Frequently Asked Questions - (FAQ)

Can we switch to the 1.21 patch in the middle of the GOTM?

My SG wants to use
ptw.jpg
1.21 but I started GOTM19 on
ptw.jpg
1.14.

I tried a trick found somewhere to copy the
ptw.jpg
folder and run the patch on a copy so that both versions would be available but it screwed things up a bit.
 
If you want to have both version of PTW available at the same time follow this procedure.

1) before installing the
ptw.jpg
v1.21 patch, make a copy of the existing Civ3PTW directory and rename the new copy to be "Civ3PTW Patch1_14 Copy".

2) inside your Patch1_14 copy folder you will have all the existing PTW content duplicated 100%. To make the copy version take up only the minimal space, then you need clear out all the non-functional extra content that you can leave in place in the fully pacthed version. Pay attention to what you are doing and you will cut away almost all the duplicated stuff:

2a) go to the copied version and in the folder named /Civ3PTW Patch1_14 Copy/Extras/ delete everything and free up 89MB of space

2b) go to the copied version and in the folder named /Civ3PTW Patch1_14 Copy/Scenarios/ delete everything and free up 126MB of space.

(remember that you will still ahve all the copies of this deleted stuff in your primary fully patched folders by the same name.)

3) The next step is not too complex but should not be attempted if you have diffiuclty with file management concepts. If you redirect the file pointers inside the "PediaIcons.txt" file then you will be able to delete the duplicate units and leaderhead graphics from inside the folder of you copies version. 60 MB of duplicate files are in the folders:
/Civ3PTW Patch1_14 Copy/Art/units
/Civ3PTW Patch1_14 Copy/Art/advisors/
/Civ3PTW Patch1_14 Copy/Art/leaderheads/
/Civ3PTW Patch1_14 Copy/Art/civilopedia/

and these files can be bypassed by using the replace command in your simple text editor to change the beginnings of the file pointer lines in the "pediaicons.txt" file so that the read as pointing to "../CIV3PTW/art/blahblahblah" instead of "art/blahblahblah".

4) you can eliminate 184MB of duplicated and wasted file space by bypassing the copies of the Leaderhead animations that reside inside the
/Civ3PTW Patch1_14 Copy/Art/Flics folder

you just need to move these files up a level to reside in the /Civilization III/Art/Flics folder with all the standard civ leaderheads and then delete the bogus duplicated copies the reside down in the PTW/Art/Flics folders in your copy and the original. There will probably never be any patch impact on these images because they are huge and clumsy and would be unlikely to be included in any downloadable patch.

--------------------------------------------------
The reason you want to understand how to keep the old patchs of
ptw.jpg
alive on your computer is that we can anticipate the current management difficulties with getting the original Patch version out and then distributed fully around the world will probably not go away as long as the existing Infogrames/Atari decision processes remain in place. Infogrames controls the international patch distribution but because of some disjointed decisions that have been made at the localization level each one of the extra versions has to be independently produced in different ways in different countries by people who follow totally different approaches to similar problems.

If you follow the steps outline above you can then engage the prior patched versions directly from their folder icons and freely upgrade your frontline patched version by just repeating the clone and bypass steps if required.
 
When can i post in the first spoiler on gotm19 and how do i upload maps
 
For when you can post in the spoiler threads: read the first post and follow the directions - it's laid out pretty clearly.

To upload maps, scroll down to the very bottom of the page, click on the link that says 'upload file' and follow the directions there. If you need more detail, it's spelled out pretty clearly in the main FAQ thread in general discussions.

Renata
 
Cool thanks
 
Ehm, I should know better but can you remind me whether the GOTM 19 QSC requires a timeline or not?
I remember reading that about that but I can't remember the cutoff date.
 
Originally posted by Yndy
Ehm, I should know better but can you remind me whether the GOTM 19 QSC requires a timeline or not?
I remember reading that about that but I can't remember the cutoff date.

IIRC cracker has said that a timeline is required for the QSC and isn't the cutoff date the 20th of the month?
 
Maybe I was not clear.
Is a timeline absolutely required for the Quick Start Challenge for GOTM 19 or not? I
participated to the previous QSC's without a timeline and got a penalty but it seems that i will not get anything without a timeline from some point forward. Is it from GOTM 19 or GOTM 20?
 
Yndy,

Hidden away in the installation instructions is:

Quick Start Challenge: If you would like to participate in the optional QSC portion of the GOTM competitions you will need to prepare a timeline of events covering the details of your game and your decisions up to the end of the 1000bc turn. To participate in the QSC, you must submit your timeline and a copy of your 1000bc save file to quick_start@civfanatics.net prior to May 20th, 2003.

Start Typing :D
 
Thanks Phil,
As I feared, I had a trivial question but at least I asked in the proper forum :).
Actually it’s too late for typing but you saved me some 0.9 cents for a minute of dial-up connection to send a save that would not be considered without a timeline.
:lol:
 
Just in case you weren't aware. Work has started on Powertimeline, a utility to help create GOTM logs (PC players only AFAIK). You can find the current status here: Ideas for Automatic Document Generator utility

I've used the Beta for GOTM18 & 19 with no problems.


regards

Ted
 
Thanks Ted,
I did follow the thread until the utility was sort-of-alpha but I really don't have the time to write anything. I'm in 50AD in GOTM 19 by now and the tough part is still to come. I'll sure try the software in GOTM 20.
Thanks all for the help. I am feeling like a newbie now (nurtured by Phil and all). Luckily, cracker called me for a virtual beer earlier today and that makes me feel better. :p
 
How do I put in a cool picture under my name, so it shows up in these forums? Like Cracker's tank
 
scubagtr: You'll find a row of buttons on top of the page, one of them says 'user cp'. If you click it has an option to alter your user info (edit options). There you can choose a pic from the collection as your avatar (last item in a list). When you post often enough (over 200 times) you can add your own.

(thx to you I'm one step closer now :p)
 
I am a bit confused about the timelines for QSC - sorry if this is in the wrong place.

I see timelines are submitted in HTML, XLS and plain TXT.

Which is easiest for you to deal with? I can't submit for the Ottoman game because I can't find all my moves (and my spoiler has vanished into oblivion).

But I would love to know for future events because this is the part of the game I've got the most to learn about.

Also, I can't seem to find a link to download other people's timelines...


EDIT: YES! Found them!
 
The QSC timeline can be in any of the formats mentioned. The goal of the timeline is to help educate others as to what you did and to either learn from you, or to possibly offer help in certail areas of the game. I have learned alot in studying other people first moves over the past few months.

So write it in the format that you are most comfortable with. ;)
 
Thanks Creepster. Actually, that format would be magic marker :)

I think I'll hold on the current Ottomans and save it for the next QSC. Too many unknowns in my timeline, so I'll do a proper TXT one next time round.
 
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