Mods: where to start

[mjmcmahon67]

Bottom line: I haven't finished the game once yet, so I'd like to find mods that will enhance my first time through the game, rather than radically change difficulty, etc.

Suggestions?

Also, a couple of questions:

1.) Suggested stable patch level? I've seen references to a 1.0004FB (?) in Ket's TK1.1 mod thread. Where would I find such a beast?

2.) Widescreen support? Has this been included into the original mods? If not, has anyone got some recommendations on a mod that will properly support a 16:10 resolution?

THANKS!

Mike

[EggChen]

First playthrough has to be with ZRP, think of it as a modders patch with many bugfixes and general annoyances fixed. Natvac is the man here, the site is http://www.metacognix.com/stlkrsoc/ and the offical discussion topic is http://www.gsc-game.com/main.php?t=community&s=forums&s_game_type=xr&thm_page=1&thm_id=11786&page=1&sort=ASC&sec_id=16#142661

As for patches, 1.0004 or 1.0005 are the most stable, but 1.0006 is the one that offers the best widescreen support (though it was recalled by the developers due to some multiplayer issues).

Oh, and welcome to the forum

[Nightwatch]

Yes, welcome to the Forum mjmcmahon67
I can't add anything to EggChen's note, either than he is absolutely right.

On the 16:10 question: I don't know how many other mods offering this support honestly, but I'm running NEWSA.SIMBION_Tweak on 1680x1050, which is I believe 16:10. So this one supports it.

[Grump642]

I agree with EggChen also. Better to play the game once before using a mod that changes everything. And Nightwatch, I don't recommend your mod till the 3rd or 4th time!! Unless one is a VERY good FPS kind of guy. Damn difficult! Not to mention FUN!!

[Grump642]

mjmcmahon67 , is the cross still up on the hill?

[mjmcmahon67]

Next question: will loading ZRP kill my existing savegames?

[mjmcmahon67]

mjmcmahon67 , is the cross still up on the hill?

If you're talking about the cross on Tablerock, yup! Still there!

[audioave10]

I've tried probably all major mods on 1.004 or 1.005 and never had any issues with
16 x 10 as long as you used the monitors native resolution.
Welcome!

[Nightwatch]

I agree with EggChen also. Better to play the game once before using a mod that changes everything. And Nightwatch, I don't recommend your mod till the 3rd or 4th time!! Unless one is a VERY good FPS kind of guy. Damn difficult! Not to mention FUN!!

I can't say I don't agree with you, lol. I don't remember the number of times I died while trying to shoot those videos.

[Grump642]

mjmcmahon67 , is the cross still up on the hill?

If you're talking about the cross on Tablerock, yup! Still there!

That's the one! Glad to hear it. Always looked for it at night when I was heading through those parts. Comforting.

[NatVac]

Next question: will loading ZRP kill my existing savegames?

It might, if those saves are based on mods that you have removed. It will work fine with vanilla. From the Requirements paragraph on the Zone Reclamation Project website:

You do not need to start a new game, although many fixes and features will not be available unless you do.

[mjmcmahon67]

I went ahead and just started over....I hadn't gotten all that far and, in the past few days, I've actually gotten further into the game than I had gotten when I started after my system build.

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I agree that ZRP is a phenominal add-on and can't wait to experiment with some of the others (TK 1.1, among a number of others).