Getting started

[Timsup2nothin]

I rebuilt my machine recently.  Considered whether to install SC4 Deluxe, which I have enjoyed but never really done much with over the years, or the new SC that someone got me for Christmas.  Lack of off-line mode made that no contest, but the promised update...well, I waited that out.  Now the update has happened and it seems like modders might make a decent game of it in a year or two, but I'm moving on, or back I guess.

I installed from the old disk.  Apparently I have a fully patched version.  The patch reports "new version of file already exists" for everything.

Set up the shortcut with '-intro:off -CustomResolution:enabled -r1440x900x32 CPUCount=1' switches.

Question: Are there any other recommended switches I should know about as a W7-64bitOS user?  Is XP compatibility mode necessary?

Next step is either playing unmodded (probably not) or tuning things up a bit...which I know nothing about.  Suggestions?

[CT14]

Install the Network Addon Mod.

Your switches look fine. The graphics driver seems to make the most difference when trying to get SC4 to run perfectly on newer machines. Newer drivers aren't always better. Don't worry about it unless you have problems, though. You can use '-d:software' if the graphics are giving you trouble.

[Timsup2nothin]

Thanks for the confidence boost!

NAM is the next step then.  Working...

[APSMS]

I noticed that running in XP compatibility mode makes my game run ever so slightly faster, as well as slightly stabler and with the added bonus of scrolling through my lengthy menus much faster. The game runs fine without it, though you may want to test it anyways and see what happens.

Not sure if you've ever used the NAM before, so be sure to read all the documentation that comes with it (or at least, skim it to get an idea of what's offered). There are a lot of things that can be overwhelming to a new user depending on your skill level/learning curve ability. I jumped right in into everything, but most users are not so confident or nimble. Things like the RHW and the GLR & STR (inside the NAM) are generally for more advanced users, though like I said they can be used by inexperienced NAM users, albeit with a lot of trial and error. If you've used the NAM before, still read the documentation. So much has changed in the last few years that it's almost like a whole new mod, rather than simply an updated version.

There are also a number of "fixes" on the STEX (Simtropolis.com) that I would recommend getting before continuing, like the I-HT bug fix and the Opera House fix (among others) that aren't as easy to add after you've got a nice region running and cities developed (I should know ). Other than that, enjoy the game and all the CC, and hopefully you can stop by later and show us some of your work.

[Timsup2nothin]

Things learned while installing NAM (that many people would call 'goes without saying', but just in case some other beginner stumbles across this someday).

NAM suggests patch 640, which I somehow did not get in my 'official patching' process.  The installer did point me directly at it and wait politely while it installed, which was very cool.

NAM controller is JAVA compiled, so I would suggest making sure you have JAVA up to date and enabled before running the installer.  My process of install, enable JAVA, reinstall was a small duplication of effort but the installer informed me that it wouldn't do any harm...again very cool.

Now for the next step/question (and thanks APSMS for more good advice) 'unofficial' patching.

One problem...for reasons unknown I am having gross password problems with Simtropolis.  Couldn't log in, tried 'forgot my password' even though I was almost sure I was using the right one, went through the password updating process, logged in with new password and was told that my password was wrong.  Repeated, got same result, got irritated, found new SimCity forum to be part of...hey, that's here.

So I'll be looking for the recommended patches, and others, here.  If they aren't here I'll have to deal with this Simtropolis issue, but I'd rather avoid it.

If anyone has any other patch or bugfix recommendations...this would be a great time to hear from you...especially given "aren't as easy to add after you've got a nice region running and cities developed"...

[APSMS]

Have you tried making a new account? Duplicates can always be deleted at request of an admin. Most of the mentioned fixes are available there (also the City Hall fix), due mostly to the age of the site (~11 years, compared to SC4Devotion's seven or so).

The STEX has material of dubious quality sometimes (it's mostly moderated for content, not quality, unlike the LEX), but still has some people (and files) that can only be found there. If you can make a duplicate account, PM a staff member right away to see if they can help you with your problem.

As far as other mods go, if you're feeling up to the challenge, try out T-Wreck's IRM mod. It's (unfortunately) only available on the STEX, but T-Wrecks has given distribution permission following appropriate credit for his hard work. The mod can, in fact be used in established cities, but not without difficulty as it changes zoning logic and requires all of the old lots be demolished first (I bulldozed them after installation, which worked fine with a few minor quirks).

The only real concrete advice I can give is to keep a strictly organized plugins folder no matter how many mods/BATs/LOTs you download. Mine is currently semi-organized due to a desire to control my regions using the SC4 SUM (Start-Up Manager) (something I have yet to actually implement), but even going from unorganized to partially organized was a major pain in the butt, and it still doesn't do what I want it to (in terms of plugin placement, etc.), though it is waayy better than before.

[Timsup2nothin]

I'm in the midst of flogging that dog now.  Hopefully that will all get sorted.

I get the 'organization from the start' factor.  That's why I'm going at it this way.  The more help I get now the less I'll need later is my theory...and I'm hoping to avoid the 'wow this would have been a lot easier to do if I had done it at the start' feeling is something I'd rather avoid.

I'm new to SimCity modding, but it's not my first rodeo and I've been bucked off and stomped by that horse more than enough!

[CT14]

I installed the IRM right away this round, as well. It does have a fair number of dependencies but is 'worth it' to me.

Not sure what's up with the Simtropolis login but it should take all of 2 minutes to create a new gmx.com email and a new account, if all you need is the ad-free downloads.

[Timsup2nothin]

Sooooooo....

I have a new account at Simtropolis.  Now if someone could offer a clue as to how to find stuff there.  I was hoping for a 'patch' or 'fix' section, but didn't get it.  So I did a search for 'patch' and leafed through those, then 'fix' and leafed through those.  A lot of things that came up under those searches used the word patch or fix in reference to another mod rather than just being baseline bugfixes.

I did find the City Hall and Opera house and got those.  Didn't see the 'I-HT fix' so I did a specific search for it and got no results.  Is there another keyword in the name?

I must be missing something...looked at 'mods and tools' and cannot figure out the organization.  Texture upgrades like HD reskins for existing cars, gameplay alterations like changes to the RCI system, and new content stuff all seem to be included in one hodgepodge of files.

[APSMS]

Looking through the search just to see...

And wow. It's been a while since I've done that, and even for a seasoned user it was a lot to take in. I would definitely recommend using the Private Schools with Sliders mod, as it adds a nominal cost in exchange for greatly increased control and capacity over your private schools. Also one of those things that's a lot harder to replace after the fact.

And I've found the I-HT bugfix file here. Guess it was called IH missing jobs fix.... Be sure to follow these instructions to install it, though.

[Timsup2nothin]

Again many thanks, particularly for the links!  Either the Simtropolis search function does not return 'fixed' if you search for 'fix' or I just missed that.  So I've got the recommended (so far) fixes and will be figuring out installation and developing the beginnings of some sort of organizational plan.

In the instructions for the missing jobs fix there are multiple buildings mentioned that have a similar problem, and I am assuming there are fixed versions of these buildings available.  I'm willing to go search them out one by one if that's what it takes, but I'm wondering...

Does someone keep a list of links somewhere on the forum?  Possibly broken down into 'these are the bug fixes pretty much everyone should have', 'these are landscape upgrades', 'these are tools used to install mods', etc.?

[catty]

Here on this site we have this "List of Plugin Lists"

http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=6209.0

and also the dependency list here

http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?page=4

I'm also working offsite on creating a catalogue of all the plugins

http://www.citybuilders.co.nz/index.php/cb-catalogue

There is a tagging system but its something only registered users can see, but I haven't created "tags" for things like

Possibly broken down into 'these are the bug fixes pretty much everyone should have', 'these are landscape upgrades', 'these are tools used to install mods', etc.?

the "tags" have been restricted to things like "Commercial" etc, but the catalog is set up so people can add in their own links and tags so maybe that will be something we will have in the future.

-catty

[Timsup2nothin]

Thanks!

So, I'm guessing at the meaning of 'dependencies' and coming up with something like 'these are things like meshes and textures that might well be used in something you use to customize your city, so if you download that you need to get this too'.  Is that about right?

Meanwhile, even the list of lists doesn't show anything about the basic bugfixes.  I'm somewhat amazed if no one has ever made such a list, because I thought most people who mod their games pretty much always start with that as a baseline...and I'm sure Maxis didn't make SC4 'bug free'.

So beyond fixing...

High Income jobs bug on HT, and med clinic, SPP, Nuke PP
(note that building fixes are linked as attachments on the forum post and I don't find them anywhere else)
Tree bug on City Hall
Capacity Bug on Opera House

...are there any other basic bugfixes everyone should know about?

[catty]

Thanks!

So, I'm guessing at the meaning of 'dependencies' and coming up with something like 'these are things like meshes and textures that might well be used in something you use to customize your city, so if you download that you need to get this too'.  Is that about right?...

yes and no   

A very simple explanation

Say you download a plugin and its a fire station, but the model used for the fire station isn't something that was created by the person doing the fire station, that person can't include the model they have used as its not theirs to include, so they will do a dependency list and that will have a link to the fire station model which you will also have to download otherwise you will have a brown box where the fire station would have been.

[vortext]

Meanwhile, even the list of lists doesn't show anything about the basic bugfixes.  I'm somewhat amazed if no one has ever made such a list, because I thought most people who mod their games pretty much always start with that as a baseline...

Take a look at the Little Big Plugins list over at SimPeg, it contains all fixes and many other small yet nifty mods which are aimed at raising the 'baseline'. 

[Timsup2nothin]

There we go.  The 'game error fixing' section is what I was surprised I wasn't able to find.

So I've got all the bugfix stuff downloaded.  Now on to sorting out how to install stuff and work out the beginnings of an organizational system.

I'll be studying readmes for a while but will check in intermittently.  Any tips appreciated.