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KillerBee: Thanks for tipping us off to those campaign settings. We'll go through them and see which of them might be useful for the final release of the Expansion Pack. Eric L. Howes

Stingray77: I don't see the line you're referring to with the shadow. Even if I did, there's nothing I can do about it. As for the invisible MiG-17PF, it sounds like you installed the files for the TW MiG-17PF (from the \Optional folder) without having SF2E installed with SF2V as part of a merged install (the requirement, as stated in the ReadMe). You'll need to remove the MiG-17PF that you have installed now and restore the MiG-17PF from the original Expansion Pack, plus the various updates to it from the succeeding fixpacks. The reversed rudder will be fixed in the final release. Eric L. Howes

Hi All: The Terrain Update package is now posted: http://forum.combatace.com/topic/48008-sf2v-air-and-ground-war-expansion-pack-v2-0-terrain-update/ Twenty-two new target areas are included. If you run into bugs, please report them here. Eric L. Howes

Canadair: My SF2 Mod Folder with the Expansion Pack installed is currently 3.5 gb. And, yes, we will do a final release that includes everything. We're waiting on the release of SF2I to see what new features/changes we might have to accommodate if folks install the Expansion Pack with a merged installed that includes SF2I. Eric L. Howes

EricJ: Yes, I anticipate uploading a terrain update package Saturday morning or afternoon that will have all the new target areas listed in Malibu43's post. Eric L. Howes

Stingray77: You'll need to unpack the DATA.INI from one of the ObjectDataXXX.CAT files in your main SF2 installation folder (note your Mod folder). To do that, you'll need this little utility: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=7933 See here for instructions: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=44027 If memory serves me correct, it's in one of the first two or three ObjectDataXXX.CAT files. Eric L. Howes

Stingray77: The different flak levels will be included in the final release in the \Optional folder. As for the ship smoke, if you want to remove it from the ships you'll need to edit some INI files. For the Cargo Ship and Tanker, you'll need to edit the DATA.INI for each. The line you're looking for is: ExhaustEmitterName=ShipSmoke For the Russian Freighter, you'll need to edit the TYPES.INI for the terrain. In the entry for the Freighter, the relevant line is: Effect=ShipSmokeEffect Eric L. Howes

Stingray77: The Optional stuff is included in its entirety for the sake of completeness in the FixPack. The MiG-17s actually have different flight models from previous fixpacks. All the stuff you list is included in FixPack3 in the locations described in the ReadMe. The Gold release will be everything through FixPack3 plus whatever else we come up with before the Gold release -- mainly terrain target updates/additions. We will probably release a small update pack for those who have FixPack3 installed -- that will bring you to the Gold release level. Eric L. Howes

Hi All: One of our main goals for the SF2V Air & Ground Expansion Pack was to make North Vietnamese air defenses more varied and deadly. We think we've succeeded. If you make it a habit to fly straight and level over Pack 6, you will be walking home. Below is a link to a ZIP file with three sets of files that you can use to change the effectiveness of the flak guns (37mm, 57mm, 85mm, 100mm, & 130mm): https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/sf2v/Flak_Levels.zip The three sets of files correspond to different levels of flak effectiveness & deadliness: 1_Insane: only those with a masochistic streak should use this flak. Expect to see entire flights blown from the sky. Any campaigns you start are almost guaranteed to be very brief and extremely violent. 2_Deadly: significantly deadlier than the default "Normal" flak (see below). Take care to plot flight paths around flak-infested areas and get out of the target area as quickly as possible. Despite your efforts, chances are high that at least one of your wingmen will not make it home. 3_Normal: the least effective and the default installed with the Expansion Pack (as of FixPack 3). Flak guns are still many times deadlier than in the stock ThirdWire game. Best practices are not to fly straight and level through flak-infested areas and not linger over targets. We recommend sticking with the default "Normal" flak, though you're welcome to test your nerve with the deadlier flak varieties. To change to a different flak level, simply copy the five sub-folders from flak directory you'd like to use to the \Objects\Guns directory of your SF2V Mod Dir, overwriting as prompted. Eric L. Howes

Folks: FixPack 3 is now posted: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=47787 This is a large update. If you want to get a quick taste for the new targets and target areas, then try flying Strike missions using the "Single Mission - Create a Mission" menu option. Please post any bug reports in this thread. Eric L. Howes

Hi All: Just a quick update on the Expansion Pack. In the past few days I've added the following new target areas to the NVN terrain: - Hanoi RADCOM Transmitter Facilities - Hanoi Radio - Thai Nguyen Munitions Depot - Trai Ca SAM Storage Facility - Le Pap Electrical Transformer Station - Cat Bi Munitions Dump - Haiphong Electrical Transformer Station - Hai Duong Barracks West - Xuan Mai Insurgency School - Hong Gai PT Boat Base - Hong Gai Electric Power Plant - Loc Chau PT Boat Base I also spent some time working on the dock areas at Hong Gai and Haiphong, adding cranes, ships, and other structures to give the sense of an active port bristling with activity. I need to update a few more existing target areas (add AAA and a few more structures here and there), after which I'll be ready to upload what will be Fixpack 3 for the Expansion Pack Beta. I hate to drag this beta into a third fixpack, but given the large number of changes I figured it safest to let folks have a look at it before releasing a final "Gold" version. I anticipate uploading Fixpack 3 sometime this weekend. Eric L. Howes

Jarhead1: You wrote: Phuc Yen Airfield is Noi Bai Airfield -- already covered in the default VietnamSEA map. Speaking of which, having spent a good amount of time placing new terrain objects on that map, I am now very frustrated with how ridiculously over-sized the NVN airbase areas are - those huge, nicely mown squares of light green. Those things are taking up way too much real estate, which is a scarce commodity around Hanoi. As things stand, Noi Bai starts just a few miles north of Hanoi, with Bac Mai airfield dominating the southern edge. Just to the southwest and west are Hoa Lac and Dong Suong, and to the east Gia Lam. Between those five airfield areas, there's precious little non-airfield real estate left to use. Eric L. Howes

Dave: At your suggestion, I just pm'ed him. ELH

Folks: In addition to adding a dozen new bridges to the NVN terrain, I've added the following target areas: - Quang Khe - Thai Nguyen Thermal Power Plant - Hanoi Thermal Power Plant - Uong Bi Thermal Power Plant - Phu Tho Electric Power Plant - Ben Thuy Thermal Power Plant - Nam Dinh Thermal Power Plant - Lang Chi Electric Power Plant - Haiphong Thermal Power Plant (East) - Haiphong Thermal Power Plant (West) - Haiphong POL Storage (North) - Haiphong POL Storage (South) - Duong Nham POL Storage - Ha Gia POL Storage - Viet Tri POL Storage - Bac Giang POL Storage - Phuc Yen POL Storage - Gia Thuong POL Storage - Ben Thuy POL Storage - Hanoi Air Defense Command & Control Center - Thai Nguyen Steel & Iron Works - Haiphong Cement Plant - Van Dien SAM Support & Vehicle Depot - Gia Lam Machine Tools Facility - Yen Vien Industrial Complex - Kinh No Motor Vehicle Repair Facility - Vinh Yen Industrial Complex - Phu Tho Chemical Plant - Ha Dong Barracks - Xom Bong Munitions Depot I anticipate adding a half-dozen or so additional new target areas before release of the final Gold version of the expansion pack. After that, we will continue adding new targets and target areas (I have a good-sized list to work from), but release terrain updates to distribute those. In addition to the new NVN target areas, the final gold release will have a few new aircraft textures, one new aircraft, a few new ground objects, revised and expanded campaigns (which include more units and aircraft types), an overhauled TYPES.INI for the NVN terrain to facilitate more intense campaign and single mission play, as well as plenty of bug fixes for various minor things. Eric L. Howes

Stary: Thanks for the note. We actually do list Bananimal in the credits. We will add a more specific reference to the Re-scaled Trees package that he put together just make clear where those parts of the terrain actually come from. As for the AlphaObject material section of the terrain DATA.INI, I believe we're using the settings that were recommended for SF2V in various posts here. Best, Eric L. Howes

stingray77: The fix for "trees showing through clouds" from the knowledge base is already implemented in the Expansion Pack. Moreover, the ZBufferOffset for the SmokeMaterial effect is not positive. Eric L. Howes

Stingray77: OK, now I see those lines -- but only from certain angles. I do not know what causes it -- probably the same kind of problem as you saw in with the RF-101G. If it is a problem with the LOD, then there's nothing I can do to fix it. As for the black smoke, I'm reluctant to start fiddling around with even more effects than we already have. Eric L. Howes

Stingray77: Yes, the Gold release will essentially be the original beta, plus the FixPacks and a few new other fixes/add-ons. As there will be some new stuff, there would be a reason to upgrade to the final version. As for the Bronco, I'm obviously not seeing what you're seeing. Try attaching a screenshot again. Eric L. Howes

Hi All: FixPack #2 for the SF2V Air & Ground War Expansion Pack Beta is now available: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php/topic/46668-sf2v-air-and-ground-war-expansion-pack-v2-0-fixpack-2/ This fixpack includes tail serials for a good number of aircraft, new skins for the A-1s and RF-4B, a few new hangar and loading screens, plus a dozen or so other minor fixes for various issues. Please note that FixPack 2 is not cumulative. It should be applied after installing the first FixPack. We anticipate a final Gold release of the Expansion Pack sometime early next week (barring, of course, the discovery of any major problems). If you do spot errors after applying this latest fixpack, please report them here. Eric L. Howes

Mike: Before you do a merged install, try this: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/sf2v/MiG-17.rar That's a version of the MiG-17A that uses the MiG-17F LODs. To install, move your current Objects\Aircraft\MiG-17 directory out of your SF2V Mod Folder to some place safe on your drive (don't delete it). Then download and unpack the RAR file above. Finally, move the MiG-17 folder to the Objects\Aircraft directory in your SF2V Mod Folder. The MiG-17A should now start appearing. Try a few Escort or Sweep missions prior to 1968. If it doesn't appear or if it looks funny when it does, let us know. Eric L. Howes

Mike: Sounds like a missing LOD problem, then. Is your installation SF2V alone or is it a merged install with SF2V plus SF2 and/or SF2E? I'm thinking that your installation simply doesn't have a plain MiG-17A. Eric L. Howes

Mike: OK, but are the A models not showing up just in campaigns, or in Single Missions as well? Eric L. Howes

MaverickMike: Do MiG-17s appear when you fly Single Missions -- say, Escort or Sweep missions using the North Vietnam map? Eric L. Howes

topcat II: If you've already performed a merged install of all your SF2 games (meaning, that they all share a single Mod Folder), then I don't think you're going to be able to do a separate install of one of the games -- at least not on the same computer. If I've misunderstood your question, let me know. Eric L. Howes

Dave: Was this more along the lines of what you had in mind? https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/sf2v/A-1_Skins.rar Eric L. Howes