[Obsolete] SS2Tool v5.3

[6740a7c6caedfKolya]

NEWER VERSION AVAILABLE: CLICK HERE

SS2Tool is a universal patcher for System Shock 2. You won't need anything else to get SS2 up to date.

Instructions for CD release of System Shock 2
Don't use the installer that comes with the original game. Instead simply copy the "shock" folder from the CD to your computer. The path should be 80 characters max. Do not copy to the "Program Files" folder.
Download the attached archive. Unpack it and start SS2Tool_v5.3.exe. When asked, point it to your "shock" folder.

Instructions for GOG.com and Steam release
Install the game to a path with 80 characters max length. Do not install to the "Program Files" folder.
Download the attached archive. Unpack it and start SS2Tool_v5.3.exe. When asked, point it to your "shock" folder.

Note that during installation SS2Tool will download some resources as necessary. If you need an offline solution see below.

Lost at which mods to use? Check the Newbie Modding Guide.
Technical problems? See the SS2 Tech FAQ & Trouble Shooting Guide or post in the Helpdesk forum.


Copyright 2005-2015 Nicolai "Kolya" Sandow

 Attachment removed: SS2Tool_5.3_final.7z (22018.39 kB - downloaded 33881 times.)

[6740a7c6cb14dKolya]

Changes in v4.0
- added NewDark v2.4 (more info)
- removed superfluous fixes
- added check and optional installation of OpenAL
- added safe mode (dx6 renderer) option

Changes in 4.1

• DirectX check and optional download (from Microsoft) and installation
• Visual C++ 2008 SP1 check and optional download (from Microsoft) and installation
• OpenAL check and optional download (from creativelabs.com) and installation
• NewDark v2.4 download (from systemshock.org/ss2tool/newdark.7z) and installation

With this update the SS2Tool turns into a webinstaller in several parts. This makes it a lot smaller while allowing for a lot better features. The new features included in this update all have the one goal of ensuring that system requirements are met on the target system and the newest updates get installed, making the process of getting a running game as quick and painless as possible. This also means that if you already have a running game, you don't need this update.

[6740a7c6cb462Kolya]

Changes in 4.2

• added offline file checks

A few of my colleagues here at Systemshock.org approached me yesterday, noting that the SS2Tool since version 4.1 required internet access to work. While I'm pretty sure that each of these guys has at least 3 computers plugged in at a time, I know that gamers tend to react sensitive to this sort of requirement. And I can somewhat sympathise with that.
So here goes SS2Tool with offline capabilities. It will check for these resources before trying to download anything.

For a complete offline installation the following files will have to reside in the same directory as SS2Tool:

• vcredist_x86.exe (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5582)
• directx_Jun2010_redist.exe (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109)
• newdark.7z
• misdml.7z
• bmm.7z
• 
  German SS2 version only: deutschpatch.7z

Note that for an offline installtion it is recommended to place the SS2Tool and resources outside the game folder. If they are inside, the resources will be consumed during installation.

If your computer is online during installation of the SS2Tool you don't need any of these files.

[6740a7c6cb5b4Kolya]

Changes in 4.3

• integrated DeutschPatch (German SS2 version only)
• minor bug fixes (offline installation code being run needlessly, an undefined GUI string var)

Note: If you have a running game (installed with SS2Tool 4.0 or later) you don't need this SS2Tool update.

[6740a7c6cb784Kolya]

Changes in 4.4

• Fixed DirectX update procedure bug, you will now be sent to the MS download page. Offline installation also works as described above.
• Added a GPL license page. The same license applied before but now you have to agree to it. Sorry.
• Added check for bad install dirs, incl. subfolders of: Windows, Program Files, Program Files (x86)
• cam_mod.ini: mod_path DataPermanentMods+patch_ext

Note: If you have a running game (installed with SS2Tool 4.0 or later) you don't need this SS2Tool update.

[6740a7c6cb94dKolya]

Changes in 4.6

• set language string in install.cfg for German install from "german+english" to "german" as the former may cause problems
• removed Command Deck Fix as it is not needed anymore
• fixed a few key bind problems: ctrl=examine, walkspeed too slow
• merged newdark's mission DMLs with voodoo47's mission DMLs into "misdml" dir (over 140 fixes)
• merged pyro explosions & shockwave spangs fixes by voodoo47 into newdark/patch_ext.crf/gamesys.dml

[6740a7c6cbb0cKolya]

Changes in 4.7

• added new "DataTempMods" folder for testing mods, renamed DataPermanentMods to "DataPermMods" (how to install mods)
• download mirrors for all online resources
• will quit with message if all resource locations fail (no offline resource and no internet connection)
• ss2tool.log created at end of installation in the game dir
• some smaller DML fixes by voodoo47
• code cleanup

[6740a7c6cbd42Kolya]

Changes in 4.8

• The current location of SS2Tool is suggested as installation folder (discussion)
• fixed path problem in install.cfg
• Deutschpatch wird nach DataPermMods entpackt (Diskussion)
• prints SS2Tool version to ss2tool.log
• Multiplayer optional: "Enable multiplayer (buggy)" is unchecked by default
• intro.avi+credits.avi are excluded from cropping in cam_ext.cfg (discussion)

[6740a7c6cbe8fKolya]

Changes in 4.9 (GOG compatibility release)

• Deletes "Datapermanentmods" folder and 5 DMLs from the game root
• Removes "skip_intro" from cam.cfg

These GOG compatibility fixes proved to be incomplete. Version 5.0 will hopefully provide complete compatibility.

[6740a7c6cbffeKolya]

Changes in 5.0 (GOG compatibility release 2)

• Clean up from SS2Tool v4.9
• complete compatibility fixes with GOG.com release
• fixed original binds

This version can be used on your GOG.com release of System Shock 2 to patch up. It will clean up incompatibilities with the pre-patched GOG.com release (SS2Tool 4.0). It will also clean up any problems that were left over by SS2Tool 4.9. And it adds the original keybinds back, thanks to jammonstrald.

[6740a7c6cc35dKolya]

Changes in 5.1

• updated to NewDark 2.42
• no admin permission required for installation anymore
• updated OpenAL DLLs (OpenAL32.dll 6.14.357.25, wrap_oal.dll 2.2.0.7) now get copied directly to the game dir, instead of downloading/invoking the installer
• extended "Safe mode" with suboptions: 1. disable "use_d3d_display" 2. Turn off sound acceleration
• various interface improvements (auto disabling/enabling of sections/groups, better explanation of directory selection and multiplayer option)
• removed new sky DML settings from misdml/earth.mis.dml
• enabled weather effects in cam.cfg: fogging 1, enhanced_sky 1, render_weather 1
• autosaves (and quicksaves) will not be overwritten by user saves anymore (quicksave: slot 13, autosave: slot 14)
• Mods get loaded via mod_path in cam_mod.ini (see install.cfg comments)
• safety check for accidental DeutschPatch installation
• better string manipulation (replaces string in the line where it is found, append if not found by default)
• ss2tool.log: cleaned up, more useful info
• feature option: new mantle
• feature option: limit gpu buffer
• feature option: crop movies
• feature option: MSAA
• feature option: additive blending on normal and pyro explosions and shockwave spangs
• feature option: Soft Bloom effect
• fixed various small bugs
• compatibility for first GOG release and March 2013 update release

[6740a7c6cc4f0Kolya]

During installation SS2Tool downloads the New Dark release from the server. (See above for a list of things it may download as needed.)
I have just updated that download with the latest version of New Dark (SS2 v2.43) as discussed here. So from now on SS2Tool will install this latest New Dark release. There is no need to re-download SS2Tool 5.1 for that to work.

It is recommended to use a new game install, as described in the first post. Read: I haven't tested updating a game that's been patched with SS2Tool 5.1 before. But it should work. Just uncheck all options except Bug Fixes->New Dark 2.42. (Yeah, the version number is wrong now.)

[6740a7c6cc75aKolya]

Changes in 5.2
The main change is that the DataPermMods & DataTempMods folders are deprecated and Blue Mod Manager is installed instead. If you have a running game it will probably be easier to just install Blue Mod Manager yourself and delete DataPermMods & DataTempMods.

Why?
With Blue Mod Manager exists a solution to handle multiple mods, that is not only easier to manage but also required by an increasing number of mods. This is due to the inclusion of DMLs in mods which would overwrite each other with the old manual modding technique, but stay separate with the mod manager.
SS2Tool 5.2 installs Blue Mod Manager, disables the folders DataPermMods & DataTempMods and marks them as obsolete. You can simply delete them, if you don't have any self-created content in there.

Minor changes:

• NewDark version is not displayed incorrectly any more. (removed)
• Deutsch Patch is installed to DMM folder now (Use mod manager to activate it)
• Backup mirror server for resource downloads changed from ttlg.com to schwarzsilber.de
• Required installer sections made un-deselectable
• BMM shortcut
• Small optimisations

The previous SS2Tool version 5.1 was downloaded 87157 times.

[6740a7c6cc8cfKolya]

Changes in 5.3

• Obsolete DMLs are removed from root
• Updated set of DMLs in misdml
• DIFs are replaced with empty files and MIS files that were merged with the DIFs are placed in Data (via misdml.7z)
• latest version of nvscript.osm is placed in Data (also via misdml.7z)