I think all the files that have to be added as a group are listed in the RUb readme file. RUb is definitely getting complicated in terms of this.

Well the truth is, I am running airbases that send out only 1 long range patrol plane at a time, instead of two :)

I was using it the other day when I was trying to find out what caused the U-flak bug CCIP had described. I found that with a U-flak, 1 plane of any type was easy meat. So I went back to 2 planes. Since then, I've removed the Uflak tower and gone back to one plane again. Seem to get less encounters though.. :(

While it is great to add many interseting things, with all the other mods and possibilities, tracking problems should become a high priority regarding what is done to better ascetain what might happen, If that is at all possible.
I would like what I have running perfect to be more tweaked but not at the expense of a single CTD.
For some reason it never happens when you are about to be sunk but just when you finished bagging 50K and got away or you see, She's going down" on a battleship. Aw Murphy!!
I am surprised by how many SH3 players (in other venues I know them through) will not add anything but graphic and sound mods because there have been conflicts between mods.
Wulfmann

Oddly enough I run RuB1.42 with some UnRealUBoat backports and my IC modifications and I don't have CTDs pretty much ever.

I never make modifications to the RND/SCR layers or rosters by hand, though, ever. As you've said, one small typo and it's random CTD time.

Pretty much ever is not good enough, Absolutely never is the only thing I will accept and I would rather have a 90% variation than a 100% that can CTD even on rare occasion.
I do edit by hand (RND) which is why I did such an exhaustive test without a single CTD. I do not believe RUB is a problem. I just had be be certain my RND was not. Now that I know that I can add things in dribbles and test them. I meant I added the things that I knew could not conflict with me testing the RND file from RUB.
But, other mods may conflict with ones in RUB and that is another consideration.
Wulfmann

I have yet to see a single CTD caused by RUb. I've seen three caused by the standard game (the crew exchange button bug), and I've seen hundreds of reports of CTDs that were caused by faulty installation procedures (like mixing mods that aren't compatible, or installing mods onto a version of the game that the mod wasn't made for). In my view, the idea that mods often cause lots of CTDs is nothing more than superstition. If RUb had any CTD-causing bugs, I would know about it REALLY quickly, because it has been downloaded tens of thousands of times, and with so many people using the mod if a bug was not reported and verified at least once, it would be so unlikely that I'd say it's impossible.

I've been modding games for 15 years and in all that time only one of the hundreds (perhaps thousands) of files I've altered has ever caused a CTD. That was over 5 years ago. Other mod-makers have similar records. Although we are amateurs our reputation is all we have, and if we make mistakes we are not long in the mod-making hobby because people have no patience for a mod-maker who can't be trusted. A bad mod-maker lasts about an hour in this business - that's how long it takes a player to load a mod, play it, find it doesn't work, and post a complaint to the internet. If the mod-maker can't give a satisfactory answer, he's finished.

'Absolutely never' is not something that can be guaranteed by any person who works in programming or modding, but the mods I assemble are ALWAYS much more stable than the games they are based on. If 'absolutely never' is the criterion, you are insisting on a level of perfection that no programmer, game developer, or mod-maker has ever achieved. Having said that, mod-makers have BY FAR the best track record.

Regarding mixing mods, that's a different matter - it's always likely to cause CTDs. This is the main reason why RUb is built as a stand-alone mod that doesn't need any other mods. It was created so that players could take the game, add RUb to it, and play. If players mix mods, they do that at their own risk. Game files are pretty resilient - you can often try to mess them up by deleting data or mixing files that aren't compatible, and often nothing bad will happen, but sometimes weird stuff does happen.

My advice is - people shouldn't mix mods unless they know exactly what the mods do and how they do it. If players add any mod to RUb, it's not RUb anymore, and the player basically has no one to blame but himself for what happens. When players mix my mod with another, they've just joined the mod-making hobby. What results is their creation, not mine.

I agree entirely, no CTDs here, SH3 is one of the most stable games I have ever had.

I dont really have any problems at all.

Some mods can have obvious problems, campaigns and roster changes is an obvious one. If either is overwritten by a subsequent mod installed "on top" then one references the other and finds things missing or dates changed.

For example, I will not be installing Ops Mod when it finally comes out as I will lose various things that I don't want overwritten. I will miss out on a few extra bases, but heh, that's the way it goes.

I thought I was clear, at least to me, that I was saying exactly that about RUB and that it was the mixing of Mods that caused problems. I do believe RUB alone will not cause any problems. I also believe the RND you use is so weak (Being direct and not trying to offend) that I would rather have my RND than RUB if I had to choose as it adds more to the game by itself than all of RUB, again if I had to choose. But, I love most everything in RUB and would be happy to just use it but I am greedy and can not stop trying new stuff which leads me to a mod conflict. That is why I am building this with first my RND unquestionable in its stability, then with RUB and if I find I can not have assured stability with other mods, I will stick with RUB and my RND (and of course the modded Stuka and Hurri LOL) :rotfl:
I intend on, once satified, adding other mods to my other set up and test them before adding them to the gaming PC.
Wulfmann

OT, but speaking of bases. What is the point of some of the bases, say Salamis in Greece. Why would one go there, therefore, why is it even there? Can one simply end a mission at another base and then start from there? If not what was the point?
Wulfmann

hello wulfmann,

i use a heavy modded sh3 and it runs fine. No crash so far with one exeption: the IX skin you can dl at realuboot.com is high suspiciuos for causing crash's in my eyes ;)


I would like to test your RND file. Is it possible to dl it?


please forgive my bad language skills.

Yes, I realise that. I just worry that other people won't appreciate the nuance.

mods i use:

- RUB 1.42 (first to install)

- nearly all eye candy mods (skins, interior, landscape,)
- a few sound mods (i'm carful with them, some cause crashes)
- harbour traffic SCR file with uboots (1.43)
- additional merchants and southampton cruiser + floatplanes
- airpowermod (zones.cfg merged with hollywood-mod)
- new aisensors.dat
- new sensors.dat
- improved conwoys RND file (17.7)
- update for plotting tools (Ast_Plot_Versions_v1)

works and looks like a charm, Never had crashes, exept the time i was testing the type IX skin.

Gammel, PM me an email add and when I send it out to a small group in a few days I will put you on the list,

Berry, I can see that and agree it should be clear that RUB does not cause any problems itself. There is no doubt about that to me.

Wulfmann

I guess I'm overreacting a bit because I've had so many people saying "I never load any mods because in my experience they always cause crashes". I hate that, so I guess I was doing a pre-emptive strike. :88)

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a program that could determine which mods would conflict?

I understand how some (hect, I bet it is 99%) don't want to mod for fear it will ruin their game. As you correctly said, some conflict but not RUB. That is what is good about RUB, it is a tested package that is more extensive than anything else. Just needs a good RND file and less bombs on the Stuka!!! LOL

I also feel you need to 'Over react" as compared to assume the average guy will overlook negative mod comments. Most people that DL and read these threads do not participate so I often over write things for their benifit. Sometimes the person I respond to gets offended as if I am explaining some basic thing he is way to advanced to be lectured on but it is to allow others to fully understand the discussion.
Jason got on me for mentioning the Hunt class inaccurate enter dates so much. That is why I repeat things seemingly to the same person.

In that regrad your "over reaction" is a service to those many read only people. Keep doing it!
Wulfmann