Modding and Single Player for 1st timers (after using "search")

[Billkwando]

Hello All!

I just installed BC for the first time, because I heard about all the good mods, and I'm a big ST fan.

I thought it would be a good idea to play through the SP campaign, but figured I'd visit the mod thread first. I saw the friendly layout of all the mods, and chose to install the KM pack (after installing the patch and BCSMC+patch) . It doesn't mention anywhere that you're not supposed to use it in single player. *smacks forehead* It might be nice to mention that somewhere. ;)

So now I'm failing the mission as soon as I leave drydock. (Gross Misconduct)

FYI, I also installed the DJ Galaxy mod/ship thingy.

I read this thread:

http://bc-central.net/forums/index.php/topic,3041.0.html

and this thread:

http://bc-central.net/forums/index.php/topic,2348.0.html

So now my question is, should I:

1) Turn all the mutators off and hope for the best? (Would anything be enhanced a.k.a. is there any point to this?)

2) Install BC Supermod v3?

(I assume I should play through the single player mode, right?)

Anyway, thoughts on this are welcome. If I do install Supermod v3, do I need to start over with a clean install? 

Also, will the ship mod I downloaded work in SP? I really wanted to gaze at that nifty polished Galaxy Class.

Thanks for any assistance.  I hope to see you all in space.

(P.S. My main focus, for now, is mods that make the game look better, rather than add functionality that I may not yet understand)

[Kirk]

2) Install BC Supermod v3?

Yes.

Also, will the ship mod I downloaded work in SP? I really wanted to gaze at that nifty polished Galaxy Class.

No, BC Supermod v3 was not created with DJ's Galaxy in mind. Furthermore, DJ's galaxy has 1 registry (EntD) and so all of the ships would have that registry. (Plus, the SNS galaxy is still pretty damn good.)

Anyway, thoughts on this are welcome. If I do install Supermod v3, do I need to start over with a clean install? 

Yes, make sure you read BCsuperv3's readme.

[Billkwando]

2) Install BC Supermod v3?

Yes.

Also, will the ship mod I downloaded work in SP? I really wanted to gaze at that nifty polished Galaxy Class.

No, BC Supermod v3 was not created with DJ's Galaxy in mind. Furthermore, DJ's galaxy has 1 registry (EntD) and so all of the ships would have that registry. (Plus, the SNS galaxy is still pretty damn good.)

Anyway, thoughts on this are welcome. If I do install Supermod v3, do I need to start over with a clean install? 

Yes, make sure you read BCsuperv3's readme.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Ok, so I'll do a clean reinstall, then install the 1.1 patch, and then install BCSMC+patch, and then install the 2 files that are required before BCsupermodv3 (BCMI & BCMP?), then the mod itelf, correct?

Then, after beating (or being beaten by) single player, I'd do another clean install and install KM and DJ's Galaxy for playing online?


Would it be possible to edit the Mod post & explain about not modding if you plan on doing SP? It would save new people like me a lot of headache. I wasted a few hours on something I have to go back and undo....not that it's really anyone's fault but my own.

Edit: This is the post I mean. I assumed it was a sticky: http://bc-central.net/forums/index.php/topic,28.0.html

[Kirk]

(BCMI & BCMP?)

Don't install these, ever. BCSMC has the Foundation (now) so BCMP and BCMI can finally R.I.P.

Then, after beating (or being beaten by) single player, I'd do another clean install and install KM and DJ's Galaxy for playing online?

Just KM 1.0 only. Installing DJ's galaxy will mess things up (In MP.)

Would it be possible to edit the Mod post & explain about not modding if you plan on doing SP? It would save new people like me a lot of headache. I wasted a few hours on something I have to go back and undo....not that it's really anyone's fault but my own.

SP modding is quite long and tedious as you have to edit EVERY mission script in SP. However, if you choose to try, post any errors you have here and we will try to help you sort them out.

[Billkwando]

(BCMI & BCMP?)

Don't install these, ever. BCSMC has the Foundation (now) so BCMP and BCMI can finally R.I.P.

Then, after beating (or being beaten by) single player, I'd do another clean install and install KM and DJ's Galaxy for playing online?

Just KM 1.0 only. Installing DJ's galaxy will mess things up (In MP.)

Would it be possible to edit the Mod post & explain about not modding if you plan on doing SP? It would save new people like me a lot of headache. I wasted a few hours on something I have to go back and undo....not that it's really anyone's fault but my own.

SP modding is quite long and tedious as you have to edit EVERY mission script in SP. However, if you choose to try, post any errors you have here and we will try to help you sort them out.

Ok, so should I just delete the DJ Galaxy file? What is it good for?

Also, about that last statement, I was just suggesting you add a note to that thread warning people not to mod if they want to play single player.

Are you saying that I can't just install BCsuperv3 and play? There's even more work to do after that?

[Kirk]

Ok, so should I just delete the DJ Galaxy file?

If you want to play MP, yes.

What is it good for?

Quick battle

Are you saying that I can't just install BCsuperv3 and play? There's even more work to do after that?

Just read the readme, it explains everything.

[Billkwando]

Ok, so should I just delete the DJ Galaxy file?

If you want to play MP, yes.

What is it good for?

Quick battle

Are you saying that I can't just install BCsuperv3 and play? There's even more work to do after that?

Just read the readme, it explains everything.

Maybe we've confused each other, but I've read the readme, and it says nothing about editing each SP mission. It sounds like you run it and go?

#################################
#            #
#   INSTALLATION      #
#            #
#################################

   Install Bridge Commander onto your hard drive (I suggest installing it into the suggested folders - "C:/Program Files/Activision/Bridge Commander").
   Now install the Bridge Commander Mod Installer (BCMI) and run it to install the Foundation plugin (I suggest installing this into your "C:/Program Files/Activision/Bridge Commander" folder as well).
   Now install the Bridge Commander Mod-Packager (BCMP) and run it to make sure it works okay (I suggest installing this into your "C:/Program Files/Activision/Bridge Commander" folder as well).
   Now you need to double-click on the file "BC_Prepare.exe" in this mod's main ZIP archive and follow the instructions to install the file "BC_PREPARE.bat" into your "Bridge Commander" main folder; this batch file MUST BE IN YOUR BRIDGE COMMANDER FOLDER!!!
   You then need to enter your "Bridge Commander" folder and double-click on "BC_PREPARE.bat" - this will open the Command Prompt (MS-DOS); press the "Enter" key and the batch file will then delete several folders and files from your stock Bridge Commander installation.
   I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO DELETE THE "BC_PREPARE" BATCH FILE AFTER RUNNING IT SO THAT YOU DO NOT ACCIDENTLY RUN IT AGAIN, AS IT WILL DELETE THE SAME FOLDERS EVERY TIME YOU RUN IT!!!!!!!!
   Now double-click on "BCSuperMod3.exe", and follow the instructions to install the modification into your Bridge Commander game; the modification MUST BE INSTALLED IN YOUR "Bridge Commander" MAIN FOLDER OR IT WILL NOT WORK!!!!!!

Did we have a misunderstanding?

Anyway, thanks for all the help!

[Kirk]

Maybe we've confused each other, but I've read the readme, and it says nothing about editing each SP mission.

That is only for your own SP modding, not super v3.

It sounds like you run it and go?

Correct, sort of.

[Billkwando]

Maybe we've confused each other, but I've read the readme, and it says nothing about editing each SP mission.

That is only for your own SP modding, not super v3.

Oh, I hadn't planned on doing any. I must've confused you when I was suggesting editing the mod list to warn potential SPers not to mod.

It sounds like you run it and go?

Correct, sort of.

Uh oh. Sounds like maybe I should worry? Is it not worth the trouble, or buggy, or something?

Lastly, about the DJ file, should it only be used with a clean install in QP or is it ok with KM as long as you're not doing MP?

Thanks again for all the info! I hope I like the game after all this. LOL

[Kirk]

Uh oh. Sounds like maybe I should worry? Is it not worth the trouble, or buggy, or something?

No, no, no, the only something is that you have to follow the readme exactly.

Lastly, about the DJ file, should it only be used with a clean install in QP or is it ok with KM as long as you're not doing MP?

Km is fine, as long as you are not doing MP.

[Billkwando]

Uh oh. Sounds like maybe I should worry? Is it not worth the trouble, or buggy, or something?

No, no, no, the only something is that you have to follow the readme exactly.

Lastly, about the DJ file, should it only be used with a clean install in QP or is it ok with KM as long as you're not doing MP?

Km is fine, as long as you are not doing MP.

I'm getting a little off-topic now, but I installed the BCsuperv3, and the game just kept crashing at the start, so I unchecked everything (except for the 2 "stock options"). It's running (crashed once after the 2nd set of asteroids) but it doesn't seem to be saving.

I'm looking around for a solution, but I thought I'd mention it.

[Kirk]

You followed the readme's instruction to the letter, yes?

[Billkwando]

You followed the readme's instruction to the letter, yes?

I believe I did, except there was this step:

"Now install the Bridge Commander Mod-Packager (BCMP) and run it to make sure it works okay"

I have a facsimilie thereof, but nowhere does it tell me to actually use it for anything. I did take it on my own to install the Foundation plugin, because is required.

Was I supposed to run something with it?

[Kirk]

Hmm, it appears you did not to do anything with it. (Not quite sure why CR wanted you to install it.) Anyways, to grab the error when it happens, run the game in windowed mode and post a screenshot of the dos window that pops up.

[Billkwando]

Hmm, it appears you did not to do anything with it. (Not quite sure why CR wanted you to install it.) Anyways, to grab the error when it happens, run the game in windowed mode and post a screenshot of the dos window that pops up.

You're too quick for my edits! I did install the foundation plugin.

Edit: How do you grab the error? I think it's ok to officially restate my noobity. ;)

Will the DOS window pop up and stay?

Edit 2: I'll screenshot the window when I get home tonight.

[Kirk]

Edit: How do you grab the error? I think it's ok to officially restate my noobity. ;)

Sorry, just my slang for view the error.

Will the DOS window pop up and stay?

Yes.

[MLeo]

Wow... Hang on a minute, I need to read this all.


BCSuperModv3 can be installed directly on top of a clean install of the v1.1 patch.
It's not advised to mod this install. It actually has it's own Foundation version.

You can actually have multiple installs of BC.
Some/Most people have an install that is heavily modded, and an install for MultiPlayer (since everyone needs to have the same files for MP), and some more have an install for BCSuperMod and a modded KM install (usually the same as the heavily modded install).


So while it's fine to install DJGalaxyClass in an extra install, it's not advised (strongly) not to do this in combination with BCSuperMod.


Also, while most mods will work with SP, there are a load that don't. The problem is, we don't know exactly which do and which don't. It's entirely possible that there are 2 or more mods that work with SP on their own, but not in combination with each-other.

[Billkwando]

That was with Foundation Technologies and the Skinning & Damaging Tool turned off. With them on it just crashes with no DOS box.

Here it is with only the first 2 options enabled (the "stock" selections):



How 'bout those pickles? Go pickles!

[MLeo]

What exactly were you trying to do when this happend?

[Billkwando]

What exactly were you trying to do when this happend?

I was trying to walk on to the bridge.

Seriously, it happened the first time I turned to Captain Picard (once we were both sitting). *crash*