Stainless Steel 5.1b Fix Pack 2.00 + Icon Pack... =)

[IZ-Master]

hey what program do i need to open this
export_VnVs.txt.strings
For some reason I never get pyton to work and for the looks of it to do what I want I need to open this and do some edits

[Aldwen]

"wolfslayer's smoke/effects fix beta 1.4"

What exactly does this do and how do I remove it? Ever since installing the fix pack whenever there is smoke on the screen my fps drops quite a bit. Just now I had a CTD as a volley of flaming arrows flew past me. Not cool.

Oh and since I have to remove it would someone be so kind as to post the normal 5.1 smoke files, or whatever it is that needs replacing?

[Echad]

Well, you compared the Fix Pack smoke with vanilla, or SS 5.1 WITHOUT Fix Pack? SS 5.1 is slower than vanilla. The smoke fix actually fixes the square smoke/effects glitches for many players, and uses many files, around 3 to 5, if I remember correctly... The results seem to be pretty different for different players, BTW.

[Aldwen]

Yep, yep, I've compared. Vanilla, 4.1, and 5.1 have all ran smooth with hundreds of men on the screen, this is actually the first CTD I haven't caused

The fix pack I just applied the other day. I played around with the Kingdoms campaigns for a while after buying it (a few days ago) before installing 5.1. There after I installed the fix pack once I was sure 5.1 was going to run and install fine. I had set up a few seiges to test things before installing the fix pack. So yeah, the smoke fix, on my machine at least, is anything but a fix.

[Echad]

That is why it is called BETA.

Here are the threads about it:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=138415 - Official Thread, not very useful.
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...130979&page=14 - Pages 14-24... Yeah, whole 10 pages.

You cannot just delete these files... The game will not load at all. Reinstalling the SS AND installing the Fix Pack on top MANUALLY, WITHOUT updating the files, that are present in this attached .zip may be a solution. Also try to use the descr_projectile.txt from here: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=144662

[Chim]

Echad,

This might be a bit off topic but since you were working Genoa I had a question for you: Where did you find that faction symbol you are using?
I am trying to find one for The Netherlands. I am working on a 17th century mod based on ss atm.

[Echad]

Google, actually.

A lot can be found on these sites:

http://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/FLAGS/it-genoa.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genoa

But the exact source, that I used was from the other site... But if I remember, it had only Italian ones.

On wiki, try to enter a country and click on the Coat of Arms link under the Coat of Arms in the upper-right corner... But the most were drawed in vector, and, while are very good for studying, are average for the icons.

So use Google image search, it leads to best results.



This one from wiki is cute, but dunno if it's anyhow historical and/or appropriate, since I dunno how it will look with reduced size.

Edit: Here!

I just Googled "Netherlands Coat of Arms" and got this 17-th century cutey! =)

It is close enough, if you want to use only the shield in the middle! =) And, IMO, only the shield should be used for small CoA anyway.



http://www.ngw.nl/ryks-en.htm

[wolfslayer]

Google, actually.

A lot can be found on these sites:

http://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/FLAGS/it-genoa.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genoa

But the exact source, that I used was from the other site... But if I remember, it had only Italian ones.

On wiki, try to enter a country and click on the Coat of Arms link under the Coat of Arms in the upper-right corner... But the most were drawed in vector, and, while are very good for studying, are average for the icons.

So use Google image search, it leads to best results.



This one from wiki is cute, but dunno if it's anyhow historical and/or appropriate, since I dunno how it will look with reduced size.

Edit: Here!

I just Googled "Netherlands Coat of Arms" and got this 17-th century cutey! =)

It is close enough, if you want to use only the shield in the middle! =) And, IMO, only the shield should be used for small CoA anyway.



http://www.ngw.nl/ryks-en.htm

That looks like a fun banner project..

This is an interesting design here, from the movie Ivanhoe.

[Aldwen]

Hey Echad,

I fixed my FPS hits and crashes without having to reinstall. I simply deleted descr_flaming_projectiles and descr_particle. Seems to have worked quite well. I just played a massive siege with tons of archers using only flaming arrows and my siege equipment using their flaming boulders. No crashes, or FPS hit.

Just to be sure though I'm in the clear when deleting those files right? Looking through them it seems all they do is set the textures and graphics of dust and flames. I kept backups just in case though.

[Chim]

NVM. Alright thank you Echad!

[Lycodelphos]

Echad,

First of all let me compliment you on your excellent contributions to the SS mod community. The Fix pack is brilliant work. I applaud the conversion of Milan to Genoa as it is definately more historically accurate and the graphics are beautiful. Nicely done!. I'm a bit torn, though. I really enjoy playing with both your changes and Chalupaku's Full Map mod. I was wondering if there was some way to make them compatible. (I think having Pisa in the game with Genoa is important. I'd even support their addition as a faction if there was room in 6.0, since they were a powerful rival to Genoa and Venice as one of the Maritime Republics in the late 11th and 12th centuries. I also enjoy having the added provinces in the Middle East) Maybe you could add the Full Map Mod as an option. I'd also like to see Scrivian's Increased Unit Size Mod added as an option as well if possible, for those of us who have the systems that can handle the larger units.

I know your time is valuable so I'll understand if this is not a priority for you. I'm not really a modder, but I can do some basic file editing if pointed in the right direction. Thanks.

[IZ-Master]

On a side note, I understand 2.0 is coming out real soon , can u define soon if posible hahaha

[y2day]

soon –adverb, -er, -est.
1. within a short period after this or that time, event, etc.: We shall know soon after he calls.
2. before long; in the near future; at an early date: Let's leave soon.
3. promptly or quickly: He came as soon as he could.
4. readily or willingly: I would as soon walk as ride.
5. early in a period of time; before the time specified is much advanced: soon at night; soon in the evening.
6. Obsolete. immediately; at once; forthwith.
—Idioms7. sooner or later, eventually: Sooner or later his luck will run out.
8. would sooner, to prefer to: I would sooner not go to their party

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/soon

[Echad]

I will check removing them and will it help me, or not today... Seems like those graphic issues depend on videocard model, OS and a lot of other things as well. What's your videocard?

[Aldwen]

My computer stats:

Vista 32bit
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4400 (2.3GHz)
2 Gigs RAM
GeForce 8600

From what I've noticed around here most of the people having issues have been GeForce users...


@Point Blank
Thanks, I've actually already changed mine Now they only stay for a two minutes rather than forever. I've found that to be the perfect time, just as the computer starts to putter with all the arrows they start to vanish. Ive found an equilibrium for my system at least.

[Point Blank]

The descr_effects_impacts file makes the arrows persistent, which can be a major frame rate hit. Try this one, which makes the arrows temporary again, but back up first:

[Echad]

Well, I've got majorily the same, only my CPU is Intel, and overclocked from 2.3 to 3.0, but it should not matter much.

BUT, I do run XP, also - Vista users got the most lags/CTD's with GeForce coming in second.

I will notify you of my tests.

P.S. Tried unpacking vanilla? It might help.

[DenniZ]

Im not sure whether my vanilla is unpacked but how should I go about this?
Im just dying for an answer to my CTD's

[Echad]

Medieval II Total War\tools\unpacker\unpack_all.bat - Run it, it will d it LONG... And take around 20 extra Gigs.

But this helps to solve CTD's. =)

And I will update my Fix Pack after testing! =)

[DenniZ]

20 extra gigs??? you gotta be kidding right??