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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: Dobralov on October 30, 2006, 09:09:58 pm

Title: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dobralov on October 30, 2006, 09:09:58 pm
Wow.

Think waaaaay back.  FS1.  Mission 6.  "Paving the Way."

A wingman and I must escort the Galatea through an asteroid field so she can jump out.  We must clear asteroids (threatening asteroids are bracketed in white) and endure a twin Shivan bomber attack.

Sounds simple...and yet I cannot defeat this mission.  I remember finishing FS1 years ago, and yet I've wasted six hours on the freaking SIXTH mission of the game.  The walkthroughs I've found describe the mission as "easy," and yet I've watched the Galatea explode countless times now.  I can't even play this mission anymore on account of my hair-pulling frustration.

The Galatea seems to reach the jump point and then sit there, taking a pounding from numerous asteroids as my tiny ship scrambles to escort this gargantuan vessel (my wingman rarely survives far past when the Galatea reaches the jump point).  Yeah, yeah, I can hear it now:  "It's because you suck, Dobralov!"  No way--it's not possible to blow eight hours on this mission unless something is woefully wrong, either within the game or I'm missing some fundamental tactic.  And yes, I already tried setting the game on "If you're playing this level, then you must either be a quadruple amputee and/or using poorly trained monkeys to manipulate the flight controls" difficulty setting, thanks.

Does anyone remember this mission?  I already tried turning on the "unlimited ammo" cheat so I can plug away with endless missiles, but again, the Galatea just floats in space upon reaching the nav point. 

Someone, anyone, please fill me in and if you're just going to post a "Dude, you suck" or some variant thereof, save yourself some time and just go beat your dog instead. 

Help me continue to re-enjoy this phenomonal game!

Dobralov
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: achtung on October 30, 2006, 09:21:32 pm
Sounds like a bug to me.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dark Hunter on October 30, 2006, 10:09:19 pm
:welcome:

Welcome to HLP! Exits are located in all places you'd expect them to be, as well as an obscure one located on a 5-d parallel, though no one knows how to get to it.... All exits are blocked, so if you do need to leave, take one of our escape pods to the sister stations of Game Warden or Hades Combine. Emergency-use flamethrowers are located under all seats, but due to some really inexplicable reasons they have been filled with Holy Water. Plasma rifles and shotguns are in the secure lockers, which only admins,:v: , or hyperintelligent shades of blue may open. We do have a Shivan, Carl, living in the vents, so whatever you do don't go into the vents! If you do have the misfortune honor of meeting Carl, give him a sack lunch, and he may be placated enough to let you live. Rule #1: Do not EVER mention F, S, and 3 together. Thank you and enjoy your stay! :yes:

That is a bug, not anything you're doing wrong. For some reason the conditions for the Galatea's Departure Cue aren't being fulfilled.

Tell us: are you using the original FS1? Or the Port? And if the latter: what version of the Port?
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Herra Tohtori on October 30, 2006, 10:17:56 pm
Are you playing the original Freespace 1, or the Freespace Port which uses Freespace Open engine, improved graphic and such?

It indeed sounds like a bug, because the Galatea is supposed to jump out when she finishes her waypoints...


Regardless of which version you are playing, I'f recommend following as possible fast cure:

It's possible you have a corrupted pilot. He has been bribed by HoL, Shivans, Vasudans, McCarthy, GTI, NTF, FBI, KGB, NSA or someone else. The source of corruption is not important, but it can cause missions to screw up with most extraordinary ways, usually ships not arriving or ships not departing or doing much anything. Corrupt pilots are guilty of high treason and sabotage, making it impossible to complete a mission.

Try creating (or cloning, if you don't want to bother with setting the controls all over again) a new pilot and try if the campaign plays through with a new pilot. I know it sounds like the joke about "if Microsoft manufactured cars" and the first fix attempt would always be to close all windows, shut down, restart the car and try if it works, but I've seen it work so many times that I have stopped bothering why making new pilot fixes so many problems. I don't think I even want to know, anyway.

Try it and tell if it fixes the problem. If it doesn't, then We'll have to think of something else.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dobralov on October 30, 2006, 10:23:39 pm
This is the original FS1 running on a brand new machine...suffice it to say I have to run it with the WIN 95 emulator or my afterburners won't work (I discovered this while playing FS1 on Gametap).

I believe I have version 1.4...I'm downloading the 1.6 patch, maybe it will help.  I pray it will help.  I'm so sick of asteroids, I'll never be able to watch The Empire Strikes Back again.

But, yeah, I agree and this definitely seems like a bug...


Herra, I will also try your recommendations, but not tonight.  It's bedtime, and the Galatea has devoured enough of my life for today.  Seriously, you should have heard me screaming at the computer after something like my 10th attempt:  "(CENSORED) Galatea send more than two (CENSORED) fighters to escort your (CENSORED) three mile long (CENSORED), STUPID (CENSORED).  (CENSORED) YOU, YOU (CENSORED)!!!"


Dobralov
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Herra Tohtori on October 30, 2006, 10:35:03 pm
Is the "kill yourself five times in a row -> skip the mission if you want to" option there in original Conflict:Freespace? If it is, you can skip the mission and get to following mission... but the same bug may appear in many more missions after that if it's not squashed. As I said, I would create new pilot as first-aid and look what happens. Also, update the game to its last patched incarnation - it may well help in this kind of matter.

Anyway, if you haven't already done it, I would highly recommend grabbing also Freespace 2 from the various locations you can download it (mainly ShivanSPS's torrent or Home of the Underdogs), getting the latest Freespace Open stuff for it (recent build and MediaVP's) and also installing Freespace Port as a mod - unless you want to play the original game, which is very understandable to me. :D


Regardless of all fancy additions, FSPort somehow feels more like FS2, whereas the original FS1 just has some special atmosphere to it... perhaps it's just nostalgia, or maybe it's something else, I dunno. It's there regardless.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: BS403 on October 31, 2006, 12:44:46 am
It is not a bug the Galatea stops for about two minutes to prepare to jump or some bull****. You just have to shoot down the shivan bombs. However watch out for the blast, one hit your dead.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: PotzUK on October 31, 2006, 04:27:26 am
Looking at the mission in FRED, the Galatea is set to depart once the waypoints are done - nothing about waiting for shivan bombers?
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Colonol Dekker on October 31, 2006, 07:51:31 am
Patch it, then KILL THE BOMBERS FIRST!!! they do uber damage............
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Goober5000 on October 31, 2006, 07:23:26 pm
This is a timing problem that only affects certain systems.  The Galatea is supposed to jump out when its waypoints are done, but sometimes the internal calculations cause it to overshoot the waypoint and spend eternity spinning around trying to find it again.

The only solution is to edit the mission so that the Galatea jumps out when it's less than a certain distance (say, 50 meters) from the waypoint, as opposed to when it has "completed" the waypoint.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: BS403 on October 31, 2006, 09:05:53 pm
Still shoot down the Shivan bombs and the galatea will survive easily. I particularly hate that mission
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Mongoose on November 01, 2006, 01:01:13 am
...I don't recall the Shivan bombers ever doing appreciable damage to the Galatea when I played that mission, or at least not on Easy difficulty, at any rate.  It was the asteroids themselves that were the potential deal-breakers.  I usually tended to completely ignore the presence of the Shivans and let my wingman go off and play around with them, while I stayed with the Galatea and shot down the last few asteroids.  I have to say, though, that if I had experienced that waypoints bug in this particular mission, as opposed to in one or two others, I'm sure I'd have shared every bit of the OP's frustration. :p
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dobralov on November 02, 2006, 08:38:13 pm
Well, good news, at least--I finally passed this mission...

Yes, for some reason, the Galatea would reach the nav point and spin on its axis for an exorbitant amount of time.  Eventually, since I'm in a fighter and I'm attempting to guard a 2 km long ship against an asteroid field, attrition was insurmountable.

Shooting down the bombs was a no-go.  From too far away, I couldn't hit their torpedoes (remember I can't target Shivan ships/weapons this early in FS1), and from too close, the explosion obliterated my ship.

I think I invented some new swear words in my five hours of ramming my head against this mission.  I patched the game.  Nothing.  I tried cloning my pilot.  Nothing.  Then I tried the cheats--just testing things really--and discovered the invulnerability option.  Of course, the game won't let me advance the mission with this cheat turned on, but I did discover the Galatea would eventually make the jump, even if it was about ten to fifteen minutes later than originally scripted.

So...well...I cheated.  A bit.  I used the only cheat that will not forbid mission advancement: unlimited missiles.  Unlimited Furies, to be exact.  With them, I was able to take down the bombers (since the initial laser weapon does jack against their shields) AND take down each asteroid in about three seconds as opposed to five to six. 

Interestingly, the whole experience made me a better pilot.  I eventually learned to acquire the target asteroid, and while firing a half-dozen salvos, instead of watching the salvos fire, I was acquiring my next target.  I learned to fire the salvos, move on to my next target. and not watch the *oh so pretty even in 2006* explosion. 

So, in essence, yeah, I cheated.  But is it really cheating when the mission script breaks? Furthermore, I learned a few things about asteroid hunting.  I'm reasonably certain this will translate into a better sex life, but I'm still working it out.   

Thank you to everyone that posted a suggestion--you have nearly restored my faith in bulletin board communities.  Now if I could only find my copy of FS2...

Dobralov
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Herra Tohtori on November 02, 2006, 09:15:54 pm
...you have nearly restored my faith in bulletin board communities.  Now if I could only find my copy of FS2...


To complete your restoration process, may I point you to following thread:

Freespace 2 Download links (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,38195.0.html)


FS2 has been accessable for some time as download, and AFAIK neither Volition or Interplay have cared about it the least bit, so I recommend that if you can't get your hands on a reasonably priced copy of FS2, go and download it from either Home of the Underdogs, or ShivanSPS's excellent torrent (which will provide you with a theoretically ready to run Freespace Open installation) if you get better speeds via torrents.

I recommend you read karajorma's FAQ (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/FAQ/intro.html), and specifically the section "Surely downloading FreeSpace is illegal? (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/FAQ/general.html#Legal)". Excerpt:

Quote
The EULA - Here's where it gets interesting. FS2 has two EULAs. The one that is saved to your HD on install is just your average EULA. The one presented on install however is different as it quite clearly states "You may make copies of the Software for your personal noncommercial use and to give to friends and acquaintances on a no cost noncommercial basis". Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself.

...

My [karajorma's] view tends to be this. If you make a copy for someone you know you're protected by the EULA. Downloading a copy from the web and especially from P2P like BitTorrent and EDonkey is probably illegal as you most likely won't know the sources you're getting the file from.
However I subscribe to the HotU view that it is a bigger crime to let FS2 fade away. Considering that HotU have had a copy of the game available for download for a couple of years and no one has ever knocked on their door it's pretty likely that no one will be complaining at you for downloading a copy yourself (Which is why I included links in the FAQ - If ever I did get an official complaint I'd have to remove them). So feel free to download the game and enjoy it and if you're feeling apprehensive about it just make yourself some friends and acquaintances on one of the FreeSpace boards before you download it.


Make your own decision about that. I tend to agree karajorma's view - the fact that Interplay hasn't sent any forms of cease-and-desist letters to Home of the Underdogs clearly, in my opinion, shows that they do not actually have that much against it. After all, what would they gain by stopping it? It's not like they would sell any more copies of the game, since they are not making and selling new copies any more. So financial gain from NOT downloading would be nil to Interplay. If anything, it's free PR to struggling Interplay (which is AFAIK practically in its death throes anyway :()

So it might be illegal (a little :nervous:) but nobody will care of it and it will effectively cause no harm to anyone. I myself happened to buy FS1 and FS2 years ago bundled into one release costing about 10 € together. Nowadays it costs actually more.


Obviously there is no real moral dilemma if you have actually bought the game but just can't find it anywhere. In that case, I'd hit it. :lol:
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: karajorma on November 03, 2006, 01:20:39 pm
Hell in this case he even owns a copy of the game. He just can't find where he put it. This one would probably be legal under fair use :)
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Herra Tohtori on November 03, 2006, 01:30:22 pm
Like I said in the last sentence. :nod:

I'd hit it.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Mars on November 03, 2006, 05:04:16 pm
I'd hit it.

What? Where? Oh... damn nicotine

Everything is technically illegal... I'd get use to it.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dobralov on November 06, 2006, 11:02:13 am
Herra,

Thank you for the link to the FS2 open version.  I went ahead and downloaded it--I don't feel particularly bad about it since I bought a copy of FS2 back when it arrived on the shelves in '99 or whenever.  Yeah, it's probably still "quasilegal" at best, but my conscience will survive.

And holy God, the game looks stunningly beautiful.  I was going to play FS1's Silent Threat, but the eye-candy factor, combined with the already gripping story and enthralling mood, have seduced me.  Can anyone recommend good user-made campaigns for download?  I'm sure there's approximately 10,000 out there--which ones have struck you as nearly as amazing as the FS2 storyline?

Thanks,

Dobralov
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Aardwolf on November 06, 2006, 11:43:05 am
Quasilegal? :v: released the code (or somebody at :v: did, anyway), so I don't see it as being remotely "illegal." Unless someone else can prove otherwise.

Edit: *reads some of the stuff people said before me*
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dark Hunter on November 06, 2006, 02:45:35 pm
Can anyone recommend good user-made campaigns for download?  I'm sure there's approximately 10,000 out there--which ones have struck you as nearly as amazing as the FS2 storyline?

Derelict (rerelease) tops the list, hands down. I'd even rate it as better than the FS2 storyline, believe it or not.
Into the Depths of Hell is quite good, chapters 1 - 4 have been released, with 5 in the works.
Sync and Transcend if you want a dose of absolutely creepy weirdness...
Just Another Day 1 & 2 if you like comedy.

That help?
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Turey on November 06, 2006, 04:35:14 pm
Just Another Day 1 & 2 if you like comedy.

You forgot Deus Ex Machina (http://www.geocities.com/ipw47/dem.html)!
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Iron Wolf on November 06, 2006, 05:01:47 pm

Derelict (rerelease) tops the list, hands down. I'd even rate it as better than the FS2 storyline, believe it or not.

where do you download that?
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dark Hunter on November 06, 2006, 05:19:16 pm
You forgot Deus Ex Machina (http://www.geocities.com/ipw47/dem.html)!

No I didn't, I just didn't like Deus Ex very much. Funny at first but then kinda...... meh.  :blah:

where do you download that?

You can download that at Hades Combine. (http://hades-combine.com/web/index.php?ind=downloads&op=entry_view&iden=20)
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dobralov on November 06, 2006, 05:31:14 pm
I think I've downloaded "Transcend" and "Derelict."  I found "Into the Depths of Hell" at http://www.geocities.com/noiseball2000/itdoh.html

but the link for chapter 2 doesn't appear to work. 
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dark Hunter on November 06, 2006, 05:37:27 pm
You can get all the ITDOH chapters at Hades Combine as well. Except for chapter four I don't think they host the non-SCP versions anymore.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dobralov on November 06, 2006, 07:53:24 pm
So I installed Derelict and Transcend, and now, when I click on the "resume campaign" option, the game closes on the load screen and I get the following message:

Error: Can't open model file <New_Hornet.pof>
File:C:\temp\fs2_open_3_6_9.t\code\Model\ModelRead.cpp
Line: 1870
[This filename points to the location of a file on the computer that built this executable]

Call stack:
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone know what I can do?  Do I need to nuke and pave my FS2 open files?
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dark Hunter on November 06, 2006, 09:13:22 pm
You are using all the media VP's right? The 3.6.8 media vp's? If not, get them from this thread (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,39905.0.html). What that error means is that the campaigns (which were built using FSOpen) are expecting to find te upgraded Hornet Missile model, but are unable to. Try getting the media's, and if that doesn't work, check  Kara's FAQ (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/FAQ/intro.html) to make sure you've installed the FSopen correctly and are using the mod.ini files right.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dobralov on November 06, 2006, 11:25:44 pm
Everything was working fine until I installed the Derelict and Transcend campaigns...I moved those folders and nuked and paved the entire FS2 install.  It's working fine now, but I wonder how things will go when I install the campaigns again.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: bizzybody on November 07, 2006, 03:51:34 am
Huh. I played this mission in FSport on FS2 retail and it went fine. In fact, I never got to shoot anything! I couldn't figure out how to target the asteroids, the Shivans didn't do much damage to the Galatea and my wingmen took out all the asteroids in the way. The Galatea just moseyed up to the gate and warped out as programmed.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dark Hunter on November 07, 2006, 09:54:27 am
Everything was working fine until I installed the Derelict and Transcend campaigns...I moved those folders and nuked and paved the entire FS2 install.  It's working fine now, but I wonder how things will go when I install the campaigns again.


How did you install them? If you're just placing the files in the main FS2 folder, that is one very definite no-no. What you do is place them inside their own folders, then use the launcher to select the mod you wish to use.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Dobralov on November 07, 2006, 01:37:00 pm
Yeah, I didn't get that memo.  I suspected as much once I destroyed the game, but since I've re-installed everything, I'll be sure to do it next time.

So far, this community has everything most web communities lack--understanding, graciousness, and a willingness to help noobs like me...thank you all!

Dobralov
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Colonol Dekker on November 08, 2006, 06:31:56 am
Also holy-water filled flamethrowers :nod:
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: [DW]-Hunter on December 02, 2006, 03:57:28 am
So, in essence, yeah, I cheated.  But is it really cheating when the mission script breaks? Furthermore, I learned a few things about asteroid hunting.  I'm reasonably certain this will translate into a better sex life, but I'm still working it out.   

I have never ran into this problem before and i have played Descent Freespace NUMOROUS times. Maybe you have a beta copy of the game? I dont know sounds pretty odd. But who cares if you really cheat on an imposible screwed mission, atleast you will gain skill trying to beat it initially before you cheat. Besides, completing the game is more fun then being stuck on a mission :D

And the sex life thing, good luck on that. lmao
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Charismatic on December 04, 2006, 09:56:16 am


Herra, I will also try your recommendations, but not tonight.  It's bedtime, and the Galatea has devoured enough of my life for today.  Seriously, you should have heard me screaming at the computer after something like my 10th attempt:  "(CENSORED) Galatea send more than two (CENSORED) fighters to escort your (CENSORED) three mile long (CENSORED), STUPID (CENSORED).  (CENSORED) YOU, YOU (CENSORED)!!!"


Dobralov

Siggied.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Polpolion on December 04, 2006, 05:13:20 pm
Funny, when I played this mission, my copy allows the Galetea to shoot the asteroids, so I don't have to do anything :P
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: karajorma on December 04, 2006, 05:31:23 pm
Your copy of the port or were you playing on FS1?
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: wtf_cl0vvn on December 04, 2006, 06:18:56 pm
FS1 original lets the galatea shoot at the asteroids, but its not enough to save it. ::)
f----n blob turrets...*grr*

At least these have the cool...(undescribable[sic]) sound. I dont know whats so cool about it but i like the Terran Huge Turret sound in FS1 better than in FS2.



you know, i had this same problem on Failure To Communicate...the Hope never got into freaking position and either the Beta Aquilae comm station or I didnt survive...

so i ended up getting the port and that fixed the problem.
Title: Re: This is laughable--stuck on FS1, mission 6
Post by: Polpolion on December 04, 2006, 07:24:14 pm
Your copy of the port or were you playing on FS1?

port; 3.0.3 or whatever the latest release was.

SCP RC7, but it worked with other builds too.