Beta Patch for 1.4

[norb]

Almost there, we hope to post later tonight. I'm building the installer right now. We'll do the same as always and have a password protected folder in the hopes that it won't get out as it's just a beta. It will be absolutely required to run the latest map pack. It's also very big. We repackaged just about all the graphics in a new format, so you have to download them all again. Please check it out for us and if there's bugs, please post them here. We hope to get the sdk out soon so that you can see how the new sprite packing could affect mods, but for the most part mods should still work. I'll just edit this top post with the details when we're ready.

user: beta
pass: tester

http://www.norbsoftware.com/Downloads/B ... eta1_4.exe

250 MB!!!!

Version 1.4

New Features

* We now use a texture packing technology to help increase performance.
* A new button has been added on the toolbar that brings up the Courier menu.
* An additional new button has been added that shows the courier messages sent.
* There is now a Sprite Ratio Game Option. This setting adjusts the number of troop sprites displayed per man for all game modes. The default is 0 which uses the default setting of four troop sprites representing one man.
* A new Additional Battles screen has been added.
* Sandbox play has been improved by adding a much larger score limit. It is now possible to set the number of Objectives, time limit, and points awarded.
* The dumpoobscen command now adds the Unit ID's to the scenario.csv that is outputed.
* The default Score Limit in Sandbox games has been increased from 8000 to 20000 so games won't end so early.
* Couriers now spawn down the OOB chain of command. If you order a corps general to move, he will then order the divisional generals, and they will in turn order brigadier generals.
* New 'brigade' level couriers have been added which result in couriers being sent to each regiment or battery.
* A distance check for issuing courier orders by toolbar in SP has been added. If the recipient is within a short distance, no message will be sent.
* At high realism courier settings, all toolbar division & brigade formations now work within the courier system.
* Added a limit to the number of couriers spawned after courier death. It is now only one per human player, and editable in the Options section of the sowbg.ini file for AI player. Command is: NumAICouriers=2
* We have added new command for the debug section of the sowgb.ini file that automatically writes the game DB files at the end of a battle. Command is: AutoGameDB=1

Bug Fixes

* Ammo wagons now use the artillery sprite ratio so ammo wagon troop strength is not affected by sprite ratio changes.
* The command line entry prompt no longer appears while writing a courier message or using chat in the multiplayer lobby.
* A bug has been fixed where receiving a courier message in multiplayer causes any message you are working on to close and all typed text is lost.
* New courier commands have been added for detach/attach subordinates so that it is now working properly in courier messages.
* The Square formation has been edited so the third quadrant releative to the commander is aligned correctly.
* A bug has been corrected where brigades would start moving before their commanders received their courier messages.
* Form up orders are now based on destination rather than unit location when the order is received.
* Killed couriers no longer spawn repeatedly.
* Troops now repond to courier orders to march at double time.
* The game no longer crashes when hitting enter during lobby chat
* A bug has been eliminated where if you tried to issue a 'move to this map point' order by courier, but then changed your mind and clicked 'remove last' from courier order, the map stayed up on screen with no close box. If you clicked on the map, the game crashed.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

Oh man...your killing me here...hurry...

Thanks Norb!

[norb]

Uploading now, but it's a big one!!!

Just a note for those that want to save disk space.

After you verify that the patch is running ok and if you want to stick with it you can delete the following:

Base/Graphics/Units/*.*
Base/Graphics/Terrain/*.*

There's a couple other files, but these are the big space savers.

[Chris G.]

Stand on it Norb, finish line dead ahead bro.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

Haaa, anything over 2 megs is hugh for me.

[norb]

The server is crazy slow. Sorry about that. There's not much I can do at this point. I have it running but it's 250MB at 25 k/s, so it's going to take a bunch more hours.

Don't wait around. I'll post the link in the morning.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

If you need extra speed I could let you use my server. No one uses it anyway. Haaa.

Lots of bandwidth.

[gunship24]

sweet! looking forward to see whats updated. Does file come with beta patch notes?

[Michael Slaunwhite]

240 megs isn't so bad... The transfer time is between 11 and 14 hours. Not bad at all, it just gives me time to get more local MP in.

Thanks...

[Hancock the Superb]

Under 6 minutes!