!!!!!NOTE!!!!!!: You don't need the mod anymore to change the aim/crit bonuses:
Go to C: Program Files (x86)-Steamsteamapps-common-XCom-Enemy-Unknown-XEW-XComGame-Config (Or where ever your game is installed) Open DefaultGameCore.ini (don't forget to back it up) There should be a lot of lines with "BalanceMods_{Difficulty here}", one for each enemy per difficulty Just reduce the Aim and Crit values to whatever you wish.
I've tried replacing the .ini files in the documents folder, the game folder and the engine folder, no changes stick because the config files in the executable overrides those changes. Shame, because I really liked playing with the better AI on impossible, with multiplayer health and stats in EU. If you chance the values in the EW executable, it won't start.
I don't understand step 2 of your instilation guide Is something suppose to happen when I launch patacher.bat? I see a command window for a split second. Can you dumb it down a bit please. Is there a way to verify if it worked?
Edit* Hmm seems to make my game crash on startup :\ I don't own the enemy within expansion any ideas on what could cause this?
I use modpatcher that was developed by community to install my mod: http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/804882-modpatcher/ It should detect game atomatically. My game on E drive into Steam directory and it was detected sucessfully. Really never had problem with modpatcher before. But error may not be aboud modpatcher.
Anyway you should explain your error more precise.
Possibly you had problem with modpatcher tool so it can't detect your game for some reason. Or you shoud read "Installation" article of my mod more carefully.
So, I recommend you to check "Installation" article on my mod description and/or ask question on modpatcher thread: http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/804882-modpatcher.
I am glad to help, but if it is aboud moddpatcher you should ask in special thread.
EDIT: Just to clarify, does altering the host files prevent all games on steam from updating, or just the one you are trying to mod?
I'm afraid that is not known at the moment, or at least no one has reported that it prevents other games. Please note that the 'phone home' feature is apparently not documented anywhere. It is believed to be there to prevent cheating in MP mode, NOT for patches. It does seem to only affect certain parts of the game, as only some parts of some mods have been affected by it. Supposedly those are XCOM specific edits, but the IP address in particular may be valid for other games. (It is possible for multiple DNS names to point to the same server IP address, which is why you need to block both.)
If those addresses are used by other Steam games, then yes they would also be blocked. Changing the 'hosts' file affects your OS network communications, not just a particular game.
It would certainly be nice of someone who plays multiple Steam games that have MP options to investigate if they use other addresses and report back. What you would need to do is use a tool like 'SocketSniff' (freeware) to see Windows Sockets (WinSock) activity of the selected game process. Or note the port used by the game (I.e. instructions to open your firewall to permit a particular port, or 8080 by default for HTML) and then monitor the IP addresses connected to that port with a tool like CurrPorts (freeware). The 'IPNetInfo' utility from the same site can be used to find out more about the remote IP addresses CurrPorts discovers, such as who owns them.
This mod shouldn't touch the XComGame.ini file. Changes that affect the game Difficulty settings are known as 'BalanceMods' and modify the 'DefaultGameCore.INI' (DGC.INI) file. Texture changes are also to completely separate parts of UPK files. And all of these files are actually embedded with the executable: XComGame.EXE. The loose files you find on your drive are mostly 'informational only'.
Thanks guys. I get it now. Since I'm hardwired to the internet, I'll try offline mode first. I became so frustrated receiving critical hits from across the map that I nearly jumped for joy when I saw this mod, as I love everything about Classic mode EXCEPT the enemy Aim and Critical bonus. Now I can finally play get a truly rewarding experience on Ironman mode.
EDIT: Just to clarify, does altering the host files prevent all games on steam from updating, or just the one you are trying to mod?
Glad to see you're still up to date on this. Do you know if your mod is compatible with the graphics mod that replaces the default XComEngine.ini file? I'm not all that familiar with .bat files.
Also, can you briefly explain to me what this step is doing:
2) Add to file %systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts strings: # Prevent XCOM Phone Home 127.0.0.1 prod.xcom.firaxis.com 127.0.0.1 65.118.245.165
Simply run pather.bat. You do not need to copy any files to game folder. Also take in mind that all mods supposed to work only on license version of the game.
21 comments
Go to C: Program Files (x86)-Steamsteamapps-common-XCom-Enemy-Unknown-XEW-XComGame-Config (Or where ever your game is installed)
Open DefaultGameCore.ini (don't forget to back it up)
There should be a lot of lines with "BalanceMods_{Difficulty here}", one for each enemy per difficulty
Just reduce the Aim and Crit values to whatever you wish.
-Dubious-
Edit* Hmm seems to make my game crash on startup :\ I don't own the enemy within expansion any ideas on what could cause this?
It should detect game atomatically. My game on E drive into Steam directory and it was detected sucessfully. Really never had problem with modpatcher before. But error may not be aboud modpatcher.
Anyway you should explain your error more precise.
Possibly you had problem with modpatcher tool so it can't detect your game for some reason. Or you shoud read "Installation" article of my mod more carefully.
So, I recommend you to check "Installation" article on my mod description and/or ask question on modpatcher thread: http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/804882-modpatcher.
I am glad to help, but if it is aboud moddpatcher you should ask in special thread.
I'm afraid that is not known at the moment, or at least no one has reported that it prevents other games. Please note that the 'phone home' feature is apparently not documented anywhere. It is believed to be there to prevent cheating in MP mode, NOT for patches. It does seem to only affect certain parts of the game, as only some parts of some mods have been affected by it. Supposedly those are XCOM specific edits, but the IP address in particular may be valid for other games. (It is possible for multiple DNS names to point to the same server IP address, which is why you need to block both.)
If those addresses are used by other Steam games, then yes they would also be blocked. Changing the 'hosts' file affects your OS network communications, not just a particular game.
It would certainly be nice of someone who plays multiple Steam games that have MP options to investigate if they use other addresses and report back. What you would need to do is use a tool like 'SocketSniff' (freeware) to see Windows Sockets (WinSock) activity of the selected game process. Or note the port used by the game (I.e. instructions to open your firewall to permit a particular port, or 8080 by default for HTML) and then monitor the IP addresses connected to that port with a tool like CurrPorts (freeware). The 'IPNetInfo' utility from the same site can be used to find out more about the remote IP addresses CurrPorts discovers, such as who owns them.
-Dubious-
As for the changes to the 'hosts' file, see 'Steam and Mods' for the explanation. You should also check out 'Installing Games on Vista+' as well.
-Dubious-
EDIT: Just to clarify, does altering the host files prevent all games on steam from updating, or just the one you are trying to mod?
Also, can you briefly explain to me what this step is doing:
2) Add to file %systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
strings:
# Prevent XCOM Phone Home
127.0.0.1 prod.xcom.firaxis.com
127.0.0.1 65.118.245.165
========================Installation========================================
1) Launch patcher.bat
2) Add to file %systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
strings:
# Prevent XCOM Phone Home
127.0.0.1 prod.xcom.firaxis.com
127.0.0.1 65.118.245.165
OR:
Put Steam into offline mode
OR:
Block game exe with your firewall. I liked first solution with hosts.
And I am not sure, that 2) is necessary. Maybe game do not restore section that was changed. But it is better to do it.