Crossfire 1.8
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I’m not sure how you managed to make 4 GB of content, but it looks great. When I get the time I will definitely check this out. How does this mod play like? Does it play like vanilla Freelancer or does it try something new? (In terms of flight mechanics and overall balance.)
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As being asked to make some ads after the Top100 MOTY nomination I clearly had no time for such additional work since the Crossfire mod version 1.8 has been released under public beta conditions and requires some final bug fixing.
Considering the final size of 2,7Gb that were developed over the past 2 years every modder can imagine how much work it is to correct the minor remaining issues now. I expect to fix the last problems within the next 2 weeks. The mod itself is definitly the most complex work that I ever did and the most complex project that has been done for FL so far. But this version with its +100.000 changes and its changelog that reads like a book is just the begining of something even bigger. Crossfire was designed to be a mix of story based environment and a dynamic developing world. With tenthousands of new infocards, rumours, news and quests we tried to open a new chapter of an epic lancer based story. A story which is told over a period of 100 years. The real storyline mode is meanwhile under development and will be included to the mod when the quest in combination with the DLC (Download Content) reached a certain point.
The flaw of the previous versions (the high serverload with many players online) is gone. The 6000 files of this mod got optimized that much that performance of this mod is just amazing.
Since my time is currently very limited I prefere not to spoil more and do what i announced a few days ago. As the oppinions and views of the players are most important for a mod Ill quote the review of a player which plays the new mod for a few days meanwhile.
Quote by Burro:
CrossFire 1.8 a modification to Freelancer.
Where to begin ? The first thing is that CF 1.8 is huge.
There are 95+ new systems with 160+ new planets, stations, and battleships most of which can be docked on/at. All of these bodies have information cards which can be accessed by placing the player cursor or targeting recticle on the planets, stations, and battleships.
Additional information can be found by reading the rumors in the bar in the dockable planets, stations, and battleships. The rumors are also the starting points for countless story quests. Quests are detailed and well thought out. Quests involve exploration, combat, and solving mysteries by finding data disks and other items. The quests are a great way to really experience the soul of the Crossfire series.
The bars are also where a player can take missions to earn credits. These credits can be used to purchase reputation fixes, ships, equipment, and repairs. Credits can also be earned from salvaging the new wrecks, looting the new depots, killing npcs and selling the escape pods, trading, and smuggling.
The credits come in handy as there are 290+ new ships which can be purchased and flown. The combat ships range from monster Capitol ships to light fighters. A player may trade/smuggle with any ship, including combat ships, however CrossFire also has ships specialized for these tasks. The specialised trading/smuggling ships range from the tiny Rhino to the massive Soulforge Train.
There are many new weapons and equipment types which can be mounted to the ships. The variety of ship, weapon and equipment combinations is almost endless to provide you with a truely custom ship built to your specifications for how you like to play the game.
Hmmm…… “soul of CrossFire” What does this mean? What was added to the Freelancer story? Lets have a look:
Strap in Pilot! Entering an amazing new world of FreeLancer… with Crossfire
Chapter 1
A few months ago a Rheinland explorer found a new Jumpgate to a hidden system in Omicron Alpha. When they entered this system the first time they were shocked. It was the main reason for the rising Nomad activities in the whole Sirius sector. Containing one planet and over 20 Jumpgates to Nomad systems, Liberty systems, Borderworld systems and many unknown systems it’s a major threat for all houses. Rheinland, Liberty, Kusari and Bretonia decided to send their fleets to get this system under their control. But the nomads were already waiting for them… hundreds of ships got destroyed and the whole Kusari fleet is still missing after they were chasing a Nomad battleship. But finally it was a victory and the Nomads had to leave. Because of this massive fight above the planet it is now called Crossfire. A few weeks after this important victory the houses decided to colonize the unknown systems. But because of the Outcast in the neighbourhood these stations and planets are under permanent attack.
Chapter 2
Incoming transmission from the Kusari Fleet: “We are under attack by nomad forces… we need help our position is 12.)"§1233… who ever can hear this please help us”
The Kusari Fleet is still out there and under attack by nomad battleships and gunboats. The Fleets spread out to find a hidden system called Death Valley and to rescue the Kusari. Meanwhile in the Nephele System a new Sleepership was found which looks the same way the old alliance sleeperships looked like. Scientists entered the wreck to explore it and to have a look at the ship database. “Russian language!!!.. it’s a coalition ship”Chapter 3
The nomad battle: Even with reinforcements coming to Death valley the Kusari are not able to destroy the Nomad armada… the fights already last several weeks now. Only a single Kusari fighter has found a way through the blockade in Death Valley and managed to deliver a disk which was found in an unknown wreck to the security forces on Planet Crossfire. Local scientist analize the datafiles now.
The Sleepership: This ship has a coalition origin… but what is it doing here? It is allready a few hundred years old and it seems like it got attacked. Maybe the database is showing more information and maybe some guys in the new systems have heard some rumours.Chapter 4
A way to our old home, the earth, has been found again but there is no life anymore. The colonies are destroyed, earth is empty and everything looks like the nomads have something to do with it. The houses try to recolonize the sol system now and find out what has been going on. Maybe the databases of the old science centers on earth can tell us more about the history of sol and where the missing coalition fleet is.
Chapter 5
The Coalition, we never thought that we would see them again but we were wrong. Before Earth got destroyed they managed to launch their three sleeperships. Two of them have found their way to the Altair sector and now we are at war with them again. Will this never end?
Chapter 6
The return of the Dom’Kavash was a heavy strike back for the Coalition and the houses of Sirius. The Dom’Kavash territory is growing with the support of the Nomads and Coalition is close to a destruction. Nobody knows where those ships come from or how to survive their attacks. We have only one chance… forget the rivalities of the past and unite with the Coalition and fight together. This is the only way to survive the biggest threat that the mankind has seen.
Chapter 7
Not long ago a giant fleet of Coalition ships broke through a heavy Dom’Kavash blockade and discovered a hidden hypergate. A large group of fighters entered this hypergate but never returned. What is on the other side? This is a question that hardly can be answered. All tries to through failed and Dom’Kavash motherships constantly jump through this gate to Altair. Only the united forces of the houses and the coalition might be able to find out what is going on there.
Chapter 8
Eventhough the Dom’Kavash technology is much more effective than everything we can think of and every try to attack them did fail, it is very surprising that Sirius and even Altair were not overrun by hordes of bio-mechanical ships yet. Of course the people which lost their families and friends in New London, Sol, New Berlin, Omicron Alpha and X-3043 will think different but those Dom’Kavash invasors were nothing more than scouts. Maybe they are searching for something. Prof. Dr. Itao Hamasaki from the University of New Tokyo brought up a theory that the Nomads have sent out a final call before the wormhole of the Dyson Sphere collapsed and that the Dom’Kavash are back to investigate on this matter. In the end this does still not explain why those giant fleets in Altair do not attack us. Even the Nomads seem to wait for something. Maybe the answer to this is originally a question. Why did the Dom’Kavash leave our region of the galaxy thousands of years ago? Professor Hamasaki believes that the answer to this question is hidden in the ruins of an old civilization which we call Ancients.
This is only a taste of the deep story lines which CrossFire has to offer.
All of this is available in single player or multi player. Multiplayer has additional features.
Ok, thats all cool but what are the graphics and visuals like?
Well the graphics and visuals are stunning. Please forgive me for boasting, but they are that good and better especially in high def. Imagine rotating planets with atmospheres rendered in amazing detail. The nebulae and special effects in vivid colors and depth… It must be experienced to believe.
A great thing about CrossFire is that it can be optimised very simply for the most advanced pc as well as a very basic pc and still have beautiful visuals and smooth gameplay.
Multiplayer additional features:
CrossFire allows for friends to form groups called clans. Clans may purchase a system if they wish. In their system a clan may make any rules they wish for that system.
Roleplay is divided into 4 basic categories Police, Mercenary, Pirate, and Trader/Smuggler.
CrossFire has regularly scheduled events for most days of the week.
One special event called ASF vs.CSF takes place for one full week each month. It is a very cool event which allows players to join one side or the other for that 7 full days. This allows for larger group battles and fun. This is a great way for people new to the server to make friends and experience crazy good action.
The Crossfire community:
We have a very active forum in which it is very easy to get help with what ever you need. Online games can be very confusing to new people and at CrossFire you will find a very friendly group eager to help answer questions and help you in game. The nice thing about our community is that you can engage it as you prefer. Some new players dont want any spoilers or help and that is fine. Others want an easier path and help will be gladly given. It is completely up to you.
Come visit us at http://www.crossfire.swat-portal.com
is it legal to marry a picture 
;D
