Madmatt

I use the Hardcore but like others above, only because right now it is the de-facto MP standard. Perhaps in the future I will run some MP sessions and make everyone use the Intermediate DM. I have even given some thought to adding in a type of DM Selector to my MP Autoinstaller. Might be best to make that a separate utility though. My *real* job and some other RL issues have really minimized my game time as of late but hopefully things will clear up soon as I have lots of cool stuff I want to share with the OFF Community at large. Madmatt

Yeah, sorry I haven't been too active this past week but RL and other work matters have kept me busy. I am working on a new version of my Autoinstaller still and hopefully will have that ready in the next week or so. Hope to catch up with you guys online soon! Madmatt

Perhaps in the future (phase 4?) the developer could pre-populate the default keystrokes to make a little more sense? This is possible currently so it shouldn't be too hard to code into their installer. I too had a real big problem with the game controls, including view commands, until I essentially remapped EVERYTHING to use more logical and better laid out key assignments. I believe the sticky post up above that details tweaks and tricks goes into detail about some really good key command changes you can make quickly. Madmatt

Seems like most of the stuff I would like to see is mentioned above, but let me just briefly list them out, so the developers know each items relative interest. * Better Post Mission Review system The current Mission Review is EXTREMELY slow and all but useless if either the player or AI strafes any ground targets since you have to click through HUNDREDS of nearly identical entries in the log. Perhaps a filter could be added to limit what is displayed and I would also like to see a Mission Review Export function that could output the full mission log into a raw text format for review out of game. I would also like to see the info presented be improved to show pilotnames instead of the games internal ID #'s which are meaningless to the player. * Better In-Game Map. Seems many people agree that the existing map is useless for precise navigation as its impossible to see any real geographic features. * Improved AI that accounts for changes in combat situation. For example, I have noticed that enemy flights that have ground attack missions will essentially IGNORE me and focus on their ground attack/airbase strafing tasks even as I begin to shoot them down one at a time. The AI should give up or at least delay this task and make sure they don't get shot down by me and my squadmates. * Improved integration between mission results and campaign progression. What I mean by this is that while playing in a mission we all have shot down historical aces, seen our squadmates shot down and inflicted and sustained various levels of damage to and from the enemy yet once the mission is over, none of this seems to affect the *world* at large. I also don't agree with the developers stance on shooting down historical aces. I think that the player SHOULD be able to kill or incapacitate aces and that if they are rendered dead, then they should be DEAD. It makes no sense to say that since they are HISTORICAL, they should only die on their real dates. Just playing in the campaign as a player keeps the time progression from truly being 100% historical so why not allow this slight RPG gameplay element and allow the player to affect the world around them in a real way? This should also be extended so that if I see various squadmates shot down, then they SHOULD really be shot down and the mission debrief needs to reflect that, instead of the somewhat random OFF Manager results that are reported now. I would also like to see enemy damage/friendly represented in subsequent missions. That way, if on a single day for instance, 12 enemy planes from a single squadron are shot down in-game, they shouldn't be back up to full strength the very next day. This would require much better database to gameplay integration but would really make this a full dynamic campaign as opposed to it's currently implemented and somewhat constrained nature. * Allow custom skins for the player that are not copied by the entire flight. * Better Multiplayer integration including ability to play MP campaigns (which can be done even now, but official support would be ideal). Obviously myself and others have really been pushing MP over the past few weeks and it would be incredible if OBD could look into enhancing MP gameplay somewhat (and perhaps look into why MP in Windows 7 doesn't work!). * In addition to picking a country, squadron and date to play in for new pilots, include a new "Famous Air Campaigns" listing which would help players find very active squadrons and battles to fly during. While many of us know the best times to fly for maximum activity, not every player of this game is a WWI scholar and this 'predefined listing' would help people find really great campaigns and squads to fly in. For example, there could be a listing for "Bloody April" that includes the key Jastas and Allied Squads during late 1917 March-Early May period of time and near the Arras region. Basically, this would just be a filter that would help people to locate some of the big battle campaigns that the game already features. * Allow AI to be affected by wind/clouds * Implement a better fix to the "killer-cloud" situation * Make the rockets behave more like WWI era rockets and less like 2.75 inch FFAR Hydras. ;) * Include Random Engine Failures/Degradation * Allow Player Pilot Transfers to different squadrons. * Add accurate depiction of Artillery Spotting Procedures for observation aircraft (would probably require game engine code changes which are not possible though). I don't know of any other WWI game that has ever tried to accurately model the various plane (or balloon)-to-battery procedures and practices but I think it would be cool to be able to do this. * More active groundwar. While there is plenty of arty action and troops and equipment on the move, I have never actually witnessed any *attacks* as it were across the front. These types of units always seem to either be in static positions or away from the front and I am not aware of them really ever engaging one another as it were. * Fix friendly AAA shooting down their own balloons. Seems to occur a lot and probably related to accuracy changes that have gone into the AAA code recently to make them less precise. * New planes (well of course, we all want that) but would at least like to see the holes in the campaign filled so that all squads as depicted are playable for all dates. * Be able to have squads with mixed aircraft (been working on this in the mission editor, and it is possible as is, but not for the player flight apparently) * Allow Larger flights than 8 aircraft. Again, easy to do by editing mission files manually (Editor only allows max of eight planes but you can add them yourself) but would be cool to see the OFF Manager create campaign missions with larger flights when accurate. * Allow a player to remain with their plane for as long as they wish when they die or are shot down as they can when they play a mission with the CFS3MP.exe module or in Multiplay (basically as it was in Phase 2). There are probably other gameplay items I am forgetting but that's certainly enough for now. Madmatt

It's funny that this topic has come to light recently as I HAD been wondering the same thing. When I first got OFF, I thought Archie was a little too potent but after the 1.30 patch I had THOUGHT that it got nerfed a little too much. I was beginning to think that it was all but useless and even asked as much in a few MP sessions as I hadn't seen it do much in recent flights but was told by several other pilots that they had seen AAA still take down planes. Then last night, while playing in my April 1917 campaign I watched as a flight of enemy Neuiports got SAVAGED by friendly Archie. In less than 10 minutes, I watched as two planes were virtually obliterated as they flew into a tight, thick concentration of flak near my airbase. As mentioned below, pilots during the day certainly feared getting hit from flak bursts, but actual accounts of this occuring (with a direct blast, not just shrapnel damage) seems to have been a little uncommon. The fact that I DO see it occur while playing, but not in every flight, to me at least, seems to prove well enough that the balance is pretty good as is. If I strafe enemy positions, or balloons, there seems to be enough MG and flak in the air to make it every bit the challenge that our realworld squadmates had to contend with. So, for me, it seems fine AS-IS. Madmatt

And lower your throttle to about 65% or lower before you engage Warp. Also try and be flying straight and level. I use Warp all the time on long flights but have never had it mess up my plane. The only exception to that would be if I was warped through a cloud, as those are dangerous no matter what you do and its best to avoid warping when your course is plotted through some heavy concentrations. Madmatt

You know, I am still a little confused about the difference between a DM and a TV change though. Let me see if I got it right. So, if I understand correctly, when I use the Hardcore DM (which I usually do), in essence the "Hitpoints" for all the planes components are higher but the Visual Damage Threshold Values (which I guess are % of total HP's) don't change. Example: In Hardcore, this means that while my wing is tougher than in the default DM, I still only see it break off once it sustains 90% damage. Now, again, if I am right, this means that your Intermediate DM, basically reduced the Hitpoints slightly from the Hardcore mode but still left them them tougher than default. Now, I did fly with the Intermediate DM and to me it feel pretty good. Additionally to that, we now have these new Threshold Values which were adjusted downward so If I am right, that means that it takes a LESS of a % to achieve the various visual damage effects. So while in my Hardcore example above it took 90% to get the wing breaking effect, now with your new Threshold Value files, it might occur at perhaps 85%. Again, that's just an example value but do I have the basic concept correct? Madmatt

HDW, Yes, I could add in your custom DM to my installer (and was thinking about this already) or any other file/mod for that matter. The only thing is what happens if someone were to uninstall my files using the built in uninstaller program. My goal has been to not affect any *core* files so that my changes would not affect anyone's SP experience AT-ALL. Up to this point I have been careful to only make changes that A). Do not affect Single Play and B.) Can be rolled back so the game returns to the the EXACT same shape it was BEFORE my program was run. Now then, If I include any DM's, that would change some core game files and if my program was ever uninstalled, it would simply delete those updated files but it can't simply reinstall the original files. At least not without a ton of custom scripting, which is something I can't really invest much time in just now. Of course, that's a pretty minor detail and its not that hard to re-run either the Hardcore or Normal DM program to get everything back to how it was, but it IS an additional step. While I am very good at making custom software installers, I am not a mod-manager type of programmer and that's what we really need. If we could get something like the Mod-Manager I use with DCS-Blackshark and LOMAC then it COULD do all of this cool stuff, and more. Sadly, that's not a skillset I have currently but I am looking at possibly finding someone that COULD code a program like that. So anyway, back to answer you question: Yes, I could add your files to my autoinstaller. In fact, my current installer actually prompts people if they want to Download the Hardcore Damage Model so maybe the solution would be to simply include another prompt for people to download your Intermediate DM and TV files. Madmatt

We have had hosted Missions that had 10 people on at once already. I think CFS3MP has a hardlimit of 16 players, but to be honest, I am not positive if even that is the upper limit, it could be higher. Madmatt

I certainly support a set "Multiplayer Manners" type of guidelines. Having said that, I think its also fair to say that whoever HOSTS a mission is the one that should probably set the "rules" as it were. For example, when I host a Mission, I normally don't mind if a respawned player comes back as an enemy fighter and want's to get into the thick of things (depending on the mission), but they certainly shouldn't do so if this had been initially stated as being prohibited I think that that once we get a new set of enhanced and more balanced MP Missions, this will be less of a problem as the various flights will make more sense and be more accurately located and have their own mission assignements that need to be carried out. Until this time that we all have access to new Missions, I think that Ax is right and that people should pay attention to what the Host says is "Okay or Not". Madmatt

I setup some QC battles over the weekend but I wil be honest and say that I wasn't really able to do much testing and my results didn't, at first glance, show much difference between these moded Intermittant thresholds and what I usally play with. Due to my current work and play in MP, I kind of have to keep the hardcore DM installed so I am sorry that I doubt I will be able to do much more in this area for you. I do encourage this development as I think everyone would like to see more visible damage effects in their planes, I just can't spare the time to test right now. Madmatt

While "Us vs. Them" style dogfight missions would be fun, with the work I am doing in trying to make the campaign missions at least "somewhat" MP playable, we might have more fun in having one team fly as Allies and the other as Central Powers and play historically based missions. I envision MP campaign missions featuring some of the more active periods in the airwar for example Bloody April, or the "Last 100 days" time periods. With a little bit of tweaking and patience and preperatrion, single player campaign based missions can be made into very exciting MP events. I hope to be able to share more on this development in the near future. Madmatt

While most of us have good/great connection speeds, the speeds of our relative gaming systems could vary a good deal and its theorized that a big discrepancy in this could cause the latency that causes the *warping* that we commonly see in Player Vs. Player Dogfights (and to a much more minor degree in MP Missions). By capping everyone that connects upper framerate to one level (perhaps 30-45 FPS), we *may* be able to stabalize things more. This is still just a theory, but it does have some merit. What's still a mystery is why a pure Dogfight session (with player respawning) will often cause this slight warping, yet we can play a Multiplayer *mission* where many people are flying different planes on both sides (and dogfighting each other like crazy) and the warping is much more rare. This is just one of idiosyncracies we have to accept until such time (if?) more attention can be put forward with the CFS3 MP code. OFF is primarily a single player mod to CFS3, but myself and others are working hard to make the MP aspect of OFF more feature rich and enjoyable. As Ax has said, he is working on more detailed and complex Missions for us to host and play in, as am I. In fact, I am currently "re-envisioning" several current MP favorites like the Ballon Buster's Mission. I am reworking the flightplans, plane types, making sure the fronts are historically accurate and that the enemy Ballons actually LOOK like German ballons instead of British ones and more. I hope to have this new version ready by the weekend. In addition to this work, I and a few others have also been doing work on a way to host campaign missions for MP sessions. While the features of this are still somewhat undisclosed (I have lots more testing yet to do), I have made progress into a way to have one person virtually *Host* a campaign, and have other people fly the individual missions along with him! It's far from perfect right now, and it's not the same as playing through the campaign in single player mode (no tracking of pilots/kills or mission results is *yet* possible), but it still results in more complex and historically accurate MP missions than ever thought possible. Rest assured, there is a LOT of work going on behind the scenes by some very commited and hard working people that are simply huge fans of this game. And this is all separate from anything OBD might be doing *officially* with their future plans for Phase 4 and we can only imagine what sort of goodies they may be planning! This is a thrilling time for MP in OFF and I am very excited to be part of it in my own little way. Madmatt

Well, it took me a little longer to test than I had planned, but I am proud to announce the availability of my all new OFF Essential MP File Autoinstaller. This will take out all the hassle of downloading and installing some of the great add-ons that are needed to play on some of the Multiplayer Missions hosted everyday. I have also added 23 of the best (and most played) Multiplayer Missions so everyone will now have the same set of missions to host (and edit for those adventurous souls). I have uploaded the file to Combat Ace and hopefully it will get approved soon. Once its ready, I think it will be located via this link: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=9131 For those that can't wait, you can download it immediately from this shared site: http://www.sendspace.com/file/s2mijg For those that don't know what this program does, let me recap. When run it automatically detects your install location of OFF and will install the following mods and missions for you: * A flyable Gotha (for use in MP missions) * A flyable L30 Zeppelin (for use in MP missions) * New searchlight effects (used in certain night Gotha missions) * Provides a option to automatically download the OBD Optional v1.30c Hard Core Damage Model (in case you need it) * Installs 23 Multiplayer compatible missions (some of the filenames were changed for spelling and consistentcy) * Adds a special new weather template that's used by certain missions (makes very pretty skies in those missions!) Future versions may add more options (for example installing new plane textures) or possibly even more in-game effects. Stay tuned for more! See below for the official ReadMe and I certainly hope that this small contribution to OFF helps more people get into the incredible world of Multiplyer flying! Madmatt >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Over Flanders Fields Essential Multiplayer Files Autoinstaller June 3rd, 2009 Installer coded by Madmatt PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT FULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!!! Welcome, this simple little autoinstaller was designed to help ease some of the hassle some people have encountered in trying to get all the files they need to join some of the exciting Multiplayer games being hosted every week by members of the "Doves and Hawks" online squadron. This program will install 3 separate sets of files that will allow you to also use the L30 Zeppelin, German Gotha Bomber and see the nice searchlights that are required to play some of the new MP missions that have been created recently. JUST ADDED! This program now installs 23 new multiplayer compatible missions for your flying pleasure! This program can be uninstalled at any time and will not affect your normal Single Player experience in OFF. It does NOT change any stock OFF files, it merely adds some new ones which are needed in some MP missions. Since the "Doves and Hawks" members all play with the Optional Hardcore Damage Model v1.30 released by OBD Software, I have included the option to have this installer connect your web browser to that file. It will NOT install it for you, it merely links to the file online. Please Note: This installer program will scan your aircraft folder and if it detects any older Gotha or Zeppelin files, it will delete them before it copies in the new ones. This is done to ensure everyone is using the SAME version of these files wherever possible. Be aware of this if you have custom Gotha or Zeppelin skins for instance because this installer will delete them. I recommend you back up those folders/files if you do have any custom Gotha or Zeppelin skins you don't want to lose. How To Uninstall: You can uninstall these new files one of two ways. You can use the standard Windows "Add or Remove Programs" option located under the Windows Control Panel or you can browse into the folder called "uninstall MP Essential Files" located in your "CFSWW1 Over Flanders Fields" directory and double-click on the file called unis000.exe. This will uninstall the new MP files only. It will not uninstall your game. Permission by all the original mod authors was obtained where possible and we thank them for their work. Searchlight Mod: Files originally provided by RAF_Louvert in his "Gotha's along the Thames" mission Created by Eurofinn and www.groundcrew.com Gotha: Original Gmax model by Seacondor texture mapping and skin by Capt. Winters L30 Zeppelin: Files originally uploaded on Sim-Outhouse website by british_eh but they have no credits included Mission Credits: (I did rename some of the mission files to create and retain consistentcy): PD-1 stump_jumper Axgrinder Mission Weather template file (used by some of the missions): ghandi Special thanks to the everyone that helped me with testing and assembling the files!

Gremlin, you can post that file on WOH if you want but maybe it would be best to wait until my new version is ready. I want to fix a few things and maybe add a couple of new features first. I should have something ready in the next day or two. Madmatt

Well, it took me a little longer to test than I had planned, but I am proud to announce the availability of my all new OFF Essential MP File Autoinstaller. This will take out all the hassle of downloading and installing some of the great add-ons that are needed to play on some of the Multiplayer Missions hosted everyday. I have also added 23 of the best (and most played) Multiplayer Missions so everyone will now have the same set of missions to host (and edit for those adventures souls). I have uploaded the file to Combat Ace and hopefully it will get approved soon. Once its ready, I think it will be located via this link: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=9131 For those that can't wait, you can download it immediately from this shared site: http://www.sendspace.com/file/s2mijg For those that don't know what this program does, let me recap. When run it automatically detects your install location of OFF and will install the following mods and missions for you: * A flyable Gotha (for use in MP missions) * A flyable L30 Zeppelin (for use in MP missions) * New searchlight effects (used in certain night Gotha missions) * Provides a option to automatically download the OBD Optional v1.30c Hard Core Damage Model (in case you need it) * Installs 23 Multiplayer compatible missions (some of the filenames were changed for spelling and consistentcy) * Adds a special new weather template that's used by certain missions (makes very pretty skies in those missions!) Future versions may add more options (for example installing new plane textures) or possibly even more in-game effects. Stay tuned for more! See below for the official ReadMe and I certainly hope that this small contribution to OFF helps more people get into the incredible world of Multiplyer flying! Madmatt >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Over Flanders Fields Essential Multiplayer Files Autoinstaller June 3rd, 2009 Installer coded by Madmatt PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT FULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!!! Welcome, this simple little autoinstaller was designed to help ease some of the hassle some people have encountered in trying to get all the files they need to join some of the exciting Multiplayer games being hosted every week by members of the "Doves and Hawks" online squadron. This program will install 3 separate sets of files that will allow you to also use the L30 Zeppelin, German Gotha Bomber and see the nice searchlights that are required to play some of the new MP missions that have been created recently. JUST ADDED! This program now installs 23 new multiplayer compatible missions for your flying pleasure! This program can be uninstalled at any time and will not affect your normal Single Player experience in OFF. It does NOT change any stock OFF files, it merely adds some new ones which are needed in some MP missions. Since the "Doves and Hawks" members all play with the Optional Hardcore Damage Model v1.30 released by OBD Software, I have included the option to have this installer connect your web browser to that file. It will NOT install it for you, it merely links to the file online. Please Note: This installer program will scan your aircraft folder and if it detects any older Gotha or Zeppelin files, it will delete them before it copies in the new ones. This is done to ensure everyone is using the SAME version of these files wherever possible. Be aware of this if you have custom Gotha or Zeppelin skins for instance because this installer will delete them. I recommend you back up those folders/files if you do have any custom Gotha or Zeppelin skins you don't want to lose. How To Uninstall: You can uninstall these new files one of two ways. You can use the standard Windows "Add or Remove Programs" option located under the Windows Control Panel or you can browse into the folder called "uninstall MP Essential Files" located in your "CFSWW1 Over Flanders Fields" directory and double-click on the file called unis000.exe. This will uninstall the new MP files only. It will not uninstall your game. Permission by all the original mod authors was obtained where possible and we thank them for their work. Searchlight Mod: Files originally provided by RAF_Louvert in his "Gotha's along the Thames" mission Created by Eurofinn and www.groundcrew.com Gotha: Original Gmax model by Seacondor texture mapping and skin by Capt. Winters L30 Zeppelin: Files originally uploaded on Sim-Outhouse website by british_eh but they have no credits included Mission Credits: (I did rename some of the mission files to create and retain consistentcy): PD-1 stump_jumper Axgrinder Mission Weather template file (used by some of the missions): ghandi Special thanks to the everyone that helped me with testing and assembling the files!

I appreciate the comments guys but most of the hard work was done a long time ago by people like Ax and stump and duck and others. I just tried to take everything that already existed and put in a pretty package. ;) I will be making up yet another new version very soon. It will fix a couple of issues with some of the new missions that were added and who know's maybe include a new surprise or two. Stay tuned for more! Madmatt p.s. By the way, there is a big MP session going on right now (about 8 guys) so join up on Teamspeak if you want to play. There is a second session planned for later tonight around 8pm as well. Read the sticky for details on how to find us on TS.

Ras, when you try and connect to a hosted game, what error are you seeing specifically? Or are you not even getting that far? My recommendation would be to join up on Teamspeak during one of our planned MP sessions and then you usually have several people online that can talk you through what you need to do. By and large, as long as you are simply JOINING a hosted game, you should not normally have to make any changes to your firewall or router or do any port forwarding. That type of thing is usually only required if you want to HOST a game so others can connect to you. Madmatt

As long as your only firing quick, sharp bursts, you should rarely ever encounter any jams. But if you have a heavy trigger finger than expect them to jam a lot. Nothing you do seems to affects how long they will stay jammed though. I have had jams that lasted maybe only a minute or two, ones that took upwards of ten minutes to clear as well as ones that rendered my guns useless for the rest of my mission. I have also had (on multi gun craft) jams that affected one or both guns together or had only a single gun unjam when both were initially jammed. Madmatt

I should be able to make one of the two sessions although its possible i may have to do some travel this weekend and then wouldn't be back until Sunday. Ax, I sent you a PM, hopefully you got it as I need to get some more files from you to add to my autoinstaller. Thanks! Madmatt

Hey guys I have a small update to the reported issue with some of the Ax missions. Two missions, 'Axes Gauntlet Test' and 'Axes Plea' require the installation of a custom Nieuport 17 that apparently Ax has been working on. That plane is NOT (yet?) included in my Autoinstaller and if you try and load either of those missions and you don't yet have that custom plane installed, you will get an error. I will talk to Ax when I get a chance and see about including it in my next version. I guess I am going to have start numbering these puppies... Madmatt

Since I had gotten permission to redistribute the Mission file that originally included your mod, I had assumed permission was also granted for your file. Sorry I didn't try and contact you personally. I did ask that everyone that sent me anything ENSURED they had the permission to do so. No insult was intended of course, just telling you that I did attempt to do my due dilligence as best as I could. Having said that, looks like I spelled your name wrong in my credits list anyway, so I will rectify that in my next version. I also have gotten an early report that its possible one of Ax's missions may require a plane file that wasn't included. I will have to check this later on and if so, I will either remove that mission(s) or more than likely simply add the required new plane to my file list. Madmatt

Since a couple people have already asked me, here is the list of the Missions now included. I did have to rename a few of the missions, so you may still see the older versions listed in your mission\training folder. You can just remove those old ones if you want. They won't hurt anything. The entire 6 mission "Boys of 60" campaign Axes Day to Lead Axes Plea Ax's Gauntlet Test Biff Bomb Run Mission Calaix Photo Recon Fuel Train Gotha Bombing Practice Gotha's Along The Thames High Altitude Mayhem Italy Hanriots Italy Strike Rearm and Refuel Roland Recon The Ballon Buster's Train Buster's Wilhamshaven - The Coup de Grace Zeppelins Over Paris Oh, and in case you were wondering, all of those missions can also be played in single player "Mission" mode as well. Just click the Missions tab in your main game menu and they will now all be listed. While it's certainly fun to play missions alone in "single mode", they really shine when there are real people behind the controls of your wingmen and air enemies! Madmatt

And why would I do that? It's News, its a Mod, and it affects Multiplay. I figured posting it in all three relevant forums would ensure people heard about it. But if they don't want it posted like that I certainly understand. Your probably right though, just posting here would have been enough since its the *primary* forum and the one most read. Madmatt

Well, it took me a little longer to test than I had planned, but I am proud to announce the availability of my all new OFF Essential MP File Autoinstaller. This will take out all the hassle of downloading and installing some of the great add-ons that are needed to play on some of the Multiplayer Missions hosted everyday. I have also added 23 of the best (and most played) Multiplayer Missions so everyone will now have the same set of missions to host (and edit for those adventures souls). I have uploaded the file to Combat Ace and hopefully it will get approved soon. Once its ready, I think it will be located via this link: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=9131 For those that can't wait, you can download it immediately from this shared site: http://www.sendspace.com/file/s2mijg For those that don't know what this program does, let me recap. When run it automatically detects your install location of OFF and will install the following mods and missions for you: * A flyable Gotha (for use in MP missions) * A flyable L30 Zeppelin (for use in MP missions) * New searchlight effects (used in certain night Gotha missions) * Provides a option to automatically download the OBD Options v1.30c Hard Core Damage Model (in case you need it) * Installs 23 Multiplayer compatible missions (some of the filenames were changed for spelling and consistentcy) * Adds a special new weather template that's used by certain missions (makes very pretty skies in those missions!) Future versions may add more options (for example installing new plane textures) or possibly even more in-game effects. Stay tuned for more! See below for the official ReadMe and I certainly hope that this small contribution to OFF helps more people get into the incredible world of Multiplyer flying! Madmatt >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Over Flanders Fields Essential Multiplayer Files Autoinstaller June 3rd, 2009 Installer coded by Madmatt PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT FULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!!! Welcome, this simple little autoinstaller was designed to help ease some of the hassle some people have encountered in trying to get all the files they need to join some of the exciting Multiplayer games being hosted every week by members of the "Doves and Hawks" online squadron. This program will install 3 separate sets of files that will allow you to also use the L30 Zeppelin, German Gotha Bomber and see the nice searchlights that are required to play some of the new MP missions that have been created recently. JUST ADDED! This program now installs 23 new multiplayer compatible missions for your flying pleasure! This program can be uninstalled at any time and will not affect your normal Single Player experience in OFF. It does NOT change any stock OFF files, it merely adds some new ones which are needed in some MP missions. Since the "Doves and Hawks" members all play with the Optional Hardcore Damage Model v1.30 released by OBD Software, I have included the option to have this installer connect your web browser to that file. It will NOT install it for you, it merely links to the file online. Please Note: This installer program will scan your aircraft folder and if it detects any older Gotha or Zeppelin files, it will delete them before it copies in the new ones. This is done to ensure everyone is using the SAME version of these files wherever possible. Be aware of this if you have custom Gotha or Zeppelin skins for instance because this installer will delete them. I recommend you back up those folders/files if you do have any custom Gotha or Zeppelin skins you don't want to lose. How To Uninstall: You can uninstall these new files one of two ways. You can use the standard Windows "Add or Remove Programs" option located under the Windows Control Panel or you can browse into the folder called "uninstall MP Essential Files" located in your "CFSWW1 Over Flanders Fields" directory and double-click on the file called unis000.exe. This will uninstall the new MP files only. It will not uninstall your game. Permission by all the original mod authors was obtained where possible and we thank them for their work. Searchlight Mod: Files originally provided by RAF_Louvert in his "Gotha's along the Thames" mission Created by Eurofinn and www.groundcrew.com Gotha: Original Gmax model by Seacondor texture mapping and skin by Capt. Winters L30 Zeppelin: Files originally uploaded on Sim-Outhouse website by british_eh but they have no credits included Mission Credits: (I did rename some of the mission files to create and retain consistentcy): PD-1 stump_jumper Axgrinder Mission Weather template file (used by some of the missions): ghandi Special thanks to the everyone that helped me with testing and assembling the files!