Cradle 1.35

[hexagonian]

Cradle 1.35 is up at my site.

The Land of Hexagonia

These files require that you have 1.3 base files already on your setup too. (but that is standard)

The main additions to 1.35 are some of the files that were added in Cradle 1.33, but were pulled because of incomplete testing. The zip file is large (over 6MB) due to the large number of graphics included.

Files added in 1.35 include the complete graphics package provided by Leonardo, as well as the Visible Wonders SLIC file created by Immortal Wombat. I also made an adjustment to Latifundias - they now do not provide any food benefit. This will hopefully create a more diverse Tile Improvement dilemma concerning what to build.

I have also incorporated the files from 1.34b (a more aggressive AI), but if you want to revert back to the normal 1.34, all you need is the CRA_goals.txt and CRA_strategies.txt from the 1.34 zipfile.

Finally, this is the last update that I will be doing in terms of game-balancing issues. If you disagree with the way I approached those issues, it will now be up to you to alter your files to suit your preferences. At the same time, I will not be actively adding any more SLICs to Cradle either. If you have anything that you want to add, either files that currently exist or new files, feel free to do so.

If there are any SLIC related issues with files in 1.35, I will try to address those though.

I believe that earlier versions of Cradle can be unzipped over the more recent updates if you prefer the earlier setups too, although due to space limitations on my site, I had to pull 1.31 and 1.32.

My last goal for CTP2 is to wrap up the LOTR Scenario, and post those files. I have hopes that this setup will be every much as good as Cradle when completed.

Its been a great ride. Thanks for playing and supporting this Mod.

Dave
aka hexagonian

(once again, I'm trying to wrap this all up)

[HuangShang]

hell yeah

and thanx

[Ãskallin]

this is great!
BTW for how long have you been working on cradle?

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

[hexagonian]

I just noticed that the strategies/goals in 1.35 are not the same ones that were in 1.34b, so I have posted those two files as an add-on at my site. I still prefer the 1.34a setup over the 1.34b setup, so the main download will stay as is, but I know that there are warmongerors out there who might think that Cradle needs even more bloodthirsty AI forces marching around...

It's a small download too - 17k. If you have started a 1.35 game already, you should be able to unzip these files directly over the current files and continue your game.

Originally posted by Ãskallin
BTW for how long have you been working on cradle?

2 years - I started work on it in January 2001. I had a working model in May, 2001. Everything else has been SLIC add-ons, GL repairs and balancing since then. Suprisingly, I feel that there is little difference between those early incantations of Cradle and what Cradle is now - most of the balancing has been minor, IMO.

In fact, the most drastic ones came about in 1.34, due to discussions with Vel and Ogie, for which I'm grateful regarding their insights. I actually had little intention of updating Cradle until Vel and Ogie gave the game a runthrough. It was nice to have a comprehensive breakdown of Cradle - in the creation process, that perspective is needed to avoid tunnel-vision.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the work involved. I've always had in interest in creating/balancing game mechanics.

[Martin Gühmann]

Just a question are the goods in the current version improved. ISo far I wasn't able to find the DisableTrigger function in the CRA_CityExpansion.slc for the RemoveSubneuralAds slic object. If the goods aren't improved then you could rename it to MG_RemoveSubneuralAds, this object is enabled and disabled properly, I think it shouldn't be a problem to have this object twice in the slic database, if it a problem you can also outcomment it from CRA_goods.slc.

-Martin

[hexagonian]

Pedrunn had sent me an updated file when the incompatibility with GoodMod was discovered. In testing the file, the fix didn't work and no other updates ever came to me. If the choice came down to either keeping GoodMod or the City Expansion code, I wanted to keep GoodMod.

There were a lot of good features in the City Expansion coding, but the one I did want to change was the hit a player would take if his city dropped below a certain population level via peaceful means (creating a settler) To me, that hit seemed a bit drastic. I did want the suburb to disappear completely in those instances, and have the burned-out suburb appear due to a battle.

If Pedrunn can make it compatible to GoodMod, I will post the files as an add-on to Cradle. He does not have to set it up to the specifications mentioned above regarding my own preferences though.

[Azeem]

Sounds great, but have you fixed the SLIC error regarding the Diplomod I mentioned earlier?

[stankarp]

Thanks for the wonderful work Hex. Cradle is so good I keep leaving my new games and going back to it. I only played Medieval Total War for 2 weeks before going back to Cradle. My wife loves and hates you you know. I spend a lot less money on new games but spend too much time playing cradle :-))))))))

135 doesnt have a gigantic map setting. Can I enlarge the map any other way (seem to recall instructions once in a thread for changing the map size).

[stankarp]

Sorry (red faced), just noticed ultra-gig map in another part of modswapper.

[hexagonian]

Azeem,

I haven't been able to duplicate the problem - yours is the first report of this happening too.

Are you using a localized version of CTP2? And Win2K, as that also seems to cause some problems. I am running 1.35 on my setup (Win98) without any problem.

Are you using Cradle 1.35 with Diplo 3.5? There is a separate copy of Diplo 3.6 on my site, but to be honest, that hasn't been seriously tested in a Cradle setup - at least I haven't heard of anyone using that option. Everyone seems to stick with the default Diplo 3.5.

I could suggest that you try a complete reinstall.

And are you the same Azeem on the Emperor Forums? Love that game - I play a lot more of that than CTP2 now.

Stankarp - don't let my Mod ruin your marriage

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

i played cradle 1.34 (iirc) with diplo 3.6 on a w2k-machine back in october, just look at my posts from that time, there were dozens of problems

[Devil of Truth]

Hex, you should have you status changed from "King" to "CTP2 god!"

[Tamerlin]

Thanks for your work Hexagonian, I haven't yet tested the Cradle mod but I will do it someday. I already know It will be a very pleasant experience as the feedback from the CtP2 community is always excellent.

[Azeem]

Hexagonian, I recently played the updated Cradle mod and the problem disappeared. I was using Diplomod 3.6 on version 1.34 so that could have been the problem. I use Windows ME, so that might also have been a problem as well.

And are you the same Azeem on the Emperor Forums? Love that game - I play a lot more of that than CTP2 now.

I use the names "Azeem" or "Rumi" on every forum I've visited. I am indeed the same "Azeem" on the Emperor forums. I was wondering if you were the same "Hexagonian" on the Apolyton forums as well.