Hi everyone, newbie mayor here!
I have ... a few hundred questions i suppose... but for now I'm just dying to find out the answers to a few. Any help is appreciated and thanks a bunch:)
1. LEX and STEX
It's brought to my attention (by the superb dependency list created by the "super masters" here) that the most popular mods available have a LEX dependency. My question is.. is LEX a separate program that needs to be downloaded for all the LEX-dependent addons/mods to work properly, or is LEX rather just a name? Or what else do I need to do to ensure all my wonderful LEX-dependent downloads will be functional.
2. Volumes of the packs. I have been frantically downloading the prop packs. Most of them comes in volumes, the 2nd noobie question would be.. let's say I downloaded vol.2 of a particular prop pack, is there a need for vol.1? I'm specifically referring to the BSC textures which I have downloaded up to the 3rd volume.
3. How do you get the realistic graphics...? At first I thought all I needed was the BSC texture packs, however, I didn't see any dramatic graphical change after having all 3 volumes installed. The in-game art work still looked a bit cartoonish (against the screenshots shown in Mayor's Journals). Also, how do you get oceans/lakes to appear in deep blue colour? As opposed default which is not as realistic.
4. What plug ins do you geniuses use in creating the amazing-realistic-stunning-absolutely fascinating masterpieces seen in our website? I'm just dying to have all the necessary tools at my disposal:P
So far I have downloaded the following: (please see if I have missed anything critical as well)
Install UPDATE_SKU1_TO_P1_B638 (from SimCity 4 Official website)
NetworkAddonMod_Setup1
NetworkAddonMod_Update_June 2009
NetworkAddonMod_Essentials
ColossusAddonMod_Setup
BSC Textures Vol 1 to 3
BSC Mega Props Misc 1 and 2
BSC Essential Files
Also got BSC Cleanitol TM (yet to figure out how to use it)
Realized I just wrote a novel.. I hope reading through it wasn't too painful an experience. Thanks a lot for helping me taking my first step. Good luck to you all~
1. The LEX is just the server that hosts all of the custom content here at SC4 Devotion. The LEX has nothing to do with the actual game other than the fact it is where you can download all of the custom content.
2. It depends on which one they are. Some of the prop packs are an update to previous one, others contain all new content and all versions need to be downloaded. It is a case by case basis that you just need to pay attention to.
3. The custom content does not change the overall picture unless you use a terrain/water mod. The amazing quality of pictures in many MDs is the use of an external graphic program (such as Photoshop) to edit an in game picture and turn it into those photorealistic pictures. This takes a lot of time and practice to master and to be considered one of the best.
4. Depends on what kind of region you are creating but I would say that for any region, 75% of the content on the LEX will look great in any region. This takes quite a bit of time to download all of this content and I would recommend making a donation to get the CD.
EDIT: One more thing, you do not need any dependency, texture or prop unless you download some custom content that requires it.
I would reccomend the RHW mod. It adds a whole new network to the game, and is perfect for custom highway interchanges once you get the hang of it! it's under the NAM section. Also the RAM(railway addon mod) which allows for single track rail.(Also in the NAM section)
Also, canals, theres a couple of sets, SG canals, and CAL canals. Just search Canals on the LEX!
Ryan
concerning the water, just look for "water mod" on the STEX
Thanks a lot for the insight guys!
I just downloaded Jeronij's Street Mod, haven't tried it yet but I'm sure that's one essential component that I have been missing! There are actually a lot of fantastic terrain mods available. Ennedi's HD mods are just too irresistible.
Are Ennedi, Jeronij and Cycledogg's mods all inter compatible? If I had choose between them I would definitely want Jeronij's street mod and Ennedi's terrain mod, my last hope is that these two don't conflict.
It's amazing that you guys have completely revamped the game. Now I seriously have some catching up to do. I have no clue what the next SimCity sequel will look like (haven't checked out Societies yet), but with all the fantastic add ons and mods, the game will never die.
Thanks guys and I totally love this forum and the site!