Posts by Bullwinkle

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
cmon rienlanders?
i did not even see em in CF
its not how the rep system in Fl made unless im missing something

The rep system is normal throughout Crossfire.

You are in an independent Edge World system that is just a couple of jumps from Rheinland. Who else would you expect to find there?

For that matter, Rheinland-based merchants travel throughout Sirius (and beyond), so why is it surprising to find any faction in any system?

Furthermore, one of the clues leading you to where you are told you that there is a Rheinland base in that system. Remember? Or did you miss that clue by asking for too many spoilers? That is the definition of "spoiler" -- it "spoils" (or ruins) part of your fun.

The purpose of forums is to ask and answer questions, however, there are some limits.

Tips on getting help in almost any forum:

• The "help" that you receive on non-commercial forums (such as Swat) is freely donated by people who are interested.
• If you want people to answer your questions, then at least try to be interesting. I do not mean to be insulting, especially if there is some language barrier interfering with communication. But my point is that people will be more likely to answer your questions IF THEY WANT TO ANSWER THEM.
• Be relevant. Freelancer is partially an adventure game. Crossfire Quests are clearly like an adventure game. The fun is in solving the puzzles on your own. Asking people to solve puzzles for you is contrary to a primary source of fun in the game, isn't it?
• In other words, you can ask questions. But people will ignore you or make fun of you if you repeatedly ask silly questions that you can, and should, solve on your own. I am more patient than some other folks around here, but I will make fun of you, too, after answering the same type of question too many times.
• Learn from your previous questions and answers, and try to ask more interesting questions if you want more help.

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
i jumped into utopia and was attacked by Rienlanders.Why? ...
Why this sudden aggression?

Did you ask them too many questions that you could have answered by yourself if you had made an effort?

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
there is no harm in trying.

Sure. Go ahead and try. Maybe you can pester Microsoft into changing their minds.

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
i mean whats the point in keep the source code to yourself if id does not get u money

As I said, several reasons, some of which might be debatable in wisdom, but it is still their choice.

Among other things, the legal review costs in making a commercial product open source would be substantial. It would probably not be approved even if anyone wanted to put up the million bucks or whatever it would take to have the question properly reviewed.

Consider this: If Chris Roberts still had control of the intellectual property (IP) in Freelancer, do you think that he would be making half-assed movies instead of the best space sims in the world?

Microsoft bought out all of Digital Anvil and Roberts' IP. If anyone could do something great with the Freelancer source it would be the Digital Anvil team.

Asking the same question multiple times will not get you different answers, Hellraiser. If you want to debate Microsoft's wisdom, then go ahead and debate it... with Microsoft, please.

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
have u guys really ignored my last thread
if so u did not tell me the reason

I cannot speak for others. Speaking for myself, yes, Hellraiser, I ignored your previous question in this thread.

Why? Well, among other things, you told us to ignore the question if it was stupid.

Why has nobody explained why your question is stupid? Well, they did... before you asked it. It is the same answer that several people have already given you: Microsoft is not in the business of giving away their source code. There are many reasons for their logic. Some of those reasons may be debatable in their wisdom, but the bottom line is still the same: Freelancer belongs to Microsoft and they can do whatever they want with it. Making their products "open source" is not something that Microsoft has been interested in doing.

Ever.

But feel free to contact Microsoft and ask them if you like.

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Originally posted by voxxraiden
I've flown every square in Utopia and i think I might had messed this system

No, you did not mess anything up. But you did miss something.

Don't forget to read the news...

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Originally posted by Centaurian
FL will not launch at all ...

"Problem starting multiplayer...[E5]"
...
Now I'll have to waste the next couple of hours re-installing the whole works...

Before you reinstall Crossfire, Centaur, take a look in your Freelancer folder for a folder called "EXE2". If it exists, then delete it. Then try to launch again. It is a temporary folder, and the launcher does not seem to handle its existence gracefully.

I had a similar problem due to crash.

If that does not work then... well, you know!

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
is there no way u can get the code?
dont u have some friends in microsoft that grant u access to the code?
cant u email microsoft for this?

Maybe for a few million dollars, Hellraiser.

Microsoft is not in the business of giving away their source code.

Not yet, anyway!

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
Well then play in MP. IT is much more fun than SP.

Thank you for the invitation. I may do it sometime.

However, my lifestyle is not conducive to MP. I play when I can, often at odd hours, live in a different time zone from many of the regulars, have a longish ping time, and frequently pause the game to answer the phone or IM or email or some other interrupt. All of those factors are problems for MP.

I may still join in sometime; perhaps for an event. But MP is best for people who can do it consistently at semi-consistent times (as with any team sport).

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
yeah but my ship will get destroyed if i dont get to utopia first
is it possible to buy DK fighters or at least weapons?
will me becoming green to DK ruin my rep with other factions?
@Bullwinkile what is your name ingame?

It is an adventure game, Hellraiser. Go explore.

If you are afraid to try something, then save your game and try it anyway. If you do not like the results, then restore your saved game.

Hint #1: Your ship will only be destroyed if you let some gang of enemies destroy it. Certainly no single enemy (NPC) could destroy your ship, could they?

Hint #2: Don't let enemies destroy your ship.

Hint #3: Some human weapons are pretty good. PPCs (Sol) and Coalition Gatling guns (Coalition Bases) are both good.

Hint #4: Some alien weapons are better than the best human weapons. If you want them, you are going to have to take them.

Man up or flee... as a Freelancer, you get to choose your path.

Hint #5: If you try to take equipment from a friend, they will quickly become an enemy. Therefore, it makes no difference what your rep is before you try to take the equipment... they will definitely hate you after your attack.

Hint #6: Utopia is no easier than Altair.

Face it, in Freelancer, somebody with friends and big guns will hate you. In MP you can meet your own friends with big guns. Pay some tough-looking mercenary to escort you, or find a helpful clan member to show you around. You never know what tricks you might learn.

Hint #7: If you really do not like adventure games, then try Discovery.

Regarding my in-game name, I have not yet played CF in MP.

I may someday.

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
where do i go to become neutral to DK?

Hint #1: Maxbur told you "Utopia"

Hint #2: Maxbur is correct.

Hint #3: Maxbur was also correct the second time that he answered your question.

Do you see a pattern here?

Sorry... just kidding. I could not resist.

Hint #4: You may want to go to Altair before you go to Utopia. It is not a requirement, but you may want some of the equipment that you can pirate from the Dom Kavash in Altair.

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
What do i do in altair for that sol Q

What do you do for the Sol Quest? You follow the clues.

You already have coordinates... what do YOU think that you should do?

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
some1 told me there is a Dimentional rift in XX that will take me to altair

I thought you said that you were going to post spoilers only in the Spoilers Forum?

Still teasing... it is not a huge big deal, but remember that others may read this thread in the future. Be considerate of those who do not have the coordinates yet.

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
what is a dimentional rift?

It is like any other dimensional rift in science fiction. It is a "doorway" between dimensions.

In the currently-most-popular-version of string theory, there are 11 dimensions. Some of them contain "stuff" that we cannot see or measure (dark matter and dark energy). Also, there is the possibility that time and distance may behave differently in other dimensions.

Therefore, one theory is that you might be able to enter an alternate dimension, take one step forward, then return to our 3-dimensional universe at an entirely different spot -- perhaps in a different solar system or even a different galaxy.

Now stop asking questions and go try it!

EDIT: Oops... I intended this for the "Feedback" thread:

OP, you crack me up sometimes! I never know when to expect the little surprises, and they often come at the perfect moment.

I was looking for a smiley and stumbled upon your 404 page.... that has to be the funniest error page that I have ever seen! It is worthwhile typing in a bad address just to see it!

It would be difficult to list all of the great things in CF, but a couple stand out:

- Hyperspace was both creepy and enticing. I felt physically uncomfortable in there. It was a weird experience, but awesome.

- I made it to Altair in my Dagger with DIFFICULTY_SCALE = 2.00, and I thought that a pair of Dom Kavash Gunboats was as tough as it was going to get. I was pleasantly ... um ... "surprised" by the Inner Core. "Astonished" might be a better word. I won't spoil it for anyone but, wow! Incredible!

PS: The Dagger's average life expectancy in the Inner Core was just a few minutes.

- I see that you have been thinking about "release" of CF and announcing it to the world. I do not know how many people will respond to that, but some of the key influencers (you know, senior players on other boards) may try it very quickly. In my experience, there are still a number of "rough spots" in CF 1.8. Given your resources it is amazingly stable for a mod of this size, but some people will run into problems. Crossfire is excellent "beta quality" right now, but you might want to consider holding the release until it is really solid. It's just a thought, and I see that you have said similar things in the past, so maybe you are already on top of this.

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Originally posted by SWAT_OP-R8R
wiki answer?

EDIT: If you are suggesting that I put my response about Quests into a wiki, then, sure, I would be happy to! Just point me to the right place, and I will post it. Or, if you want to post it, that's fine, too.

Otherwise, I do not understand what you are asking. Sorry!

A) To which person (or topic) are you replying?

2) What are you trying to say?

If you are asking whether a wiki would be helpful, then, yes, it would.

If you are referring to the Crossfire Database, then it is out of date, the password is broken in SP, and it does not have the answers to these questions anyway.

I am not complaining about the Database... I am just pointing out that a single player may have difficulty using it.

I have not given anyone a direct link to the database because I do not know your intentions for it. If you want the database to be easier for people to use, then maybe we could give them the link? At least until the password is updated? It's your call.

If you are talking about something else entirely, then I am not understanding you. Perhaps I have missed something?

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
what exactly is the spoilers form?
is it for all the hints on quests?

I see that you found the Freelancer Spoiler Forum

A "spoiler" is a complete answer to a puzzle in an adventure game. It is called a spoiler because it can spoil (or ruin) your fun, since figuring out the solution to the puzzle is an important part of the game.

Most players only look for a spoiler when they have already tried everything that they can think of. Even then, they usually want a hint before getting the final solution.

People ask for hints here but, if you want the full solution (like the exact coordinates) then that belongs in the spoiler forum. It is mainly a courtesy to other readers of the forum (who may not be as far along in the game as you are).

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
Bullwinkle, have u been playing Fl from something like 10 yrs? did u help in the development of FL cause u have the solution to every Fl related problem. U jut got a new admirer

Thank you for the kind words, Hellraiser.

Yes, I have been playing Freelancer since it came out... 2003, I think. Before that, I played every other game made by the same people -- Chris Roberts, formerly of Digital Anvil. Roberts invented the modern space simulation game with his Wing Commander series, Privateer, and Starlancer and Freelancer.

For my tastes, nobody has ever made better space sims than Chris Roberts and Digital Anvil. Unfortunately, Roberts went to Hollywood to make movies and appears to have left the game scene. It is tragic, because Roberts was brilliant at games but is mediocre at movies. (*heavy sigh*)

No, I was not a Freelancer developer, but I am an enterprise trouble-shooter with solid programming skills (among others). I seem to have a knack for quickly understanding complex systems and being able to describe them in ways that most people can understand. I often wind up as something of a "translator" between technologists and the rest of the world. I do the same in several other fields -- not just Freelancer.

While there are many great ideas in this thread, some of them are difficult (or impossible) to implement. The two ideas that I suggested to OP are easy for him to do... if he wants to. They are the easiest ways that I can think of to solve a large number of player questions and issues.

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
so the secret missions r the part of the storyline? cool.i goota go to C-4 in sol.it that a part of the storyline?So this kind of storyline is called a passive story line,right?

Yes.

Adding cut scenes and dialog has been difficult for Freelancer modders, which is why most other mods do not attempt to advance the vanilla Freelancer story line.

Crossfire is different -- the addition of "Quests" extends the story line without cut scenes. AFAIK, Crossfire is unique (as of this date) in the innovation of Quests.

Quests are a combination of News, Rumors, Secret Storage Containers, Black Boxes, Neuro-Net "Info" (F9) infocards, and other Freelancer objects that offer clues to solving a series of puzzles. You know all of those stickies at the top of this forum? The short stories? If you read the first one, it will partially explain the idea behind the short stories and the quests. The short stories are designed to work with the quests -- in order to give the player a deeper understanding of what is happening in the game.

Quests are brilliant in their simplicity. They are so obvious in hindsight yet Crossfire is the first mod to use them. Quests are an excellent example of creatively "thinking outside the box".

Hopefully other mods will follow Crossfire's leadership (with their own, original, material, of course!).

Hellraiser: Yes, the puzzle that leads you to Sol is a Quest. But coordinates or other spoilers belong in the "Spoilers" forum. Sometimes people need a hint, but not the complete solution.

voxxraiden: You are soooooo close! If shooting the emergency beacon did nothing then you will have to try something else.

Hint #1: Have you ever seen an Emergency Beacon before? Did you try pressing F9 to see whether the Neuro-Net knew anything about it?

Hint #2: There is at least one other clue in Crossfire (perhaps more) that requires pressing F9, or clicking the (i) button, to read the Neuro-Net info about the object.

@Radu4Moto: The GMG Hypergate can be entered in SP. It requires following the Quests.

Rafaelo: Yes, there is more to do. I got stuck at the same point and had to go back to a previous save game and replay some of the Quest clues in order to find the next step. There are several clues telling you to follow Jack Blinch's trail, but it is not obvious what to do when you get there.

Hint: The clues direct you to Omega-41. Have you found all of the secrets there?

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Originally posted by SWAT_OP-R8R
i'll take a look at the singleplayer settings next week, maybe i can change some settings

Two small suggestions that would cure many of the newbie questions and difficulties that I see on this forum:

1) Allow Manhattan ships to be purchased at Level 0. That would be less "difficult" for newbies and less "tedious" for experienced players.

My experience is that Crossfire difficulty is good as it is. Difficulty progresses smoothly from New York to the rest of Sirius, and into Altair and the Inner Cloud. Players can adjust DIFFICULTY_SCALE if they want more fine-tuning.

The only real "problem" is Mission 1, which makes some people quit too soon, and is boring for others.

The ability to buy a Rhino or Patriot before Mission 1 would solve the problems for both newbie and experienced players.

2) Add "training" rumors or News items in New York.

For example:

• Press the "Z" key to "slide" in space. Use your thrusters to control direction and speed. Sliding allows you to turn more quickly, and allows you to keep your weapons aimed at the enemy, while making your own ship more difficult to target.
• If you are in autopilot mode ("Go To...") when hit with a cruise disruptor, press "Esc" to cancel the autopilot so that you can slide ("Z" key).
• Lasers are fast and accurate but do little damage. Try harder-hitting weapons. Lavablade Plasma Cannons hit much harder and are very cost effective.
• Weapons platforms have long range and high power. Take them out first, then go after enemy fighters.
• It is most cost-effective to learn to kill your enemies quickly. Try hard-hitting weapons -- as many as your ship will take.
• It is often better to have more weapons than it is to have the highest level weapons.
• If too many high level weapons use too much power for your ship, try trading a couple of guns for missiles or lower-level weapons.
• If all of your guns have the same speed, it will improve your targetting computer's "lead" estimate.

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Originally posted by SWAT_OP-R8R
its ok
np
i just react sensitive on such topics as i take them very serious

I know... and giving credit to original artists is a serious topic. You must have put thousands of hours into Crossfire.

But life is a balancing act. Too much of anything is... well... too much. Part of the price of being a celebrity is that people will tease you... it happens to all public figures.

Smile and enjoy it!

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
U fund this on planet PITTSBURG?

I told you to look around, Hellraiser!

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Originally posted by Phillips
Um, looks pretty much the same.

What?! I don't see any similarity at all, Phillips. One is clearly yellow while the other is somewhere between pink and red.

Just kidding...

but OP does credit his sources in the ReadMe and elsewhere, and there are several members of the Swat community who live in countries where Russian is common.

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Originally posted by SWAT_OP-R8R
what i am wondering is why newly registered ppl...

OP... Phillips' post is more funny than offensive. He is obviously making a joke (ok, maybe a "pointed joke") and anybody reading this thread will notice his registration date. I know this is a sensitive topic for you but, come on, the guy is amusing. It is not as though he is trying to fool anyone. Plus he put some effort into getting those screen shots in exactly the same position -- so give the guy a little credit. It's a good joke!

And, really... it is not as though you do not deserve to be teased a little sometimes, right? You frequently paint a great, big, bullseye on your forehead when you make absurd statements without explanation. You KNOW that you deserve to be kidded about it, don't you?

Everybody knows you are a great modder, OP... but taking an aggressive attitude toward every newbie on the board just makes it look as though you don't actually want anyone to play Crossfire.

Laugh a little! Life is too short to spend it fighting with everyone who shows interest in your (excellent) work. Let them express themselves, in their own ways, just as you like to be able to express yourself in your own way.

Consider this alternative: Laugh with Phillips and tell him who you credited in the ReadMe. Wouldn't that defuse any possible barb while simultaneously encouraging people to have fun with Crossfire?

Taking a tangent: Hasn't this thread served its useful purpose? It is becoming ridiculous. I hate looking at it, and I am sure that you and others do, as well.

Could we all, please, save the fighting for PVP in game?

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
My game in SP is very smooth CF is the first FL server ive played in
i will talk to my isp
thank you for your advice
how do u get he bullets in your message?

You are welcome, Hellraiser.

If CF is smooth in SP, then that suggests a network issue.

"Network" is everything from your Windows installation to your hardware, to cables, ISP, and the same things on the CF server side. There are many possibilities, but the highest probabilities are on your end of the connection. The second most likely culprit is your ISP.

Either way, your ISP is your best source for help on network issues.

One more test to try: Try another mod with another FL server. Preferably a server with a ping below 100. Below 50 is even better. That test will help to narrow down whether there is something specific about your connection to the Crossfire server causing you trouble, or whether it is a more general problem with Freelancer, your computer, or your ISP.

Edit: To make a bulleted list, use the "List" button above the text box where you enter a message.

For more info about formatting forum messages, Google for "bbcode".

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Originally posted by Hellraiser
its obvious that the gpu of someone else does not crash the whole server.

While your logic is sound, your premise is faulty, Hellraiser.

Server crashes can be caused by many things. A player, stuck in an unexpected state for too long, can be enough to cause a crash. The server is designed to protect against that, but it cannot anticipate all possible client problems.

So, yes, trouble on the client (player) side can crash the server. It does not matter whether the problem is caused by the client's GPU, Windows installation, software, hardware, or network -- if a client does something that the server cannot handle, then the server either kicks the client off, closes gracefully, or crashes. Freelancer usually chooses to crash rather than to shut down gracefully -- which makes troubleshooting difficult for OP when he has thirty players, with various equipment, connecting from all around the world.