Adding multiple actors to MP games

[WP33 0]

Class in in session. I am going to get finely detailed on how to exceed the number of actors allowed you in MP, because guys have been asking the same question in multiple threads. It may seem hard, but it's rather easy.

1. I'd start with creating a mod of my own. That way you don't overwrite original files and mess things up but good. Use Igor to create a new mod and make it default for editing.

2. While still in Igor, create a new actor. Now, here's one of the tricky parts. If you want the actor to show up in the game, it must be named as such: mp_plt1(or plt2 or 2, etc)_asl for rifleman or mp_plt1_snip for sniper mp_plt1_hvywep for gunner mp_plt1_dem for demolitions. You can insert a new designation in between the plt1 and the suffix like this for instance, mp_plt1_wp33_asl, but the structure of the name MUST have the "mp_", the "plt1_" "plt2_" or what have you and "_asl", "_snip", "_dem" or "_hvywep". If you don't do this, the actor just won't show up in the game, period, no matter what else you do. Alter this actor as you see fit, giving him an in game name, .chr, etc (y'all should know how to do this by now...) and save it in MP actor files in your new mod. Rinse, lather and repeat till you have as many guys as you want.

3. Still in Igor, create a new .kil for your mod. You can add up to 4 of your new characters into the kit restriction file here, but you'll need to use notepad later for adding the rest. At this point, I'd suggest making sure you will always use whatever weapons you're going to put in here. The server will have to have whatever mod that is using these kits active. If not, and you have kits from an unactive mod in your .kil file, the game will crash. Of course, being your mod, you can create your own kits, but keep in mind you'll need to build models and create textures for the guns in them. (Don't take stuff from other mods without permission- that's rude ) After you've established the kits to be used by your 4 guys, you can then use notepad to open it up and add your remaining soldiers into it, along with whatever kits for them you wish to use in the game. You can make as many .kils as you wish. I have something like 6 or 7 for my use.

4. Once in the game, activate your new mod, then in the MP screen select whatever restriction file you wish to use for the job at hand, and your new little army should show up!

As always, PM me or post here for help. It can sometimes be a little confusing.

[Stalker 0]

thanks!

I added a link to this topic in the Skinning Resource Center thread.

[XE_Joker 0]

thank you very much. this is very helpful. i've been trying to figure it out forever.

[WP33 0]

No problem, Joker. I had to stumble around trying to figure this out about 5 months ago, and just by pure accident happened to look in the kit rextrictions from Frostbite. They had things set up as I described and that's what gave me the idea. Of course, I took things a step further and now have near 30 choosable skins for Platoon 1. It makes it fun, and allows you to do stuff like have winter uniforms for snow maps, night uniforms, CQB uniforms and so on. I use this modification along with an altered combat model XML to allow me to actually make various uniforms useful rather than just cosmetic, by changing armor ratings on certain parts of the body, and even allowing for hatted or bareheaded soldiers. I now have 7 armor ratings available instead of the game's original 3 levels, with CQB getting the heaviest of those. This is just my way of helping people out so they don't have to do this: and can spend more time playing.

Edited November 28, 2004 by WP33

[Gecko.pxs 0]

Still having this problem where only one of my actors shows up, the other two only have thier kits listed.

[WP33 0]

Okay, since we still have some guys having issues, let me do this. I'll put together a sample of what I'm talking about, and either you can PM me for it or I can post it here for download. You can use it as a template as to what you're after.

[WP33 0]

Got Gecko straightened out. Hope that works for ya, pal.

[XE_Joker 0]

could you pm me the template as well, please? i have a bunch of skins i made that my teammates want to use in game and i don't want to have them download and install a bunch of mods just to get a full set of skins, not that that would even work. lol.

[WP33 0]

They're still going to need to have whatever .chr files and textures to play, however.

[XE_Joker 0]

yeah i know, that's no problem. my problem is getting them all into the game for multiplayer use.

[WP33 0]

Joker: Okay, I'll do a mock up of what it looks like- a mini mod of sorts that you can alter as you see fit!

[XE_Joker 0]

thank you, that will be greatly appreciated.