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Batman Returns...[message #129120] Sat, 10 February 2007 17:19 Go to next message
Batman is currently offline Batman

 
Messages:363
Registered:January 2001
Location: Gotham City
 Batman Returns...

Sorry, I couldn't resist Wink


Hi All! How goes the err... War?

I have noticed all the changes here and the site really looks great! Nice job to all involved. I have also spent some time last year playing the 1.13 MOD and it is fantastic, again, Nice Job!

I noticed, while stalking the site, there were some folks seeking to ask questions regarding JA2DL and JA2UC as well as MODs I had in the works... So I thought I would write and give some answers.

JA2DL:
As far as I am concerned this is FREEWARE stuff and may be used anyway you like. Keep in mind, Rude Dog and Ramfall played a huge part in this MOD and there may be some stuff that they feel is proprietary. I did most of the maps and weapons.

JA2UC:
There were many people involved in this MOD so I can't give complete authority to use all of the stuff, but I can tell you that most of the Tilesets were done by me so you can use that stuff if you want. Also, I did Rosebud and you can feel free to use him in any of your MODs. Maps were primarily done by Bearpit but I think I do have a few in there... Wink

I guess what I'm saying is there were so many people involved in UC, I can't give free access to all of the stuff. Sorry.

I saw some questions regarding MODs I had in the works... so here goes!

JA2R2M1: (Return to Metavira Version 1)
There were 2 versions of this MOD that I started working on, the first utilized the primary Island of Metavira, I believe that was about 60 sectors. In this version I primarily worked on Source Code and Weapons, but I soon realized that the world size was too small and trashed it.
http://www.pdssoft.com/ja2dl/ja2r2m-1.gif

JA2R2M2: (Return to Metavira Version 2)
In this version I had most of the stuff complete; Source Code, including new landing zone, roads, weapons, etc. Custom Tilesets and Weapons where pretty well finished too as well as most of the maps (see below). The problem with this game was that almost all of the maps were designed around Tropical Themed Tilesets... I remember talking with Bearpit on it and we decided it would get too boring... so again... trashed.
http://www.pdssoft.com/ja2dl/ja2r2m-2.gif

JA2DL2: (Deidranna Lives 2)
I started working on this MOD utilizing the JA2 1.13 Code in it's early stages, I imported the UB Tilesets and started building the maps. But the source code was changing so frequently in these early stages that I found it very difficult to keep track of the changes I made and the 1.13 MOD Team made... so eventually... trashed.
http://www.pdssoft.com/ja2dl/ja2unknown.gif

Anyway, that's my story, I'm stickin' to it... Wink

I'll try to visit here for the next few weeks if anyone has questions I can help with...

As Always,
Batman

PS: I was getting way too much junk mail in the old batman email account so I had to delete it, sorry.

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Master Sergeant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129125] Sat, 10 February 2007 17:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Scooly

 
Messages:50
Registered:June 2003
Location: Lublin - Poland
Hi Batman, nice to see you again here! Smile

Too bad, that you trashed all this stuff
- is there any chance to see DL2/RTM in the future?

[Updated on: Sat, 10 February 2007 17:38] by Moderator

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Corporal
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129167] Sat, 10 February 2007 23:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Marlboro Man

 
Messages:1159
Registered:October 2005
Location: USA
 Hello Batman, I noticed your the one who actually wrote the old NPC Edit program. Any chance you have a set of instructions around for properly using this program? As it is now, myself and a few others who want to do some modding, can't seem to get a complete handle on using this program. Any help would be appreciated. Smile

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Sergeant Major
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129183] Sun, 11 February 2007 02:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Batman is currently offline Batman

 
Messages:363
Registered:January 2001
Location: Gotham City
 Scooly

- is there any chance to see DL2/RTM in the future?


I don't really have a lot of time now to work on a MOD... so, I will probably say, not anytime soon.

Marlboro Man

Hello Batman, I noticed your the one who actually wrote the old NPC Edit program. Any chance you have a set of instructions around for properly using this program? As it is now, myself and a few others who want to do some modding, can't seem to get a complete handle on using this program. Any help would be appreciated.


I read the thread on the NPC Editor and I don't think that one was mine... someone spoke of it being DOS based and mine was part of the JA2Desktop Editor, which was Window's Based... So, I don't think I can help you with that one... But, if you decide to use the JA2Desktop Editor, I remember how that one worked... Wink

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Master Sergeant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129184] Sun, 11 February 2007 02:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Marlboro Man

 
Messages:1159
Registered:October 2005
Location: USA
 At the bottom of the Editor it says, Batmans NPC File Editor : Version 01.00.04 Smile

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Sergeant Major
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129185] Sun, 11 February 2007 02:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Batman is currently offline Batman

 
Messages:363
Registered:January 2001
Location: Gotham City
 Hi Marlboro Man,

I don't recall doing an Editor specifically designed as an NPC File Editor... :crazy: What does it do? (is it supposed to do?)

Do you have a link where I could take a look at it? It just doesn't seem to ring a bell... :whoknows:

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Master Sergeant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129188] Sun, 11 February 2007 03:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Khor1255 is currently offline Khor1255

 
Messages:1817
Registered:August 2003
Location: Pleasantville, NJ
 Good to see you back Batman.


The NPC editor is supposed to be able to alter behavior and/or general routines associated with .npc characters. It looks very intreaging but, like Marlboro Man I can't get it to do any of these things.

If I was the one that confused you in the other post by mentioning dos I'm sorry. I was only wondering how to 'speak' the command type language it seems to call for.

Like I said there, even an example of an npc you sucessfully changed and how you did it would be better than nothing.

Like a lot of people, I'm hoping to make substantial storyline changes for the mod I've been working on for a few years now to give the players some surprises. We already have the ability to do some really cool things with the map structure thanx to the 1.13 coders but now I'd like to also really get into chaging some quests or at least quest charaters and this tool seems like a way to achieve this.


Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

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Sergeant Major
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129189] Sun, 11 February 2007 03:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Marlboro Man

 
Messages:1159
Registered:October 2005
Location: USA
 Here is a copy of the NPC Editor

http://www.badongo.com/file/2208123

I believe I donwloaded it to begin with from Nitrats site.

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Sergeant Major
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129190] Sun, 11 February 2007 04:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Batman is currently offline Batman

 
Messages:363
Registered:January 2001
Location: Gotham City
 Wow guys, sorry... that one is ancient, no wonder you were struggling to figure it out... Uh Oh I forgot I even did that one...

Try this one...

JA2 Desktop

This has two program for designing NPCs... NPC Action Editor which allows you to modify the actions an NPC will take when approached... And the NPC Text (Bubble) Editor which allows you to edit the text files associated with an NPC...

How it works... Load an NPC you're familiar with like Miguel or Skyrider, then load the Text file associated with the character. By moving back and forth and record to record, you can (sort of) figure out what is going on and then adjust for your new story.

I will let you know a lot of this is trial and error. Sometimes things just don't work the way you want them. However, this is the program we used in UC to get the characters to do certain things (i.e. hiring RPCs, people giving items, etc...)

Good Luck!

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Master Sergeant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129192] Sun, 11 February 2007 04:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Khor1255 is currently offline Khor1255

 
Messages:1817
Registered:August 2003
Location: Pleasantville, NJ
 If you have the time I wonder if you'd field stupid question #1 about this program?

In a lot of the files it says

When all conditions are met NPC says this quote:


Now I take it that number corresponds to one of the .edt and speech files listed by number right? This is sort of a cosmetic feature of the program but really the only one I could think to ask about off the top of my head.

Unless it is a hassle or you just can't remember, I think a description of how you changed - for instance - Rosebud's behavior (modified from Ira who I guess needs to have the Fatima Quest done to be activated) with the editor would be very helpful as a sort of dummies guide to the editor.


Thanx alot for making that tool it's just that I can't get my tiny little brain to wrap around it.

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Sergeant Major
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129193] Sun, 11 February 2007 04:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Marlboro Man

 
Messages:1159
Registered:October 2005
Location: USA
 Thank you very much. :ok: We will give it spin and see what we can do with it. Smile

And I was right, that was one of your programs. :biglaugh: It's ok, I can't remember what I had for breakfast anymore. My memory is good, it's just short.

Thanks again.

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Sergeant Major
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129240] Sun, 11 February 2007 17:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Batman is currently offline Batman

 
Messages:363
Registered:January 2001
Location: Gotham City
 Khor1255

In a lot of the files it says

When all conditions are met NPC says this quote:

Now I take it that number corresponds to one of the .edt and speech files listed by number right? This is sort of a cosmetic feature of the program but really the only one I could think to ask about off the top of my head.

Unless it is a hassle or you just can't remember, I think a description of how you changed - for instance - Rosebud's behavior (modified from Ira who I guess needs to have the Fatima Quest done to be activated) with the editor would be very helpful as a sort of dummies guide to the editor.


You are correct in the "NPC says this quote" field corresponds to the NPC Text File Record. However, regarding Quests... I never triggered an NPC off of a quest. This was because the quests in the Original JA2 didn't match to UC and it just became too confusing to try and keep track of which quests related to our new game. Instead, NPCs were triggered by giving items or talking a certain way.

If you look at the record labeled "Merc Action or Record Identifier" you will see a drop down list. This list shows certain actions that can happen to activate the record (i.e. Merc talks friendly, Merc Threatens NPC, NPC receives an item... etc.)

A good example of this is Fatima. She doesn't "trigger" her actions until the Letter from Enrico is given to her. Once that is done she proceeds with her actions.

To write directions on how these programs work would take a very long time and I'm afraid I don't have enough time to do this, all I can suggest is figure out what you want your character to do and find and existing NPC that does something similar, then work from that.

Good Luck!

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Master Sergeant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129280] Sun, 11 February 2007 21:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Khor1255 is currently offline Khor1255

 
Messages:1817
Registered:August 2003
Location: Pleasantville, NJ
 That's actually a big help. Just knowing what that field does FOR SURE is better than guessing.

I was specifically wondering how you got Rosebud (Ira) to appear above ground and before the deliver letter quest had even happened.

I think you may have answered that. If it's just a matter of 'killing' that requirement in the quests routine I think I might be able to do something. The fact is, I do just about all the work including beta testing for my mod so it is important that I don't have to work with things that require a whole lot of trial and error to achieve. If I did I don't think I'd ever be able to finish.



Thanx for the replies. I think I will definately take another crack at this tool and hopefully be able to make some of the changes I've been wanting since the beginning.

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Sergeant Major
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129444] Mon, 12 February 2007 21:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Monkfish is currently offline Monkfish
Messages:3
Registered:October 2005
Location: Finland
 Darn, that Return to Metavira v.2 seems pretty interesting. Maybe liven up the tropical theme with military installations, sap factories, lots of guarded bridges, couple of villages and small airports, harbors, etc. With 1.13. it might have been possible to move the militia and have sap income like in the original.

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Civilian
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129448] Mon, 12 February 2007 22:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tbird94lx is currently offline tbird94lx

 
Messages:682
Registered:April 2002
Location: ohhhhhh canada
 it would be amazing if someone could redo the original JA in 1.13..not the mechanics..but the characters and story..i enjoyed the story quite a bit in the original

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First Sergeant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129470] Tue, 13 February 2007 00:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
the scorpion

 
Messages:1834
Registered:September 2004
Location: CH
 what do you guys guess, is batman going to resume any of his trashed ideas? or working on a new project?

as tbird says, conditions for doing something larger scale have become better lately

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Sergeant Major
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129472] Tue, 13 February 2007 00:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tbird94lx is currently offline tbird94lx

 
Messages:682
Registered:April 2002
Location: ohhhhhh canada
 if you redo the original JA..i'll stop being a spiderman fan and come to the dark side Very Happy .....maybe

and if you do..post a list of guns ya need done up and i'll get to work asap...i aint a sap..but i'm fast

[Updated on: Tue, 13 February 2007 00:24] by Moderator

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First Sergeant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129495] Tue, 13 February 2007 02:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Batman is currently offline Batman

 
Messages:363
Registered:January 2001
Location: Gotham City
 @Khor1255,

Just to add... If your goal is to relocate an NPC, you also need to add that NPC to the map you want them to appear... and you need to modify ProEdit to give the new sector to the NPC.

So, for example, if you want to move Ira to sector A9, you need to load the A9 map and add her somewhere on the map... Then you need to load ProEdit and place her sector location to A9...

@All,

Nothing in the works now... maybe someday. Wink

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Master Sergeant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129547] Tue, 13 February 2007 15:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Will Gates is currently offline Will Gates

 
Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.
 In addition giving old @0 characters a specific map instead of their 5 or 6 possible locations can cause ctd problems (the game reads prof.dat as corrupted)... at least three mine foremen must be left @0, four terrorists... just trial & error & finding out the hard way.

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Sergeant Major
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129736] Thu, 15 February 2007 00:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wil473

 
Messages:2815
Registered:September 2004
Location: Canada
 @ Batman
Any comments or concerns about what we're doing with the Urban Chaos-1.13 Hybrid? (ie. Cease and Desist... I'm not getting off the hook that easily and will have to finish this then...) Any specific credits I should be including?

Once I get some time in March, I'm going to try to hunt down the civilian that is causing the I3 CTD, right now I have all civilian's removed and that seems to be working in my own testing for now.

[Updated on: Thu, 15 February 2007 00:38] by Moderator

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Lieutenant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129740] Thu, 15 February 2007 01:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Batman is currently offline Batman

 
Messages:363
Registered:January 2001
Location: Gotham City
 @wil473,

I think it's great that you guys are breathing life back into UC, so... best of luck!

Just a note on I3, we found some problems with lighting on some of the maps, too many lights caused CTDs. It appears you have narrowed it down to civilians, but I just thought I would mention that.

@Will Gates,

I know it won't work correctly if you try to assign @0 NPCs to a specific location, but I never recall getting a CTD. Actually, some of the characters don't randomly generate until after a certain "day" of the game... I think (don't hold me to this) during testing of UC I was able to get Mike and Deidranna to appear in sector A9... although this served no purpose... Wink

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Master Sergeant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129783] Thu, 15 February 2007 15:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wil473

 
Messages:2815
Registered:September 2004
Location: Canada
 Thank you for the advice and support there Batman. In going over the maps and other original components of Urban Chaos we've run into a few mysteries. If I may be able to trouble you again, just wondering if you remember if:

1) Smitty's character number is that of the unused JA2 Enrico character. Was the Enrico character number always a merchant or did the Mod Squad have to do things to the exe to make Smitty a merchant? The best we managed was for a while subverting Gabby's inventory (till someone notices the change was causing problems with the regular Alruco campaign).

2) Was Devin supposed to appear in all his old JA2 locations, or were there plans to have him appear in new locations?

3) Who was Ehili based on and do you have notes about her eye and mouth coordinates? Aside from the sound, any other reasons she was cut from the original? I thought I got the flickering fixed from the advice in the UC thread, but no. As a backup, I may just see about begging the artistic community for permission to use one their existing character image sets as a substitute. (As it is, UC-1.13 Hybrid is already a mod, to use another mod, within a third source code mod, with bits thrown in from elsewhere.)

[Updated on: Thu, 15 February 2007 16:02] by Moderator

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Lieutenant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129907] Fri, 16 February 2007 11:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Will Gates is currently offline Will Gates

 
Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.
 I fixed a version of Elhi for my copy of UC, voice, face etc. Due to limited selection of voice files she swears a lot and goes into robotic voice for a couple of speeches but not too much. I can send it monday if you like. I find her an excellent addition to the team and can't play UC without her.

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Sergeant Major
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129922] Fri, 16 February 2007 12:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wil473

 
Messages:2815
Registered:September 2004
Location: Canada
 We just need her eye and mouth coordinates from ProEdit please. That is unless you went in and redid the graphic archive for her.

Fixed already some of the actually broken voice files (loud static) by recycling sounds from a UC NPC.

[Updated on: Fri, 16 February 2007 12:38] by Moderator

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Lieutenant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129933] Fri, 16 February 2007 14:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Batman is currently offline Batman

 
Messages:363
Registered:January 2001
Location: Gotham City
 Hi wil473,

The characters you speak of, again, I have to admit I don't remember a lot about... I do not believe Devin was changed however, there were points when we thought we could do certain things, and therefore Devin may appear in additional maps.

To fix eye-mouth graphics I had to do it manually... meaning, I had to modify the face files to coordinate with the character's eye-mouth movements. This appears to be because the eye-mouth coordinates in ProEdit were only for the larger face... (when you talk to someone).

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Master Sergeant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #129940] Fri, 16 February 2007 15:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Will Gates is currently offline Will Gates

 
Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.
 Indeedio. The movement was in STI-edit, I left her prof.dat alone in that regard.

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Sergeant Major
Re: Batman Returns...[message #130007] Sat, 17 February 2007 04:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wil473

 
Messages:2815
Registered:September 2004
Location: Canada
 So that's what I've been doing wrong all this time. Please by all means, send them along when you have time.

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Lieutenant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #130318] Wed, 21 February 2007 02:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
LCJr.

 
Messages:83
Registered:November 2001
Batman
Batman Returns...
JA2R2M2: (Return to Metavira Version 2)
In this version I had most of the stuff complete; Source Code, including new landing zone, roads, weapons, etc. Custom Tilesets and Weapons where pretty well finished too as well as most of the maps (see below). The problem with this game was that almost all of the maps were designed around Tropical Themed Tilesets... I remember talking with Bearpit on it and we decided it would get too boring... so again... trashed.


I don't play the game for the scenery:) Seriously if the game itself is interesting and the maps present their own challenges I don't think anyone would complain. SOG 69' was tropical tilesets and I don't recall anyone complaining about the maps all being the same.

[Updated on: Wed, 21 February 2007 02:57] by Moderator

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Corporal 1st Class
Re: Batman Returns...[message #130356] Wed, 21 February 2007 16:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lalienxx is currently offline lalienxx

 
Messages:86
Registered:February 2006
Quote:
JA2R2M2: (Return to Metavira Version 2)
In this version I had most of the stuff complete; Source Code, including new landing zone, roads, weapons, etc. Custom Tilesets and Weapons where pretty well finished too as well as most of the maps (see below). The problem with this game was that almost all of the maps were designed around Tropical Themed Tilesets... I remember talking with Bearpit on it and we decided it would get too boring... so again... trashed.


Can we get those things for the future development?

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Corporal 1st Class
Re: Batman Returns...[message #130809] Sun, 25 February 2007 16:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Batman is currently offline Batman

 
Messages:363
Registered:January 2001
Location: Gotham City
 I'll have to take a look around to see if I still have any of that stuff... one thing, all the maps I did utilized custom tilesets.

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Master Sergeant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #130836] Sun, 25 February 2007 21:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lalienxx is currently offline lalienxx

 
Messages:86
Registered:February 2006
Batman
I'll have to take a look around to see if I still have any of that stuff... one thing, all the maps I did utilized custom tilesets.


Please send all that you find to the ja2113development address.

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Corporal 1st Class
Re: Batman Returns...[message #205202] Tue, 30 December 2008 19:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
NightKing is currently offline NightKing

 
Messages:6
Registered:December 2008
Location: Colombia
 1 question to Batman. Why you dont make any background to Rosebud and to other new characters? I think Rosebud is 1 of the worst characters ever in JA2 but his a good door opener!

By the way when u make your own character,the new guy is Gabriel Logan from Syphon Filter right?

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Private
Re: Batman Returns...[message #210387] Mon, 16 March 2009 22:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Rude Dog is currently offline Rude Dog

 
Messages:467
Registered:March 2001
Location: Chasing Pussy
 When we did all of those characters that were hired In Country, we had an idea about them but there wasn't much of a place for us to tell their story. Much Like Ira in JA2. All you needed to know about them were there when you hired them.

Of Course Ira was a Jersey Girl who ended up in Arulco because she was chasing her Green Card seeking husband for Alimony and she got stuck there.

No in UC, there is a loveable guy named Rude Dog that will yak your head off and you learn more than enough about him just by talking to him a bunch of time. He shoots half decent, has a good weapon, and makes you giggle when he talks.

What else do you need to know about Rosebud besides he can knock down a door instead of picking the lock?

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Master Sergeant
Re: Batman Returns...[message #210425] Tue, 17 March 2009 14:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Will Gates is currently offline Will Gates

 
Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.
 Or you could check out the Alumni part of the AIM site if you want some info on Bud etc.

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Sergeant Major
Re: Batman Returns...[message #231832] Thu, 27 August 2009 14:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Logisteric

 
Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B
 does anyone have that afore mentioned JA2 Desktop i would be glad to get a copy. the link above produces a 404

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Captain
Re: Batman Returns...[message #231836] Thu, 27 August 2009 15:49 Go to previous message
Scheinworld is currently offline Scheinworld

 
Messages:961
Registered:December 2007
Location: Baltic Sea, Germany
 Hallo,

You'll find the "JA2 desktop.rar" file and other fine JA2 editors on Kermi's FTP mirror.

https://storage.rcs-rds.ro/links/4729f8d6-f44b-42b7-aa3e-e0ddc6deead6?path=%2FJA_2%2FModding_Tools


Best regards; Schein

[Updated on: Tue, 16 June 2020 08:32] by Moderator

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First Sergeant
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