Posts by Bullwinkle

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
what is the isp gonna do?

There are several ways in which your ISP may be able to help:

• Most ISPs have paid, professional, service technicians who speak your native language and who help people to solve computer problems every day. So, no matter what problem you might be having, there is a chance that the ISP might be able to help -- just because it is their job to try to help you.
• ISPs often set up the equipment in your home or office in an easy and "general pupose" way. But, sometimes, they can help you to "tune" your equipment for lower latency and/or higher performance.
• Many ISPs have a variety of semi-intelligent filters designed to "shape" traffic by giving some traffic higher priority than others. They may be able to turn off some filter that could be slowing down your connection to the Swat server.
• None of the above are guaranteed to work -- they are POSSIBLE ways in which your ISP MIGHT be able to help you. The only way to know for sure is to talk with them.

In general, troubleshooting (or "problem solving") is usually a matter of eliminating possibilities until the only thing left is the cause of the problem.

Sometimes suggestions that sound unlikely are just that -- attempts to remove unlikely-but-possible problems from the list of "possible problems" in your troubleshooting effort. Therefore, even though you may think that calling your ISP is unlikely to help, doing it eliminates one of the possible sources of trouble. Does that make sense?

Also check:

• Does Crossfire perform smoothly in SP? Check Crossfire systems as well as vanilla systems. Some systems are more demanding than others.
• Can you play other Freelancer mods smoothly in MP?
• If you find a smooth Freelancer server, what is your ping time to that server?

The ping times that you report are not "fast" but they are typical for an international connection. Are they "good enough" for playing a game online? Only you can answer that question, for your specific choice of game and server.

Quote

Originally posted by Petite_Fraise
I purchased the ship "Azan" in Vorkuta ...

description of this vessel is false!

Just a tip on ship descriptions: The history on this is that OP asked for ship description ideas before he was ready to tell anyone what the ships were like. So the ship descriptions contain a substantial amount of random information that may, or may not, actually describe the ship.

So it is important to examine the ship as others describe.

I suppose the descriptions are similar to what you might hear from someone trying to sell you a used car -- you still might want to take it to a mechanic to have it examined before you buy it!

Caveat emptor!

Quote

Originally posted by burro
Same thing is happening to me. Widescreen 1920*1080 native. How did you fix it?
I was going to report this in bugs thread after checking some more stations but if you fixed it, please share your method

It is not really a bug -- it is a side effect of the Freelancer engine, which is limited to 4:3 scaling. While you can easily change the display resolution; filling a wide screen with Freelancer (without cutting off something) is not so easy.

If your monitor will do 1440 x 1080, then try that.

Some people use keyboard commands rather than the top menu, so they endure missing part of the top and bottom of the screen.

Others claim some success by changing both fonts and screen resolution, but you may have to experiment a little... and that can be tedious with the fonts.

I would be surprised if there is anything that OP or his posse can do about it. But, on the other hand, OP has done a few things in Freelancer that seem "impossible", so I would not bet against him!

Try a 4:3 resolution and see whether you are happier with the results.

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
(1) for the third time...
(2) does liberty in CF have a better fighter than the defender
(3)if yes then please type the specs like lvl i have to be n price and the location
(4)
(5)also does NY have something better?

Display More

It is an adventure game, Hellraiser. You have not looked very hard.

Tips:

• There is a gate from New York to a system where you can buy excellent ships and equipment. I do not know its current lock status in MP, so find it and try it. Or ask people "in game".
• The Crossfire Server is a multi-player (MP), role-play (RP) game. Meet other players, make friends, ask for help in the game. Use the Chat feature to talk to others.
• Do not be so impatient, Young Padawan! A few hours is NOTHING in Freelancer... most people here have been playing Freelancer off and on for seven years. Be patient and thorough as you look around.
• Use the Turret View ("H" key) to look around as you explore. Sometimes you can see things at greater distance than your scanners.
• If you see something unusual, go check it out.
• The best parts of Freelancer are not on the Trade Lanes. Look around.
• Use the Nav map to display Patrol Routes. Look at friendlies, enemies, and neutrals. Find out what the NPCs are patrolling.
• If several Patrol Routes converge on one spot, there is usually a good reason.
• There is a database of Crossfire information -- ships, bases, equipment, etc. The password for it is broken in Single Player (SP), and you don't get the password until you reach Mars. You can get to Mars from Liberty, but not from New York. Ask about the database in game -- perhaps someone can give you better information. (If you want a spoiler, ask in the Spoiler forum or PM me).
• I prefer some of the small freighters over most fighters. The best small freighters have better armor and more guns than most fighters, have larger cargo space (good for earning credits), and they maneuver only a little bit slower than a Titan Very Heavy Fighter (VHF).
• In New York, that means a Rhino. It is inexpensive and far more effective than it appears.
• I also like the APC Armored Transport and the Bullpup Mk3 Assault Freighter. The Serafina Smuggler/Pirate Freighter is a close "third place", in my experience. You will have to go deeper in the game to find them. The Bullpup Mk3 is nearest New York.
• Note that fighting in a freighter is a little different than in a fighter... it helps to become a good pilot.
• Most people in MP seem to prefer the more maneuverable fighters. That's ok, too. Experiment to find what works best for you -- and what works best in a specific situation.

In summary, yes, there are better ships available from New York. Also from other parts of Liberty, including Dublin and New London.

As for Level, that may be a larger issue. It is easy to handle in SP, but I am not so sure about MP. You can ask in-game or just go find out yourself by trying it.

Good luck!

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
Ping statistics for 82.165.193.103
packets sent=4.Received=4, Lost=0<0%loss>
Approximate round trip rimes in milli-seconds:
Minimum=174ms,Maximum=195, Average=185ms

That is not too bad for an international connection.

Maybe the server will improve as OP gets it tuned up?

Does lowering your display settings make any difference to the choppy behavior in MP?

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
well i know the server ip.i can just go to cmd and ping it right?

Give it a try. I don't know for sure whether the server is set up to respond to a ping. If the server responds then it will give you an idea of how long it takes for your signal to get there and back.

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
First of all thank u Bullwinkle disabling advanced shader worked and CF 1.8 is B-E-A-utiful.........CF in works perfectly SP then why not in MP?

Excellent! You're welcome, Hellraiser.

If CF works well in SP but is choppy in MP, it could be a latency issue. Do you know how to ping the Crossfire server?

Also, OP has been working all week on the server. I don't stay up-to-the-minute on the server health, but I think that there has been some server lag, which could be what you are seeing. Perhaps it will improve in a few days.

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
CF multiplayer is very choppy
is it because y pc is old and low end?
OR the latency
what r the system requirments for CF anyway?
Fl vannilla used to run very smoothly in my comp

Display More

Wait... back up a moment, Hellraiser. Does this mean that you got Crossfire working? Congratulations!

Yes, one of the (many) cool things about Freelancer is that it runs on modest equipment. It is one of the few worthwhile games that runs well on most laptops.

And, yes, in order to create some of the gorgeous systems and cool special effects, Crossfire is more demanding on the equipment. Especially in some of the deeper Dom K'Vash systems with a zillion asteroids.

Press F1 at a base to use the Options screen, then select Performance, and move the main slider to the left. Experiment to find the setting that works best for you. I found that I can run at full detail in most systems, but there are a few where I have to turn it down. Find out what works best for you.

Latency could also be an issue in MP. You are asking the right questions, but the only person who can answer them with any certainty is you! So try CF in Single Player mode to see how much of your choppiness comes from your PC and how much from the Internet.

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Originally posted by SWAT_OP-R8R
we have not given up but my day only has 24 hours

I wasn't talking about your day! I was talking about Freelancer. I'm volunteering to help, but only if others are interested, too.

Quote

Originally posted by SWAT_OP-R8R
ive been tlr admin long time ago

Yep, I thought so!

Well, whatever happened, it is unfortunate.

And, no, of course TLR was never the only place to go... it was just the best. That is why you were there back then, right?

Quote

Originally posted by SWAT_OP-R8R
there was trouble for years

but who cares... its gone

Yeah, I got the feeling from other threads that tensions grew over a period of time. I missed most of that since I was away from Freelancer for a while. So I remember it more for when it WAS great.

And you have to admit... it was single best place to go for Freelancer info for a long time. Do I correctly recall you hanging out there, both asking and answering questions? Several years ago?

Anyway, as you say, it's gone.

Which leaves an opportunity for you, OP-R8R!

So now what? I see that the "Save FL" threads are pretty dead... have we given up on that idea, or would you be interested in fresh thoughts and/or contributions there?

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
SAD so is freeport9 on?

It is just a Freelancer joke.

In vanilla Freelancer, the three best fighters are the Civilian Eagle (sold by Zoners on Freeport 9), the Sabre (Outcasts), and the Titan (Corsairs).

So, if you wanted a Very Heavy Fighter (VHF), you either had to become friendly with the Outcasts or Corsairs, or you had to go to Freeport 9 to buy an Eagle.

The Zoners, of course, run most of the Freeports and they do not take sides or get into fights... they try to keep their doors open to all but the worst of the bad guys.

That's what I meant about TLR -- I never saw any hate there... just people sharing and learning from each other, and building the knowledge pool for everyone. They had the single most complete library of Freelancer tutorials, tools, downloads, and Question/Answer discussions that I have ever seen.

Like the Zoners.

Obviously, something went wrong. Which is why I also compare them to debris field that was once Freeport 7.

There really isn't any site with the magic of TLR anymore. So, much like Edison Trent, I am looking for a new start...

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
Guys WHAT really happened to TLR(lancers reactor)?ow did it happen?

I heard that the Order was behind it.

Or maybe Rheinland? But what about those Nomads?

In any case, Liberty is keeping it all very hush-hush. The few survivors have gone into hiding...

Just kidding. But it makes a better story than the real one. I really have no clue what or how it came about. AFAIK, the story has not been told in public in any detail. OP did say that they were shut down, then taken over by new owners who spent their time arguing rather than contributing to the knowledge pool. Beyond that, he did not want to comment.

So I gather that there were some arguments, burned bridges, bad feelings, or worse -- something that makes people not want to remember it or talk about it.

It's a shame, too, because TLR was like Freeport 9 -- everybody went there and mostly got along. And it was the best place to learn and upgrade to that top-of-the-line Eagle (unless you were pals with the Corsairs or Outcasts).

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
Whos burro?

About five posts back... he said "good post" regarding my tip.

A couple of us have been talking about writing some kind of guide for new folks. I suggested a thread, so that others could contribute. There are a lot of people here, with different skills, techniques, experiences, and observations. A thread would let us put some of the best responses in one place. So Burro's remark underscores that idea.

Anyway, I am new here, too, although not new to Freelancer. I found my way here when I discovered that TLR had been reduced to rubble, much like Freeport 7.

So I don't really "know" Burro, but it appears that he has been around here for a long time.

(TLR = TheLancersReactor -- a formerly great web site)

PS: Thank you, Burro! I once had a burro stick his head into my car window so that he could bite my shoulder harness... it was a bit of a surprise because I never thought of burros as intimidating until that moment. Now I KNOW that they can pack a surprise or two!

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
well im sorry if i did anything wrong...........yes this is the error message.......i dont think that any1 who cant speak english is stupid infact i would be happy if i could learn their language..........i will turn off the advanced shader.........i knew that my post was [not] clear so i told others how to view that error msg?(

Do not feel criticized. My tip was meant to help you to get faster assistance in the future. It was meant for all newcomers... not just for you!

And, yes, when you told me how to reproduce the error message; that gave me the clue that I needed to give you a specific answer to try.

So let us know whether it works, ok? Your thread may help others in the future.

Good luck!

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
if u wanna see this message just turn off all the DirectX features.Run>dxdiag>turn of anything related to 3D graphix

"Exact" and "almost exact" are not the same thing.

Is this the message that you see?

If "yes", then try turning off the Advanced Shader when you activate Crossfire.

I realize that it is sort of a pain to re-activate Crossfire, but that's the way it works. It has more to do with FLMM than with Crossfire.

====================================
Tips for future error reports
====================================

1) Post a screen shot of the error message if you can.

2) If you cannot post a screen shot, then take the time to write down the error message and the title of the message dialog, if any.

3) Describe any obviously relevant information clearly. For example:
- Acme 123 desktop PC
- nVidia 456 graphic card with 256MB RAM
- Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3

4) Describe how to reproduce the error.

5) Save the jokes and side-comments for later. In an international forum (like Swat) most of the readers read and write English as a second language. Be patient, do your best to be clear, and do not assume that somebody is stupid just because they did not understand what you said (or because YOU do not understand what THEY say). Try saying it a different way, or use pictures when you can.

Quote

Originally posted by jimmyBB
Since a certain box mentioned it, I thought I may have to collect a certain 2 things, return to sol, bribe then go all the way back again. Phew!

Yeah, it is a long trip. Others have suggested some kind of shortcut so that we only have to make the long journey once.

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
did not work.....will turning off only the advanced shader and turning legacy support work?

Hellraiser, I think that your description of your problem has people confused. I know that I am! If we don't know EXACTLY what problem you encounter, then we cannot give you specific advice, which is why you have received only general advice.

Post the exact error message if you want more specific instructions.

I will say that the advanced shader should not be turned on by default. It is a well-known trouble-maker.

Quote

Originally posted by jimmyBB
Could anyone tell me whether bribing coalition reputation works before you've actually met them?
e.g. they dont yet appear on the reputation list

Hellraiser is right: Yes.

There are bar Rumors suggesting that you do exactly that. It's a huge bribe, but worth it.

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
can u just tell me how to do that? did that a long time ago n dont remember how to do it

Marauder just told you how to do it: "disable all advanced graphics options and enable legacy video card support when you activate 1.81 in flmm "

In other words, use Freelancer Mod Manager (FLMM) to re-activate Crossfire. That means that you will have to deactivate Crossfire, first.

In spite of widely-known and discussed bugs in FLMM, I am told that it works fine the way it is. YMMV (Your Mileage/experience May Vary).

There is an installation guide that gives you step-by-step instructions in the Crossfire Mod folder under the FLMM folder (CFguide.swf). If you can find that and get it to run then it will give you the full step-by-step instructions.

There was a copy of the guide published here but the link seems to be broken: http://www.swat-portal.de/crossfire/CFguide.swf