A "Mod of All Mods"?

[MarkG]

I'm talking about the idea to combine the best mods into one(with their creator's permission of course)

What do yout think?

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Markos, Apolyton Civilization Site

[DJ]

That's cool. Hey I just e-mailed you I believe at Markos Giannopoulos. It's a qestion I goota know. Anyways , any improvment for CTP is always cool.

[Depp]

Hey, i asked that question 2 weeks ago, but everybody said they were working on mods just like that themselves, but nothing has been heard from them since.

I been playing this game alot multiplayer lately and have noticed several thing in need of fixing, but then i don´t wanna reinvent the wheel so to speak.

But i can´t commit time on a daily basis so to speak...

[Robm]

Sounds like a great idea Markos. I wouldn't know how to do that, but I'd love to see CD's 4.2 mod combined with the newer sprites people are making up. And throw in one of the new color map modes. Also add the mods that warn you who is bombarding you, and what was just built in a city.

[DJ]

You know, I loaded that age of enlightenment on my computer, I saw no new improvements on my packet. is something wrong. Will these new mods have new graphics?

[JimMac]

I also think that it is a great idea Markos, but I don’t think it could be a "Mod of All Mods for a few reasons,-

-Some mods are simply incompatible with others (different governments, unit firepower etc)
-Some people are interested in mods which keep CTP in a certain era, such as ancient times or whatever.
-People will (hopefully) continue to develop new features, which will make the "Mod of all Mods" out of date.

Why I think that it could be very useful is if it were to be aimed at all new purchasers of CTP, or those who have exhausted the possibilities of the boxed version and want to get more enjoyment from CTP. It could then be a Beginners Mod / Basic Mod or Composite Mod.

For what its worth, in my opinion I think that it should include CDs 4.2, (with sprites of all his new units),Dominiques build mod as modified by TP. ( I haven’t tried any of Harlans stuff yet) and a decent color file for the radar map.

And if it could all be put in a separate folder in a manner similar to Axelmans mod creation utility, it would make everything much easier than my current patchwork collection of mod "bits."

(Now all we need is someone who can do this )

JimMac

[This message has been edited by JimMac (edited July 17, 1999).]

[JimMac]

Ok... I now have a list of what I think is the essential ingredients for the improved CTP.
1. The official Activision patch
2. CDs mod 4.2 (with the odd change, such as bringing forward infastructure to Stone Working to enable the "peaceful player" to produce something other than military units at the begining of the game.)
3. Biljirs Color.txt file. I have tried several and find this to be not only the most useful but also the most easy on the eye.
4. Dominiques Build mod. I am happy to stick with this version until there is an English language version of TPs. Although I think TPs idea of random ranking updates sounds great.
5. Harlans Graphic Modpack. This adds some neat graphical enhancements.

Am I missing anything?

I remember that when CTP first came out, it received a lot of criticism for game imbalances and lack of atmosphere. I believe the above mods largly overcome those criticisms. Now if only the (mythical?) next Activision patch improves the Diplomacy and AI military tactics, we could have a clear Civ2 beater.

JimMac

[MarkG]

I can easily agree with this list, especially as it seems that the mods are combatiple(alter different files)

One note, dont we need unit graphics for CD's mod?

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Markos, Apolyton Civilization Site

[Harlan]

JimMac or Markos or whomever is in charge of this effort, you have my permission to include the Graphics modpack I've made in your Mod of all Mods. A couple of thoughts though.

You shouldn't include the official patch as well. Let people download that seperately cos otherwise the mod will become way too big. Just make a big note: "must have patch first!"

A lot of people don't have the ability to download really huge files. So you should make two versions. One is one huge download, the other breaks it down into pieces of less than 1 MB each.

Like CD has done, it would be great to have all the files go into their correct directories automatically.

You should wait till the PowerSLIC pack is ready. Also look at the "Sprites for CD's mod" thread- you should wait till Pintello sends that to you and include that. Then the package will seem more complete.

Finally, how will you deal with updates, and who decides what gets added to this modpack and what doesn't?

[MarkG]

oh yes, the patch most probably can not be in, and it would make it to big

"how will you deal with updates"
Hmmm, one part updated, all mod updated?

"who decides what gets added to this modpack and what doesn't?"
this forum?

as for the other comments, all valid...

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Markos, Apolyton Civilization Site

[DOGFISH]

I would also ask Harlan's qustions... who decides... and updates. I posted a string awhile back regarding standardization. I think this all-in-one is fine but would still like to see mods to text files posted 2 ways. A new txt file for those that choose to overwrite, and just the specific changes to that file, for people like me who have modded and re modded. I don't want to overwrite what I have at this time. This is the reason I've looking for a text editor that can compare 2 files.
Standardization of graphics, at least the sprites, should be the new sprite for those that want it... and the associated tiff's for those that want to change colors or whatever. We already have a game full of hard to edit sprites. Don't want to see your work recolored, edited or maybe even improved... then don't submit.
If you wanted to establish these as guidlines for your downloads I would certainly comply with anything I send along.

Dogfish

[biljir]

One other thing I'd like to see in a "mod of all mods" is a mod that adds the most important of the tribes that Activision left out, especially the Arabs and Aztecs. None of the mods I've seen are exactly what I think is needed, since most of them either take out tribes, or concentrate on a specific area like Eastern Europe.

There are, what, 3 or 4 tribes that could be added before the game startup menu is full and, in the spirit of "CTP as it should have been", I think it would be nice for the "mod of all mods" to fill it.

Just a thought.

[Grand Master Fe Long]

I think its to soon to make a "mod of all mods" we should a least wait till the second patch is released. So we can make existing mods compatible with that before combining them. Otherwise your going to be back at step one.

[DOGFISH]

The next patch could be vaporware... or they may choose to develop something marketable... a new amazing stupendous (puchasable) add-on/upgrade mod package. Of course they may wait to see the features of Civ III and try to keep up with the competition.

Dogfish

[Harlan]

No need to wait for the second patch... we might be all elderly or dead by then at the rate they're releasing updates! Anyways, once that comes out, the files can be modified to work with that easily enough.

Biljir, my modpack adds Aztecs and Arabs and others, though I also get rid of many civs like the Nigerians and Nicaraguans. So thats already in the planned Mod of All Mods, though I think a different name is needed for that.