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Need help with ST Bridge Commander modding please?
Posted: 2009-10-17 08:03am
by Steve
I downloaded a Defiant mod that inserts my favorite gut-punching Trek ship into the game for Quick Battle fun. I inserted the component mods that are recommended for it. I install everything as best I can. And..... nothing. It's not showing up at all in the game. Actually, neither is that NanoFX mod, which wants to be double-clicked but the file's not an executable or anything, just a ".BCMod" file.
I checked and all the relevant files are in the necessary directories. Any ideas on what needs to be done?
Re: Need help with ST Bridge Commander modding please?
Posted: 2009-10-17 08:13am
by Bounty
1. Ship mods come in three varieties: .BCMOD, discussed below; separate folders with a plugin file; and separate folders without a plugin file. If your ship isn't showing up, you probably need to create a plugin, which can be done with this tool:
http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/fi ... ool;102381
Check the readme for details; this tool will allow you to install the Foundation (the basic framework around which all mods are built) and generate a plugin file automatically.
2. BCMOD is an old mod format. The tool linked to above can unpack and install the file.
3. If you don't mind a large download, I strongly suggest you just get
Kobayashi Maru. Bridge Commander modding has been done very haphazardly and many early mods are hackish causing severe stability issues. KM packages the most stable mods (including canon ships of all races and eras, extra scripts, overhauled graphics and far more maps, and a kick-ass
Defiant with a custom, accurate
bridge) in an automated installer which works very nicely and is not significantly less stable than the stock game.
Re: Need help with ST Bridge Commander modding please?
Posted: 2009-10-17 09:22am
by Sarevok
Do you know how to place ships in the BC folder manually ? If not its worth learning because BC mods are often incomplete and buggy. You will need to edit stuff manually sometimes.
Re: Need help with ST Bridge Commander modding please?
Posted: 2009-10-17 11:12am
by Steve
Thanks Bounty.
Sarevok, the mod I got put the files in the proper folder, but apparently something wasn't letting the game see them.
Re: Need help with ST Bridge Commander modding please?
Posted: 2009-10-17 12:27pm
by Uraniun235
Bounty wrote:
3. If you don't mind a large download, I strongly suggest you just get
Kobayashi Maru. Bridge Commander modding has been done very haphazardly and many early mods are hackish causing severe stability issues. KM packages the most stable mods (including canon ships of all races and eras, extra scripts, overhauled graphics and far more maps, and a kick-ass
Defiant with a custom, accurate
bridge) in an automated installer which works very nicely and is not significantly less stable than the stock game.
I recently reinstalled BC and installed the latest KM - apparently they added "ablative armor" since the last time I played, and that shit is
brutally effective. It feels almost like the only way I can successfully tangle with an armored ship one-on-one is to fly an armored ship myself.
Re: Need help with ST Bridge Commander modding please?
Posted: 2009-10-17 12:45pm
by Bounty
It's brutally effective because IIRC it completely blocks subsystem damage. An unarmoured ship at 50% hull strength has probably lost quite a few systems with more running at partial efficiency, but an armoured one keeps running like new until the hull falls apart.
I like the concept, but the execution is a bit hackish.
Re: Need help with ST Bridge Commander modding please?
Posted: 2009-10-18 03:22am
by Stark
A ST fan mod that introduces gamebreaking concepts tentatively based on a crappy Voyager episode? I'm STUNNED.
Bounty, KM is pretty boss. I remember when those script mods (ps random nobody makes better bridge experience = lol) were hideously unstable.
Re: Need help with ST Bridge Commander modding please?
Posted: 2009-10-18 04:04am
by Bounty
A ST fan mod that introduces gamebreaking concepts tentatively based on a crappy Voyager episode?
Abklative armour is based on DS9. The crappy Voyager one is the batmobile armour, and that's a different mod
A better one too, it just swaps out the standard Intrepid model for the batmobile one.
Re: Need help with ST Bridge Commander modding please?
Posted: 2009-10-18 09:37am
by Steve
Well, after a false start from failing to click all the options in the Customize menu, I finally got to fulfill a 15 year old dream. I got to fly the
mother-fuckin Defiant in a game.
And after all my experience in the regular game flying the
Sovereign I really need to adjust to that tough little ship's
speed.
Re: Need help with ST Bridge Commander modding please?
Posted: 2009-10-18 12:43pm
by Steve
The Excalibur has all the maneuverability of a beached whale. The Achilles, however, is like someone put the Defiant on steroids.
God I love this mod.
Re: Need help with ST Bridge Commander modding please?
Posted: 2009-10-18 04:23pm
by Bounty
I'm not a fan of the Achilles; I can never get those lateral pulse cannons to shoot straight.
Re: Need help with ST Bridge Commander modding please?
Posted: 2009-10-18 06:02pm
by Steve
Bounty wrote:I'm not a fan of the Achilles; I can never get those lateral pulse cannons to shoot straight.
So that's what those side-weapons are. Hrm.
Might be a limitation of the game engine, it generally requires a target in the bow or aft arc to make the targeting system start telling you how spot-on your shot is.
Me, I love
Achilles because it has all the forward firepower of
Defiant but also throws in some pretty good phaser coverage.
Re: Need help with ST Bridge Commander modding please?
Posted: 2009-10-19 02:30pm
by Steve
I've become pretty adept at using the
Achilles if I do say so myself, but the
Defiant is my baby. The stress of all the problems setting up SDNW3 melts away with her at my keyboard control.... along with the poor Jemmie (or Cardie, or Breen) bastards I have lined up in my gunsights.