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UnknownPilot: If you bought after Christmas, then the version you downloaded and installed has the Dec 2009 patch already incorporated. As for the Expansion Pack, it will work with your version of SF2V, however, there are some glitches that I will be fixing with a Dec 2009 compatibility pack to be released soon. Eric Howes

Folks: Just to clear up any confusion, there are two versions of the Expansion Pack -- one for SF2V, one for WOV 2006/2008: For Wov (3 parts): http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showcat=339 For SF2V (4 parts + Tiles Update): http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showcat=407 Please do not try to install the WoV version on SF2V or vice-versa. Also, before installing either one, please go through the ReadMe included in the version you download -- just might save you some time and hassle down the road. Eric Howes

Sundowner: The shader terWaterEffect.fx is already specified in the terrain DATA.INIs. Eric Howes

Dogzero1: I share your sentiments. If no fix for the clouds/trees issue emerges very soon, I'm simply going to raise the min cloud level in the EnvironmentSystem.ini. You won't get the kind of ominous atmosphere that you do now with broken and overcast weather conditions, but at least you won't see that ugliness. I don't blame you at all for retreating back to WoV. Once I finish putting together a compatibility pack for Dec 2009, I'll be ripping out my Dec 2009 SF2V install and restoring my Jun 2009b install. Unfortunately, those buying SF2V now (and those who bought the combo back) don't have that option. EricJ mentioned in another thread that he's seen the same problem with other mods/terrains. If we could document all the mods that are borked by this issue, I think we'd be on strong ground going to TK and asking for some kind of fix. Eric Howes

Pappa Goat: You wrote: The targets didn't change between the beta and final release. I notice the error report references the graphicsengine.dll. Is it always teh graphicsengine.dll? I tend to suspect that the cause is something specific to your system. We've got hundreds of downloads and installs of the WoV Expansion Pack, and this is the first report that I have of this behavior. Eric Howes

Pappa Goat: You wrote: I don't know of a way to do that. Perhaps someone else does, but I've not heard of it being done. I've not experienced this. Many of the shps and PT boats in harbor areas are ground objects, yet they're always there when you overfly the harbor even when they aren't targets of a strike mission. Best, Eric Howes

EricJ: When I resume adding new targets to the terrain, it will be primarily in North Vietnam. I've still got plenty on my list that need to be added. As for South Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Trail, I'm waiting to see how the work of others shakes out. I know that several people are working on target areas for South Vietnam -- fire bases mainly, but other target types as well. I'd like to see what they come up with before I start doing anything in the South. I'd like to try Swambast's tool, but it isn't strictly necessary. I added all those new target areas in North Vietnam in about three weeks or so. I've got an efficient system down, though dealing with railroad tracks is still an enormous PITA. Eric Howes

Pappa Goat: I'm surprised to hear that, because the beta and final release were not all that different -- very few changes from beta to final compared with what the SF2V version went through. Could you give me a bit more data? What module or DLL is named in the Windows crash notice? What squadrons are you flying? Eric Howes

Toonces: Desert Eagle had some success fiddling with some settings in the nVidia Control Panel. See this post at the ThirdWire forums: http://bbs.thirdwire.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7225#p45045 Note that the trees/clouds problem will remain. Eric Howes

Toonces: There have been all kinds of reports of problems with the Dec 2009 patch, which is what the Combo Pack uses. Regarding the trees/cloud problem, there is no fix for that yet. The fix you found in the KB has already been incorporated into the SF2V Expansion Pack. As for the other problem you're reporting, perhaps you could post a screenshot to give folks a better idea of what you're seeing. Eric Howes

DogZero1: The F-5B cockpit problem is probably similar to the A-6 cockpit issue. I'll look into it. There is no fix for the trees/clouds problem. As I said in another thread, someone else with more experience with and knowledge of the 3rdWire graphics engine will have to crack that one. Eric Howes

Stingray77: If I knew of a better cockpit, I would have already included it. Eric Howes

Dogzero1: Attached is a ZIP with new COCKPIT.INIs for the A-6A and A-6B. Unpack the ZIP and drop the INIs in the appropriate folder (A-6A or A-6B -- the file names will tip you off). This should solve the problem. I was finally able to test this on my main PC (which has been down for several days). In short, it appears the A-6A LODs have changed such that the old cockpit position no longer worked. I've readjusted the cockpit position and turned off the OpenCockpit=TRUE. The downside is that no longer will you be able to see the BN (co-pilot) from within the cockpit. Too bad, but I am not going to wait for yet another patch to break the new position and have to re-do the thing again. Why these LODs changed I don't know, but it makes me wonder what else is now broken because of this new patch. Eric Howes

Dogzero1: Just checked it in Internet Explorer as well as Mozilla. The link is good and working. I'm betting there's a configuration problem related to https in your Internet Explorer. If you PM me your email address, I'll email it to you. Eric Howes

Dogzero1: The download works just fine. I just checked it. Eric Howes

Desert Eagle: There aren't any trees in the default SF2V terrain. The SF2V Expansion Pack adds trees as part of the Green Hell 2 mod by Stary (and further modified by Pappa Goat). I've not seen prior reports of the problems you've seen with coastline textures. It's interesting that you're seeing that even on a default, un-modded install, though. As for the other visual anomalies you're seeing with the SF2V Expansion Pack, those are known problems with the Dec 2009 patch level (which is what the combo pack installs). Unfortunately, we don't have any fixes as yet for those issues. I would suggest posting over at the ThirdWire forums about what you've seen with the default, un-modded install. (I wouldn't bother reporting problems with the Expansion Pack over there, as the mod is a third-party add-on, not a ThirdWire package.) Post screenshots of the problems you've seen with the un-modded install, and be sure to include system info (i.e., Windows version, DirectX version, your graphics card, etc.). Eric Howes

Dogzero1: If you installed the cockpit from the FOTI A-6A correctly with the initial install of the Expansion Pack (see the ReadMe), then you should have a \Cockpit folder in your A-6A, A-6B, EA-6A, and EA-6B directories. If you don't, then the FOTI A-6A cockpit wasn't properly installed. Again, see the ReadMe for the SF2V Expansion Pack -- Part 2 (Installation), step f: Eric Howes

Dogzero1: The fix for the problem with the tails is here: http://forum.combatace.com/topic/50970-vietnam-a4-e-missing-tail-with-viet-gold-mod/page__view__findpost__p__368908 Download the attached file from that post and apply it just like you did the main installation files. As for the cockpit, I've not seen that problem before. Try applying the tails fix from above, then check the aircraft. If you're still having the cockpit problem, post a screenshot of the contents of your A-6A folder. Eric Howes

Greyhawk: I assume that you're referring to the SF2V/WoV Air & Ground Expansion Pack. Are you running Wings Over Vietnam or Strike Fighters 2: Vietnam? Eric Howes

Stingray77: I have an updated set of fixed decals that I will be posting. The aircraft will look generally as before. As for what I changed, I'll let you figure that out. Eric Howes

Coconice: Nope. If it's a bug in the game, then it's out of my hands. Eric Howes

Folks: Here's something else for those who have applied the Dec 2009 patch: a SPEECHSYSTEM.INI that suppresses those endless and completely obnoxious "He's firing his guns!" calls. Unpack the attached ZIP and drop the INI file in the \Flight dir of your SF2V Mod Folder. Eric Howes

TurtleHawk: After your last step, do a test flight with the A-4E and A-7B to check if those aircraft are afflicted with the problem discussed (and shown) in this thread: http://forum.combatace.com/topic/50970-vietnam-a4-e-missing-tail-with-viet-gold-mod/ If you see broken up/missing tails such as in those screenshots, then download and apply the updated DECALS.INIs from my last post in that thread. Eric Howes

Richard: Here's a complete set of revised DECALS.INIs for all aircraft that could experience problems like you encountered: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/sf2v/New_Decals.rar If (after applying this new set of files) you still see the problem on any aircraft, let me know. Tell me which aircraft and which texture set you were using. I am planning to release an updated set of core SF2V Expansion Pack files sometime before the end of the year. Those updated files will incorporate everything included in the Tiles Update plus this new set of files. Eric Howes

Stingray77: Yes, I saw his post. His solution isn't really a fix, though -- more of a workaround, because it doesn't address the core problem. Keep in mind that some of those mountain peaks extend up to around 2800-3000 m. And by raising the clouds you're going to lose a lot of the "atmosphere" provided by the Widesky mod. On my own system I will not be sticking with this patch level, because on WinXP/DX9 it simply doesn't offer anything worth keeping. The June-2009b patch level was solid while maintaining good backwards compatibility with previous mods. As for the SF2V Expansion Pack, my advice on the Dec 2009 patch for now will be the same as it was for SF2I earlier -- if you want to install it, go right ahead, but there won't be a fix for every potential issue you could encounter. In other words, you're on your own. Eric Howes