New installer 2.0.4 Release candidate 2 (12-22-24)

[Deimos]

Ah thank you all. Was always curious about that, I thought it might be because back in the 90's diskspace was at a premium.

[PTRACER]

I'm running ECM mod from this installer. First thing I noticed was that Auto.sav and Last.sav do not appear to be working, though manual saves are.

I am running the EXE as admin and removed the Read Only flag from the folder, but didn't change security settings yet. The vanilla BOTF from an earlier installer is ok.

[Deimos]

Do you have auto save turned on in the options? I think that one mod has it turned off by default.

[thunderchero]

just a note I updated the BOTF_Most_Active_2.0.4RC2 installer.

this was a minor update to add missing compat setting (HIGHDPIAWARE) for Rai mod only.

so unless you are having issues with Rai mod no reason to redownload/re-install

so RC version is unchanged and no game play changes to any mod

download link also remained the same

[thunderchero]

Hi Everyone,

I thought I would give some notice to other mod developers, sometime this summer I hope to get the next RC/release of installer.

so if you have any updates for your mod let me know so everything can be updated/added.

here is my plan for installer update;

all mods will get following patches and files

updated mpr565.dll increasing palette limit
viewtopic.php?p=63958#p63958

Add light source / shading data for screensaver and stations in combat

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NAME: Add light source / shading data for screensaver and stations in combat
DESC: Add light source / shading data for screensaver and stations in combat
AUTHOR: Spocks-cuddly-tribble
DESC: patch file name: lighting.patch
URL: https://www.armadafleetcommand.com/onscreen/botf/viewtopic.php?p=64030#p64030

# >>  = vanilla/original value

# <<  = new value

>> 0x0009dd27 8b 41 04 d9 59 24 85 c0 75 0c d9 81 5c 01 00 00 d8 49 24 d9 59 24 8b 41 48 8b 94 24 74 01 00 00 89 90 8c
>> 0x0009dd4b 00 00 83 79 04 00 75 20
>> 0x000d390b 89 35 b8 ae 5c 00
>> 0x00100d80 4c 0f
>> 0x00100de9 e3 0e
>> 0x00102f52 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
>> 0x00102f5b 00 00 00 00 00

<< 0x0009dd27 d9 59 24 8b 41 48 8b 94 24 74 01 00 00 89 90 8c 00 00 00 8b 41 04 85 c0 74 04 3c 06 75 2e d9 81 5c 01 00
<< 0x0009dd4b d8 49 24 d9 59 24 90 90
<< 0x000d390b 90 90 90 90 90 90
<< 0x00100d80 ce 21
<< 0x00100de9 65 21
<< 0x00102f52 56 57 55 81 ec fc 08
<< 0x00102f5b e9 6d 09 fd ff

# add station light/shadow in combat
# 0049E927     D959 24        FSTP DWORD PTR DS:[ECX+24]
# 0049E92A     8B41 48        MOV EAX,DWORD PTR DS:[ECX+48]
# 0049E92D     8B9424 7401000>MOV EDX,DWORD PTR SS:[ESP+174]
# 0049E934     8990 8C000000  MOV DWORD PTR DS:[EAX+8C],EDX
# 0049E93A     8B41 04        MOV EAX,DWORD PTR DS:[ECX+4]
# 0049E93D     85C0           TEST EAX,EAX
# 0049E93F     74 04          JE SHORT trek.0049E945
# 0049E941     3C 06          CMP AL,6
# 0049E943     75 2E          JNZ SHORT trek.0049E973
# 0049E945     D981 5C010000  FLD DWORD PTR DS:[ECX+15C]
# 0049E94B     D849 24        FMUL DWORD PTR DS:[ECX+24]
# 0049E94E     D959 24        FSTP DWORD PTR DS:[ECX+24]
# 0049E951     90             NOP
# 0049E952     90             NOP

# nop to prevent loading of b.gif tech/screensaver 
# 004D450B     90 90 90 90 90 90 

# screensaver new call for light/shadow sub
# 0050197F     E8 CE210000    CALL trek.00503B52 

# screensaver new call for light/shadow sub
# 005019E8     E8 65210000    CALL trek.00503B52

# new screensaver light/shadow sub
# 00503B52       56             PUSH ESI
# 00503B53       57             PUSH EDI
# 00503B54       55             PUSH EBP
# 00503B55       81EC FC080000  SUB ESP,8FC
# 00503B5B       E9 6D09FDFF    JMP trek.004D44CD

Improved Vanilla Evade/Retreat Crash fix

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NAME: Improved Vanilla Evade/Retreat Crash fix
DESC: prevent _b.hobs and _c.hobs and _b.gifs and _c.gifs
AUTHOR: Spocks-cuddly-tribble
AUTHOR: thunderchero
DESC: patch file name: prevent.patch
URL: https://www.armadafleetcommand.com/onscreen/botf/viewtopic.php?p=64030#p64030

# >>  = vanilla/original value

# <<  = new value

>> 0x0009DCB8 0F 85
>> 0x001309C5 03
>> 0x00131128 03

<< 0x0009DCB8 90 E9
<< 0x001309C5 01
<< 0x00131128 01

Max Test patch for MP packet sending

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NAME: Max Test patch for MP packet sending
DESC: Max (500kb) Test patch for MP packet sending
AUTHOR: Flocke
DESC: patch file name: max_packet.patch
URL: https://www.armadafleetcommand.com/onscreen/botf/viewtopic.php?p=63979#p63979

# >>  = vanilla/original value

# <<  = new value

>> 0x14D5CE 0A

<< 0x14D5CE 00

#max packet data size = 466 bytes, limits packetizing the savegame files at:
>> 0x14D3C0 B9 D2 01 00 00
<< 0x14D3C0 B9 D1 7F 00 00 

>> 0x14D3D3 BB D2 01 00 00
<< 0x14D3D3 BB D1 7F 00 00

#rcv host packet, validates 512 bytes MAX_PACKET_SIZE at:

>> 0x14CE56 81 7C 24 08 00 02 00 00
<< 0x14CE56 81 7C 24 08 FF 7F 00 00

#rcv client packet, validates 512 bytes MAX_PACKET_SIZE at:

>> 0x14CE99 81 7C 24 08 00 02 00 00
<< 0x14CE99 81 7C 24 08 FF 7F 00 00

>> 0x14CB96 81 FE 00 02 00 00
<< 0x14CB96 81 FE FF 7F 00 00

dplayx.dll will be re-added back into install path of all mods.

any mod using 18 fleet taskforce will get;
Task force patch allows AI to have 18 ship taskforce

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NAME: Task force patch allows AI to have 18 ship taskforce
AUTHOR: thunderchero
DESC: This patch edits the Task force patch to allows AI to have 18 ship taskforce
DESC: patch file name: 18_task_fix.patch
URL: 

# >>  = vanilla/original value

# <<  = new value

>> 0x00008115 01
>> 0x00008177 01
>> 0x00047479 0c

<< 0x00008115 12
<< 0x00008177 12
<< 0x00047479 0a

UM5 will get scanner upgrade id patch

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NAME: UM5 scanner patch
DESC: UM5 scanner patch
AUTHOR: UE_changes
URL: https://www.armadafleetcommand.com/onscreen/botf/viewtopic.php?p=63497#p63497

>> 0x000f3506 18
>> 0x000f358b 18
>> 0x0018efae 18

<< 0x000f3506 17
<< 0x000f358b 17
<< 0x0018efae 17

ship texture palette improvements will be made to following mods
"vanilla" will get slight palette/image improvements (no major image replacements only getting best possible textures/palettes)
"UDM-MUM-FAW" will get major texture replacement with even some models replacements.

I am sure I have forgot some planned changes.

thunderchero

[Flocke]

I am sure I have forgot some planned changes.

The ones that have not yet been annouced for example.

Sometime this summer is a good time frame.
I tried to get something done for christmas, but time rushes way too fast...

Max Test patch for MP packet sending

Love it, but please add a warning, that this patch breaks MP compatibility with unpatched version.
I bet there are still some people joining MP vanilla games with some very dated version.

[Tethys]

I have nothing new for GALM, and I am still unfinished with the new planet animations. I've been hard working on some fun stuff for Star Trek Armada. For example, I have converted the whole campaign for Armada to multiplayer versions. I hex edited the script and rules files to alleviate crashing and desyncs. All missions contain 100% of the original video cutscenes. Not only that, but in the process of all this, someone took off with my idea for a WON clone, a user named Codr who decided to try, and it was surprisingly easy to create the WON emulator. I tested the WON emulator last week, still a work in progress, but the chat room/lobby and internet matchmaking is once again functional with his WON dll. I give it another month or 2 and it should be ready for public use. We are looking into a VPS to host the WON emulator, since the matchmaking does not function without the backend in place.

Good times for classic Star Trek games this year!

[Flocke]

Good times for classic Star Trek games this year!

Indeed! And great to hear progress on the Armada front!

[Spocks-cuddly-tribble]

I thought I would give some notice to other mod developers, sometime this summer I hope to get the next RC/release of installer.

so if you have any updates for your mod let me know so everything can be updated/added.

Nice! But I think most work on above patches crediting me was done by you. Not sure when I get the ECM update together.

Using info by Flocke I created a test fix for lost intel percentages after defeat of target empires (might prevent other random data corruptions as well):

88%_intel_gone.png

► Show Spoiler

sub_47F6D0 target_DEAD_reset_intel_percentages


0047F73C     7C 02          JL SHORT 47F740
0047F73E     FECA           DEC DL
0047F740     0FB6C2         MOVZX EAX,DL
0047F743     C1E0 02        SHL EAX,2
0047F746     83C0 74        ADD EAX,74
0047F749     8B1438         MOV EDX,[EAX+EDI]
0047F74C     035438 10      ADD EDX, [EAX+EDI+10]
0047F750     0157 70        ADD [EDI+70], EDX
0047F753     4E             DEC ESI
0047F754     893438         MOV [EAX+EDI], ESI
0047F757     897438 10      MOV [EAX+EDI+10], ESI
0047F75B    ^EB B6          JMP SHORT 47F713

https://gitlab.com/stbotf/ultimate-edit ... lInfo.java - After testing this I'll create and share a public patch.

EDIT: Diagnosed the issue testing with a saved game. Above patch works but is not the issue: Unknown OrdInfo code for reallocating intel percentages works only for espionage but NOT for remaining sabotage percentages when the target empire is wiped out simultaneously with ANY % reallocation.
I wasn't able to locate said code sequence. Using above research it would be easy to fix.


And there is other minor stuff for ECM:

- 'Delphi Ardu' added to starname.bin (after our Marauder color discussion)
- minor issue with this: viewtopic.php?p=64942#p64942 (breaking alliance treaty also causes morale effect for former not terminated treaty)

[Tethys]

I converted the first planet, this is a test image. The atmosphere is built into this one. I will also release ones without atmosphere and the atmospheres themselves. I think it turns out pretty good in game. Large terran, rich oxygen.

Test1.png

transparency.bmp

Updated: Transparency is fixed

[thunderchero]

Max Test patch for MP packet sending

Love it, but please add a warning, that this patch breaks MP compatibility with unpatched version.

while adding some patches, only a few mods will get MP packet patch (MUM, FAW, UDM, FMPM, RAI)
if mod developer requests patch it would be added.

if patch is added, mod version number update is required.

still not sure if patch will be added to vanilla, but if added 1.0.3a?

[trevtones]

while adding some patches, only a few mods will get MP packet patch (MUM, FAW, UDM, FMPM, RAI)
if mod developer requests patch it would be added.

Haven't noticed any issues with the mp packet patch but have only used it in rai mod so far. Everyone I play with has it, it helps with loading time in those clunky mp games that are cursed with desyncs! Makes things a little more bearable!

I dont see why anyone wouldnt want this on a certain version of botf?

[thunderchero]

Hi Everyone,

well I am getting close to finishing the edits I have planned. So Tethys, Dafedz, Spocks-cuddly-tribble and Rai how are your updates on your mods progressing?

thunderchero

[Spocks-cuddly-tribble]

Here is zip with ECM trek.exe hotfixes patch (typed on the fly, so I hope it works) and starname.bin:

ECM_update.zip

(re-uploaded due to typo)



I have to rely on you for adding stuff like stations/screensaver shading patches.

Also if you know any trick to display Phasers for Doomsday Device and Borg bigger (a and b phaser hobs), let me know.
I tried anything including blowing the bellows into the fan without luck.

[thunderchero]

Here is zip with ECM trek.exe hotfixes patch (typed on the fly, so I hope it works) and starname.bin:

great, I also already heard from Rai and he is looking at mid may before his files will be ready so you still have some more time.

no problem adding stations/screensaver shading patch. and will take a look at phaser display size.
did you want me to also edit station's damage phaser slot errors and edit so hobs use damage textures again? I even created 512 damage textures.

also in 512 project I re-created all AAM ferengi textures edits. and you might want to take a look at Rai's cardassian textures (in-complete set)
also Rai has some nice vanilla Ferengi textures edits.

co_a.gif

cu_a.gif

cm1_a.gif

cl2_a.gif

cl1_a.gif

ch2_a.gif

ch1_a.gif

ct_a.gif

cs_a.gif