Rapid sweeping.

[Bentusi_Core]

Little question. I just gleefully installed the Homeworld Complex mod, hoping to enjoy its famed fetish-level of complication. Anyway, long story short, it lags a ridiculous amount on my system (enough for HW2, it seems, but no more- damned laptop), so it looks like that's not going to be much fun.

But I was wondering- my favorite aspect of the Complex mod is the modular Rapid Sweeper defences you can fit to capital ships and the MS. Is it possible to find another mod- something less taxing (so definitely not PDS)- which just puts these flack turrets in the Vanilla Homeworld research tree? If I can't have Complex, it would be nice to have a consolation prize...

Also, those pulsar fighters were really cool.

[adamstrange]

What are your system specs and at what resolution do you have the game settings on ?

[Joe 2987]

Yeah.... It's possible that turning down your settings and resolution will cut down on the lag a great deal. And make Complex playable. I mean, it's playable on max settings on my rather older system.

[Bentusi_Core]

I'm not very tech savvy, but I believe these are the Specs. Let me know if I've left anything out:




Model: Laptop E-System 3212

Operating system: Vista

Intel Celeron ,430 1.73GHz

Intel 943GML +1CH7 -M
[Supports Intel GMA]

Driver Version: 6.14.10.4764 [NB: More advanced drivers cause the game to inexplicably crash while loading]

1024MB DDEII 533 RAM

40GB S-ATA HDD

DirectX* Version: 9.0
Physical Memory: 1013 MB
Minimum Graphics Memory: 64 MB
Maximum Graphics Memory: 128 MB
Graphics Memory in Use: 6 MB
Processor: x86 family 6 Model 14 Stepping 12
Processor Speed: 1733 MHZ
Vendor ID: 8086
Device ID: 27A2
Device Revision: 03


Accelerator in Use: Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family
Video BIOS: 1264

Playing in a 1024 x 768 resolution, although I normally up that to 1280 x 800 to fit my screen whenever I'm in the mood for a pretty game.

The addition of a memory stick's 2-4GB of memory via Windows Readyboost allows Vanilla HW2 to play just fine on [almost] full specs but, inexplicably, isn't doing the same for Complex. Since it's a laptop, I can hardly update the graphics card... thus my low hopes for Complex's future playability. I've already turned of shadows, LOD, and just about everything else, unfortunately.

[Moleman]

alright i see two big things that would probably effect it (this is in my experience)
The processor and the onboard Graphics that you are workign with, to my knowledge the onboard graphics are barely enough to run vanilla HW2 an upgrade might be a good idea if you have the about $50 you can probably upgrade both your processor and your graphics card

edit jsut read the last part, there are off-board graphics cards for laptops that fit in where the normal wifi card goes but they are very rare

[Bentusi_Core]

Yeah... I miss my old desktop, but it exploded a little bit and I'm going to be stuck with old lappy and it's ancient systems for the foreseeable future.

Incidentally, vanilla HW2 runs absolutely fine. Chocolate, I mean, Complex HW2 is usually fine too in the early stages- but once the screen starts filling up with asteroid-belt sized frigate fleets and debris, it all starts to die...

[chris80502]

Though Vista, the celeron processor and 128 mb vid memory are the primary issues you might be able to add some performance by switching all power saving features off. My friends HP laptop refused to run at full performance even when plugged in without turning off all the "power saving" features setup for laptops.

[Bentusi_Core]

Hmmm... I tried turning the Power Saver features off, it gave things a bit of a boost- playing is no longer a slideshow- but it's still not a very pleasant. Things are still very laggy and every second or so I could swear to an almost infinitesimal skipping .

Come to think of it, this is how Vanilla HW2 used to run on my old machine, back a couple of years ago when I first brought it. I guess all this time playing on a decent system has desensitized me to dealing with lag. I can't go back to that life! I just can't.

[Hysterical laughter followed by Generic Suicide Noise.]

[Bentusi_Core]

Sorry to post twice in a row, I know it seems obnoxious, but this computer died while I was editing that last post and now inexplicably won't let me press the "edit" button. I have no idea why. I'm using a friend's Imac at the moment, and I am not well versed in the mysterious ways of the Macintosh.

Anyway, I want to thank you all for the previous advice, but I think I'm going to have to face it- until I get a higher powered machine, Complex probably isn't going to work (unless any of you have some really, really flashy tips, in which case tip away).

So back to my original question for this thread- is there a (mini)mod which would allow me to put flack turrets in the research/build/whatever tree? Specifically for motherships, shipyards, carriers and possibly Battlecruisers. Cause I am getting really sick of having these huge construction vessels with four puny point defence guns that barely scratch a resource collector!

And if no such mod exists, how hard would it be to make? And is there any chance somebody more competent at modding than me [i.e. at all] might already be thinking about making it?

Sorry to ramble, guys. I'll shut up for a bit now.

[adamstrange]

Open the mod up and increase the firepower of the puny point defence guns.

[Bentusi_Core]

Success!

I've been able to modify the cannons on all mothership class ships to fire flak bursts instead of ordinary rail-guns.

However, it would be nice to make additional torpedo/flak turrets constructable subsystems. Also, the only problem with the flak bursts is that without turrets, the motherships/carriers just sort of fire them out of nowhere. I haven't been able to work out how to get the firing spark animations in without the turrets. Help?

Small stuff, and I know people have already worked out how to do it all, oooh probably about six years ago, so I shouldn't get all excited. But... first step to modding!

[Moddedout]

Actually I have similar hardware to you and it is possible to run complex with some modifications to complex, video and your OS. If it is XP google "speed up XP registry hacks" or just look on ZDNet for the whitepapers. Follow those and you will be ok. I would put them up here but I forget where I found them. My game machine is down until I can afford a new pump so I am stuck with my laptop which is not shall we say supposed to play games without self destructing. Man I can't wait till I can afford a new water pump.

[Phatboygeo]

Ha ha! I dont have any lag problems

Quad-core Q6600 @ 3.67Ghz
Nvidia 8800GTS @ 1150/570
4GB Kingston HyperX @ 1200 Mhz
Thermalright Ultra X-treme 120 with Scythe 1800rpm, 120mm fan

With my old system I couldn't play Complex either!
Modded out! Cool water cooling! Cant wait till im working and 23, PHASE COOLING! Sub Zero Temps

[Moddedout]

I built a phase cooled system for another gamer a while back. I actually build alot of systems some of which are claimed by others as their own work but I don't care because the money is good

[Phatboygeo]

well im 15 so i got this pc for 650 pounds as a Xmas prezzie, thats 1000 dollars. i had to pay half.