[Obsolete] SS2 Community Patch (SCP) Beta 2

[67405c3505085DMRN]

As I recall, this beta is so well done that I shouldn't expect to see a gameplay dfference from the finished release. That about right?

Meaning it is finally time to get through this one before prequel remakes and sequels start hitting.

[67405c35051c2DMRN]

Actually, will the finished released be easier to mod the game with in any way?
I find modding SS2 to be a hassle, so if there will be less work if I wait for next Halloween or whatever for a finished product, I might just do that.

[67405c35053deZylonBane]

I don't understand at all how you think a mod would have any effect on how easy it is to mod the game. This is not the game. This is a mod for the game. Your question makes no sense.

[67405c3505511DMRN]

Didn't you just bash someone last page for not reading properly?

I have tried beta mods several times and been met with tons of separate files that had to be manually installed in arcane ways, and other finished mods with their own installers or at least simple zip files meant for a single location.

That is the difference in question, and what I asked for. Not a mod to fix modding. It was context: I find SS2 modding a hassle, so how easy is SCP to mod with at the moment compared to its intended full version?

[67405c350582bZylonBane]

It was context: I find SS2 modding a hassle, so how easy is SCP to mod with at the moment compared to its intended full version?

Once again, you don't mod with SCP. SCP is a mod. Your question is nonsense.

It sounds like you have no idea how SS2 modding works.

[67405c3505b5aVegoraptor]

I find SS2 modding a hassle

You whaaa? 
Of all the games I played, System Shock is one of, if not the easiest to mod. As long as you use the manager, that is (and why wouldn't you, it is included anyway, lightweight and all the cool kids are using it). And even if, for some incomprehensible reason, you are not able/willing to use it, that would still be only one folder to drop the unzipped files into. Everyone here would kill you, but that is beside the point.

[67405c3505e87Marvin]

@DMRN: Basically all mods contain this line at the top:

QUICK HELP: 1. Read Newbie Modding Guide 2. Patch the game 3. Unpack the attached archive to its own folder inside the "DMM" folder.

And SCP is no exception - it's safe to say that no mod here will ever come with an installer, as the mod manager takes care of everything already (except extracting the archives). If this is too arcane for you, tough luck.
"Beta" just means that it's still in development, although after two years, there aren't that many issues left, so you can safely enjoy the mod. The Newbie Modding Guide is here:
https://www.systemshock.org/index.php?topic=4447.0

[67405c350601eDMRN]

The linguistics you propose make no intuitive sense, ZB. You mod a game, you mod with a mod. Only a mod-maker actually mods the mod. Modifies. And your sad attempt at making this about "how modding works" falls on its face, for it has nothing to do with how words are used, or indeed my question.

Really, Vegoraptor. Out of all games I have modded in my life, the Steam version of SS2 is among the worst. Now, as per the question, I have obviously encountered worse, but they were also ones I didn't bother with. I wouldn't expect experienced mod-makers to understand the experience of the end-user.

Marvin, I'm not sure why people assume the newbie modding guide would answer things about the intended finished version and its ease of installation. It doesn't. But I'll take your word that no further developments are planned for this area, and the remaining fixes are completely under the hood. Thank you, that is all I wanted to know.

[67405c350634fMarvin]

Marvin, I'm not sure why people assume the newbie modding guide would answer things about the intended finished version and its ease of installation. It doesn't. But I'll take your word that no further developments are planned for this area, and the remaining fixes are completely under the hood. Thank you, that is all I wanted to know.

Do you see it mentioning any kind of installation advice other than using the mod manager? No, because there are none. Well, technically there are, but they're much more complicated or lead to serious mod conflicts.

Also, I'd be very surprised if you can mention any game where enabling and managing a larger number of mods is as easy as it is for SS2.

[67405c3506701Olfred]

I'd be very surprised if you can mention any game where enabling and managing a larger number of mods is as easy as it is for SS2.

I can, good old WON Half-Life.

[67405c350696dMarvin]

I can, good old WON Half-Life.

You mean the "Custom game" menu? But that only allowed you to enable a single mod.

[67405c3506a5bOlfred]

Ah, yes. True.

[67405c3506d62voodoo47]

The linguistics

a modder mods the game (resources), creating a mod.
a user loads/applies a mod, and runs a modded game.
just like a potato does not potato, a mod does not mod.
you are not too good at words, such a very shame.

[67405c35070d0ZylonBane]

Thank you, that is all I wanted to know.

But what you want to know isn't what you need to know.

SS2 mods have always been packaged in almost exactly the same way-- as an archive containing the necessary files and folder structure. Back in the old days before mod managers, all you had to do was unZIP them directly into the SS2 install folder, which would automatically copy all the files to the correct places. Having to deal with "tons of separate files that had to be manually installed in arcane ways" has NEVER been an issue with SS2 modding. If you think it is, then either you've never modded SS2 before, or you really suck at following directions. These days, as already pointed out, mod managers make this even simpler.

Anyway, the word you've been missing this whole time is "install". You wanted to know how difficult it is to install SCP. And the answer is, no more or less difficult than any other SS2 mod.

[67405c35071f6voodoo47]

it's also no more complicated than installing mods for other games - you pretty much always need to place/extract the mod somewhere and activate it with some tool.

if that is too tedious for you, well, maybe you shouldn't be using a pc then.

[67405c35072e1Deu sex]

Just a little question, is it normal that the cryo tubes doesn't have reflections anymore ?
I remember in ADAOB they were having them.

[67405c35073d7ZylonBane]

"Reflections" (environment maps) are only supported under NewDark. ADaOB was last updated before NewDark even existed.

[67405c3507573JML]

Quick question: Hires Space and Gamepig unleashed are not necessary any more since they are included your way. What about Impact Blood, Water, and the other Vurt mods? From reading the readme I'm not sure anymore if even those are needed.

[67405c3507673voodoo47]

they are all visual enhancements - SCP does not include those (realistic hires space actually being part of SHTUP-ND). anyone who wants them, will need to load them.

hacking the SCP gamepig will unlock all games.

[67405c3507920JML]

they are all visual enhancements - SCP does not include those (realistic hires space actually being part of SHTUP-ND). anyone who wants them, will need to load them.

hacking the SCP gamepig will unlock all games.

Oh yeah, thanks. My bad! What about impact blood? I read something about it in the readme.

[67405c3507a3avoodoo47]

the blood spatter animation is actually broken in vanilla, and fixed in SCP. the textures are still vanilla though, so if you want them to look better, again, you will have to load the mod.

no hires stuff in SCP, period.

[67405c3507b25System Shocked]

Is there an in-game console command that will identify the SS2 sounds generated/played in a specific area and/or level?

Sorry, acknowledged myself, in error.

[67405c3507bf4voodoo47]

I don't think so.

[67405c3507d1dCFW Magic]

At some point, I was sure I heard somewhere that SCP adds the ability to repair turrets. Was I hallucinating or is it actually so? If so, how do I actually do that?