Next step

[HerkFlyr 0]

 

I just picked up a fresh copy of WoV today, and installed it along with the three patches. That was easy. Here's where it is going to get fun. I want to keep any mods, skins, add on's... directly related to the Vietnam conflict, but with the multitude of 'stuff' out there it's a bit confusing and slightly overwhelming for a computer novice such as myself. I've tried reading the board here, as well as others, but it seems you need a basic degree in "computer geek" to make sense of some of it. No offense to computer geeks intended...

 

What's the next logical step for mods, add on's etc. I've read that some of the add on aircraft need an updated weapons pack, and I've found about 50 of them .

 

I'm more used to EAW or IL-2 type mods where it's a simple unzip and plop it into a folder... poof, presto, it's a new (fill in the blank). Anyway, if there is the WoV guide for idiots - it was probably made with me in mind - and would really help over the next few weeks as I get brave enough to open and modify ini files and such (which I've never tried to do with any game before).

 

Any help, advice, or general information would be greatly appreciated.

[+Dave 2,322]

WOV/SF mods are the same way as EAW and IL2. Just drop in and use em. As far as weapons packs go check the date on them that is how you know which is the latest or not.

As far as keeping WOV a Vietnam only sim, that is where a knowledge of history has to come in. So what mods are you looking at installing and I can walk you through it.

[BUFF 8]

.

 

What's the next logical step for mods, add on's etc. I've read that some of the add on aircraft need an updated weapons pack, and I've found about 50 of them    . 

The latest wep pack update

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=9304

[Guest IndioBlack]

The latest wep pack update

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=9304

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Just for clarification: Can you install the latest weapon pack directly onto a new installation of SF/SF Gold/WOV without having installed any of the earlier ones?

I was under the impression you had to install the earliest weapon pack first.

 

Also a think it's a bit disingenuous to suggest that installation of mods is as easy as EAW - I can't comment on IL-2 because I don't mod that. Key to the SF series mods is possession of, and knowledge of how to use, the cat extractor. It may seem straightforward to you old hands who started modding at the beginning, but for newbies and johnny-come-latelys like me it's a steep learning curve. It's not made easier by the old hands glossing over some of the intricacies by supplying simplified instructions with their mods like "you may need to extract the objectsdata.ini file" without stating exactly how you extract, where you extract from and what you use to extract with.

An "idiots guide" to upgrading the SF series would be most useful in extending the product to a new generation of devotees. Particularly for people like me who are used to the ease with which you can upgrade the CFS series.

If one exists, I'd sure like to read it.

[+Dave 2,322]

Well here is a start....it is a sticky.

 

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=8786

 

Then there is this:

 

http://www.column5.us/faq.htm

 

This might come in handy too.

 

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=4076

 

I hope that helps. :)

 

Using the cat extactor is easy. I am going to assume know how to open a program and then navigate to folder?

 

Basically the .cat files are catalog files, or in other word a bunch of files "compressed" into one big file. If you need the objectsdata.ini file. start the cat extractor, navigate to the objects folder, then to the object.cat file (or whatever its called, I am doing this without the benefit of having a copy of SF on this computer) Once the file is open scroll through what you need then extract it. The said file will be in your objects folder. The same goes for whatever file you use the extractor, it will be in that folder where you started. Make sense?

 

I assure us mods do our best to make the process easy. Stuff w ehave tried in the past got alot of complaints. Ie an exe file for installing stuff. Us old heads loved the idea and it made your life easier. But we got TONS of complaint from people not wanting to use and executableon thier computer. So we trashed that idea. Which is too bad as it worked well. On the other hand, it also doesnt hurt for any "newbie" (I hate using that word) to start digging around and see what they come up with. That is how I started.

[Guest IndioBlack]

Well here is a start....it is a sticky.

 

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=8786

 

Then there is this:

 

http://www.column5.us/faq.htm

 

This might come in handy too.

 

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=4076

 

I hope that helps. :)

 

Using the cat extactor is easy. I am going to assume know how to open a program and then navigate to folder?

 

Basically the .cat files are catalog files, or in other word a bunch of files "compressed" into one big file. If you need the objectsdata.ini file. start the cat extractor, navigate to the objects folder, then to the object.cat file (or whatever its called, I am doing this without the benefit of having a copy of SF on this computer) Once the file is open scroll through what you need then extract it. The said file will be in  your objects folder. The same goes for whatever file you use the extractor, it will be in that folder where you started. Make sense?

 

I assure us mods do our best to make the process easy. Stuff w ehave tried in the past got alot of complaints. Ie an exe file for installing stuff. Us old heads loved the idea and it made your life easier. But we got TONS of complaint from people not wanting to use and executableon thier computer. So we trashed that idea. Which is too bad as it worked well. On the other hand, it also doesnt hurt for any "newbie" (I hate using that word) to start digging around and see what they come up with. That is how I started.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Thanks, this is all useful for me, as well as the other junior officers - new guy one and new guy two. I always read these intro questions, because there's always something new to learn. The sticky at the top of this page is extremely useful, and I apologise for ignoring its existence. Sometimes you just don't see what's in front of you.

[HerkFlyr 0]

I just hope ya'll are ready for some comedy... and lots of ! This whole modding of files deal is something VERY strange to me. I'll be sure to give ya'll a shout when I get in trouble.

 

The "history" part of the conflict I'm pretty decent with... it's the technology part that I don't get along with real well...

[+streakeagle 867]

Anybody new to SFP1 or WoV should take a look at all these links:

 

http://www.combatace.com/component/option,...id,28/Itemid,4/

 

but there is one amongst those that really helps a beginner get off on the right foot:

 

http://ca.geocities.com/saganuay820/

 

The above link is very good and I don't know why more people are not aware of it.

[HerkFlyr 0]

Anybody new to SFP1 or WoV should take a look at all these links:

 

http://www.combatace.com/component/option,...id,28/Itemid,4/

 

but there is one amongst those that really helps a beginner get off on the right foot:

 

http://ca.geocities.com/saganuay820/

 

The above link is very good and I don't know why more people are not aware of it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

These links, along with the others...

 

Very cool, very good info. This is going to be a learning experience for sure. I'll keep ya'll posted on my progress!