game is great and you make it even greater!

Sadly, I found a bug in SMAX after I applied the patch. I don't know if "after" means "because" but cannot verify for sure. Please have a look if you can locate and verify it. Thank you!

Here are my findings.

Bug:
Social engineering screen energy allocation sliders show penalty percentage for unequal economy/research allocation but the actual penalty is different. For example on normal efficiency I allocate 100% energy to economy. The text reads "-40% Economy". Yet actual penalty is somewhere -8%. I checked it in social engineering screen, F3 screen, and base screens. They all calculate and summarize numbers consistently as if penalty is -8%.

Tests:
Unpatched version SMAX - no bug.
Patch 3.4 SMAX - bug.
Patch 3.5c SMAC - no bug.
Patch 3.5c SMAX - bug.

Title: Re: Energy unequal allocation penalty bug
Post by: Yitzi on February 20, 2017, 01:34:23 AM

Quote from: tnevolin on January 29, 2017, 12:32:47 AM

Hi Yitzi.
Thank you for your patch and continuous efforts to improve the game. The game is great and you make it even greater!

Sadly, I found a bug in SMAX after I applied the patch. I don't know if "after" means "because" but cannot verify for sure. Please have a look if you can locate and verify it. Thank you!

Here are my findings.

Bug:
Social engineering screen energy allocation sliders show penalty percentage for unequal economy/research allocation but the actual penalty is different. For example on normal efficiency I allocate 100% energy to economy. The text reads "-40% Economy". Yet actual penalty is somewhere -8%. I checked it in social engineering screen, F3 screen, and base screens. They all calculate and summarize numbers consistently as if penalty is -8%.

Tests:
Unpatched version SMAX - no bug.
Patch 3.4 SMAX - bug.
Patch 3.5c SMAC - no bug.
Patch 3.5c SMAX - bug.

I'll check it out.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: Yitzi on February 20, 2017, 03:39:09 AM

The patch is up.  Sorry it took so long, but it's been a while since I had the chance to check the forums.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: Alpha Centauri Bear on February 20, 2017, 01:46:14 PM

Oh, no worries. It doesn't affect the game quality much as I rarely allocate more to energy than to research. I discovered it accidentally.

Title: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3 5c
Post by: MichaelTaB on August 04, 2018, 01:13:20 AM

Maybe the following is a stupid question but does it work, when anybody uses this patch for mapping and an other dude has still 226 as version? if I keep 451 for ut in mind

Title: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3 5c
Post by: Kamwhowly on August 04, 2019, 11:21:50 PM

Explosive Conflict only came out of its month closed tests yesterday and Im betting they will take 3 to 4 weeks to publicly test it on the PTS.

Title: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3 5c
Post by: Kamdoni on August 07, 2019, 03:59:12 PM

These changes to factions should prevent players from trolling your faction / bypassing bounty system

you can now kick & ban/unban from your faction
you can also invite players to join your faction without having to give out a password.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 07, 2019, 04:17:10 PM

Okay, let's ban us some copypasta-posting Russians...

Title: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3 5c
Post by: BarbaraFub on October 15, 2019, 05:08:52 PM

There was a bug with movers in .99f that caused items to explode when riding up moving platforms.  This was first discovered on Tab's Doom 2 Map01 alpha.  The problem has been fixed.  Please redownload the .99f server patch from the downloads page to fix the issue.

Title: Re: Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5c
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 15, 2019, 05:56:07 PM

Quote from: Buster's Uncle on August 07, 2019, 04:17:10 PM

Okay, let's ban us some copypasta-posting Russians...

Or Ukrainians - whatever.

Title: -
Post by: Jozzynatt on June 27, 2022, 10:06:18 AM

me he instalado de nuevo el oblivion y he puesto los Unofficiales pero cuanto meto el Unofficial_Official_Mods_Patch,el juego me salta al escritorio. solo tengo activados los esp. correspondientes a los DLC que tengo instalados.

alguna idea?

gracias