Topic: Starfleet Command 2: Empires At War -- Patch 2.037!

[TarMinyatur]

After a several years of hexediting Community Edition and Orion Pirates, it is time for an EAW patch.

---Patch has been repackaged on 19July2020---

Download 2.037
This 7zip archive is a simple drag-and-drop (or "select all" and copy) to the folder that contains your old StarFleet2.exe (v2.036)

------

This patch must be applied to Taldren's official 2.036 version, which 99.9% of you already have.

This patch fixes the same bugs that I fixed in CE/OP. It does not have the extensive combat moddability of CE's 2.679+ or OP's 2.564, but nobody seems to care about that feature very much. Some high-definition resolutions (up to 1920x1080) are supported though sfc.ini's new width and height variables. The default resolution is 1366x768. The width and height can be changed in sfc.ini.

ZeroTier's LAN should work well for multiplayer skirmishes. The 2.037 patch uses a shiplist that combines the stock EAW specs with stock OP specs that are EAW-compatible -- minus garbage.

This patch overwrites your 2.036 executable, strings, sprites, and specs.

Speed upgrades are 0.5 BPV per fast missile and 0.25 BPV per medium-speed missile.

Enjoy.

[d4v1ks]

Good job Tim.
Actions speak louder than words.

[Javora]

And those actions are deafening...

Great job...  Thanks.

[xeryx]

After a couple years of .exe modding for Community Edition and Orion Pirates, it is time for an EAW patch.

Download 2.037

This patch should be applied to the official 2.036 version, which 99% of you already have.

This patch fixes the same bugs in CE/OP. It does not have the extensive combat moddability of CE's 2.690 or OP's 2.563, but nobody seems to care about that feature. In tandem with the Q3_Editor,  any custom resolution can be played in windowed mode (the fastest). If you have, let's say, a 3840x2160 monitor, it should work. There is no multiplayer Dynaverse for EAW. EvolveHQ's parties will work very well for multiplayer skirmishes, just like CE and OP. It uses a shiplist that combines the stock EAW specs with stock OP specs that are EAW compatible -- minus clutter. Speed upgrades are 0.5 BPV per fast missile and 0.25 BPV per medium speed missile.

EAW is extremely stable. (I'll no longer work on CE since it has a very rare but unacceptable point-defense bug...and inept AI.)

This patch overwrites 2.036 strings and specs.

Extract all the files in the .zip to the EAW root folder. Click "Install_2037.bat" to finish the installation. The default resolution is 1366x768.

I am having problems getting the UI to scale correctly, and it is causing my game to crash. I set the graphics to 1920x1080, and the ui is half the size.  Any suggestions

[TarMinyatur]

That's unfortunate. Hmm, can you play in 800x600 or 1024x768 or 1366x768?

The UI doesn't stay proportional. The artistic area (below the multifunction panels) grows larger as resolution size increases. I wish it would scale properly -- the buttons get quite small at HD resolutions.

Edit: I found a small problem with the 2.037 sprites file for 1024x768 resolution. It shouldn't affect your situation, xeryx. 1024x768 has been replaced by 1280x800. The Q3 Editor can restore that value so the UI works properly.

Can another player test 1920x1080 resolution? My laptop maxes out at 1366x768.

One other thing...set your monitor's color to High Color (16-bit) instead of True Color (32-bit). It might temporarily alter other applications' appearances, but Starfleet2.exe should work best in a windowed 16-bit color environment.

[satchel]

I can't get 1920×1080 to work on my machine, either. (Although step-by-step instructions, on how to implement it, would be a boon.)

On a fresh install of SFC2:EaW, I apply the patches, use the editor to replace the 1366×768 resolution with 1920×1080, and set sfc.ini "lowres" setting to 5 or 6.

When I replace the resolution, I type it exactly as the example, using x instead of ×, and putting the space and comma in the same places as in the example.

[TarMinyatur]

Satchel, the 2.037 patch should overwrite the sfc.ini file. "Lowres" doesn't mean anything in 2.037. The 2.037 sprites.q3 file already has the data for a 1920x1080 resolution, so no custom Q3 editing is needed.

1. Install SFC2 from disk or ISO.
2. Patch to 2.036 (http://www.dynaverse.net/downloads.php?id=13&game=SFC2 EAW#download).
3. Patch to 2.037 (http://www.hotandspicyforums.com/sfc2-empires-at-war-unofficial-patch-2-037-t20068.html).
4. Open sfc.ini.
5. Edit the width and height entries in sfc.ini (width=1920, height=1080). Save.
6. Change your monitor's color to 16-bit through control panel->display->screen resolution->advanced->monitor (or similar).
7. Play

Windows 10 might be different. You can run a game in reduced (16-bit) color mode through the launching shortcut's properties.

sfc.ini should look like this for the 3D section:

[3D]
wireframe=0
windowed=1
zbuffer=1
width=1920
height=1080
driver=0
backdrop=1
shipstacking=1
ambientlighting=0.25
spacedust=0

[xeryx]

Thank you for the help. I have been able to get the game to work at that resolution. You must lower to 16bit in properties, that was my main hang up.

Now I have another question. As I increase resolution, frame rates start dropping dramatically. It isn't my system because it should just crush this game. Is there any way to get the performance up, or is the limitation the engine itself? For example. If I run the game at say 1280x1024 I will get 60fps, on my 144hz monitor, but if I put it at 1920x1080 it will only get about 30fps.

The q3 program seems to be hit or miss. My monitor resolution is 2560x1440 (1280x720) and I would like to run the game at half that so that it is the clearest and to keep frame rates decent. I have a feeling it is too wide for the UI. Now I can change my monitor settings to not scale and can use 1280x800 and I almost get the full screen. I cannot get the UI to work correctly and wider. The bottom speed panel ends up in the middle of the display.

I also want to sincerely thank you for your hard work.  I love this game and love to come back and play it occasionally.  I just can't get into SFC3 as much

[TarMinyatur]

I'm glad you still play EAW.

Post a screenshot of your game that isn't working quite right. 1280x720? The Q3_Editor should handle any resolution that your hardware supports., although UI buttons will get very small.

http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163394323.msg1123054943.html#msg1123054943

The game typically attains its greatest frames per second in windowed mode. I suppose you could try fullscreen (windowed=0). Maybe that would be unexpectedly better. I have no idea. Same with hardware or software scaling -- you'll have to experiment to find out what works best.

[d4v1ks]

A solution for running your own public, or online\offline LAN, EAW 2.0.3.7 campaigns is under development.
Please check:

http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163396588.msg1123054550.html#msg1123054550

[xeryx]

Thank you for your help,

I had a hardware issue that was slowing down my computer immensely, that is now fixed. I have the game running at 1080p and running everything smoothly at 60fps and even running high poly count models. Then I  had to figure out how Q3 works, but what an amazing program!, I have been fixing all the ship UI's. I was not saving the config and that is why I had the funky UI at 1080p.  Absolutely amazing, the game may not be true 32bit color, but I can live with that.

I have started modding EAW again and am very excited about the Dynaverse 2 news! I want to kick my nephew's butt at this game!  It recently dawned on me how many of SFB rules have not translated as good as they should have for this game. Since it is made as a paper game and most of the weapons are designed for close range. There are many other balance issues I have noticed as I have been going through the ships.    I was looking at the Modified EXE and have a few questions for you and wonder if these things are possible now.

I see that Phaser 1 range can be increased. Does that also increase or change the other ranges?
Can more weapons be added to this list? Such as Photons?
Can the Start year of 2263 be changed ?
Drone warheads (IV) are so overpowered compared to other weapons, can the warhead damage be reduced?

If those things could be changed, I think I could make a really good Star Trek EAW mod (not SFB compliant).

I also totally agree with you about the EAW AI, it is probably one of the better AI's I have seen in a game. Although it does pick on the human too much in large battles.

I want to thank you immensely for your work! being able to play this game in full widescreen is just phenomenal!! I can't believe I Have wasted like 3 weeks of my life at this computer...OMG

Xeryx

[TarMinyatur]

I see that Phaser 1 range can be increased. Does that also increase or change the other ranges?
Can more weapons be added to this list? Such as Photons?
Can the Start year of 2263 be changed ?
Drone warheads (IV) are so overpowered compared to other weapons, can the warhead damage be reduced?

If those things could be changed, I think I could make a really good Star Trek EAW mod (not SFB compliant).

The weapons and systems in Orion Pirates and Community Edition can be extensively modded by the SFC_Editor. EAW 2.037 has just a few variables that can be changed via the SFC_Editor. Much work is required to segregate data. This has been done in OP and CE, but not for EAW. The StarFleet2.exe has many shared variables -- but Phaser-1 range should already be ok if, I remember correctly. A hex editor can do it. I could expand the Starfleet2.txt to include Phaser ranges and missile warhead damage for the SFC_Editor...

The starting year is troublesome. You can easily superficially change it, but the game uses a net change to calculate certain things.  I've tried for many hours to fix the treatment of eras and years in SFC2CE. The best way to delay the progress of technology is to add more turns per year in your dynaverse campaign in the beginning.

Type-4 drones are a compromise. You only get half as many as you'd get with Type-1 drones. They do twice the damage, but they don't have twice the hitpoints (6 vs 4). And an AMD (aka ADD) only needs one round to kill a large drone. I usually choose Type-1 drones vs human players. The large supply of regular missiles keeps a couple of my opponent's phasers or tractors busy as I saberdance. They never usually hit in a 1v1 situation. But in a fleet situation, eveything's different.

[xeryx]

The weapons and systems in Orion Pirates and Community Edition can be extensively modded by the SFC_Editor. EAW 2.037 has just a few variables that can be changed via the SFC_Editor. Much work is required to segregate data. This has been done in OP and CE, but not for EAW. The StarFleet2.exe has many shared variables -- but Phaser-1 range should already be ok if, I remember correctly. A hex editor can do it. I could expand the Starfleet2.txt to include Phaser ranges and missile warhead damage for the SFC_Editor...

The starting year is troublesome. You can easily superficially change it, but the game uses a net change to calculate certain things.  I've tried for many hours to fix the treatment of eras and years in SFC2CE. The best way to delay the progress of technology is to add more turns per year in your dynaverse campaign in the beginning.

Type-4 drones are a compromise. You only get half as many as you'd get with Type-1 drones. They do twice the damage, but they don't have twice the hitpoints (6 vs 4). And an AMD (aka ADD) only needs one round to kill a large drone. I usually choose Type-1 drones vs human players. The large supply of regular missiles keeps a couple of my opponent's phasers or tractors busy as I saberdance. They never usually hit in a 1v1 situation. But in a fleet situation, eveything's different.

I have been thinking about getting OP, the whole concept of it was dumb in my opinion.  However, in your opinion, is it worth it?  Is the AI still good enough to be a challenge?

I am a fellow modder and you totally understood my points, that is appreciated.  There are certain things that can only be changed in the .exe, and it sounds like there is much work to be done on SFC2.exe. 

At the risk of upsetting true SFB players, there are a number of faults with SFB ship designs for a video game.  It is wonderful on paper, mind you. However, in the video game, the AI has many issues with power management because there simply is not enough power for the AI to be able to use systems effectively.   Sure human die hards love doing it when playing against human opponents. 

I am interested in more modding options to help (AI) gameplay. Missile warhead strength is one of these ways by nerfing the damage down a bit and extend battles.(8 and 16 damage)  I have been able to compensate the AI quite a bit, by just doubling hulls and increasing power by a few points. Now the AI has enough power in many cases to use ECM and shield re-inforcement, while being able to maintain a fair speed.

I am also curious if anyone else has noticed that PHG's seem to get a lot of criticals? Vs the same number of volleys of PH3's

I am not looking to have an SFB compliant mod. Which is one of the reasons I would like to extend out weapons ranges.  I want more (effective)  longer range engagements with phasers, photons, disruptors, etc.  I get very bored with having to always do run-ins and point blank, alpha strikes in order do real damage to ships, I basically want to double those ranges.

If OP is worth it, then maybe I will upgrade to that, if all the bugs are fixed now.

Thanks for all the advice, it is appreciated.

[TarMinyatur]

The AI is just about the same in EAW and Orion Pirates. The AI in Community Edition is more complex but ultimately less challenging because the AI ships often decide to fly around at high speed and do nothing threatening, leaving heavy weaponry uncharged. The AI in CE is actually quite good at capturing you, which it doesn't attempt in EAW or OP. You must conserve marines in CE!

The AI is greatly improved in any version of SFC by reducing the Ph3/G range to 1.99k so that these weapons are not wasted. The AI can then shoot down those Type-1 or Type-4 missiles regardless of warhead strength instead of dying quickly as its tractors are overwhelmed.

As far as SFB goes, it is a great foundation, but mod the game however you want these days. It's 99% singleplayer anyways so it's up to you. If missiles are better at 8 damage, go for it. Let us know how it works out.

I have tested ships which have traded warp power for APR. The ships have the same total energy but they can't spend it all on movement. So there's power for ECM and shield reinforcement. But yeah, the AI is still going to get wasted by Plasma Torps once it runs out of WW shuttles. The AI can do better if shields are removed. Its habit of firing at bad ranges will cause damage to a player. The AI with FX or FH Disruptors will eat you alive if you don't take counter-measures.

Try OP 2.563. It is a complete game. Taldren overcame the AI's problem with energy management by creating the silly X2-ships. They can arm everything at top speed. But the best part of SFC/SFB is the old rule: Go fast, overload weapons, reinforce defenses...pick two! You can't do all three.

I've attached an updated Starfleet2.txt for the SFC_Editor. It'll allow you to alter the Phaser-1 chart in EAW 2.037.

As far as Phaser-G's...they are not inherently more vulnerable to stun or destruction in the code -- but Hydrans (and Feds)notice it because it represents a big chunk of their weaponry. The best thing to protect Ph-G is to have some Ph2's as padding. The first two points of damage allocation will strike the least valuable phaser in arc -- which is typically a Ph-G on newer Hydran ships. Ph3<Ph2<PhG<Ph1<Ph4. The third hit is allocated to better phaser types, usually a Ph1.

[xeryx]

That was a really good answer! Thank you TarMinyatur! I decided to get OP, at Old-Games dot com. I purchased it for $6, but the truly great news is that for that $6 I was able to download about 30 classic games that have been lost over the years.!! I am totally stoked.

Back at the ranch!
Thank you for your hard work and the File!

The one main flaw that I have with EAW, is that most of the mission packs I have found don't work. They either crash the game or just don't load up. I guess they are for old versions of the game I was able to get the KAR pack to work but that is all. I will keep looking I suppose. I read somewhere you have like 96 missions for your game? Amazing!

If the AI is similar, then I might as well port over my work over to OP and see how that goes. It sounds like it is better suited due to customizability and having X-Tech. The mod I am working on will go into X-Ships and stop there.

Is there a better model viewer than the Taldren viewer? I also watched the video about making UI panels, very interesting! Not sure if I want to go that far yet. I like working on gameplay stuff, like AI and such. Since I can't mess with AI in this game, I will have to settle for getting the AI to use its resources. I spent many years in the Navy and I am very familiar with ship combat. I feel I have worked on many solutions for the Federation. I think they would have fixed many of the issues that plagued their early designs. Hopefully, I have done this logically and made good improvements that do not unbalance the game. I will find out how good once I start working on the Klingons and fighting the Federation. I am keeping with the spirit of SFB though because I played it on paper for many years along with BattleTech.

Are there better explanations of the values in files besides ship edit, and some of the old campaign modding guides?  I am surprised you guys have not made a better Ship edit utility that uses Q3's Ui's.

The ranges aren't terrible with SFB rules, I just want to improve them a bit for the video game, Maybe 1.5x the range, 2x is probably a bit too much. How important is using the .99 in your ranges? Is it something to AI needs to be correct? or is that something coming from the SFB rules?

I am curious, is there a utility tool out there for designing SFB ships? Battletech has one for mechs.

Are you guys sure that OP will not run under 32-bit graphics? because when I installed it today, before your patch, it did run and I did not change the way it is started and it ran in full screen.

Back to Ph3 I was actually referring to the damage they cause, it seems they are more prone to scoring criticals than ph3's. I think I will test this further as I play.

Again thank you for the help and advice I will see you guys around!

[d4v1ks]

Is there a better model viewer than the Taldren viewer?

Is it too small for you?
Check out this link to see how we solved that problem.

There is also another version of the viewer here (SFC2EDv2).

[d4v1ks]

Are you guys sure that OP will not run under 32-bit graphics?

Yes, we sure.
In hardware mode, the game only runs in 16 bit color mode. 

[TarMinyatur]

Are there better explanations of the values in files besides ship edit, and some of the old campaign modding guides?
...

Which entries would you like more info on? Most are obvious in what they represent but a few are not. Some are ignored by the .exe (e.g. security, ADD6, ADD12).

The ranges aren't terrible with SFB rules, I just want to improve them a bit for the video game, Maybe 1.5x the range, 2x is probably a bit too much. How important is using the .99 in your ranges? Is it something to AI needs to be correct? or is that something coming from the SFB rules?
...

SFB is of course stuck with hexes, unless you use the minatures rules. So 1.5 hexes doesn't make sense in SFB. But in SFC, the convention has been to extend all SFB-based integers to include the 0.99k portion. So range 8 is really 8.99k. A range-3 ESG reaches to 3.99k. It works. The AI doesn't wait until range 8.00k to fire overloads. It'll fire at 8.99k.

I am curious, is there a utility tool out there for designing SFB ships? Battletech has one for mechs.
...

I've not seen one. We use Ship Edit for SFC. I used a pencil and paper to create some unofficial SFB ships 26 years ago.

Back to PhG I was actually referring to the damage they cause, it seems they are more prone to scoring criticals than ph3's. I think I will test this further as I play.

A PhG can do approximately 15 damage up close (if all four pulses are fired together). Naturally they will cause more criticals than a Ph3. But will a 1xPhG do more criticals than 4xPh3? I don't know. That's a good experiment. The only weapon that had specifically reset the Damage Allocation Chart was the Plasmatic Pulsar Device (PPD). This was modified a long, long time ago to treat PPD volleys as normal incremental damage. The argument was that 2xPPD should not reset the DAC 8 times when fired together! The two weapon pulses should be combined with any other damage (phaser, asteroid dust, ESG, etc.) on each of those 4 opportunities to allocate damage. This does not follow SFB, but the SFC players (>3000 at that time) felt it was ok and it made sense to them. The I-CC and I-CS were pretty darn tough without a preferential DAC effect. I wouldn't know how to change this with a hex editor. I'd probably need C++ source code.

[xeryx]

TarMintaur You are full of good info!  I will definitely take your advice.

After looking at the exe, I am very excited and happy!! I should be able to make a pretty good generational mod with the ability to make the game work fairly for all generations of ships!  SSD's power allocations are gonna have to be reworked and will not comply.  I also think I am gonna have to increase maximum speed to allow for X-ships.  I can keep the TMP ships as the middle ground then swing on either side depending on the era of the ship.

I have a question on sensors, they appear to act as an accuracy base, is that correct?

Besides the probes and shield generators, are there any other "hidden" energy costs?

If you know of any other useless values like Min crew, Deck crew, Cargo, Stealth ecm..etc?
Special sensors do not work correct? 

Can I set drone control to whatever number I want? and the game will recognise it?

In Missions scripts in general the just grab ships by bpv right?  Is it safe to delete the reserve ships from the shipslist?

I was looking at the Exe and is there a shield generator size (5) missing or is ship edit wrong (6)?

Is there a better model viewer than the Taldren viewer?

Is it too small for you?
Check out this link to see how we solved that problem.

There is also another version of the viewer here (SFC2EDv2).

Thank you d4v1ks! the link seems to be broken?

[TarMinyatur]

1. I have a question on sensors, they appear to act as an accuracy base, is that correct?

2. Besides the probes and shield generators, are there any other "hidden" energy costs?

3. If you know of any other useless values like Min crew, Deck crew, Cargo, Stealth ecm..etc?
Special sensors do not work correct? 

4. Can I set drone control to whatever number I want? and the game will recognise it?

5. In Missions scripts in general the just grab ships by bpv right?  Is it safe to delete the reserve ships from the shipslist?

6. I was looking at the Exe and is there a shield generator size (5) missing or is ship edit wrong (6)?

1. Sensors do not affect weapon accuracy until they are severly damaged, showing "No Lock" on the targeting reticle (press F10 or F11). The effective range is twice the true range when this occurs. Sensors and scanners share an icon in the repair panel. One spare part will fix all sensor and scanner damage fairly quickly. Severly damaged sensors will cause missiles to lose tracking and vanish.

2. "Other" energy costs include: transporters (1 point per 5), wild weasels (0.5 each), deep scan (3), erratic manuevers (6 for a CA), attack probes (1), fire control scanners (usually 1).

3. Special Sensors do nothing in SFC. They cannot absorb damage. Stealth bonus, security, mech tractors, barracks, nuclear space mine, ADD_6, and ADD_12 are ignored too in shiplist.txt. Cargo is very important. It acts as padding when a ship is damaged.

4. I think the acceptable range of Drone Control values is from 0 to 12. You can  try 13+, but I don't think it works properly.

5. Most scripts don't care about a specific shiplist. Some of the campaign scripts that are part of the story might require certain vessels. But anything like Met_Patrol.scr will just pull something by BPV or hull type.

6. Shield generator costs are based on SFB size class: 1 (Bases), 2 (Dreads), 3 (Heavy and Light Cruisers), 4 (Destroyers and Frigates), 5 (PF's aka Fast Patrol Craft). The units with size class 5 have free shield generators as per SFB rule, that's why the cost is shown as zero in SFC_Editor. You can give PF's a shield cost greater than zero if you want to. Size class 6 would represent shuttles, which lack shields.

[xeryx]

Thank you for the break down!

One more question, Reserve units...are they actually used by the game for a specific purpose? For like planetary defense missions?

I want to remove reserve units from my mod, because they seem useless.  On the flipside, if they are used then when a unit retires it should be put in reserve.

It just seems to me that that is an unneeded waste of space in the ships list.

[TarMinyatur]

All shiplists by Taldren and Firesoul contain redundant, obsolete, underpowered, overpowered, and weird units in my opinion. But these shiplists are popular and most players don't mind seeing a fleet of three F-CAD's or three R-SPZ's. So I'm certainly in the minority in thinking that a lean uncluttered shiplist is preferable to an exhaustive one. The game itself isn't 100% SFB (no special sensors, no shock) and therefore doesn't need a bazillion SFB-based variants (scouts, monitors, modular ships, diplomatic vessels, LDR, WYN). But a lot of folks like having thousands of ships, bases, PFs...and they can have that with the OP+ 4.11 mod.

The 2.037 shiplist is fairly uncluttered.

"Reserve" units? Can you give an example? If they are useless, remove them. Unless you're doing multiplayer, customize the game however it makes sense to you.

The dynaverse missions can be written to spawn a specific ship or a specific variant or hull type. Most of them seem to draw a certain amount of BPV based on your fleet's BPV. If you have a battleship, the AI draws two or three battleships, even if the empire doesn't have resources to build a puny frigate. Once that mission is completed, those AI battleships vanish. The dynaverse is a simulation of a campaign simulation written a long time ago. It would surely be done differently today. No ships would be created out of thin air! A production schedule would be enabled and every unit would be accounted for in a modern interactive database.   

[xeryx]

Thanks Tar

Reserve units, with the "R" designated in the special role category, such as the escort cruiser.  I am under the impression this is more for multi-player servers to setup home defense battles.

Is there a tool that I can use to check the missions?  Then I can verify this for sure.
It doesn't make sense for most campaign missions to have specific ships, only stand-alone and race specific missions because they have to apply to every race.  Is that a correct assumption?  I would think it would only go down to specific class and maybe special role at the most so that it could be used by every race for that mission. 

I am making my own generational game and trimming all the fat while re-designating ships in the Federation to at least to make sense and be easily identifiable. Eventually, I will run it as a server for people to play on (mainly family and friends) if they don't like it they can play and whine somewhere else. 

I have also figured out how to make ships show up at the proper time (ERA), in the Auction and it works most of the time.

[TarMinyatur]

I believe "R" in the special role means the unit is restricted, but reserved makes sense too. Certain missions can exclude these unique ships (F-CAD, H-D7H, R-SPZ). Firesoul added a few columns to the shiplist.txt in his OP+ mod such that Co-op Ace (or Sector Assault?) mission could gather more information than normal to determine the combatants. I'm not sure if a dynaverse server can use this data to modify shipyard production.
 
Enhanced Class Type
Role
Secondary Role
Xtech
ProductionAvailability

To examine an OP mission script you'll need some C++ software and the API. http://klingon.pet.dhs.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=How_to_compile/build_SFC2_EAW_or_OP_Missions

Frankly, it's painful to work on SFC missions. At least with SFC2CE you can use the free Visual Studio 2012 Express. Finding MSVC++6 SP5 may be difficult and expensive.

[generalbattuta]

Hi! I installed the .iso file I got from Dynaverse.net, then installed this patch. When I try to launch starfleet2.exe, I get:

---------------------------
StarFleet2.exe - System Error
---------------------------
The program can't start because ImportExportTable.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.
---------------------------
OK   
---------------------------

Any thoughts? I can always play community edition, but the AI's pretty weak.

edit: Maybe the .iso I got is the community edition, and incompatible with this patch?

[TarMinyatur]

Starfleet2.exe is indeed for SFC2: Empires At War. Starfleet2CE.exe is for SFC2: Community Edition. It seems you have the right application...

ImportExport.dll should be part of the EAW installation in the same folder as Starfleet2.exe.

Uninstall EAW. Restart your PC. Right-click the EAW .iso and check its properties. Make sure it isn't blocked! Mount with CloneDrive or MagicIso or similar. Install the game to C:\games or similar -- don't install to Program Files (x86)! Launch the game. If it works, patch to 2.036. Launch again. If that works, patch to 2.037 for High Def and bug fixes.

2.036 patch --> http://www.dynaverse.net/downloads.php?id=13&game=SFC2#download

[d4v1ks]

The 2037 patch for EAW is supported by the last release of the SFC Launcher.
I'm sure Tar will release the serkerkit tweaked to work with it, in the days ahead.

keep up

[generalbattuta]

Starfleet2.exe is indeed for SFC2: Empires At War. Starfleet2CE.exe is for SFC2: Community Edition. It seems you have the right application...

ImportExport.dll should be part of the EAW installation in the same folder as Starfleet2.exe.

Uninstall EAW. Restart your PC. Right-click the EAW .iso and check its properties. Make sure it isn't blocked! Mount with CloneDrive or MagicIso or similar. Install the game to C:\games or similar -- don't install to Program Files (x86)! Launch the game. If it works, patch to 2.036. Launch again. If that works, patch to 2.037 for High Def and bug fixes.

2.036 patch --> http://www.dynaverse.net/downloads.php?id=13&game=SFC2#download

Okay, will do! Just to be clear: the EAW .iso here is the one I bought from Dynaverse? I don't need to dig out an original copy of the game?

edit: If I want to keep 2 SFC directories, one for CE and one for original EAW, how can I tell the 2.036 patch to target a specific directory? Do I place it inside?

[TarMinyatur]

As far as I know, the 2.036 patch (made by Taldren ~15 years ago) looks in your registry for the Starfleet2.exe installation directory. It should easily find and patch your game correctly. I don't recall ever telling the patcher where to find EAW. The 2.036 patch should ignore Starfleet2CE.exe (2.6xx) or StarfleetOP.exe (2.5xx).

The 2.037 patch, however, does not inspect your registry. When you extract the Starfleet_2037.zip archive to the EAW root folder, it will overwrite the old data (Starfleet2.exe and sfc.ini). The installation batch file (Install_2037.bat) does a simple test -- it looks for sfc2.ico (an icon file) to verify that the batch file itself is in the proper folder. It then moves a few supporting assets (various strings and sprites.q3) to their proper folders or gives an error message.

The 2.037 patch won't work correctly with the Community Edition .iso. The 2.677 and 2.679 patches are intended for CE (2.670).

You can patch to 2.037 by using the original EAW CD from 16 years ago or an EAW .iso from Dynaverse.net. You must patch to 2.036 first.

[stardog765]

Hello all, just popped in the see what was new in the world of Starfleet Command and noticed a new EAW patch.
I finally got my EAW to install and patched it up following the order recommended in this thread and it runs!

Set the resolution to my desktop 1920x1080 and the game is fullscreen like it supposed to be and like SF:CE and SF:OP are but it seems the UI is not fullscreen. I noticed someone else was having that problem as well but cannot seem to fix it for mine.

I am running Windows 7 64bit and all of the other games in the series are running properly with the old resolution settings but it seems like with this new patch and the way the resolution is set now its not scaling the UI properly.

Any ideas? It looks great but the UI stops halfway.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Here is a screenshot:

[stardog765]

Well I have no idea what so ever happened but I downloaded the OP v2564 preview with the launcher that was posted here and now for whatever reason EAW also works correctly now. Haha awesome!

Not a clue what changed beyond that because I didnt change anything else. I just installed the OP patch to OP, made sure it worked and showed the correct version then thought what the heck I will set EAW up to use the launcher too and the hud now scales to fullscreen. Weird as sh*t!

[d4v1ks]

I just installed the OP patch to OP, made sure it worked and showed the correct version then thought what the heck I will set EAW up to use the launcher too and the hud now scales to fullscreen. Weird as sh*t!

Wierd? I would say amazing, right?

You just need to set the path of the EXE in the launcher, and press the big button "Launch", and everything works!
It is the power of coding!
I made it so it would do everything automatically for the end user, so they could play in any custom resolution they wish, in both SFC EAW, OP and 3 (our custom patches).
Have fun!

P.S: I will try to release the full version as soon i have time to review the code and improve it a bit, around the end of September, October.

[stardog765]

Yes sir I would say great job!  Very helpful piece of utility there.

Will look forward to the final version but for now this one works great!
 
Thank you!

[AaronJG]

Having an issue with the patch:

I copy the files to the Root folder for SFC2 and then run the Batch file, which tells me that everythings already done and I just need to delete the batch file. When I open the game, the window pops up after the intro movie but the game itself only fills a portion of that window (roughly 1/4).

I'm running Windows 10 using compatibility mode for XPSP3, I tried changing the INI file, but that just made the window a full screen window with the same issue.

Any ideas?

[d4v1ks]

the game itself only fills a portion of that window (roughly 1/4).

If you start the game, in any resolution you choose, and you only see a tiny interface in the middle, that is normal.
The game was designed for a resolution of 800x600.
Only when we start a mission the game "fills" the screen. But the interface itself never resizes. The buttons don't get bigger, neither the text, etc.
The game is around 20 years old! Never was improved.

[Tumulorum Fossor]

Carlos do you think it will ever realistically be possible to have in game font points scale up with the resolution?

[Javora]

Carlos and Tar worked on that to some degree.  But it sounds like they hit the limits of what they can to without the source code.  Maybe someone with talent like Carlos and Tar will actually get their hands on the source code, look at the non-official patches and inspiration and do something amazing.  I'm not holding my breath.

[AaronJG]

If you start the game, in any resolution you choose, and you only see a tiny interface in the middle, that is normal.
The game was designed for a resolution of 800x600.
Only when we start a mission the game "fills" the screen. But the interface itself never resizes. The buttons don't get bigger, neither the text, etc.
The game is around 20 years old! Never was improved.

But then when I get into a mission, the sizing is also wrong and when I click on the control menu's in-mission my ship turns in odd directions. Game is unplayable.

[Javora]

Sounds like a resolution setting is off in the ini file.  Check your screen ratio then review the install process to make sure it’s set correctly.

[AaronJG]

Resolution is set at 1920x1080, same as the screen. Game is also quite jumpy, I've noticed.

[TarMinyatur]

Test it at Width=800 and Height=600.

What does the introductory splash screen show? It should display Empires At War 2.037 in plain font. I suspect your sprites.q3 file was not overwritten. Make sure the batch file and extracted files are not blocked by Windows.

[cbrown119]

Hi
Brand new here.

Just loaded my old EAW, patched to 2.037 but I have the same problem with the UI not scaling to 1920 x 1080.  I did test at 800 x 600 and the UI matched - everything was just too small.

I am on windows 10, compatibility set to XP SP3, colors to 16, and run as admin.

I read about the SFC launcher solving the problems but I am unable to actually find the link.  OP works great...SFC3 works great with a mod installed.  Just EAW is giving me problems.  Plus when I try a HET, the screen locks up, but thegame is still playing in the background. 

This is a fresh install off the original discs, patched to 2.036 then to 2.037 from here.

any suggestions?

Thank you

btw, those verification questions leave a little too much open for different answers. 

[TarMinyatur]

Try

Width=1366
Height=768

I never tested 2.037 at 1920x1080, the sprites.q3 may be a little buggy for that resolution. My monitor maxes out at 1366 pixels.

Does the HET freeze in 800x600 resolution?

[d4v1ks]

never tested 2.037 at 1920x1080, the sprites.q3 may be a little buggy for that resolution.

Don't loose your faith so quickly Tar.
The sprites.q3 are perfectly fine, as it has been since its creation.

[d4v1ks]

Just loaded my old EAW, patched to 2.037 but I have the same problem with the UI not scaling to 1920 x 1080
Plus when I try a HET, the screen locks up, but thegame is still playing in the background

I'm sorry to hear that you are having those problems.
But they are not related to the patch 2037.

After you unzip the files into the game folder, and overwritte them, did you installed the patch itself?
There is a batch file there to install the files.
And probably, as you are going to replace some files, it is a good idea to remove the read-only attribute from the originals...

[cbrown119]

Just loaded my old EAW, patched to 2.037 but I have the same problem with the UI not scaling to 1920 x 1080
Plus when I try a HET, the screen locks up, but thegame is still playing in the background

I'm sorry to hear that you are having those problems.
But they are not related to the patch 2037.

After you unzip the files into the game folder, and overwrite them, did you installed the patch itself?
There is a batch file there to install the files.
And probably, as you are going to replace some files, it is a good idea to remove the read-only attribute from the originals...

Hi,

I unzipped the files, overwrote the two files that were duplicates and ran the patch itself (install 2037 batch file).  It said that the files were already moved and to delete this batch file.

I had already tried that before I asked for assistance.

OP runs perfectly, but it doesn't have the "meat" of EAW.

Also, with the lower display setting 1366 x 768, the HET does crash the game.

Any other suggestions?

[d4v1ks]

I had already tried that before I asked for assistance.
(...)
Any other suggestions?

Not really.
It is a shame that it doesn't work for you.
It works perfectly fine for me on my windows 10 machine at 1920x1080, my laptop at 1366x768, my windows 7 machine at 1920x1080, my tablet at 1536x2048 and all my virtual machines.

[d4v1ks]

Hum... after you installed EAW from the CD, did you installed the "SFC2Patch2002-2036.exe" before the 2037 patch?

1. Install from CD
2. Install 2036
3. Install 2037

[TarMinyatur]

Let's eliminate some variables. Can you play 2.036 without problems?

I have a feeling that your Windows OS isn't responding well to the 2.037 batch file. What splash screen do you see? It should be the SFC1 space graphic with Empires At War in plain font.

[cbrown119]

I am uninstalling now and will try with 2036.

Some questions while I'm doing this.

How do you start EAW?  I go into the actual folder and click the application.  I don't see the opening video, just the splash screen.  then I looked on my start screen and saw the start icon there, too.  When I click on that one - I get the opening video.

Which one do you use?  does it matter?

Also, compatibility I have set to 16 colors, run as admin and compatibility with XP (SP3).  Anything else?

Here are some images of my problems:

1st pic Splash screen 1920 x 1080

2nd pic is Splash screen 1366 x 768

in game skirmish 1366 x 768 - the UI is not in alignment


I tested 2036 - no compatibility settings and everything works normal.  Its just a small screen.   I attached that one, too at the bottom

[cbrown119]

Just looking at the INI file in 2036.

lowres=0

But in 2037, there is height and width.  In OP, lowres=6.  should I try to change EAW's INI file to mirror the SFC OP?  All I'm really looking to do is to increase my resolution to a larger image.

Thanks again!

[TarMinyatur]

Just looking at the INI file in 2036.

lowres=0

But in 2037, there is height and width.  In OP, lowres=6.  should I try to change EAW's INI file to mirror the SFC OP?  All I'm really looking to do is to increase my resolution to a larger image.

Thanks again!

That is how the .exe loads the height and width variables for 2.037. "Lowres" is meaningless in 2.037 and 2.564.

The sprites.q3 has several common resolutions already configured. If the sfc.ini's resolution variables don't match an existing resolution, say 2000x1500, the UI won't work properly. But the Q3_Editor can edit one of the common resolutions to accommodate an atypical resolution (within certain limits). I think the max resolution tested successfully has been 1920x1080, and that setting is already present in the tactical UI application data, aka sprites.

[d4v1ks]

Here are some images of my problems:

1st pic Splash screen 1920 x 1080
2nd pic is Splash screen 1366 x 768
in game skirmish 1366 x 768 - the UI is not in alignment

If those screen captures were taken after you "install 2037" then it is obvious that it wasn't installed with success.
The splash screen is different:

[d4v1ks]

I am uninstalling now and will try with 2036.
(...)
I tested 2036 - no compatibility settings and everything works normal.  Its just a small screen.   I attached that one, too at the bottom

Maybe this is the problem...
In order to install 2037 with success you have to install 2036 first.
The first step is to install the game from CD, then you install the 2036 patch, then you install 2037.
The 2037 modification depends on the 2036 patch.

[TarMinyatur]

cbrown,

It's the batch file. Your computer did not move the 2.037 sprites.q3 to the proper folder. Perhaps it attempted to overwrite but was silently denied.

I see from your splash screen's lower right corner that you have overwritten the 2.036 Starfleet2.exe with the 2.037 version. That's good. You can manually copy and paste the new sprites.q3 to ..\assets\sprites.

The string files go in ..\assets\strings.

[cbrown119]

It works Perfect!

You nailed the problem, the sprites and the strings were not in the proper files, just in the game directory.

Now, I'm using 1920 x 1080, HET's works fine.

Thank you for the help!  It's great being able to play these older games again!

[TarMinyatur]

You're welcome.

Batch files can be seen as a threat by anti-malware programs or by an OS. All the batch file does is copy some text files from your Starfleet root to the appropriate asset folders. I added some location verification to the batch file, take a look at it with a text editor if you're curious.

[d4v1ks]

It works Perfect!
Thank you for the help!  It's great being able to play these older games again!

You are welcome.
I'm happy that you finally fixed the problem.

[TarMinyatur]

It works Perfect!

You nailed the problem, the sprites and the strings were not in the proper files, just in the game directory.

Now, I'm using 1920 x 1080, HET's works fine.

Thank you for the help!  It's great being able to play these older games again!

I forgot to add a tiny file to the 2.037 patch more than a year ago. The batch file can't move any assets because a file, 2037.ready.txt, was absent. Oops. I also fixed the text associated with hotkeys that don't exist in EAW. I thought I had enabled the new hotkeys in EAW as I did in Community Edition and Orion Pirates, but they don't respond. Better fixed late than never.

The download link at the beginning of the thread will connect you to the updated zip file.

[TarMinyatur]

I repackaged the 2.037 patch into a simple "drag-and-drop" file and folder structure today -- the same approach used by our updates to Orion Pirates 2.564.

The batch file that "installs" the patch has been troublesome to some players, and it has therefore been removed!

The first post in this thread has been edited to account for this change. Or you can download the 19July2020 package here.