

	- - - - - ---------============= //// Freelancer Fifth Gear v1

	- - - ------========== // By BlazeME [blazeme@gmail.com]

	- - ----====== // www.fl-fifthgear.tk

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

	- - - ------========== // Mod Desciption

Freelancer Fifth Gear is an expansion of the original game, it does not add more fractions or add imaginary ships. All changes have been made to improve the already brillient Freelancer into a competitive and addictive game. Graphics have been increase so now you can see ships from far away. New physics, speed and overall style make is an extremely slick experience that it not to be ignored. The NPC AI and new tactic elements should keep you guys on your toes. :)


	- - - ------========== // Notice from BlazeME

		I am sorry to say that this will probably be my last Freelancer mod since I am going to move on to other games, probably HL2 using C++. I have enjoyed making this mod and I hope that you enjoy playing it. Thanks for all of your support and advice.

		Sorry that I didn't make a patch but I did add/remove/edit about 200 files. So it looks like you'll have to redownload the 40 Mb file.


	- - - ------========== // Warnings and Cautions

WARNING!!! Use of this mod has a significant proformance hit on your pc. It is recommended that users who found running the original hard/laggy to not use this. It is for modern computers.

CAUTION!!! This mod increasing NPC intelligence to high levels. Players who found the original Freelancer hard should not expect to do well in this mod.


	- - - ------========== // Obvious Changes:

		No-CD Patch*
		Intergrated Modified Version of OpenSP
		Graphical Improvements
		Choose your SP Fraction
		Disable Game Music Option**
		Enhanced NPC AI
		Enhanced Rep System
		1000 Cruise Speed
		Max lv is 40
		Improvement of Game Stratagy And Tactics
		New Engine and Game Physics
		Several New Weapons
		New Subsystem Upgrades
		Widespread System Changes
		Veriety of New Ships
		9 New Commodities
		Freelancer SDK Intergration***

		You will have to find out the rest...
		

*IMPORTANT: Please do not abuse this no-CD patch, it is strictly designed to save time for the user and to make it easier to edit for me. If this applies to you: Go and buy the game you cheap person!!! Lack of sales is why we don't have a sequel yet!!!

**For listening to your own music by running media player in the background.

***In the previous version, may of the bugs being reported were present because users were not using the SDK v1.3. This problem has been indetified and the SDK has been intergrated.


	- - - ------========== // Min Game Requirements

		For Freelancer with Fifth Gear installed on. You may need to lower your setting to adapt to the graphic improvements.

		Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
		256 Mb RAM
		1.5 Ghz Processor
		940 Mb Hard Drive Free
		32 Mb 3D Graphics Card
		CD Drive (to install game, not needed to play)
		Audio

	- - - ------========== // Recommened Game Requirements

		For Freelancer with Fifth Gear installed on.

		Windows XP
		512 Mb RAM
		2.0 Ghz Processor
		940 Mb Hard Drive Free
		128 Mb 3D Graphics Card
		CD Drive (to install game, not needed to play)
		7.1 Audio (best Freelancer experience)


	- - - ------========== // Career Opprotunities

		Fighting: Taking missions is now more profitable, but the NPC AI is better to compensate for most of this increase. Low end missions are around 5k but missions can go up to 1 million at more difficult places. However, missions over 500k are extremely hard, generally you should only do them on MP with your whole clan. All houses now have VHF's so their is much more choise to suit your playing style.

		Trading: Commodities now cost more, but sell for more. This means more profits per commodity than before. Buying a freighter or transport is necessary because they hold 10 times more than fighters. Fighters cannot trade anymore, they have been crippled with a small cargo space for loot only. Heavier freighters have bigger cargo space but none compare to the armored transport. With 2000 cargo, its 4 times bigger than any freighter but it cannot defend itself from light fighters so only use in on MP with friends.

		Mining: Previously a ignored career, mining is now very profitable. First, its free since you don't have to buy anything. However, transport or a CSV would help in the efficiency. Second, commodities are worth more so the mining is worth more. Third, mining provides goods 5 times quickers than before since asteroids provide more loot.

		Salvaging: Finding looting wreaks is always useful, but it is not much of a career. Weapon prices have not gone up, but commodities have. Only look for weapons if you play to use it.


	- - - ------========== // Combat Guide

		Speed: Speed is critical in this game. Thrusters can get you around in short but effective bursts that refuel quickly. Staying still is only going to get you killed. Cruise has a short charge time, so you can use it to flee the area. However, cruise disruptors are very effective so try to avoid them.

		Movement: Strafing and reverse thrust is excellect for outmanuvering enemy fire while giving out your own.

		Loadout: Weapon choice must be for your target. Find out about the enemy you intend to fight for a long period of time. There is  a 50% damage bonus for finding the right guns, and a 50% defense bonus for finding the right shield. Faster fire guns are good for light fighters, where it is hard to aim accuratly. Slower fire weapons provide more damage but require more aim so a VHF is best for them.

		Ship: Ship selection is dependant on your playing style and your money allowance. See the Ship Information Section.


	- - - ------========== // Trading Guide

		Costs and Rewards: More money can be made from more expensice commodities, but you need money to start with. Start low and work your way up.

		Dangers: Little danger unless you go into the borderworlds or other non-policed areas.

		Jumpgate Trading: The easiet way to trade and also the safest. Following the tradelane and jumpgate route is good for new traders with little knowledge of Sirius and little skills at fighting.

		Jumphole Trading: Far more rewarding, jumpholes can get you around Sirius faster for more profits. They are usually protected by Pirates, so are dangerous. Experience players have new trade routes to find, some of the new routes make fourtunes.


	- - - ------========== // Weapon Walkthrough

		Fast Fire Rate: Better for less accurate players or Light Fighters.

		Slow Fire Rate: Better for the more accurate players. More damage per second is done.

		Long Range: Light Fighters can take advantage of their reverse speed, and keep you of range from VHF's to do alot of damage. Excellent tactic.

		Short Range: Not very useful. Is often an pain when LF's use the above tactic.

		Plasma: Best vs VHF's

		Tachyon: Good against HF's

		Particle: Good against LF's.

		Laser: Good against LF's.

		Laser Beam: Good for and against LF's. Constant beam of damage. Needs a good power plant.

		Neutron: Best vs VHF's

		Pulse: Good against shields.

		Photon: Good vs all LF's and HF's


	- - - ------========== // Ship Information

		Light Fighters: 	are now the fastest ships in the game. Their advantage in battle is that it is very hard to hit them. Their disadvantage is that they usually have very small cargo holds and not many guns. The Starflier is the lightest and fastest in this class however lacks the cargo space to be upgraded alot. This speed can be a disadvantage to it because it cannot land on some stations using its docking squence.

		Heavy Fighters:		are now the mainstream fighter of the game. They have a balance of good strength, guns and cargo space. Their disadvantage is that they are slower in battle than light fighters so that they damage easier. The defander, however, can almost fly like a light fighter.

		V. Heavy Fighters:	are so strong that they can absorb most damage and have a big cargo hold to take in loot and be upgraded. These ships are the only class that can hold lv 10 guns (special guns on loots). Their disadvantage is that they are slower still and can be swarmed by light fighters.

		Freighters:		have much vaster cargo holds than before. They are the heaviest class and too slow to dogfight therefor limiting them to trading. The Pirate and Liberty freighters, however, are capable of defending themselves because they are faster/lighter but have smallers holds. The Rheinland freighter has the largest hold of 700 units but flies like a rock.

		CSV:			this is the junkers and hogesha fighter. It can carry a large cargo hold but, unlike freighters, can fight just like light/heavy fighters. The only disadvantage to this fighter is that it only has 3 guns.

		Armored Transport: 	this is the smallest transport and can fit in conventional docking bays. Its hull strength and cargo capacity are over four times bigger than the heaviest freighters but still has the capability of mounting heavy turrets. Its only disadvantage is it does not have a shield generator.


	- - - ------========== // Subsystem Analysis

		Powerplants: Provide your ship with its power. Go up from lvl 1 to lvl 10. Levels are the same as guns.

		Engines: 3 Engines. Provide the speed that your ship will go at and its cruise charge time.

		Scanners: Determine the distance you can detect ships from.

		Tractors: Determine how fast and from what distance you can tractor loot in from.

		Armor: Increases you hull strength and the effiency of your nanobots.

		Shields: Protect your ship from attacks and collisions. Shields regenerate, hull doesn't.

		Thrusters: Boots your ship along at high speeds for half a second. Regenerates back in 1 second.

		
	- - - ------========== // LSF Notice Regarding Illegal Smuggling

		As a representitive of the Liberty Security Force, I would like to bring several notices to your attention.

	1. We will no long ask permission or announce our scanning of your cargo hold. We have decided that it alarms criminals and makes their escape easy.

	2. We are to remind you that the following commodities are illegal:
		o Artifacts
		o Caramine
		o Slaves
		o Terror Bombs (in the Kusari Region only)

		Thank you for your attention.


	- - - ------========== // Message from the Order

		The order is in need of support, come to the Osiris to assist us in the defence of Sirius. We are currently stationed in Omicron Alpha and are under heavy attack from the nomads. ***End of Message***


	- - - ------========== // Multiplayer

		There is not going to be an official Freelancer Fifth Gear server as originally though. I do, however, encourage other to make their own server for it. If you would like any help with making a server, post your problems on the Lancers Reactor Mulitplayer Forum.


	- - - ------========== // Phoenix Warriors

	If your wondering why there is a Phoenix Warriors website url is at the beginning, its because thats the clan that I'm in. They haven't done anything for the mod, but they have made me a sig, provide forums and a download mirror for the mod.

	If you want to join, goto www.phoenixwarriors.co.uk and fill out the form. We are looking for good players and no n00bs.
	We are looking for good Natural Selection and Counter-Strike: Source players in the UK. Thanks.


	- - - ------========== // Special Thanks

		Digital Anvil & Microsoft: For Freelancer

		IGx89: For FLMM

		Xerx: For making OpenSP

		Louva-Deus: New StarSpheres from eoaRealSpace

		Tasiin: New Sounds and Effects from his many mods

		Rsdnt-Evle: Komodo Kusari VHF

		awts0c: Firbolg Rheinland VHF

		Paul: Bretonia VHF

		Linkin Park: 'Faint' (Intro movie music)

		Bakie: For download mirrior and webhosting (offical forum)

		Geocities: For Webhosting (offical site)

		DotTK: For the web address

		Fearian: For Avatar

		Lancers Reactor: Download Mirrior and Troubleshooting


	- - - ------========== // Bug Fixing Thanks

		Cyber1: Highlighting all of the bugs for me. What all mod makers wish for.

		=EOA= Players Consortium: For SDK v1.3

		Anton: FLModelTool - Used to lower Armour Transport size.


	- - - ------========== // Highest Thanks

		God: For Giving Me My Talent & Abilities

		Jesus: For saving me and everyone


	- - - ------========== // Bugs

		CTD: Do not set best paths to New YOrk.


	- - - ------========== // Troubleshooting

Problem: Game crashes.
Possible Answers: 
	Reinstall the game
	Make sure no other mods are running
	Restore the backups on FLMM and install FFG again
	Get a better computer
	Email me at blazeme@gmail.com

Problem: Mod won't install
Possible Answers:
	Try using FLMM
	Open FLMM and double click on 'Freelancer Fifth Gear'
	Deactivate all other mods
	Do you have FLMM?!
	Make sure FLMM knows the FL directory

Problem: Can't dock on a base.
Possible Answers:
	Line yourself up with the dock
	Buy a slower ship
	Give up
