DF-21 Forums

[Norgath]

Sorry I don't know if this is even the right forum for help questions, so sorry if its not.

I downloaded a bunch of the levels from this site, and I'm particularly curious to check out the dark tide series, however I'm having problems installing them. I'm running DF on XP service pack 2 through Dosbox. I remember reading directions (although I don't remember the specifics since it was about a week ago) on how to do it and I tried with several different mods but they didn't pop up in the mission list. I know it's probably really simple, so could I get pointed in the right direction? Thanks.

[sheepandshepherd]

Well, first off, does your normal DF game work fine in Windows? Sound, music, graphics, and no crashes?

If not, you should check out Dosbox. Otherwise, you'll be missing out on all the excellent quality sound and music of mods like Dark Tide. Plus, it's a lot less annoying.

It shouldn't be that hard to learn . . . I hope you've used MS-DOS before

Once you've installed Dosbox, just drop all the files from the mod (usually a BAT file, a GOB, an LFD, and a readme) into the Dark Forces directory (usually C:\dark\).

Then open up Dosbox, mount your C drive (type "mount c c:\" and ignore the warning), navigate to the dark forces directory, and type in the filename of the BAT file that came with the mod.

If you did it correctly, the entire level list should be replaced with just the one mod level.

By the way, to play original DF in Dosbox, just follow the above instructions but type DARK instead of a mod's BAT filename.


But anyway, if your DF game works fine without Doxbox (highly unlikely), just double click on the BAT file that came with the mod and it should run . . . I've never tried this with Windows XP, but from what I've heard, it's a bad idea

[Norgath]

Thanks, I got it working.

[Burning Gundam]

I never got used to using BAT files (And I know this is the noobiest thing to say) so I just type this in the command line for DOSBox.

C:\DARK

DARK\DARK -u(filename.gob).

I should probably start using BATs though because the briefings haven't worked for me yet...

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I don't think outside the box... I customize it.

[The MAZZTer]

You mean:

mount c c:\dark
c:
dark -u<gobname>

That will work for levels without any special dfbrief or other replacement files. Most levels with replacement files come with a .bat you can run instead of Dark Forces which does all the grunt work.

Or you can use my Dark Frontend or Uber Jedi Mod Manager launchers... :p

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[Burning Gundam]

Kind of a dumb question, but does that integrate with DOSbox?

_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it.

[klasodeth]

[Burning Gundam]

What I meant was from gob to frontend/Uber Jedi Mod to DOSBox.

_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it.

[Burning Gundam]

Nevermind, I found it out by myself. Never bothered to check the launch options

Huuurrrr.....

Owait... still having an issue too. Got the GOBs to work with UJMM, but it's not extracting the LFDs and putting them in the LFD directory, so it's not reading briefings or anything (forgive me for being a n00b). Is there something I'm doing wrong, Mega?

_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it.

[LawgSkrak]

What if you're not using DOS box?

[The MAZZTer]

Burning Gundam: Right click the mod and click properties, and then under the files tab you can setup which files to copy to the DARK directory (except DFBRIEF and FTEXTCRA files which should be specially selected in the comboboxes instead).

This info should be already filled in for most of the good mods I've played myself... I might have forgotten to package the Dark Forces mod data with the most recent upload.

Skrak: Usually you just extract the mod ZIP to your DARK directory and run the BAT that comes out. If there is no BAT, there's usually just a GOB. If you know how to use the command prompt you run dark.exe -u<GOBNAME>. Or you can copy a Dark Forces EXE shortcut and put -u<GOBNAME> at the end of tha Target field in the shortcut properties.

Keep in mind if you're using Windows 2000, XP, or Vista, sound will not work and some other things may be wonky. You will need to use DOSBox or some other solution to have a proper gaming experience.

_________________
http://www.mzzt.net/ | I am a respectable admin with a respectable sig.

[Burning Gundam]

I ended up figuring it out myself, thanks anyway though.

_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it.