Matrix Games Forums

I have seen around the fourms here that there are some mods that are good to have for AE. The beta patch is good from what I hear and others have been recommended. I am a little gun shy with mods based on my past experience with them in other games. Sometimes they are incomplete, corrupt my main game, or require some other add on that adds junk to my computer. I am not trying to knock the modders here, but please try to understand what makes me hesitant. What are the "must have" mods for this game? I saw the mod thread and was interested in the WiF maps, but it looks like the main link is broken. Then I got confused as the other links talked about extended maps, and map parts, then I just gave up.

What is the story on the beta patches? Where can I find them? What would be safe and easy to use mods for AE?

everything past #1 is personal preference/taste, but most would agree to install the latest beta patches to any new game start

1. Beta x10 patch
2. Andy Mac Scenario upgrades
3. chemkid's stock (size) map mod with hexes (or I prefer the ocean hex as dots)

Getting those installed is a good foundation for any other mod additions.

There are some tools that are also very helpful, especially when you are playing the full campaigns
1. Tracker - helpful to the Allied, indispensable for the Japanese player.
2. Combat Reporter - very helpful to both sides
3. Intel Monkey, just got that installed. I think it helps more as the game progresses - to shift thru all the data and uncover the clues that would just be lost in the noise of so much data to process.

There are other mods and add-ons that I like and use, but this is a good short list to target first.
Good luck

(edit spelling)

.

Read the beta thread. Lots of info as to how and why you may want it. Also, when I first started with AE I looked and tried to install extended maps and other stuff. I had some problems and messed up my install many times. But I would just delete and start again. And then after looking closely at the game files, It clicked. So don't worry about messing up anything. You can always reload. But as stated above, Load the game, Install the last official patch, I would download and install the Beta, (found in the Tech support part of this forum) and (Optional but highly recommended) Download and install the standard topo map. I regards to the Extended map, On the Babes site,(the link is also found in the Mod part of this forum) There are instructions on how to download and install....GP

One way to tryout any mods is to copy a separate load of the game for each one, (I have 5 versions of WitP on my computer)

The Beta version is at tm.asp?m=3185062

A listing of the different mods is at tm.asp?m=3088504

I was looking at the beta patch. Are there more than one beta patches or updates on the beta patch? This is a really long topic with lots of posts of bugs. Are there multiple updates? Do they need to be installed sequentially? If there are how do I find them? I looked through 15 pages of threads with no end in sight!

Also, can other mods be run with the beta patch?

Just a quickie. It really is pretty straightforward. Like Quarks, mods come in 2 orientations (up, down): Game Experience and Scenario Data.

UP Quarks:
Game Experience: comes in 2 flavors
F-1 : Game Executable File (comes in two colors) – This is the .exe that runs the whole shooting match, the very tippie-top of the pyramid.
F-1 C-1 There is the last “official” Matrix comprehensive update (1108r9), from 2012.
F-1 C-2 These are the Beta executables, written by michalem (one of the original developers).

F-2 : Game Environment Files (also in two colors) – These are the computer readable files that the .exe uses to determine the size, scope, details, of the playing field (pwhexe, pwxlink, pwzone).
F-2 C-1 The Stock Map Definition of all hex details.
F-2 C-2 The Extended Map Definition of all hex details.
.. optionally there are two degrees of strangeness:
.. S-1 is Stacking Limits as given in the game.
.. S-2 is individual Stacking Limits, as developed for each hex, by others of the original developers.

And that’s all there is. What you load is what you get. Pick F-1 C-1 or F-1 C-2 and you can play anything.
Pick F-2 C-1 or F-2 C-2 and you can play anything that’s adapted to the stock or extended map.

Mods are Down Quarks. The game loads the Up Quarks and it’s up to the player to load the Down Quarks. There’s no rules for this (there are, but modders know them). Modders, who know what they are doing, know this very well and will develop their mods to conform to the paradigms, above.

I hope this helps. JWE

ORIGINAL: Rogue187

I was looking at the beta patch. Are there more than one beta patches or updates on the beta patch? This is a really long topic with lots of posts of bugs. Are there multiple updates? Do they need to be installed sequentially? If there are how do I find them? I looked through 15 pages of threads with no end in sight!

Also, can other mods be run with the beta patch?

Fact - The attachment at the bottom of the very first post in that thread always contains the most recent version of the beta. This patch is cumulative, so if you're playing with the beta, you just need one patch for it.

Opinion - In this game, the word "beta" is misleading - it's ridiculously stable, and is absolutely worth using.

Thanks Quixote I will use it. Out of curiosity, is the game still updated by the publisher?

but it is a bit confusing in that you should ...

1. Install the Game

2. Apply the last 'official patch'
File named:
WarinthePacificAdmiralsEdition-UpdateComp-v1108r9.exe
(IIRC - you can do that thru the launch app after the initial install)

3. Then apply the latest beta (x10 version)
File named:
AEupdate1123x10.exe

I got the beta installed, but its running the game windowed. Any chance of going back to full screen? The grand map has always been unwieldy and I really wish you could use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out. Also, I was looking at Topo's maps and I am not sure what I need or want. What is the difference between stock and extended maps? I know stock is what the game came with, but what is an extended map? Also dot borders hex borders, hexless borders, pure borders and RnR borders, what are all of these? Do I need to download them all? I know hex borders are what the game came with and I have seen pictures of the dot borders for the open ocean. Hexless would be no hexes at all, but what are pure and RnR borders?

right click the desktop link
open the properties of the desktop shortcut

Look in the TARGET: text box and scroll to the right and you will see

-w

that is window mode.

Delete those two characters and you should be full screen

ORIGINAL: Rogue187
Also, I was looking at Topo's maps and I am not sure what I need or want. What is the difference between stock and extended maps? I know stock is what the game came with, but what is an extended map? Also dot borders hex borders, hexless borders, pure borders and RnR borders, what are all of these? Do I need to download them all? I know hex borders are what the game came with and I have seen pictures of the dot borders for the open ocean. Hexless would be no hexes at all, but what are pure and RnR borders?

Go to chemkid's web site for more detailed info and I think he shows some screen examples of the different types. But basically I recommend this:

1. Get your base game patched up and running.
2. Make a copy directory (copy all files) and use it to experiment/load other maps into.
You have to make another desktop shortcut - to point to the correct game directory.
A bit of fiddling, but that way if you really bugger it up, you just have to copy files into another directory instead of going thru all the patching stuff again.

Then you can download chemkid's stock map (overwriting the existing files)
but first you should decide if the game is going to be either with hexes or without hexes - Sea Hex as Dots are a variation of with Hexes. I haven't experimented putting both versions (hexes/hexless) in the same directory.

The chemkid map stock map doesn't require any different play that the original. It is a visual preference.

I suggest you go with Hexes (you can choose sea hexes or sea dots)
leave all the rest till you get more comfortable with the game.

Same goes for Extended Map and Stacking Limits -- leave that until you get more comfortable with the game.

Da Babes is a whole 'nother step up after you get comfortable with the basic game. Great stuff, good support and some strong advocates on these boards, but again -- you know what I'm gonna say...

good luck

Ok, I seem to be up and running. I got the dot hex version of the map and it looks really nice! As if the modders don't have enough to do, has anyone ever created a hex finder? I know its a pin to look for hex 140,30 (or whatever) when you are just randomly clicking around, then zeroing on once you are in the ball park.

If you are talking about hunting hexes from the Intel/Ops/Combat reports -- then if you install Combat Reporter, it actually shows you the map hex in it's report window. Very helpful.

Unfortuately you have to run that program outside of the game (on it's own or with the game in windowed mode beside it ... back to that -w flag)

Yes it would be nice to be able to just type in map locations when setting way points or patrol zones.

So I jumped more on the mod bandwagon and downloaded Halsey's plane, ship, and LCU icons. I really like them, BUT now ALL allied ship,TF, and port icons are now white. I want them back to the proper nationality color. The Japanese port and airfield icons don't show up on the allied map (unless this was a beta change). When I switched to Japanese, the air fields are now green and the Navy stuff is gray. How do I make them red? Also, the WWII pictures don't show up on scenario selection. What did I do wrong?

Sorry we are at the limit of my help, someone else might jump in here or you should post a question in the thread where you picked up that mod. Read thru the previous post and you might find the answers already there.

Most of the generic mod directions say "back up before applying" -- yeah, pain in the butt, but then all you would need to do is write over your last changes with the backup copy.

Wish I had better news but given your persistence, I am sure you will figure it out.
Good luck

ORIGINAL: Rogue187

Thanks Quixote I will use it. Out of curiosity, is the game still updated by the publisher?

Don't be confused by the term unofficial. The Beta patches are managed and released by a publisher representative.

The term Beta simply means it is under test by the users. By not locking the code down and making it an "Official" patch, it is much easier to incorporate improvements though this will happen eventually. (They are still taking suggestions). This is the spiral software development model in action and has resulted in a very stable and playable version.

Personally I find the Betas like a fine matured wine, it looks and plays pretty much like the official but the experience is much more smooth and enjoyable. Every feature you would want is there because somebody before has asked for it and it was just put in... (Similarly all known bugs have been quashed!!) The down side is the latest version can change quickly (which can be a nuisance for a game underway) but if you want those fixes....

See: http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3700119

Others prefer to stick to the Official version because it is a baseline with known characteristics.

ORIGINAL: Rogue187

So I jumped more on the mod bandwagon and downloaded Halsey's plane, ship, and LCU icons. I really like them, BUT now ALL allied ship,TF, and port icons are now white. I want them back to the proper nationality color.

There is not much around here that someone hasn't done before. Have a read of the following and let us know if it doesn't solve your problem.

Enemy TFs no longer RED

The Japanese port and airfield icons don't show up on the allied map (unless this was a beta change).

That sounds unusual. I haven't seen that.

When I switched to Japanese, the air fields are now green and the Navy stuff is gray. How do I make them red?

See link above

Also, the WWII pictures don't show up on scenario selection. What did I do wrong?

Some user supplied scenarios do not come with pictures. I just looked and I think that only the official scenarios (001-020) come with pictures. The scenario pictures live the 'Art' folder and have the format:

ADetailxxx.bmp, JDetailxxx.bmp, NDetailxxx.bmp
AHistoryxxx.bmp, JHistoryxxx.bmp and NHistoryxxx.bmp

Where A is for Allied select screens, J is for the Japanese select screens N is for Neutral scenario select screens and xxx is the scenario number. If there is no picture present with the correct scenario number then no picture is displayed. It is easy to copy and rename a picture into a vacant slot or find a picture of your own. I do it all of the time. Just make sure they are the same size as the existing pictures or they won't display properly.


By the way, Graphics mods have no effect on the way the game plays, only on the way it looks on your machine. This means if you are playing PBEM, they will not affect your opponent at all!! However this does not apply to data and executable (such as Beta) files....

ORIGINAL: DanSez

If you are talking about hunting hexes from the Intel/Ops/Combat reports -- then if you install Combat Reporter, it actually shows you the map hex in it's report window. Very helpful.

Unfortuately you have to run that program outside of the game (on it's own or with the game in windowed mode beside it ... back to that -w flag)

Yes it would be nice to be able to just type in map locations when setting way points or patrol zones.

If you remove the -w and add -fd you will get full screen and daily saves. I looked in my docs folder and can't find my Switches list. Look in the manuals folder in the game and you will find switch info for a bunch of different things that help with game play. Or someone may post a link here. Time to go to work. Enjoy the game[:)]...GP