FT Improver - a way to improve Fallout Tactics

Over two years have passed since I last updated "Sprite Creator". The reason is that I had a lot of duties and problems. This summer I have found a little time and decided to spend it not on improving Sprite Creator but on Fallout Tactics hacking. I have just uploaded to NMA the result of my work, I've created a program which I named "FT Improver". The description of the program is included in the program files so I will not describe it here and please read the readme file carefully, it contains important information. FT Improver 1.1.0.1 gives modders a lot of advantage:
- possibility of adding new action points cost types definitions stored in structure format,
- possibility of adding new animation names,
- possibility of adding new ammunition types,
- possibility of adding new weapon types,
- possibility of adding new weapon sound types,
- possibility of adding new armour types and armour sounds,
all this available directly in FT Tools and in BOS.exe executable file. The program modifies the executable code and data only in memory, so it won't harm your files. I've tested the program and it works correctly.

I'm interested in your opinions and comments, especially from modders, because this program is mainly for them.

 

It's strange because Microsoft claims that 32 bit applications can be run under 64 bit system, because it has an WOW64 emulator. Did you get any message from your system or from FT Improver or the program just caused an exception?

Thank you for your recognition of my work. It's nice to be appreciated.

I have for you super news. I work currently on a armour types patch. This patch is much more difficult to create than previous patches. But I succeeded in forcing the entity editor, map editor and even the game to accept new armour types for BOS race, change the appearance of a character. I still have a lot to do. I must test sounds and make patch for armour sounds. I'm again busy so I will have to slow down my work on this patch, but this patch will be a sensation!

 

This error says that you have already run FT Improver and you try to run the second instance of the program. This actually is not an error but limitation. But this error may also indicate a completely different problem. For example, you run FT Imprower which runs BOS and loads Improver_shmem.dll library. If you will quit from BOS.exe process, for example by terminating this process, the dll library may not be unloaded and will stay in the memory. When you will run FT Improver the second time, Windows system will return the handle to the existing dll library, which is already initialised, FT Improver checks whether the library is already initialised, if dll is initialised it will display the error code: 13 and will quit.

Please try this:
1. Restart your system
2. Start FT Improver
3. If this works, then quit from the game and try to start FT Improver the second time
4. If you will get the error code 13 this may indicate that dll library hasn't been previously unloaded
Please inform me whether you have started for the first time FT Imrover successfully and whether you have quit from BOS process in normal way (not by terminating the program) and whether you are able to start the program the second time.

 

Everything is possible and the patch you request is already possible to create. Creation of this patch will be probably a bit more difficult than creation of Action Points Cost Types patch.

My work has sense only if its needed, thank you for the interest in my program. Feel free to make more requests. First I would like to finish the patch on which I work currently and the next patch will be the patch you have requested.

By the way, I'm able to add new armour types which change character's appearance depending on its gender. For example, leather and metal armours change the character's appearance depending on its gender.

Now I'm able to connect new armour type with existing prefix used in sound files. For example, armour type "Power" uses prefix "Pow" in the sound files. I'm also able to add new prefixes for sound files which will be connected with armour types.

 

This patch doesn't change any permissions, it adds possibility to add entirely new armour types for BOS race. The game has some internal rules for new armour types, which I don't change, for example, super mutants can wear new armour types, but don't change the appearance, because I connected a new executable code to the cases for metal armour and power armour of BOS race. Some races won't be able to wear new armours. All default permissions are preserved, for example you still won't be able to wear raider armours, to bypass this you will have to copy raider sprites to different directory, rename them and copy back to sprites/characters/ directory.

I can try to create another patch, which will allow to change default appearance of BOS race, of course the appearance won't be set in the game, but externally, in a text file.

The patch is ready. Soon, I will upload it to NMA.

 

FT Improver v1.1.0.1

FT Improver 1.1.0.1 contains an armour types patch and armour sounds patch.

Every patch is described in details in the "Readme.htm" file.

 

Thanks for the speech tree suggestion and tips. I imagined myself the same, many times. I'm extremely busy with life, so that's why my FT modding takes so long and I have a free time only in summer holidays. I like discovering game secrets and I would like to greatly improve it.

I'm not sure if I understand. Do you want to tell me that I should find Win32 API function to grant oneself access rights to a memory page containing variables?

I have similar opinion as Ausir, but FT also needs new triggers, conditions and actions.

Do you mean a website which address starts like www.uc**********.

 

Yes, FOT graphicall engine is a king in comparison to other games.

We cannot expect miracles, but I will try to improve the game at least partly. My knowledge isn't endless so I won't be able to add everything to the game what I want to add, but still I am learning new things. Also, it would be great if some FT enthusiasts would like to join to my project. If someone would like to create its own patch for FT by using FT Improver source code, please write in this thread.