Mars Effect + Texture Pack I + BailKnights Graphical mod + Distant Stars = WOW!!

from Sins Forums
I've merged all these mods but having the mars effect mod as the main one and wow what an incredible experience i can't thank these guys work enough!!... Thankyou :D

p.s You guys should merge together :)


(Particles and Mesh from)
Bailknight`s Graphic Mod
https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/?forumid=443&aid=301418

(Main Mod which includes Sins Plus)
[MOD] The Mars Effect v1.5 (Updated Sunday 2/3/2008)
https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/?forumid=443&aid=301007

(Sounds Including music from)
[MOD] Distant Stars 1.0 - [03/05/08] UPDATED - Public beta
https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/?forumid=443&aid=177475

(Texture pack)
RELEASE: Texture Pack I - Stars and Planets
https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/?forumid=443&aid=178003

MaxParticleCount 16000
MaxAsteroidCount 16000
MaxDustCloudParticleCount 8000

Has been put in my user.settings file

Screenshots


http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/NeilsouthGames/SinsofaSolarEmpire2008-03-1012-44-4.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/NeilsouthGames/SinsofaSolarEmpire2008-03-1012-51-4.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/NeilsouthGames/SinsofaSolarEmpire2008-03-1012-53-4.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/NeilsouthGames/SinsofaSolarEmpire2008-03-1012-57-5.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/NeilsouthGames/SinsofaSolarEmpire2008-03-1012-58-0.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/NeilsouthGames/SinsofaSolarEmpire2008-03-1012-58-2.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/NeilsouthGames/SinsofaSolarEmpire2008-03-1012-58-4.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/NeilsouthGames/SinsofaSolarEmpire2008-03-1012-5-1.jpg

modding
85,267 views 84 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
a)First i install the mars effect mod exact to the instructions in the mod dir including all the textures.

b)I then install the texture pack in the mars effect mod folder executing the mt textures file . Because you have to copy all the textures over anyway for the mars effect mod it makes the new textures while backing up the old ones from the mod texture dir. Though to be on the safe side might aswell also install the texture pack in the main sins dir and running the mt texture file to back it up.

c)Afterwards i take the sound dir including its music from distant stars and put the files into the sound dir which needs to be created in the mars effect mod directory.

d)I copy over the particles and mesh dir from the Bailknight mod into the mars effect dir overwriting anyfiles though i don't think it does.

Lastly

MaxParticleCount 16000
MaxAsteroidCount 16000
MaxDustCloudParticleCount 8000

Has been put in my user.settings file
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Very nice, but might I inquire as to why you didn't give a link to the merged end product?

Very nice job though, will save a lot of people, a lot of work. (Good to see mine made it in this super mod too :D).
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Haven't upped anything it was purelly a how to and a big thankyou post , i'd love to up the merged product but 1.37gb would take me ages :D
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
Most of that is the textures. You can take out all the regular Sins' textures that aren't changed for the mods (most of them), and then just do it the way Uzii's mod works:

Copy the Sins' texture folder to the mod folder, then add the changed ones from the master mod.

This would greatly reduce the size of the combined file.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
This will make for an incredible game experience (Congrats to the individual modders and their spirit of cooperation) BUT can some installer guru package this up so that idiots like me don't muck up the install. Just a thought. :LOL: 
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
What's the stance on distributing ALL of the regular textures? Is it ok with the devs?

If so, I can probably take a shot at it.

I really don't think it's necessary to do it with the entire 1gb+ texture folder though.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
Now this is funny I did this my self last night. Well combined mars effect with sins enhancement 1.51 for the big cap fleets sins plus and balks graphic mod. Man it makes for awesome game play. I'm still betaing mine with my room mate. For some reason it keeps crashing on me. As in locking up my comp. Not sure why. Have a suspicion it has something to do with that script file but have no clue really what to do with it. I just started modding yesterday. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. But I would love to try out yours also PirateNeil.

Oh and where did you put this agian? maybe thats whats crashign me.
MaxParticleCount 16000
MaxAsteroidCount 16000
MaxDustCloudParticleCount 8000
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Is it still possible to download Texture Pack I- Stars and Planets? I haven't had any luck with the links listed in its own forum thread.
Thanks
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
The user file is in the C:\docs&settings\yourname\local files\application data\ironclad games\sins of a solar empire\


You should be able to see it from there.
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
could you up-load the combined mods? I've tried to do it myself (several times), but it doesn't work.
Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top
I'm actually using Max's and Bailknight's mods right now with The Mars Effect ;) Trying to get permission from Bailknight to allow me to merge some of his stuff into TME.

Glad you're enjoying it!
Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
Awsome guys thx for the suggestions. Got a few questions for ya PirateNeil.
1. What did you have to do to also include the planet and stars texture packs?
2. Did you have to modify the english.str file in any way? If so how?

Also once i get this thing running stable I will contact the respective mod owners and see about getting this thing online for other people to try out.

One last thing. Are there any other suggestions to add into this crazy combobulation. I've been trying to keep up with all the different mods. But not shure if theres some really neet feature in one that would make it even better.
Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top
The string file IS changed, for Uzii's mod, since there are new planet types and researches.
Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top
Is the string changes only for adding new things to the game then? Just trying to understand what it does and when i might need to modify it.
Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top
Every, and I mean every, piece of text you see in-game is from that file. That is its sole purpose.
Reply #17 from Sins Forums Top
ah much thx for the help guys. So in my stuation I woulnd need to touch it other than have it for the plus part. Also how are you guys going about debugging your mods. With so much going on its a bit hard to pinpoint an exact cause of my crash/lockups. And the wierd part is that im using parts from mods that I have tested on there own so i know they work ok and don't crash the game. So i'm a bit stumped as to why the thing is doing it.
Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top
Choppstick.

Just because the mods work fine 'on their own' doesn't mean they work with other mods in general. That's the first thing you learn about modding a game.

Sometimes, salvaging parts from one mod and putting them into your own personel mod won't work because their might be something perventing it from operating properly. There might also be files that the parts you took 'need', it's also possible that the part you took is interconnected to the rest of mod in short: You can't possibly get it work without using the mod it was originally created for.

While yes, the part may work well 'on its own' but that doesn't mean it'll behave with other mods. =)

Reply #19 from Sins Forums Top
Slowly add and test, add and test, add and test. That way you will know what change you made when it does crash, and hopefully be able to fix it.
Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top
And the wierd part is that im using parts from mods that I have tested on there own so i know they work ok and don't crash the game. So i'm a bit stumped as to why the thing is doing it.
End of quote


modding is just like pharmacutical drugs, if you take more than one it would be best if you consult your doctor (or someone who made the mod) or you could end up with some bad side effects.... like crashes :)
in general, know what everything is and does before you edit any of it, that way you are less likely to screw something up :P
Reply #21 from Sins Forums Top
More screenshots

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/NeilsouthGames/SinsofaSolarEmpire2008-03-1016-48-4.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/NeilsouthGames/SinsofaSolarEmpire2008-03-1016-33-1.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii227/NeilsouthGames/SinsofaSolarEmpire2008-03-1016-09-5.jpg
Reply #22 from Sins Forums Top
So, how did your game run when you had larger fleets? Also what are the specs of your computer?
Reply #23 from Sins Forums Top
I would love to see you mod devs get together and make this one big mod!
Reply #24 from Sins Forums Top
One thing you may want to add is this Icons_planets.tga which merges the planet icons from Uzi's Sins Plus and the Texture pack.

WWW Link

It uses the new star and gas giant icons from the Texture pack, both otherwise is no different than Uzi's Sin Plus.
Reply #25 from Sins Forums Top
Meep its not to hard actually I taught my self in a few hours just yesterday and managed to combine about 3 or 4 mods. With decient success. It is time consuming and tedious though. But the pay off is well worth it. What little ive gotten to play my mod has been fricken awsome. I was looking for some good empire building and really massive fleet fights. You should see some of the fights weve had with 8 other comps fighting us. Wow its been fun. So i encourage you to try it your self even it is just a little tweaking here and there and see how you like it. Never know you just might figure out somethign crazy that can help the rest of us :D