Buffy 005 launched - try it out with 3 new Gauntlets!

[Pangaea]

It's probably related to the way GOG installs the system, what is your path to the installation?

Right now I have it here: /home/pangaea/Games/civ4/Civilization IV Complete. Does it have to be in a particular path to work correctly?

I don't have a Windows version to test it out on, but the script author from the linked thread said he tried it out on Windows 7, and the same problem occurred. So it seems likely there is something weird with the GOG version of the game, that confuses BUFFY. The attached image is the error message I get when running the game. It game itself works fine and I can start BUFFY games, but they won't be "legal" as there is a warning message in-game too.

 

[Anysense]

I don't have a Windows version to test it out on, but the script author from the linked thread said he tried it out on Windows 7, and the same problem occurred. So it seems likely there is something weird with the GOG version of the game, that confuses BUFFY. The attached image is the error message I get when running the game. It game itself works fine and I can start BUFFY games, but they won't be "legal" as there is a warning message in-game too.

The game version is fine, but there is some weird issue with the registry. I simply installed Steam version and replaced assets with the GOG ones. This can be a bit tricky, because I don't really know what I need to overwrite.
You could try the same thing, if you have another version of Civ which is installed properly but has flawed assets.

 

[Pangaea]

The game version is fine, but there is some weird issue with the registry. I simply installed Steam version and replaced assets with the GOG ones. This can be a bit tricky, because I don't really know what I need to overwrite.
You could try the same thing, if you have another version of Civ which is installed properly but has flawed assets.

Kinda hard to find the solution if one doesn't know the problem, or doens't have another working copy. Thankfully I did. Copied the relevant registry settings from the ancient version I have, and imported it to the new registry from the GOG version (after deleting theirs). Now the game runs without any protestations from BUFFY. Have started to play the BOTM 170 game with the new settings (after upgrading Linux Mint 18.2 to 19.1), so time will tell if it goes through fine (as I expect) or there is some other issue that I don't know about presently.

Without the need to run BUFFY, the GOG version of the game would probably run just fine (at least from what I observed on my end), but due to changes in the registry by GOG there is a conflict which needs to be solved. Glad I got it working, though. Thanks to tips from the very helpful person who wrote that install script over at GOG's forum, I'm now also able to swap workspaces without the game getting minimised. That thing plagued me for aaaages. Made taking screenshots and "alt-tabbing" a right pain.

Perhaps Windows has gotten this too now, but for those who don't know, workspaces means you have several version of the desktop. You can then have different applications (or a game in this case) in different workspaces, and then seemlessly swap between them. It's a great feature (also without multiple monitors) and I use it a lot.

 

[madwheel]

I also have a very similar problem as what @Pangaea was describing. I also recently bought CivIV complete from that GOG.com sale (only costs $7.50, until feb 25th I think, btw). But I am using windows 10. The game runs fine (tried warlords, BTS, vanilla and colonization). But, when trying to load the BUFFY mod, I get the exact same message, that HOF submissions will not be possible, but I can still proceed to load the mod and it appears to work completely, afaik.

What is more frustrating to me is that I cannot get Map Finder to work at all (I've tried for hours and read all this thread and many parts of other threads). I wonder if this is the same root issue, particularly as it does show it as a 'registry' error message. Problem is, this is the first copy of Civ4 that I have ever had (first time I've ever tried to play it) and so I don't have any type of old registry to copy, nor would I know exactly how to implement it correctly if I did. So I'm wondering if I can get more details from Pangaea or someone else who may have resolved this on windows.

Things I have tried are changing all the files in my install folders to read only and giving 'users' full control to all the access, in both these places (default places the GOG install client placed them):
C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Civilization IV Complete
C:\Users\<my_user>\OneDrive\Documents\My Games\Beyond The Sword

I have also made all the Exe files 'run as admins'. And tried a couple compatibility options for the Civ4_Map_Finder.exe and none of that helped, probably no surprise.
Some other minor things I've tried is installing the Map finder in many many different folders, and even the BUFFY mod in both program files and Documents (loads fine from both, but still always get the warning and fail for Mapfinder). Here is a screenshot of the map finder error:

Another issue I've had that maybe I'll try to resolve further if I get the major ones resolved: I couldn't get the mod to load by default or with a modified shortcut as the instructions here outline: http://hof.civfanatics.net/civ4/mod.php?show=mod#buffy_download
I couldn't ever get windows to accept the shortcut as valid, nor could I find any .ini file that looked for sure like one that I could add to to get the mod to load by default. Both of these issues, or particularly the latter could well be due to GOG changes (GOG has some custom looking ini files in there and there is no "CivilizationsIV.ini"). I'll probably post a separate reply on this later, some parts of the instructions from the mod site seemed conflicting and confusing to me, as well.

You'd think if the GOG folks are going to bother modifying the install files so much at all, they would test that their version works with basic things like this, since this is by far the most popular Civ community. Right? haha... Meh

 

[Pangaea]

I also have a very similar problem as what @Pangaea was describing. I also recently bought CivIV complete from that GOG.com sale (only costs $7.50, btw). But I am using windows 10. The game runs fine (tried warlords, BTS, vanilla and colonization). But, when trying to load the BUFFY mod, I get the exact same message when I choose to load the Buffy mod, that HOF submissions will not be possible, but I can still proceed to load the mod and it appears to work completely, afaik.

What is more frustrating to me is that I cannot get Map Finder to work at all (I've tried for hours and read all this thread and many parts of other threads). I wonder if this is the same root issue, particularly as it does show it as a 'registry' error message. Problem is, this is the first copy of Civ4 that I have ever had (first time I've ever tried to play it) and so I don't have any type of old registry to copy, nor would I know exactly how to implement it correctly if I did. So I'm wondering if I can get more details from Pangaea or someone else who may have resolved this on windows.

Haven't had Windows on my computer for years, so can't answer all the queries (like admin rights and such), but you can try to import the .reg file I used. There is a big section about settings, which probably doesn't matter at all (you can try to delete it), but I reckon the paths are crucial. No idea why GOG managed to mess this up, but they did.

It's possible this gets Map Finder running too. I remember I had some problem with that way back too, but haven't run it for a very, very long time. There is also a path about MapFinder in BUFFY settings in-game, so make sure that is set to the appropriate path too. That may just be about running it though. If you get that error when starting it, hopefully getting the registry paths correct will fix it. Worth a shot at least.
https://pastebin.com/8ZL76K5m

I deleted the registry section from GOG as well, but it may not be necessary.

Save that stuff in a clean text file titled .reg and double click on it, or import it in the registry program.

 

[madwheel]

Thanks. I had actually asked over on that GOG.com thread that you had posted. https://www.gog.com/forum/sid_meiers_civilization_series/civilization_iv_for_linux/page2 And it sounds like adamhm had boiled it down to the problem registry lines and suggested I import a reg filed with these with my install directory replaced appropriately. I wouldn't mind your advice on what my .reg file has in it so far. I'm still uncertain if I need to change the paths that follows the 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE', but I didn't think so, or I have no idea what it might be if its wrong for windows/my install location (there is no "Firaxis Games" in my current install path though). Also, double backslashes isn't a linux thing, right? I was thinking just escape character. You can see more details on my post on GOG, but this is what I've got so far for my file. I'll probably try something like this and then try your larger .reg file if needed:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Firaxis Games]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4]
"INSTALLDIR"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\GOG Galaxy\\Games\\Civilization IV Complete\\Civ4"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4 - Beyond the Sword]
"INSTALLDIR"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\GOG Galaxy\\Games\\Civilization IV Complete\\Civ4\\Beyond the Sword"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4 - Warlords]
"INSTALLDIR"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\GOG Galaxy\\Games\\Civilization IV Complete\\Civ4\\Warlords"

 

[Pangaea]

Thanks. I had actually asked over on that GOG.com thread that you had posted. https://www.gog.com/forum/sid_meiers_civilization_series/civilization_iv_for_linux/page2 And it sounds like adamhm had boiled it down to the problem registry lines and suggested I import a reg filed with these with my install directory replaced appropriately. I wouldn't mind your advice on what my .reg file has in it so far.

Have you tried to import the registry keys? You can just put it in a clean text file and name it whatever.reg, then double-click on it. If I remember correctly from my ancient Windows days, that should import the contents into the registry.


On my end, I recently changed a few things on my system so re-installed Linux again. And now I have a much larger /home partition (kinda like My Documents on Windows, or your user account). The game started up fine so I'll try to play, and then cross my fingers BUFFY doesn't tag me as a cheater or something as I started the BOTM games prior to these changes.

 

[madwheel]

I thought I'd post my final .reg file that finally worked, I've had mapfinder work from beginning to end since then. Thanks to adamhm mostly, again. In case anyone else installs the GOG version of the game and want to get BUFFY and/or Map Finder working with it.

This is the exact copy of my version. The last key was adding "Wow6432Node" after HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE appropriately:


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Firaxis Games]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4]
"INSTALLDIR"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\GOG Galaxy\\Games\\Civilization IV Complete\\Civ4"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4 - Beyond the Sword]
"INSTALLDIR"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\GOG Galaxy\\Games\\Civilization IV Complete\\Civ4\\Beyond the Sword"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4 - Warlords]
"INSTALLDIR"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\GOG Galaxy\\Games\\Civilization IV Complete\\Civ4\\Warlords"


This is more general for what someone else should (probably) use, I think barring the person's registry somehow being really different than usual:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Firaxis Games]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4]
"INSTALLDIR"="<your install path to vanilla civ 4>"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4 - Beyond the Sword]
"INSTALLDIR"="<your install path to Beyond the Sword>"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4 - Warlords]
"INSTALLDIR"="<your install path to Warlords>"

Just do this

1. Copy the above into a basic text file and edit it to match your install paths appropriately
2. Save the file as with any name, just ensuring it is a .reg extension
3. run regedit from windows
4. Click file>import>find the .reg file

 

[civ4fanatic2]

Hi, all.

I'd gotten into BUG some months back when I stumbled on the Buffy mod. I appear to be getting the permissions-related error that often happened on Vista OS ('Warning: the HOF mod will be unable to save settings' and the dialogue-box suggests 'an user account with admin access' - I am the only user)... I'm running Windows 10, so am somewhat confused.

I'm running it on Steam, so I turned on all permissions for the game directory, and I opted-into a beta-version that apparently works better b/c of something to do w/ GameSpy (?). Anyway, no luck.

What else can I try to resolve this permissions error?

 

[lymond]

Hi, all.

I'd gotten into BUG some months back when I stumbled on the Buffy mod. I appear to be getting the permissions-related error that often happened on Vista OS ('Warning: the HOF mod will be unable to save settings' and the dialogue-box suggests 'an user account with admin access' - I am the only user)... I'm running Windows 10, so am somewhat confused.

I'm running it on Steam, so I turned on all permissions for the game directory, and I opted-into a beta-version that apparently works better b/c of something to do w/ GameSpy (?). Anyway, no luck.

What else can I try to resolve this permissions error?

Sound like you are on the right track. Make sure you do uncheck Read-Only thing on the BTS root (highest level) ..and the my games/bts folder
Make sure you run from the BTS executable (or a shortcut linked to BUFFY if you so choose), not the from the Steam Library. The BTS executable should be set to run as admin.

 

[civ4fanatic2]

Sound like you are on the right track. Make sure you do uncheck Read-Only thing on the BTS root (highest level) ..and the my games/bts folder
Make sure you run from the BTS executable (or a shortcut linked to BUFFY if you so choose), not the from the Steam Library. The BTS executable should be set to run as admin.

After 90 or so minutes tinkering with this, it seems to be a Windows 10 issue. I.e., can't change the 'Read-only' attribute as it is re-checked immediately after hitting 'OK' (as confirmed by re-opening the 'Properties' button') - changed securities and permissions to the fullest extent on the root folder and the 'My games' one also, but no luck. Looks like I'll have to scour more Windows-related forums

Otherwise the mod is very useful for gameplay! (from the glance I've given it so far)

 

[Noble Zarkon]

I.e., can't change the 'Read-only' attribute as it is re-checked immediately after hitting 'OK'

You'll probably need to find a way to run that command as Administrator, try looking for that in Windows forums.

 

[frisbee]

Anyone know if there's a way to disable the popup HOF Mod Warning ("Submitted game will not be valid") for BUFFY-3.19.005? It's not something I care about - I'm probably getting it because I just bought a new laptop and installed from Steam into Win10. I'm willing to edit a file if someone can tell me where the flag is.

I installed CivIV from Steam, then put BUFFY-3.19.005 into:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Sid Meier's Civilization IV Beyond the Sword\Beyond the Sword\Mods

 

[Major Tom]

Think you can see the flags on settings screen. F8 and settings tab.
Check lock modified assets at least. Check hof rules for other forbidden settings.

 

[frisbee]

Major Tom - Thanks. I had forgotten about Locked Modified Assets. I flipped that flag, but the warning I'm getting is actually during the Civ4 load (the warning is a splash screen prior to even getting to the main Civ4 menu). I suspect this has something to do with a Steam setting or with where I loaded the BUFFY files (or Buffy can't find an *ini file, or something).

I followed the HOF Vista/Win7 fixes (mostly around folder and user permissions), but didn't have any luck.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

(the warning is a splash screen prior to even getting to the main Civ4 menu)

Can you post a screenshot please, I'm not sure what you mean by this.

 

[frisbee]

EDIT: I should add I used the BUG not BUFFY mod i the past. I loaded BUFFY this time because it had a little more Win10 support.

I see this image before I even get to the main Civ4 page. I haven't loaded BUFFY in 6 years, so I'm sure things changed. I did modify the CivIV.ini file to autoload BUFFY.

This isn't a huge deal because I click OK, and get to play my game, but it'd be nice to make it go away.

 

[Major Tom]

Try run BtS as an administrator.

 

[lymond]

Nah, it is an assets issue. Are you running the beta version, which is actually the original release version?

 

[frisbee]

Pretty sure I'm running the correct 3.19-005 version (non-beta) - Just downloaded it form the HOF forum (http://hof.civfanatics.net/civ4/mod.php).

I'm still convinced it's a Steam Issue.