
    
                Researched by Saruman / DFR Engineering
                        (srm_dfr@hotmail.com)
        
   
                     '97
                           Total Annihilation Single Player 2 Multi Player
                      
                           

 What is it?
 ===========

 /Need/ more skirmish/multiplayer maps? You can easily make the maps available
 in singleplayermode (missions) available for multiplayer games.

 Let me start by saying that no info about the 'type' of playing allowed
 (that is: missions, skirmish or network) for a map is stored in the large
 *.TNT file. So no hexediting is needed for this. (Is that a sigh of relief
 I'm hearing over there? :-)

 Take a look in your .\maps\ directory, you will notice lots of small .ota
 files. These describe how the map is allowed to be played, and some
 parameters for it. By comparing one of these with one for a multiplayer-map
 it was obvious this conversion would be sooooo simple.

 Let's look at the AC01.OTA file.

 Or let's not. I'll walk you through it instead.

 First, go to the _END_ of the file. You should see four braces ('}') on
 the lines above.

 Move your cursor to the last of these and insert a couple of blank
 lines before it. You should now be placed between the last and the
 second to last brace.

 Now, paste/insert the file 'NETPLAY' (which I've supplied) at this position.

 Go to the top of the file.

 Look for the entry 'SCHEMACOUNT=' near the bottom of the screen.

 Add ONE (1) to the number after the equal sign.

 Just below this there should be an entry which look like this;
 [Schema 0]

 Change the zero (0) to be ONE LESS than the number you entered after
 'schemacount='. If you don't see this entry, search for it.

 That's it!

 Well, almost. You see, the 'netplay' file you included contains TEN (the
 number '10' that is) multiplayer starting positions. These must ofcourse
 be tweaked to make playing the map fair for everyone. The positions are
 in PIXELS. I've set these positions to go from 100, 100 to 1000, 1000
 in 100-pixel increments. Test this on the AC01 map, start the game and
 enter '+nowisee' (or play in mapped mode) to see the whole map. You should
 get a feeling for the distances and soon you'll be able to place the
 commander with tile precision.

 Using TAtool to extract the map as a picture and getting the coordinates
 through that is another possible way.

 I hope this is enough to get you on your way. What I described above is
 the 'shortest path'.

 NOTE:

  I've only tried this in skirmish, but it _should_ work on networks too.
  (I'm too lazy to boot another computer now to test it :-)

  If you have any problems, just inspect an .OTA file for a multiplayer map
  and you should be able to correct any problems you might have. Some maps
  have multiple schemas even for networkplay.

  You might want to tweak the 'aiprofile=' entry for skirmishes. It's set
  to 'aircombat' in the 'netplay' file I've included.

  There are also a 'useonlyunits=<something>;' entry. I do not know if it's
  used for multiplayer games. Set to 'useonlyunits=;' to disable.

  There's lot's of other options to play with. Anyone get 'random starts' to
  work?

  *DO NOT LEAVE TRASH .OTA FILES IN THE MAPS DIRECTORY* .. TA will crash
  with a 'no mesg' error. (trash = not valid / not accompanied with a .TNT)

  Oh, remember that these maps weren't _DESIGNED_ for multiplaying. Some of
  the maps (mostly the early ones) doesn't have any metal on them for instance.

  Have fun, and don't forget to greet me.. somehere.. ANYWHERE! :-)

 Contacting me
 =============

 email: srm_dfr@hotmail.com (my nice saruman@saru.ct.se is dead, hotmail
                             will have to do for the time being... :-( 

 homepage: http://hem2.passagen.se/eddy1/

 BBS: +46-16-515209 (don't call from abroad if it costs you money, I have
                     nothing much of interrest on my board.

 FidoNet: 2:206/233 (I read the international PASCAL & 80XXX areas. You can
                     FREQ the latest TAtool using the magic name 'TATOOL')

 IRC: 'eddy' or 'saruman' on IRCNET #eskilstuna & #cracking

 Greetings
 =========

   All DFR Members.
   webmaster@annihilated.com - great site (http://www.annihilated.com)
   Friends and family.

 Keep on cracking!
