The Bears Pit: v1.13 Idea Incubation Lab » Modernising AR (and other older ones) vs. Reality

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Modernising AR (and other older ones) vs. Reality[message #357053]

Tue, 26 March 2019 06:14

Kitty

Messages:439
Registered:October 2017
Location: Germany

Modernising Attempt AR vs. Reality Check

The Idea: Create a customiced version of AR (ArulcoRevisited), useable with a recent build of
JA2v1.13, without loosing the character of AR. This might as well can be used as example
for other older mods.

Reality: Looking into the amount of changes done since 7609, not knowing if capable to find all
relevant ones and might lacking knowledge to do nescessary changes

So what?: I like to post a „roadmap" of what I think needs to be done for the purpose, ask for help
concerning the questions and feedback if you think I've missed something important.

AR-Spoilers ahead!

Roadmap: I've taken Strohmanns stable Version of AR and combined it with the patch by CVB and
then compared the content with 1.13 build_8673_on_2474. Here are my assumptions and
questions:

1. The folders „Docs" and „Profiles" in Data_AR should be safe. The file „vs_config.AR.ini", too.
2. Data-AR: the subfolders Interface, Loadscreens and Music doesn't require changes
3. The file modsetting .ini does
- my idea would be to make a copy of the 1.13 file to get the missing entries and then change the different entries specific for AR: airport sector, brothel rooms gridNo and under Meanwhile POW item Positions 1-3
4. Data-AR\TableData
- mercprofiles.xml Sektor Pablo, Manuel and Maddog has to be adjusted to AR
- CivGroupsNames.xml: the entry for smugglers is at wrong place, had to be changed, which might lead to other changes nescessary (NPCData,Lua,?)
5. Data-AR\Tabledata\Army
- the xml-files need to be compared and might need adjustment which also means ingame testing. Probably large impact on mods character.
6. Data-AR\TableData\Map
- each and every AR-xml here has to be compared with 1.13. Copy the 1.13 files and make relevant AR changes, might be easier
- Facilities, ShipingDestnation need a close look
- Checking for xml that are added or changed after 7609 and relevant for AR, so far found:
- SamSites: adding AR-Sams and check the terminals nescessary for covert ops,
requires changes in lua-scripts as well
- InteractiveAction: hacking, games, etc. needs a close look and might require
changes. If so, lua-scirpts need Ids and adjustment
- CoolnessbySector: adjustment to AR maps, keeping live-out-the-land-style in
mind, Ingame testing required
-SectorNames: Many new flags, copy and adjust to AR map
7. Data-AR\NPCInventory: Needs to be added. Placement of added merchs to be checked in
lua and see how this
fits AR, so inventory needs adjustment too (might add stuff needed
for new features that in 1.13 can be ordered earlier, don't overdo)
8. Data-AR\Tilesets: This needs to be created for planed map-overhaul and added sectors,
first overall possabilty of this „project" should be checked
9. Data-AR\NpcData: The AR entries here conflict with 1.13, civ54 in AR are smugglers, in
1.13 volunteers. Civ55 apears empty in 1.13 in AR I don't know, maybe
that's Hicks („..feed you to my iguana" ?)
civ53 are both seemingly empty (in file CVB stated that 52 and 53 belong to prisoners), civ52 are prisoners by both.
Why the prisoners are there if allready in 1.13 I don't get.
The smugglers might better be done completely new, a lot of civGroups
have been added.
Here I lack knowledge. I don't know, which civGroup is having which
entry-Nr inhere. Some are obvious, others I'm not sure when I open them
with EditMegaEditor.
Have to relocate a thread I come along, handling with adding civGroups
and sneak-peak into other mods how they have done it and of course ask
here
10. Data-AR\BinaryData: All the entries here for Prof.dat and following are having a newer date
in my version of AR then 1.13, so better keep them
Although I don't know what good for they are. Ain't those values
handled in xmls anyway? If someone has information about this,
I'd be happy. Otherwise I leave those untouched.
Do I need ProfDat to change an npc bodytype or is this handled in
mercprofiles? I've seen bodytypes bigger then 4 in mercprofiles and
don't know where I can get the information which Nr refers to which
bodytype.Hm.
RIS.edt inhere needs to be adjusted. Have to compare with 1.13 if stuff like
ASD is added there.
11. Data-AR\Scripts: Here the real fun is starting. In any case, it seems more doable to just
copy the needed ones out of 1,13 and adjust them.
And there is a lot to adjust and looked up. And checked on map
The locations of added civs, blackmarket, merchs, the room numbers for
brothel rooms and photos, gridNo of Sam-Terminals for covert-ops,
gridNo for games and other interactives
Then trying to find a way if it is possible to add intel and SAM- Hack
for AR-SAMs, since I don't know the possible integers and my attempts
to look for them with the programm VisualStudioCode failed.
And if things even work this way is unclear too. Check if allowed to change a feature
12. Map-Overhaul: I plan to do a map overhaul. Adding buildings, a little more hay for farmers,
etc. I don't plan to change the overall look, but add a little to my liking and
where I think it might be better for playing reasons.
I also plan to add new sectors, for e.g. I'd love to have a harbour. But this
depends on finding/creating sti.files. And I'm no artist and just started this
editing stuff. And before I get into this seriously, I have to check if my
attempt to modernise is realsitic at all. Otherwise I'll do changes for 7609.
Every map of AR is planned to be saved with map-editor of new 1.13
anyway, just to be sure.
13. New Ingame Recruits: I've tested this and think I should be able to add some user-made ones
ingame. Plans haven't reached beyond the idea. Permissions have
to be asked.
14. Adjustment and balancing: This will require heavy ingame testing, to see if changes done by
me, break balance. Weapon and Item Placement, Patrols and
Garrisons, New maps and sectors have to be tested several times.
See how features like environment, diseases, ASD (!) fit together with late airport

Questions: 15. First of all, i don't know if I'm even allowed to do so, in this early stage I haven't
even tried to ask for Jasmine and Bekas permission, or Strohmanns and CVBs. How is this handled correctly? I would ask for permission out of good manners alone, but are there forum rules I have to keep in mind?
16. Have to find out how NPCData civNo.edt is linked to civGroupName
17. Have to find out how NPCdata files are handled at all, links to thread or hints would be
great.
18. Is my assumption that I could leave Prof.dat and following entries alone correct?
19. Where can I find a list of non-fighting bodytypes? PeoEdit doesn't seem to know them
all by name.
20. Can I simply add lines to lua scripts with NotePad++? I once changed values, but changing is different then adding.
21. Is my approach to naive and a whole lot of other things have to be taken in account?
If so, which ones?

A Note:

I hope for feedback ensuring my thoughts and getting some answers and hints for the questions. If I misssed somethings, made false assumptions or you have some advice for me, I'm happy to hear about it. I'm aware that this is , even if I haven't missed something (unlikely), a bunch of work that has a high chance to make me swear and curse a lot. And if you think, it's downright impossible for me don't shy away to tell me, a reason why you think so would be nice though :-)

All credits for AR go to Jasmine and Beka, the Stable Version has been made by Strohmann and the patch by CVB.

I realy like to play AR in the 7609 version combined with sevenfms AI-tweak and in combination with SDO (strohmann). Give it a try.
This will not be possible with the version i'm planing here. It will be another variation, making use of new features provided by stock 1.13

Since I'm new to all of this, I beg for patience. If this turns out to be a realistic aproach, I'll update the roadmap so that others might can use it as kinda template for modernising other older mods (at least to the version of 1.13 i've chosen, the latest I found).

[Updated on: Tue, 26 March 2019 06:20]

How to get: latest 1.13, 7609 and more | 7609 SCI (eng) | Compiling+SVN

I need more details. (Didi Hallervorden)