New version of Discovery modification for Freelancer, Discovery v4.82, was released recently. With improved balance, stability, and server performance, Discovery 4.82 is a significant step forward in comparison with 4.81. Numerous new setup options allow players and server administrators to customize gameplay according to their preferences. We've even incorporated Open SP into the mod so that you don't need to download any additional patches to enable it!
You can get more info and new feature list from Discovery 4.82 Final Release thread. Download links can be found there, too.
The mod was already uploaded to ModDB.com website. Visit Discovery profile at ModDB here: http://mods.moddb.com/8017/discovery-freelancer/
The site is also providing mirrors for both normal and 7zip version of the mod. I remind that 7zip version is about 40% smaller than normal zip version, but it's compatible only with Freelancer Mod Manager v1.4 (beta). Zip version is compatible with both 1.3 and 1.4 versions of FLMM.
ModDB.com website, one of the best and most popular (if not most popular) modding websites, is now running a contest to choose the best mod of 2006 - Mod of the Year 2006. Discovery is present on ModDB since version 4.80, and now we are expecting your votes for our mod. Just click on the image, and you'll be transferred to Discovery profile.
It is highly recommended to register before you vote (registration is simple), cause guest votes will not be counted in most situations.
In the meantime, Discovery 4.82 is already in pre-release stage of beta testing. Don't miss the final version when it's available!
I've installed FLHook on server. It's a serverside tool that provides certain anti-cheating protection, and adds some advanced features to Freelancer server.
Among features of FLHook that are currently enabled on our server are:
1) Dock killing protection: when player undocks, he/she will be invulnerable for 4 seconds and won't be able to harm others.
2) F1/Disconnect protection - works only if you are in space! Now using F1 or disconnecting won't allow to log in back for 10 seconds. During this time, your ship will be hanging in space and might even be killed.
Time may be increased if it won't be enough.
3) Additional messages. Server will display the reason of death (killed by player with player name, killed by NPCs, committed suicide). If player dies in same system where you are, death message will be highlighted in different color.
4) New York is a real free-from-PvP zone now. Player weapons cannot harm other players, including missiles and probably mines. NPCs can still kill players, and vice versa - player can kill NPCs in this system.
Admins may prohibit PvP in other systems too (temporarily), if they see fit.
And some more features that I'll comment on later.
If FLHook won't add any lags to our current server setup, we will most likely leave it enabled when 4.82 Final will be released.