Compatibility
Maelstrom is currently compatible with
Original v1.195 | Entrenchment v1.055 | Diplomacy v1.37 | Rebellion v1.94
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Credits
For contributions in testing and concepts ICEman, Quiet_Man, Malanthor, UncleJ and many others _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction
The Maelstrom Mod introduces four new races to the SoaSE Universe.
It keeps the original races, the TEC, Advent and Vasari who are still to be found building and battling as usual.
All of the new races are independent of the original races and have unique strengths and weaknesses.
Learn more and download the Maelstrom Mod at ...
ModDB Website
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Please note that for all mods the 'Installation and Change notes' are included in the download.
Use the recommended 'Graphics Effects Setting' as stated in the Installation notes of the mod.
If you can hook up with no mods enabled then the mods are probably different versions. Check the CHECKSUMS.
Ok I'll look in to it!
Thinks
P.S. What is the CHECKSUMS?
each mod you enable will have a checksum, just make sure they match on all players comps.
Right hand side above all the mod organize/enable options, should show up after you enable a mod, no mods = Checksum 0 it's also important what order the mods are in in the list because a different order is a different checksum(and some occasions a minidump)
Ok I got the LAN working but game still crashes and some times textures go away!
More info needed
Will it still crashes and ships or buildings (only on the new races) textures sometimes wont show up. All I will see is black objects but when I save and exit come back in all of the textures will be back. Oh the Checksum is 53142048 if that helps? Also the LAN works with out the mod but not with the mod now don't know what happen but I am reformatting my Laptop right now so LAN will have to wait a bit.
On the game+mod crashing problem ...
Do you play any other intense graphic games on the 3 PC's you mentioned? If you do, have you had any crashes?
The reason I mention it is that the Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS driver has had problems with overheating, see ...
http://forums.nvidia.com/lofiversion/index.php?t51835.html
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=172332&hl=GeForce
Also, make sure you have the latest drivers for your card.
For your information you are the first person to report a problem (crash) with the Diplomacy mod (with >500 downloads).
The most common problems with the Maelstrom mod are those related to Graphics Cards (and their Drivers) and also the 32bit RAM limitations of Sins (i.e going over 2GB).
Hey soase-maelstrom, just a suggestion that we at Distant Stars found helpful was to post what the checksum is for the mod. Usually just after the download link. That way if there are some issues, people can compare the checksums and see if it may be a bad download.
Bearussr,
You said "the Checksum is 53142048". I can verify that your download is correct.
Funny my checksum is 49950699.
I've checked and checked the checksum ... check.
For Maelstrom Diplomacy v1.011 it is definitely "53142048".
I would recommend downloading again if it not the same ... check.
First of all I have never had any issues with the 8400m gs plays sins great!
"Do you play any other intense graphic games on the 3 PC's you mentioned? If you do, have you had any crashes?"
Yes like crysis, farcry2, dragon age, just case 2...etc never had problems on any of my PCs but the only game that I am having problem beside this mod is Elemental war of magic but they are working on that!
Oh I forgot to ask is there any other mods out there that adds new factions? Not a total conversion something like this adds new factions with the old ones.
"First of all I have never had any issues with the 8400m gs plays sins great!" doesn't surprise me, you have to remember that this mod is approximately twice the size of the original, hence the extra load on your PC.
Try changing the Game Setup, Effects Settings, i.e further reducing them and see if that helps.
By the way, "The Sins Optimization Project" is a group who have been working to improve all versions of Sins, in-particular graphics problems and game slow down issues.
Have a look at
https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/390934
ok...turning off the bloom game has not crash in a hour on laptop and 40mins or so on the desktops maybe it is the bloom? Ill let you know more later and thinks for the link! s this The Sins Optimization Project ready?
Yes the The Sins Optimization Project (https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/378149) is a mature "mod". I will be integrating it into this mod in release 2.
TSOP is basically rebuilding the game from the ground up. Probably will still be working on it when Sins 2 is out.
Its at a good state now though.
If you are stacking keep TSOP on the bottom so the mod you want will override the files in TSOP but any files the mod you want does not include will be optimized.
There is also a couple TSOP add-ons. 1 reduces strike craft but increases there power. Another reduces cargo ships but increases there cargo. And a pirate fix so there is not a thousand pirates at the base.
These are below my main mod
I have already tried reducing strike craft, trade, refinery ships and max mines (for release 2 of this mod). Can't say its the ultimate reason for the game slowdowns. Any new thoughts?
it is later game when there are thousands of strike craft. The static models are not that bad but a thousand ships with large amounts of polys per ship all being recalculated for movement really bangs the ram.
The textures are also a big bang. Switching to .DDS from TGA files almost cuts them in half.
Use the strike craft and cargo ship meshes from TSOP. we reduced the polys thanks to Sivcorp.
The slowdowns I see are typically on huge single maps and on the "galaxy view" not when viewing a battle, so no ships are being rendered (unless I'm missing something)
The actual RAM usage (I have been tracking it) is maxed out earlier in the game, before slowdown, so I'm not sure how memory would impact the problem, i.e memory usage doesn't seem to be the only trigger.
Memory Leaks. We found a pile of files that link to other files that do not exist or with a spelling error.
As far as I know, every thing is loaded into the game weather you see it or not. Except sounds.
A couple of month ago I fixed those errors, as you listed them, for the original Maelstrom mod (all races) ... again on the huge map scenario, late in the game it could still slowdown.
It seems to me worst in battles, either ones I was involved in or others being played by multiple AI's. Yes, thousands of ships using abilities and making thousands of tactical calculations. I think ability usage is a major issue.
"As far as I know, every thing is loaded into the game weather you see it or not. Except sounds" yes but graphic rendering I would of thought that would slow the game down, by taxing the CPU and GPU.
Also if they are there at the start of the game, or if you change your effects settings, then slowdown would occur from the start. Unless of course you have to research/build/use all the ship types in the game. But I've seen the AI's very quickly do just that very quickly, i.e they are using all their frigates and cruisers, well before a slowdown.
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