First off.. I apologize if this is in the wrong particular forum/sub-forum, but I couldn't find one specifically suited to my question.
I should start with the premise that I am currently on dial-up due to financial restraints (no more broadband :( ) so true MP with others on a real server is out of the question anymore unfortunately.
I've been active in the Freespace 2 mod community for awhile so I know a tiny bit about how mods and server setups work and about "mod managers". I was quite pleased to find out recently that there was almost as many mods/add-ons available for my old beloved Freelancer game as well.
My question/problem is this.. I am currently running FLMM v1.4b4 and I have Discovery mod 4.84 installed. I have the "stock" mini-mods that came with FLMM installed as well as a few others (88 Flak's, Dynamic Itano Circus. The Void.. I'm having my hispeed friend download Crossfire for me) and all including Discovery are working fine in open SP [Those that have it.] (Yes, I'm gonna' grab 4.85 as well. Is that an entirely separate storyline?).
Flak 88 says in his readme that to play SP it's best to start your own dedicated server (LAN) and play on it by yourself as opposed to actually enabling HIS open SP (because of glitches); but for his mod.. the ONLY way I can make that happen (and even have my server show up in-game in the list) is to use his "freelancer.bat" file which seems to be the only way to force it to show up in my MP list.
Soooo.. question 1.. in Discovery's (4.84 remember) features it says: "Storyline singleplayer available when Open SP is disabled.". Is this referring to a Discovery specific NEW SP storyline or does that simply mean that if Open SP is disabled one can still play the vanilla Freelancer storyline?
Which.. leads me to question 2.. that being said; either way.. I HAVE been trying to set up my OWN server and enter the Discovery "universe" by myself (would that be pointless or do NPCs still exist?). Mind you.. I'm not anti-social or anything; again, I'm just on dial-up.
I've been unsuccessful at doing such a thing so far. I've tried using FLServer alone (that's what I have to start up on Flakk 88 even when using the BAT file), I've installed IONCROSS and gone through it (Can hardly ever get the server to say "ready".. it's just sets on "setting up".. but when it does.. I see nothing running in game [server-wise]) and I've tried using the Global Server Workaround mod (incompatible.. but I'm desperate). I also tried editing Flak's BAT file and simply substituting what IPs, domains and port settings I could find regarding the Discovery mod but that didn't work as well. In every case my main problem is I can't seem to set up my OWN Discovery server and have it show up in-game to fly around in myself and experience Discovery's new features.
Now what DOES seem to work as I remember (You have to forgive me if I seem to ramble on or appear forgetful; but I was at this for 16 hours straight last night without a resolution and I haven't slept yet.) is that I CAN get the mod to run if I use the Fresh Start (beta) mod using Open SP which let's me choose some starting parameters (as I recall), but I would like to play on my own server withOUT SP "perks" to begin with. Is that possible?
Of course.. if Open SP is the same as client/server MP only without any other interaction.. then all of this would be moot.
I noticed in some other threads that some suggested using Cannon's server app as an alternative to IONCROSS but I can't find an active link to the download anywhere even using Google. OBTW.. I also tried using the exe shortcuts for both the PvP and RP MP servers and "altering" them.. but they never show up as well. When I start up "vanilla" Freelancer and use the GS workaround mod and FLServer.exe I DO see servers online so at least I know that I can actually acquire servers.
Sorry again for being so drawn out, I just want anyone who can help/suggest to know what I'm trying to do and if so.. what can be done. Thanks.
One last thing.. it seems after some kind of tweak.. I could get my own server to come up while Discovery was running (as a LAN server) but whenever I picked it and hit connect.. I'd get some kind of "can't connect" or "was disconnected" message. I have a LAN port with drivers installed.. but no cable plugged in or my main PC networked. (I own a disconnected router though.)
Thanks for the info. All Flak has is a batch file that appends server shortcuts to the game's executable and some "if that doesn't work" tips in his readme. I did however notice that when one starts a dedicated server for his mod using FLServer.. a FLHook window opens as well. I've seen the info in Discovery's readme about using FLHook as well but it makes no sense to me as some of the files and folders it refers to copying don't exist in my Freelancer install (nor the FLMM) anyway.
Here's to hoping someone can steer my in the right direction.. Cannon? ;)
The 4.84 "Open SP - Disabled/Enabed" option will simply cancel the storyline, letting you play the game without it's limitations.(or basically, you are free to roam around everywhere, with absolutely no campaign)
The changes made on 4.85 are not compatible with the SP Campaign, so it is deactivated. There is no way to activate it without crashing the game.
Thanks again for your replies.. the both of you. That clears up a lot for me now.
So there is no Discovery specific SP storyline I'm missing. ''Storyline singleplayer available when Open SP is disabled.'' simply means that you can play the vanilla storyline.
I'm also assuming that playing Open SP would be the same as playing by myself on my own server; or for that matter.. using the ''Fresh Start" mod. I'm grabbing 4.85 tonight so that'll be nice to know Rommie. MarvinCZ.. I also want FLHook as well (in case anymore mods use it) so thanks for pointing me to a full version.
A couple of last questions if you will..
How does Freelancer (being as old as it is) play on dial-up? I joined an empty server the other night (so as not to screw up anybody's game) and it seemed OK, but of course, I was by myself.
Also.. I now have the last three versions of FLMM (1.3, 1.4b4 and I found a 1.5b1 somewhere). Can these all be installed side-by-side (run separately of course) and co-exist? Because I noticed different mods call for different versions specifically. A bit more complicated than using the Freespace 2 Open Launcher.. but oh well.:unsure: