The DCUG Back on Track!

[tk]

Ok, Thor Reborn told me to do this and it fixed the rest of my fx problems. 

"first download ezfx5.1
http://alexff.com/downloads/EZFX_v51.exe

install it
then go to C:\Program Files\Irrational Games\Freedom Force\DATA\Art\library\fx
copy the _textures folder and paste here
C:\Program Files\Irrational Games\Freedom Force vs The 3rd Reich\Data\Art\library\fx"

Still having problems with combined attributes, like Caped Crusader, and the Driver Attribute still isn't working.   

[BentonGrey]

Weird, but glad that worked for you.  I am really busy for the next day or two, but I'll try and hash out what's wrong with your combined attributes as soon as I'm able.

[Mystik]

yea I took pity on you. everytime I wanted to check on benton's I had to read about your problems :P

[BentonGrey]

Thanks for the help TR, I really appreciate it man.  I'm so swamped right now that it may have taken me weeks to sort that out.

[H0UR_MAN]

Benton Grey, I have read a bit through this forum, and this mod sounds very much like something I would like to play. Is the "Beta" version still available? If so, where would I be able to download it from? Or would it be better for me to wait until the full version was released? Thank you.

[BentonGrey]

Howdy HOUR_MAN, if you are dying to download and play it right now, you can find the beta by doing a search for DCUG in the release forum.  If you are a patient man, I would suggest waiting until I release the final version, although, be warned, that is going to be a good while.  I had hoped to finish it long ago, but my classes this semester overwhelmed me.  It will probably be months before I can finish it.  I am very glad to hear that the concept appeals to you! ^_^

[tk]

Just a reminder that I'm having trouble with the custom combined attributes.

[BentonGrey]

I haven't forgotten you TK, my last paper is due on Saturday, so I'll try and delve into your issues next week.

[tk]

I understand. I have a lot of papers myself.

[BentonGrey]

Good man, hang in there, and hopefully we can get you sorted out with a minimum of fuss.

[BentonGrey]

Well TK, I suppose that I should take time out from my vacation to try and help you, huh?  Man, I have REALLY been enjoying the last few days with nothing to do, as this semester just about wrecked me.  Anyway, you're having trouble with the custom attributes, right?  Okay, first things first, we're going to find out if you've got the requisite files.  Go to: FFVTTR/DCUG/Missions/Scripts and open the file called FFXmulti.py with notepad or something similar.  Look through the lines and see if you can find the following=

[spoiler]['kryptonian', 'ffqnimbleflier', 'vulnerability', 'fastflier', 'invulnerable', 'toughguy2', 'heavylifter'],
['thanagarian', 'ffqnimbleflier', 'fastflier', 'grimresolve', 'fasthealing'],
['atlantian', 'disciplined', 'heavylifter', 'superleaper', 'fasthealing', 'grimresolve', 'levelheaded'],
['atlantianheritage', 'disciplined', 'flier', 'fastflier', 'ffqnimbleflier', 'heavylifter', 'fasthealing', 'grimresolve', 'levelheaded'],
['mera', 'disciplined', 'flier', 'fastflier', 'ffqnimbleflier', 'guardianp','heavylifter', 'fasthealing', 'grimresolve', 'levelheaded'],
['martian', 'disciplined', 'invulnerable0', 'toughguy2', 'guardianm'],
['white_martian', 'disciplined', 'toughguy2'],
['ringbearer', 'guardianp', 'plasmasculptor', 'summoner4', 'metashieldp'],
['mastermagnetic', 'magnetic', 'pupetu', 'grimresolve', 'metashieldp'],
['capedcrusaderbat', 'disciplined', 'presence', 'utilitybelt', 'nimble', 'acrobatic', 'grimresolve', 'ffqtracking'],
['capedcrusader', 'disciplined', 'utilitybelt', 'nimble', 'acrobatic', 'grimresolve', 'ffqtracking'],
['sorcerersupreme', 'firecontrol', 'earthcontrol', 'icecontrol', 'sensitive', 'puppetn', 'guardianp', 'levelheaded', 'groupteleport'],
['kryptonianclone', 'ffqnimbleflier', 'vulnerability', 'fastflier', 'invulnerable', 'heavylifter', 'metashieldp'],
['azaroth', 'levelheaded', 'sensitive', 'telekinetic', 'illusionist', 'fasthealing'],
['reptile', 'unheroic', 'bezerker', 'fasthealing'],
['mutatedshark', 'unheroic', 'fasthealing', 'hatemonger'],
['kryptoniancloneevil', 'invulnerable', 'toughguy2', 'heavylifter', 'superleaper'],
['wardog', 'invulnerable', 'toughguy2', 'heavylifter'],
['shazam', 'ffqnimbleflier', 'fastflier', 'invulnerable', 'toughguy2', 'heavylifter'],
['zatanna','earthcontrol','firecontrol','icecontrol','weathercontrol','puppetn','supertk'],[/spoiler]

A few of those might not be there, because I think I added some of them in AFTER I released the Beta.  However, the caped crusader will be our litmus test.  Do you see any of those?  If not, then we can solve the problem very easily, if so, then there is a more serious problem.

[tk]

I see em. :(

How serious?
Will I need an operation?

[BentonGrey]

Hmm......well, that isn't good, we may have to open ya' up. ;)  So, all the code is there, but the attributes are still being funky.  They were not working at all, right?  Have you modified the attributes in any way?  Go look at the Batman in the character window, and tell me if his attributes list caped crusader.

[tk]

No, I didn't modify the attributes.  Do you mean the character window in the game or the ffedit?

[BentonGrey]

Well, if you are comfortable with FFEdit, I'd like you to check there as well, but I actually meant in the game.  I'm afraid I don't have a clue what could be causing these issues, but I think a good stopgap would be for me to send you new versions of several pertinent files.

[tk]

It shows up in-game not ffxedit.

[BentonGrey]

Seriously?  Not in FFXEdit?  Well, I think there must have been a problem with your install.  If I had to guess, I'd say that the file was corrupted when you downloaded it or something.  Either way, we can probably fix it by me emailing you the .dats.  So, before I do that, are there ANY other problems that you are having?  Also, what is your email addy?

[BentonGrey]

A quick update for the DCUG faithful out there:  I have finished the first 5 JLA missions, which comprise all of the solo missions, and now I'm starting on the last three or four of that campaign.  Next up will probably be The Brave and the Bold, or perhaps Hawkman/Atom.  I'd like to do Aquaman next, but I still need too much stuff, both from myself and the community.  So, progress is definitely being made, and I've managed to knock out three missions in a week!

[Cyber Burn]

Hey Benton, when the finished version does get released, will it be as an add-on to the beta, or will you package the thing?

[BentonGrey]

Hey CB, I'm afraid that I've changed SOOO much that it'll have to be its own package.

[BentonGrey]

Okay guys, a quick update and a plea for help.  First off, I am still working on this, never fear.  I am working during the week, and my hours are a bit exhausting, so I'm not covering as much ground as I'd like, but I do have Fridays off and the three day weekend is very valuable.  The situation with the passing of my cat and troubles with our new pets have taken up a lot of my time lately, but I'm hoping those will be resolved soon.  So, the short version is that the DCUG isn't the juggernaut of accomplishment I was hoping it would be this summer, but I'm still getting stuff done.  Also, matters should improve as I go along. 

On to the bit about help.  I find myself stymied by bugs in my mission scripts, and often hit a wall for days or weeks at a time.  It is not in my nature to work on things out of sequence, so it is tough for me to move on to something else without solving the problem.  What would be incredibly helpful is if a member of the community would troubleshoot problem scripts for me from time to time.  I can solve many problems my self with relatively little trouble by now, but things like the latest JLA mission that just stump me...well, I would make a lot more progress if I could hand it off to someone else to fiddle with for a while.  Obviously, this would have to be someone relatively familiar with EZScript, (the utility isn't terribly difficult to learn, even if mastering it is something else entirely) and modding in general.  If anyone out there is willing, I'd really appreciate it.  I'm sure I'd make much better progress on the mod if I wasn't constantly fighting technical battles (mostly of my own creation, admittedly, and therefore more difficult for me to spot!)  If you are interested, you can post here or PM me.  Thanks guys!

:EDIT: Head on over to the poll forum and let me know what characters you want to play as in the final JLA mission!

[BentonGrey]

Just to let everyone know, I'll be out of town this week, so I won't be able to access my DCUG stuff until next week.

[BentonGrey]

Woo-hoo!  Just an update for anyone who might care; I have finished the JLA campaign (well, pending the end of my playing through it to test it) and am going to try and finish the Batman campaign next.  I'm still debating about what comes after that (I'm open to suggestions: I've got the most work done on Brave and Bold or The Atom, but other possibilities include Aquaman and Hawkman), but I've just about decided that I'm going to release with only three campaigns, as I'm fast running out of summer to work on them.  The others will have to be handled as expansions.

:EDIT: Well, Batman is pretty much done, barring some testing, and since I haven't had any responses, I guess I'll just finish The Atom campaign.  I'll release the others as expansions as I finish them.

[Trelau]

hi there, nice to see that the DCUG is still evolving, you're doing an awesome work and i hope it's not consuming all your free time (unless you want it :rolleyes:)
i just have a few question/suggestion
I'm currently going through my old JSA comics and decided to see what they look like in the DCUG (by the way: they look great) but...i couldn't find Alan Scott
i don't know if he's not done yet or if you just don't like him (after all, you said you would left out some character you dont like or you think won't fit)...or if i wasn't looking in the right place (i must admit that after i didn't find him at "alan scott" nor "green lantern" i kinda stop looking...)
could you tell me wich it is? it just sort of bugs me to have Jay Garrick without Alan Scott by his side
about the suggestion, if you haven't guess by now: please do a JSA campaign as your first extension  ^_^ (pretty please?)

well, you don't need to hurry to answer, i realise that all the custom fx of your mod are not there, and therefore not working, i'm going to fix that first...(by the way: a beam attack without proper fx doesn't work at all, whereas a melee or projectile attack works just fine. weird)

keep up the good work, and keep us inform while you do it if you can

(PS: apologies in advance for any mispelling/grammar error, english is not my native language)

edit: ok now that i have fixed the fx problem (same as yodaminch and tk), new suggestion: I think the missing texture are actually there, but they have been renamed.
In EZfx5.1 (for the first freedom force), the texture of the fx were in the form "name". In Ezfx6.0 (for FFVTTR) the texture name lokks like this "aff_name". So i'm guessing that the texture are there, but renamed "aff_name" and that's why thez won't work. That the case for a lot of the beams (gl beams and yellow beams and such). But some like aquaman harpoon no longer exist in EZFX6.0. Maybe someone should warn the maker of ezfx, or ask him if it's normal (maybe our download went wrong or maybe he just forgot to put a few old fx in that new version).
Also, i random encountered Raven in one of my fx test in the rumble room; and i realise that the new "Free Spirit" attribute in FFX3.3 was ment for character like her. Will your hero files be updated in the next release? or are you going to wait for people like USAgent to release new list of hero files for you to use?
damn i look like a chatterbox :banghead: i think i'm going to actually give you time to answer my message before bothering you with new questions ^^

[BentonGrey]

Howdy Trelau, sorry it took me so long to get back to you, but I've been traveling the last week, and been somewhat busy since I got back.  Don't worry at all about asking too many questions!  I'm just thrilled that you're interested enough in my little project to be wondering.  So, to address your concerns, no, Alan Scott is NOT in the DCUG, but that will change before release.  I felt that he didn't fit, didn't really 'make sense' with the world I was creating, but a friend of mine convinced me that people would be disappointed if he were not included.  Apparently he was right!  He'll be under the name Sentinel, and I'm not entirely sure how his powers will work out, but we'll see.  I'm glad you thought the rest of the JSA was accurate though, I'm not as familiar with those guys as I'd like.

The FX problem is most likely because of a mistake on my part.  The missing textures are in library/fx/generic, you need to add them to the folder of the same name under library/fx. 

There seem to be other problems, but I don't know what they are, and hopefully I can solve them before the final release.  I like your suggestion about Raven, I'll have to check it out.

[The Hitman]

Glad to see you're still working on this, Bent. I still don't have FF2, but I think it's really cool this project is still alive.

I have an idea for a fun mission, quick mission, if you 'd like to hear it.

[BentonGrey]

Sure Hitman, let's hear it! 

I just realized that I forgot to respond to Trelau's suggestion of a JSA campaign!  For the actual release I want to use something that I've already got the outline written for, and maybe even something that I've already started the FF work on, so a JSA campaign is out for the moment.  However, one of the first JLA expansions I'd like to do is a classic Crossover style story with the JSA, in which you'd play missions with each team, and then with combinations.  The villain might just be a certain time treading ne'er-do-well.

[The Hitman]

OK Bent, here goes. I don't have a real plot outlined yet, but I got the idea from a pannel of an old JLA one- shot. A while back, DC put out a bunch of different issues all titled "Justice Leaue of... Something," where something would be replaced with a word that starts with "A," like Justice League of Aliens (Supes, MM, Guy Gardner's Warrior, etc) or Justice League of Arkham (Bats and a few more refined Bat- Vogues), etc. Well, in JL Amazons, there was one pannel of where Plastic Man was during all of the mess. Enter Justice League of Anarchy- Plastic Man, The Creeper, Harley Quinn, The Trickster, and my favorite, Ambush Bug. I think it'd be neat to expand on this short- lived team a little.

[BentonGrey]

Haha, I imagine that would have been a pretty entertaining issue!  I'm afraid that doesn't sound like the kind of thing that I'd have time to do, since I've got so many storylines that I want to follow already, but if you ever pick FF2 up (and hey, it's only 5 bucks) you can create it yourself!  That's one of the main reasons I am working on the DCUG, to allow people to tell their own stories.

[Trelau]

well there's some good news if i ever saw one
i'm glad to hear that alan scott will make it for the final cut, but i admit i haven't thought about his hero file, and how to make him different from a "classic" green lantern (the wood weakness in particular)
a JLA/JSA crossover would definitely be cool...having the old flash teaming up with the new one, the first Atom and Ray Palmer...hugue potential for dialogue/cutscene

Hitman, those JLA one shot sounds pretty cool, could you tell me when they were release (to...err..."buy" them)

and Benton, if you wanted to inspire other to get into modding, it worked for me, but i really advise the others to start with a quick easy-scripted mission, because i tried something awfully complicated (a bat/question teamup for a detective investigation oriented story) for my first attempt to scripting and wel...i think i'll do a simple beat'them all as a warm up first