I wish i had started my modification ages ago!

Like the title says…
So ive been building my modification’s for what seems like an age now, and have been wandering if it’s really worth it.
After starting fresh because of errors or sudden change of hearts over and over, i finally found my feet and starting coding what i would call “a worth while” project.
I used DwnUnder’s TC starting kit and added various hex edits for visual and tactical improvements, like long range scanners/visuals, hud limits, 8 players per account etc etc. Added massive planets, suns etc to the edited huge systems, edited .dll’s to name and give info cards to everything and changed some of the vanilla text so that say “Invite to Group” became “Invite to Squad” and too much more to mention. I even have a little story on the back ground, the present and the future of the mod.
In previous versions i was adding far too many bases, systems and npc etc and always ending up with a huge mess, so this new version is alot more simple and the ini’s are all clean and error free.
Then i started with the Single player missions…

After making loads of missions in earlier versions of the mod i found (after a while) i got my head around them but was lacking in idea’s. So returned to the star port (where else?) made a post and was delighted by the replies and got back to it.

The missions are far better now that i have stuck with each mission idea and just re-coded where needed, but they are taking ages to do right… ive even been adding Cut scenes and Camera shots to try keep a feel for the vanilla game, just set in a new enviroment with new challenges…

The first mission you take off juni, is to beat Dexter Hovis in a friendly, best out of 3, fighting contest… you must get dexter’s health right down to win a round… then you are repaired by repair ships on standby before the next round starts. And given the respect of the gambling spectating NPC along with access into the next system if you win.
In multi-Player, players need to take on some missions from the bar and/or do other tasks to get the same rep.

So far so good, yea?.. NO!
It’s only now i realise the HUGE amount of work still left to do to be happy with an end result… Maybe im setting the bar too high for myself. Maybe im starting to accept Freelancer could be completely dead by the time im finished… to be honest, i dunno!

One thing i do know is, i will be carrying on regardless and i can only hope that there will be someone to share it with in the end… even if its my great grand children!

Thank you for your replies and kind words.

To be honest i don’t think joining a mod team is a good idea for me, or atleast for now.
Although it would be an honor to work on a great mod such as crossfire, i don’t really get as much time as i’d like to take
on my modification as it is, and i have never been to good with deadlines either. This is a hobby after all and i kind of see my modification as “my baby” for want of better words.
I’d like to see it grow into something i can be really proud of and something i can share with others.
If anyone was willing to help that dream become a reality that would be great. But like Wodk4 pointed out, Singleplayer and (i guess the building of ) multi-player files speak for themselves.

Thank you for the tip’s about the tool’s but ive never tried to model or texture anything ever in my life and i am guessing that i wouldnt be very good at it. Besides that, call me old fashioned, but i still like Freelancer’s stock.
The downloadable model packs ive tried are good, but dont really fit my modification.
Adding small things can lead to great results i find, like headlights on player ships, increasing effect distances and new lights etc etc, well atleast for my mod.

Hey NeXoSE, cool looking modification. It’s good to know other’s are out there too working on big project’s. Like RimShot, i like like diversity in mods and hope you get to a stage where you decide to release it.

Bas, thank you, but im having alot of fun in the making of the missions, and oftern find myself throwing away missions that i thought would be a good idea. I would hate to have asked someone to build something as stressfull atimes as missions, then maybe have to do it to them, i couldnt.

Startrader, when im not at work, i’m already a hermit!

Thanks again, Khayman.

This weekend ive been working on the single player mission 01a again.

All started well. i had already coded the main part of the script a best out of 3 fighting contest v Dexter Hovis.
Without going into too much boring detail, i coded the “if you win” and “if you lose”, first to two wins… wins. With the repair ships repairing the player and dexter between rounds, i thought i would add the announcer starting the fight and all the spectating NPC voices/comms.

the first few tests were great and pretty much turned out to my liking… you take off, (camera shot into a cut scene) and your ships flight controls are disabled, the NPC start betting and bantering, then the announcer starts the first fight and you get back controls… if you win/lose all good.
Ive added in most of the mission title and objectives text by this point too.

After maybe 5 or 6 tests of the mission, strange things started to happen… sometimes Dexter would get repaired, then seem to go completely nuts! sometimes after getting repaired, he just sits there and waits untill the announcer starts the fight, instead of returning to his starting position. Other times all goes well with no issues.
once he engaged cruise engines and went for a spin before deciding it was time to try kill me… i have to admit it was pretty funny but now im trying to find out why or if some kind of clamp is needed.

hey,
Just wanted to give a quick update for anyone that might be interested.
The mod is coming on in leaps and bounds at the moment and is starting to feel like the mod i wanted it to become.
Since the last post i have added more into the missions and the systems for the storyline, ive added cloaking NPC, repair NPC and designed the missions so the player has more interaction with objects and bases with in the systems.

Ive introduced quests with in the mod that are generated by rumours heard in the bars and added awards/prizes for those that complete them.

Still got a long way to go… but im still pressing on and hopefully will be posting screen shots and/or videos of progression. that said my old pc struggles with video recording, so it may have to wait untill i get a new one.

P.S - if anyone is interested in helping out with the mod, or has idea’s, or is just plain curious… i could post an old/base copy of the mod for people to try out.
Im having problems with my web browser so i have to use a different pc to … well browse, post, upload / download etc.
So if you want me to post a copy please just reply here or send me a pm.

Thanks for reading,

Khayman.

So ive made a few small videos of some tests with the modification on an older version.
The Starspheres belong to Cata123(afaik), a permission request is pending.

Repair ships test

Hovis mission coms test

Flight Controls Test

P.S - If anyone has any starsphere’s they are willing to share / donate to this modification please let me know. I do understand people have great pride in their work and will ofcoarse give any due credits.

Thanks in advance of any responce.
Khayman.

Thank’s for those links and your kind words M.o.D.
heres another quick video of the same mission where
Dexter Resorts To Regens