S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Series Megathread: The Zone will stop the Russians - Games

[QUOTE=Clear_Strelok;43960129] [T]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/24/23400/ss_dante_02-16-14_20-26-37_labx8.jpg[/T] [/QUOTE] I just can't mentally process what's going on in this picture. Ground Force does the Zone.

Guys I just reinstalled SoC. I need some advice in case of mods to use (guess you people get that one alot.) I remember there being big mods which were generally hated by most of you guys. Which ones are to avoid? Is L.U.R.K. any good? What about Oblivion Lost? I want the game to be as hard as it can get.

[QUOTE=Ray551;43961588]I want the game to be as hard as it can get.[/QUOTE] You might want to go for Zone of Alienation. It's basically AMK mod on steroids. Kinda crashy though. Also features a magazine system and L.U.R.K. weapons, and some from other weapon packs for SoC. Zone of Alienation also has a slightly expanded medical system from vanilla. For example, you don't really just use medikits anymore, you'll click on a medikit and instead of putting the yummy medicine into your mouth, it shits out different medical items into your inventory and you kind of have to choose a correct piece of the medikit, like [I]gauze[/I] to a proper injury. It's not as in-depth as it sounds but it's slightly different from vanilla. [QUOTE=Ray551;43961588]I remember there being big mods which were generally hated by most of you guys.[/QUOTE] Only one that seems to actually get generally hated across the board is Complete and that's because it's basically obsolete and doesn't offer anything to someone who's already played through the series. [QUOTE=Ray551;43961588]Is L.U.R.K. any good?[/QUOTE] L.U.R.K. is basically mainly a rebalance of the original game with [I]much[/I] deadlier gunplay and very well done and consistently good quality new weapon textures, models and animations but kind of removes stalker-y elements from the gameplay such as doesn't allow the usage of artifacts and introduces a jellyscreen HUD. It's relatively punishing with it's reduced carry weight (35 kg) and deadly accurate enemies. LURK also features a graphical overhaul for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl. Generally speaking I'd say that the L.U.R.K. mod's title as the definitive gameplay / graphics rebalance and overhaul has been usurped by Autumn Aurora 2 (until L.U.R.K. 1.2 emerges) which offers another take on the visual style of the Zone (well it makes SoC look like Misery) and has also very deadly gunplay and some redone weapon animations but it's not as consistent as LURK or introduces as many new weapons. Also AA2 has artifact detectors kind of like CS and CoP but doesn't have complete functionality of them like in AA2 you can't hold a detector and a pistol at the same time. [editline]herp[/editline] I can't really say which of the two is better, they're similar mods and aim for the same niche really so it's down to everyone's own preferences in terms of which one they deem superior. [QUOTE=Ray551;43961588]What about Oblivion Lost?[/QUOTE] Oblivion Lost is kind of a stripped-down version of AMK and it's super easy because it's guns are pixel-perfect accurate, everything (including you) dies in one shot and the guns have no recoil whatsoever. It's a mod that's only basically really recommendable if you want to have some fun driving cars and tractors around but even for that there are better mods. OLR 2.0 or as it's otherwise called, Oblivion Lost Remake 2.0 is whole another thing, it's got some new levels like some levels that were in the earlier beta builds for Shadow of Chernobyl and generally a lot more content. It feels like a stripped down rip-off of Lost Alpha instead of the stripped down version of AMK the first Oblivion Lost was. OLR 2.0 requires Russian 1.006 version of SoC though. [QUOTE=Ray551;43961588]I want the game to be as hard as it can get.[/QUOTE] If you want difficulty, I'd go for Zone of Alienation or if you're down with very russian and very confusing content, People Soup is also a good contender. I personally would go for Tecnobacon's version of the Soup. OGSE is kind of a mixed bag as it's got some aspects that make the game harder (such as minigun turrets at Agroprom) but the gunplay is a lot easier because enemies go down like no sweat in the mod. The laboratory sections in OGSE are redone though and they're [I]interesting to say the least[/I]. OGSE also has some intriguing realism changes like it has some foods give radioactive contamination and it can actually have your foods being radioactively contaminated if they're in your inventory and you spend too much time in radioactive hotspots. As such, OGSE's [B]radioactive potatoes[/B] are a sneak peek into the kind of charming and odd ingenuity injected into the mod. There are also some other interesting features involving PSI-anomalies that I'm not going to spoil but are one of the things that add to the realization that OGSE is one of those Shadow of Chernobyl mods that deserves a try. [editline]herp[/editline] Note that Zone of Alienation requires 1.004, OGSE seems to require 1.005 , Autumn Aurora wants 1.006 and LURK 1.1 works on 1.005. There are downgrade instructions floating around the internet if you're using the Steam version but the best way to avoid the fuss around Steam is using a boxed version of SoC. As far as I know, Zone of Alienation is making a transition to using 1.006 version to be consistent with the current Steam version as well as taking advantage of some 1.006's functionalities (?) but there's no real ETA on that transition. [editline]herp[/editline] I forgot R.M.A. It's not really fitting to the categories of "hard" mods, it's basically like Vanilla but it restores some cut sequences from the original game such as a couple of missions and modifies some of the existing missions a tiny bit. It also includes the cut maps Darkscape which features a section where you have to drive a jeep while being chased by the military and Dead City. Like said, it's not a very hard mod but it's an interesting sneak peek into what was cut from the intended vanilla game while not being a huge, heavy overhaul.

[QUOTE=Muukkis;43961738]The laboratory sections in OGSE are redone though and they're [I]interesting to say the least[/I].[/QUOTE] [I]*intense shuddering*[/I] I would heartily recommend Technobacon's version of The Soup, though. I had so much fun and barely ever crashed. I did have to suffer through quite long load screens, though. But that was long before I got a new hard drive/everything else

[QUOTE=Clear_Strelok;43960129]It's [URL="http://www.moddb.com/mods/stalker-hd-project1"]HD PROJECT time[/URL] again. [T]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/24/23400/2.2.jpg[/T] [T]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/24/23400/ss_dante_02-16-14_20-26-37_labx8.jpg[/T] [T]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/24/23400/ss_dante_02-16-14_20-23-40_pripyat.jpg[/T] Oh god... It looks nice, and mods with actual sprinting animations for the weapons are always appreciated.[/QUOTE] hahaha oh god

[QUOTE=Clear_Strelok;43960129] [T]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/24/23400/2.2.jpg[/T][/QUOTE] Reminds me of my early work with the Hammer editor on the Source Engine. :v:

[B]Shoker [U]2.1[/U] - UPDATE[/B] [video=youtube;1nq_eT9ej5s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nq_eT9ej5s[/video] -- Wolf needs to release the new vid already. I'm hyped

[QUOTE=LoNer1;43963036][B]Shoker [U]2.1[/U] - UPDATE[/B] [video=youtube;1nq_eT9ej5s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nq_eT9ej5s[/video] -- Wolf needs to release the new vid already. I'm hyped[/QUOTE] I hope that their promise to optimise all that was in their strength was true and that the annoying FPS drops that everyone got have dissipated.

[QUOTE=zombini;43950413]Minor Myseri annoyance here, the 5.56 AP ammo is said to be the US military's M855 round, right? M855 isn't AP at all. I have fired some at steel, and while they do work a little bit better than the M193, their steel tip isn't really apparent until 300-400M. They will work better against armor vs the vanilla lead rounds, but the US military's actual AP round is the M995. Just something i hope gets corrected. I can get the M855 rounds at walmart in boxes of 150 for $70(really high, i know). Only military guys ever get to touch the M995.[/QUOTE] Dude, what? You can get green tips now? When did this occur? They used to be classified by the ATF as armor piercing. I have been stuck with the old vietnam era M193 in my XCR for years, despite the barrel working best with the green tips.

[QUOTE=GunFox;43963285]Dude, what? You can get green tips now? When did this occur? They used to be classified by the ATF as armor piercing. I have been stuck with the old vietnam era M193 in my XCR for years, despite the barrel working best with the green tips.[/QUOTE] They don't exactly fit the classification for AP. AP by ATF definition is a core entirely of a hardened substance like really hard steel. Green tip rounds just have a steel tip, and i have pulled and dissected a round to check. You can get them as Federal American Eagle XM855 rounds, i got mine in cases of 150. My local walmart had em, but they're out of stock right now. They also have big ammo boxes of it, but they're overpriced as hell, $200 for 420 rounds. Also forgot to add that the AP classification only applies to handgun rounds (AFAIK). Also if you want AP ammo, you can get it as .30-06 M2 AP, those are legal for some reason. Oddly, it's illegal to pull the bullet from those and use em in smaller cases. I checked this out, and yes the AP classification is for handgun rounds, BUT, the ATF fucked everyone around by counting actual AP 5.56 and 7.62s as pistol rounds due to the existence of AR and AK pistols. Even more oddly, steel core 7.62 is illegal, yet actual .30-06 AP is not.

[QUOTE=Clear_Strelok;43960129]It's [URL="http://www.moddb.com/mods/stalker-hd-project1"]HD PROJECT time[/URL] again. [T]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/24/23400/2.2.jpg[/T] [T]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/24/23400/ss_dante_02-16-14_20-26-37_labx8.jpg[/T] [T]http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/24/23400/ss_dante_02-16-14_20-23-40_pripyat.jpg[/T] Oh god... It looks nice, and mods with actual sprinting animations for the weapons are always appreciated.[/QUOTE] is this supposed to look good or something? because they look like shit

[QUOTE=PollytheParrot;43963874]is this supposed to look good or something? because they look like shit[/QUOTE] No, it was sarcasm. All textures in that mod look pretty bad. And when you're trying to help the author, [URL="http://www.moddb.com/mods/stalker-hd-project1/images/4k-fence#imagebox"]he's going to call you an asshole for criticizing his work[/URL]

[QUOTE=LoNer1;43963984]No, it was sarcasm. All textures in that mod look pretty bad. And when you're trying to help the author, [URL="http://www.moddb.com/mods/stalker-hd-project1/images/4k-fence#imagebox"]he's going to call you an asshole for criticizing his work[/URL][/QUOTE] They'd look pretty good if I was blind.

Hey guys, the unrest in Ukraine is getting pretty fucking serious. [img]http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/2-18-2014/IXUZzA.gif[/img] It's pretty nuts to think I was there in the Maidan just three years ago. Hope all our GSC friends are safe.

[QUOTE=LoNer1;43963984]No, it was sarcasm. All textures in that mod look pretty bad. And when you're trying to help the author, [URL="http://www.moddb.com/mods/stalker-hd-project1/images/4k-fence#imagebox"]he's going to call you an asshole for criticizing his work[/URL][/QUOTE] Saying something looks like shit and calling it a fact is not constructive criticism.

we of going into barrier now hope out of range of hand-thrown missiles!

[QUOTE=LoNer1;43958573]I found a new weapon pack for CoP and I've got to say, I'm pleased. More info coming shortly [B]edit[/B] Excuse my horrible render settings (advice would be appreciated) [video=youtube;76dkThr-R1s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76dkThr-R1s[/video][/QUOTE] NO NO NO NO! I don't want to go back to hours spent in winmerge! Please! Do not mention ze weapon packs! D: Edit: - Nevermind, found it: [URL="http://www.amk-team.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=12784"]http://www.amk-team.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=12784[/URL] Edit: - Somewhat Stalker related - I just walked past my roommates door on my way back from the fridge, and she and her friends were trying on clothes. As I started up the stairs I heard one of them shout "OMG Chrissy put your flashider back on!" - somewhat surprised I stuck my head around the door and discovered that 'flash-hider' is now being used to refer to bras. So there you go. For a minute I thought I was sharing a house with Stalkers or something. "[I]I love the new chicom style combo chest rigs. They lift and support all at the same time![/I]" Next I'll hear them going on about how 'cheeki' some guy looks, and how much they'd like to 'breeki' him up.

[QUOTE=JoeSibilant;43965193]Hey guys, the unrest in Ukraine is getting pretty fucking serious. [img]http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/2-18-2014/IXUZzA.gif[/img] It's pretty nuts to think I was there in the Maidan just three years ago. Hope all our GSC friends are safe.[/QUOTE] Only one thing comes to mind when I see that molotov spam [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzpPLo68hEw[/media]

Figured out how to change the texture paths of weapon models by first converting them into .obj's, then loading them up in blender. Unfortuantley, even if I create two separate directories, for two separate weapon mods - they still can't be successfully merged if they don't have the same hand animations. Which is a shame. Because I want this STCoP weapon pack in Missouri :v

[QUOTE=JoeSibilant;43965193]Hey guys, the unrest in Ukraine is getting pretty fucking serious. [img]http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/2-18-2014/IXUZzA.gif[/img] It's pretty nuts to think I was there in the Maidan just three years ago. Hope all our GSC friends are safe.[/QUOTE] i know, i was there literally months ago

[QUOTE=alundaio;43965624]Saying something looks like shit and calling it a fact is not constructive criticism.[/QUOTE] He doesn't know how Xray works. You can't slap on 4k textures like in any decent and modern engine and expect it to look fantastic. The texture compression in Xray is probably one of the worst I've seen in games, I've PMed him about this, countless times. Sure, you might think I've been calling it shit for forever, but ever since he started I tried to help him and now he's going to call my work shit? Well, thank you, sir. [editline]19th February 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=11meister;43968000]Figured out how to change the texture paths of weapon models by first converting them into .obj's, then loading them up in blender. Unfortuantley, even if I create two separate directories, for two separate weapon mods - they still can't be successfully merged if they don't have the same hand animations. Which is a shame. Because I want this STCoP weapon pack in Missouri :v[/QUOTE] Hexeditor -> Open up the .ogf file -> search for the texture path -> change That's how I do it, without importing / exporting troubles

Call of Chernobyl: [url]http://i59.tinypic.com/15yg8qw.jpg[/url] You guys have no idea how awesome it is. :)

What are those green things? I guess they're spawns/camps? Wait.. That is CoP, and the cut Dark Valley map.. Oh fuck oh fuck this is gonna be good

[QUOTE=LoNer1;43968637] Hexeditor -> Open up the .ogf file -> search for the texture path -> change That's how I do it, without importing / exporting troubles[/QUOTE] Huh. Suspected they were hexed and I could just edit them that way, but I've honestly never done hex editing for much more than a few TF2 hats. I'll give it a try though.

[QUOTE=rikimaru6811;43969004]What are those green things? I guess they're spawns/camps? Wait.. That is CoP, and the cut Dark Valley map.. Oh fuck oh fuck this is gonna be good[/QUOTE] squad locations. [url]http://www.moddb.com/mods/call-of-chernobyl[/url] Not sure why the disagree, since that's what Alundaio posted on the mod page. [quote]Good news, everyone. We took a big leap in optimization with changes I've made to the Alife job system. Now Call of Chernobyl runs as smooth as Call of Pripyat with 250+ active squads (Thats 500 to 750 NPCS!) on 26 maps! Absolutely incredible. Just take a look at this: (image link)[/quote]

[QUOTE=alundaio;43968927]Call of Chernobyl: [url]http://i59.tinypic.com/15yg8qw.jpg[/url] You guys have no idea how awesome it is. :)[/QUOTE] So this will be a kind of Faction wars mod? Just with a shitload of NPCs?

[QUOTE=alundaio;43968927]Call of Chernobyl: [url]http://i59.tinypic.com/15yg8qw.jpg[/url] You guys have no idea how awesome it is. :)[/QUOTE] all done with smart terrains then mate?

[QUOTE=ionuttzu;43970137]So this will be a kind of Faction wars mod? Just with a shitload of NPCs?[/QUOTE] From what I gather it's supposed to be basically a modder's resource pack in a way that they're intended for other modders to use if they want to. I could be wrong though.

yeah that's the idea as far as I understand it, I hope the guys don't try and put too much in it beyond the populated maps

[QUOTE=Muukkis;43970619]From what I gather it's supposed to be basically a modder's resource pack in a way that they're intended for other modders to use if they want to. I could be wrong though.[/QUOTE] Well, fuck. There went my hopes of big battles between factions