Please help: LWAMI

[Deep_Nukem]

Been gone a long time. Came back. Installed DW + 1.04 + 3.09 + 3.10.......
Pretty sure I installed everything correctly. Fires up fine.

Anway, I'm trying to do some of the quick missions and it seems like I'm the water 5 minutes and people start shooting off torpedos like it's the end of the world. I didn't even change speed/ change course, nothing.

ANother weird thing: I hear the pinging from the torps, and then they just stop. I wonder if they are shooting at me????? Like I said, I don't change speed, don't change course. Nothing. I'm in the water 5 minutes if that, and people start shooting. ???????????? Am I doing something wrong because that doesn't seem very realistic to me at all. I've got no chance. I'm playing stock sub. Los Angeles class. Just trying to get my feet wet again and people want to kill me quickly it seems. Help.

[TLAM Strike]

We tweaked a lot of the sensors (removing Hardcaps and so forth) so in some missions it becomes an instant Charlie Foxtrot because everyone detects each other right away.

Try increasing the difficulty of the quick missions, above "easy" there are no friendly platforms (normally) that can start shooting before you know what is going on.

[Deep_Nukem]

One more question. With some of the VERY EARLY mods (not even LWAMI) some of the stock campaign missions were porked. Have those been fixed in the LWAMI ?? Don't want to start something I can't finish. Thanks.

[TLAM Strike]

No we didn't fix any missions. Don't bother with the stock campaign in LWAMI, its just an exercise in futility...

[Deep_Nukem]

Alright, thanks. And fair enough. So what do you suggest I play? I mean offline? I'm not much for online play. Are there any missions I can download from somewhere that work good with LWAMI?

Thanks again.

[Molon Labe]

@Deep Nukem
TLAM's right about the Quick Missions... those missions are designed with platforms already in range of each other. Surface platforms especially will see each other immediately and start shooting immediately.

About not starting what you can't finish... keep in mind that you don't have to play a campaign with the same database all the way through. What you can't do is start a mission, save it, change the DB, and then load the mission in progress.

But moving on...

No we didn't fix any missions. Don't bother with the stock campaign in LWAMI, its just an exercise in futility...

:timeout:
In the first campaign mission, the player is sometimes detected at startup. That's it. Nowhere near a campaign-killer. Before we released 3.10, I played through the stock campaign with the mod installed to look for bugs. The campaign wasn't futile... It was easymode.

Don't feed the exaggerated myth!



EDIT:
Alright, thanks. And fair enough. So what do you suggest I play? I mean offline? I'm not much for online play. Are there any missions I can download from somewhere that work good with LWAMI?

Thanks again.
Just about everything that ships with the game works well with the mod. That first stock campaign mission is the known exception, it just gets a lot of "press."

If you haven't checked out subguru.com, that's "the place" for aftermarket DW missions. Another site is CADC (http://www.commanders-academy.com/forum/downloads.php), although there is a lot of overlap, there are some missions there that Bill never posted to Subguru. Many of these missions are specifically designed for LWAMI, and even those that aren't are still going to work. I know of 2 missions in the whole DW world that were designed for stock DW that don't work with LWAMI. I've invited others to name more, and I don't think I ever got an answer.

[Deep_Nukem]

Sweet! I know I know....one more question. Lol. In the orginal DW with perhaps 1.04 and maybe some random mod before LWAMI.....it used to drive me nuts that the detection ranges seemed so short. For both me and the AI. It was like it was impossible to use any sort of Beyond Visual Range (if u will) with my sensors to track a target.

In short, the instant I could detect him, he detected me as well. I mean it seems to me that a highly outfitted state of the art US sub could detect a submerged ship, or surface ship a good deal away from where THEY could detect you. In my experience, this KILLED my immersiveness of the sim. I want to be able to detect a threat far away, before he sees me.....and use some tactics to stay "hidden" and sneak up on him and fire before he even knows I'm there.

What about this in LWAMI? Is it better? Fixed? (not that it was broken) If we both hear each other at the same time, what's the point of being silent and using range to stay out of his detection zone? I want to be able to sneak up on them. Go deep and outrun them to a spot on the map and wait in hiding for an ambush. Is this possible now? Thanks.

[Molon Labe]

Sweet! I know I know....one more question. Lol. In the orginal DW with perhaps 1.04 and maybe some random mod before LWAMI.....it used to drive me nuts that the detection ranges seemed so short. For both me and the AI. It was like it was impossible to use any sort of Beyond Visual Range (if u will) with my sensors to track a target.

In short, the instant I could detect him, he detected me as well. I mean it seems to me that a highly outfitted state of the art US sub could detect a submerged ship, or surface ship a good deal away from where THEY could detect you. In my experience, this KILLED my immersiveness of the sim. I want to be able to detect a threat far away, before he sees me.....and use some tactics to stay "hidden" and sneak up on him and fire before he even knows I'm there.

What about this in LWAMI? Is it better? Fixed? (not that it was broken) If we both hear each other at the same time, what's the point of being silent and using range to stay out of his detection zone? I want to be able to sneak up on them. Go deep and outrun them to a spot on the map and wait in hiding for an ambush. Is this possible now? Thanks.

Detection ranges do change with LWAMI, in some cases longer, in others, shorter. Something you have to keep in mind is that detection ranges are highly variable depending on acoustic conditions. What changes with the mod is that the ranges are more dependent on platform speed.

The experience you're describing with stock DW tells me that you were either in horrible acoustic conditions or there's something wrong on your end such as bad display settings. The mod isn't going to change that.

[Mustang01]

Good day! I'm new to SUBSIM but I've just purchased a copy of DW and find it strangely addictive. I sank the Nimitz last night, so I think I'm ready fur further challenges. I'm very interested in getting the LWAMI mod to work, but I have some issues with my machine and I don't think I've installed it properly, so I could use some guidance. I'm also very interested in finding out where the DW mod community is going, since this game seems like it has serious expansion potential and I'd love to play with/against more platforms.

[ASWnut101]

Howdy Mustang, welcome to Subsim! :salute:

Installing LWAMI can be somewhat tricky, especially with the latest release, 3.10, due to the fact that there is no automagic installer. First, I have some questions:

1) What operating system are you running (Win XP, Vista, 7, or other).

2) What version of LWAMI are you trying to install? LWAMI 3.10 requires the older 3.09 version to be installed beforehand, which may be causing your troubles.

3) Have you patched your stock DW game to the 1.04 patch yet?


With that information, I'd be glad to walk you through installing LWAMI. Once again, welcome aboard!

[Mustang01]

Thank you for the prompt reply. I have the 1.04 patch installed, and I know that it "took" since it states this at the bottom of the title screen. I believe that I have been attempting to install the 3.09 version of LWAMI, as this is what both the manual and sonar profiles state. For installation, I tried the following:
- Install DW, version 1.04
- Add to stock DW files in "Graphics", "Doctrine" and "Database" with the LWAMI 3.09 counterparts.
- Enable "LWAMI Mod with the "JSGME Generic Mod Enabler"

I believe that this has resulted in a "partial" install of LWAMI, since I can see the new platforms when I use the Mission Editor, but they do not show up in the USNI browser and none of the new or LWAMI-tweaked platforms seem to have 3D models, I also still see the original title screen, not the "Flight II" version that I've observed in the LWAMI "Graphics" folder.

[TLAM Strike]

Did you run the .bat files in the graphics folder?

[Mustang01]

TLAM Strike, I'm a little confused. ".bat files"? I looked in my "Graphics" folder and did not see any ".bat files". Am I missing something?

[TLAM Strike]

There should be some .bat files somewhere in your LWAMI install package. Those need to be run in the graphics folder along with all the new graphics files to install our 3d files and textures.

[ASWnut101]

Yeah, TLAM, I don't recall ever having to run a .bat file for 3.09. Just run the LwAmi_installer.exe and follow the onscreen prompts.

But anyway, Mustang, look for the files "zgraphicsinstaller" and "zUSNIinstaller" in your graphics directory. If you find them, run them. Also, make sure that in the JSGME, the "LwAmi_Mod" file is at the top of the activated mods list, with whatever splash screen you want underneath that.

[Mustang01]

Gentlemen. I couldn't find the .bat files and I've tried everything I can think of to get the mod to run with no luck, not even a new splash screen. I did get a bug error message when the mod was downloading on "line 609", so maybe this is the root of the problem. Frustrating to say the least! Thanks again for your time.

[ASWnut101]

Hm, an error while downloading probably means the file is now corrupt. Have you tried re-downloading from Subsim or CADC?

[Mustang01]

I did. I misspoke, it's not so much a problem downloading as it is installing. I get a message that looks like this: "Microsoft Visual C++ Debug Library PROGRAM...cation\Mods\LwAmi_Mod_DW_Original_Splash \Graphics\CMPUTIL.exe Files: dbgheap.c Line:609

Obviously something is wrong with my machine in that it is having problems with the new graphics for some reason, so I've uninstalled everything and I'll come back to this when I'm a little less frustrated. I may have to have my computer cleaned. Thanks again.

[robdw]

Grrrr. I'm having the same problem as Mustang01. I reformated my computer and I couldn't find my DW CD when I went to reload it so I ended up buying a new download copy from Direct2Drive. LWAMI worked fine previously but now I get the error as listed above.
From what I can see this seems to be due to this version of Dangerous Waters being registered in Windows Registry differently. When I use DWEdit it mentions something about DW not being registered.
I tried just swapping LWAMI database/doctrine/graphics directories in, but then I get a "error 12010: bitmap failed to load" error.
Any suggestions on how to manually LWAMI or fix this issue? I don't really care if I can't swap it in and out, I just want it in.
Thanks, Robert

[ASWnut101]

Kinda odd that there seems to be a bit of trouble with the autoinstaller, they always used to work...

The "error 12010: bitmap failed to load" error is actually good, in the grand scheme of things. LWAMI seems to be working then, but you have to select a splash screen in JSGME. Sometimes you have to play with the screens a bit (i.e. activating and unactivating) to get them to work. But as long as they are enabled after the base LWAMI mod (and thus lower on the JSGME list), it should work fine in the end.

If that doesn't work, try this link to download the manual install version of LWAMI 3.10 (the links under "old content"). Just make sure you have 3.09 installed first if you do that.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=170376

EDIT: Whoops, forgot the link :doh:

[robdw]

Thanks ASWnut. The installer worked for me back in January when installed over an original CD install and downloaded upgrade to 1.4. Actually that would have had an older LWAMI installed on it at one time too. Just seems to have an issue with "new" download versions that come as 1.4. Either that or something that Windows has upgraded recently is screwing with things.
Unfortunately the 3.09 links are now gone or down (tried that option last night), so going 3.09 then upgrading to 3.10 wasn't an option.
The good news is that tried the obvious and dumped all the files from the original "graphics" folder into the LWAMI graphics folder (not overwriting any that it had already) and it seems to be working now in limited testing. The FFG is firing Mk 54 torps, even though the station still says Mk 46, but I'm thinking that was likely hardcored and not modable anyway.
Robert

[Mustang01]

Gentlemen,

I retried getting LWAMI to work with some success. I re-installed DW then ran the LWAMI 3.09 installer but mandated that it install into the DW folder which was something I had not tried before. To make a long story short, it worked and I proceeded to press my luck with a LWAMI 3.10 install and it too worked. I now get the 3.10 load screen "Flight II" and my USNI browser is chock full of tons of new platforms and navies (amazing job gentlemen). However, I seem to be missing a few early USN platforms (Permit, Skipjack, B. Franklin, Sturgeon) as well as newer stuff (Virginia, LCS, etc.) This is annoying since I wanted to build some 1980's WWIII scenarios along with some near-future stuff. Has anyone encountered this issue?

[Molon Labe]

Gentlemen,

I retried getting LWAMI to work with some success. I re-installed DW then ran the LWAMI 3.09 installer but mandated that it install into the DW folder which was something I had not tried before. To make a long story short, it worked and I proceeded to press my luck with a LWAMI 3.10 install and it too worked. I now get the 3.10 load screen "Flight II" and my USNI browser is chock full of tons of new platforms and navies (amazing job gentlemen). However, I seem to be missing a few early USN platforms (Permit, Skipjack, B. Franklin, Sturgeon) as well as newer stuff (Virginia, LCS, etc.) This is annoying since I wanted to build some 1980's WWIII scenarios along with some near-future stuff. Has anyone encountered this issue?

You're running the 3.09 database.

Question: Did you enable 3.09 first, then install 3.10 with 3.09 still enabled?

[Mustang01]

Yes Sir. I installed 3.09, enabled it with the JSGME and tested it to see if it "worked". I then disabled 3.09, used the 3.10 installer, re-enabled the 'LWAMI_Mod" in the JSGME and tested it again. It specifically says 3.10 in the load screen, so I was confused. I was also under the impression, after reading the change-logs, that the platforms I was referring to were actually in 3.09, so I wasn't sure what happened.

[Molon Labe]

Hmmm. I wonder if you ended up running the stock database then (I always get confused about when various platforms were added, too much to keep straight). EDIT: I've confirmed that the Cold War US subs are part of 3.09, so it's not a 3.09 DB that you're running. Sounds like you're running the stock database.

EDIT: dumb question, how do you know they're missing? Is it a line missing from the USNI, does the platform not appear in the mission editor, is the model missing from the USNI entry, etc?


What I suggest is this. Disable the mod. Then overwrite the ...Mods/LWAMI MOD Database and Doctrine folders with database and doctrine folders that you know for a fact are 3.10 and did not get overwritten somehow. Then reenable the mod.

If you don't have a clean copy of 3.10 you can use the non-installer version (http://www.commanders-academy.com/forum/downloads.php?do=file&id=171)that OneShot recently made. This is just a copy and paste job and shouldn't require any dancing.

[Mustang01]

I just tried that and I'm still missing those platforms. The wierd part is that I've got most of the other new platforms (Delta III, Astute, Gotland SSK, Udaloy II, etc) Wierd! Is it possible that they are in the game, just not the USNI database?

[Molon Labe]

Yes, that's why I asked about how you noticed they were missing.

If they don't appear at USNI, see if they're in the mission editor.

[Mustang01]

You're right! I never thought to check that. Why is it that some platforms don't have USNI entries? No matter, this is amazing. Incredible work by the way. Thanks again! Now for some TMA training...

[Molon Labe]

In some cases, because neither TLAM nor I made them. ; ). But stuff like the Skipjack we did. I don't know for sure, my guess is that something went wrong with the installer. Is it just 3.09 additions that are missing?

[Mustang01]

I'm not 100% sure of what is missing from the USNI, but the most obvious omissions were all of the non-stock US platforms. I haven't tested the mission editor yet to see if all of the 3.09/10 platforms are in there yet but the Sturgeon/Permit/Skipjack/Virginia/LCS/Tarawa models were all there in full glory, just not in the USNI...strange. It's important to stress that I'm still new to LWAMI and I only noticed this after perusing some of the reference material you supplied that showed the capabilities of the "new" platforms. It seems that you have differentiated between ADCAPs and older Mk 48s, which I also did not see differentiated in the USNI. Please don't percieve this as a slight, I just wanted to make sure I had installed this properly and had chance of going against Cold War targets during random scenario encounters. There is just something cool about seeing a Hotel or Alfa on sonar (damn Walkers!). Thanks again for this amazing mod!

[Molon Labe]

I'm not 100% sure of what is missing from the USNI, but the most obvious omissions were all of the non-stock US platforms. I haven't tested the mission editor yet to see if all of the 3.09/10 platforms are in there yet but the Sturgeon/Permit/Skipjack/Virginia/LCS/Tarawa models were all there in full glory, just not in the USNI...strange. It's important to stress that I'm still new to LWAMI and I only noticed this after perusing some of the reference material you supplied that showed the capabilities of the "new" platforms. It seems that you have differentiated between ADCAPs and older Mk 48s, which I also did not see differentiated in the USNI. Please don't percieve this as a slight, I just wanted to make sure I had installed this properly and had chance of going against Cold War targets during random scenario encounters. There is just something cool about seeing a Hotel or Alfa on sonar (damn Walkers!). Thanks again for this amazing mod!

No slight perceived.

The Tarawa is a 3.10 platform, so this isn't a 3.09 vs 3.10 problem.

Which 3.10 installation package did you use?

My theory right now is that the US_TOC.txt file didn't make it into the USNI. Do you have any other 3.10 platforms in the USNI that are not from 3.09 or earlier? Examples: Astute SSN (UK), Type 212 (DE, IT), Type 214 (ROK), Houbie/Type 022 FAC (CH), Luyang II DDG (CH).

[Mustang01]

I just verifed that all of the platforms you listed are, in fact, in the USNI. It appears that this "bug" is a US-platform only phenomenon. My version of 3.10 was from the Dive Academy site. To be honest, this really doesn't bother me since I can take a good look at the models in the mission editor. Is this US_TOC.txt issue something I can correct?

[Molon Labe]

Yes.

Alright, this should do the trick.

First, backup (make a copy of) USNIdata.grp and USNIdata.ndx from the Graphics folder.

You said you had downloaded the "pure install" version of the installer, right? Go into the mods/lwami mod/Graphics directory there and extract US_TOC.txt, place it in DW/Graphics. Also grab cmputil.exe from "mods/lwami mod/Filetools" and put that in Graphics.

Open up notepad and enter the following line:
"cmputil usnidata US_TOC.txt"
Save the file as "whateveryouwanttocallme.bat", inside the Graphics folder

Run the .bat file (double-click).

Fire up DW and check the US USNI listing. Open all of the new platforms and try to display the photos and 3D model. If there is a problem (a crash, most likely) then restore the backups USNIdata.grp and .ndx and let me know I suck at troubleshooting.

[Mustang01]

I tried walking through your steps and was a little confused about the "open notepad" part. Which file do I open with notepad? Seriously, this isn't a huge concern since I'm confident that the previously missing platforms are in the game, just not the USNI. I'll actually be offline for a few days but thank you so much for your help. This is a really impressive community. Just out of curiosity, do you have a Navy background in the "real" world?

[TLAM Strike]

I tried walking through your steps and was a little confused about the "open notepad" part. Which file do I open with notepad? Don't open any file. Just start notepad up and enter that text and save it with a .bat extension (don't have the save option as "notepad document (.txt)" selected, have it set for "all extensions").

[Mustang01]

OK. I did the ".bat" procedure in the Graphics folder with no new result in game. Was this supposed to be in the LWAMI Graphics folder or the DW Graphics folder?

[Molon Labe]

For now, all the action is in SCS/DangerousWaters/Graphics. And that's where you'll find the .grp and .ndx you need to back up before you run the .bat. I can't stress that enough, because I'm making an assumption about what has gone wrong and you may need to restore if that assumption is incorrect.

No military background here.