HaloMods "Classic" Read-only Archive

As you've no doubt probably noticed, this is my first post... I hope it's not a typical noob question.

So, I'm working on a mod that does little except change physics tags (explosion forces, bullet damages, etc.) and gun properties (chamber time, clip size, magazine size, spread, auto aim, you get the idea...). Throughout my work on this mod, I've been testing it on Colossus, but today I started on the second test map, Coagulation. It was a royal pain copying all of the values of tags I've changed, and it left me feeling like there's got to be an easier way, so without further ado, question 1:

1) Is there some way I can change the physics globally, so that it applies to all of the maps? (My guess would be it involves the shared .maps, if it's possible) If it's not possible, is there some quicker, drag and drop way of taking, say, the battle rifle .weap from my work on Colossus and importing it into the other maps, rather than typing all of the values into each tag by hand?

2) On my hard drive, I have all 21 maps, and they're all functioning properly from the main menu (whew, you thought you were going to get the failed to load question didn't you?), but the 9 DLC maps sure look dumb with a white picture, and I was wondering if you could enlighten me as to how I can fix that, and get those sweet looking pictures like the other 12 have. I'm guessing the solution involves hex editing, so please be specific as possible, as I am not a skilled hex-editor (read: sucky noob hex-editor)

3) Okay, so the version of Halo 2 on my hard drive is multiplayer only, and I'd like for my main menu to reflect that... can I edit it so that there are no menu choices for Campaign and Xbox Live, neither of which are functional? Maybe some way of nulling them out in the hex... (trails off to avoid sounding dumb)

4) Can I delete some of the unnecessary locked gametypes from the multiplayer menu (phantoms, elimination, all of that dumb stuff) and edit some of the other locked gametypes to my tastes?

5) This one is, to me, the most difficult problem. I would like to take this physics mod that I am working on and burn it to a DVD to share with my friends, but the mod works on 1.0 physics (since 1.1 changes stuff on the fly). Is there anything I can do to make the disc ignore the auto update that is already installed on my friends' boxes? I really don't want to make them delete the auto update every time we play with my disc! My guess on this one is that it involves a .xbe, but I'm clueless, so who knows?

Wow, long first post, huh? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

1) no you can't do it globally. You maybe could extract the meta for that weapon and inject it into where ever you want it.

2) edit something in the ui bitmap area of mainmenu or just reinstall the maps with your disc.

3)not sure about that i've seen it edited for Xbox Connect and kai "the system link" tab. I know it can be edited and thats in the mainmenu.map too.

4)I have no clue

5)get the halo 2 launcher that chooses between 1.0 and 1.1 (i dont know if it works with dvds). If the launcher doesn't work rename the folder "4d530064" thats in TDATA on the E drive to something you wont lose and everytime you want to play those maps then when you wanna play with 1.1 rename it back to its original name.

Thanks for the help... I'll see what I can do about the main menu stuff, but I don't quite understand your instructions for the physics changes. What program should I use, and how do I extract a meta and inject it? Also, will that affect file size?

From what I've read, the launcher sounds like it runs from TDATA, which is external (not on the DVD), so I doubt that will work... oh well, at least the map pack is out now, so the maps are easier to put back on their Xboxes.

i need to know how to disable campaign and live from my main menu also

Syracuse022 wrote:1) Is there some way I can change the physics globally, so that it applies to all of the maps? (My guess would be it involves the shared .maps, if it's possible) If it's not possible, is there some quicker, drag and drop way of taking, say, the battle rifle .weap from my work on Colossus and importing it into the other maps, rather than typing all of the values into each tag by hand?

You could program something that edits the meta based on tag class or name.. Thats what I did when faced with a similar problem ;x

Syracuse022 wrote:5) This one is, to me, the most difficult problem. I would like to take this physics mod that I am working on and burn it to a DVD to share with my friends, but the mod works on 1.0 physics (since 1.1 changes stuff on the fly). Is there anything I can do to make the disc ignore the auto update that is already installed on my friends' boxes? I really don't want to make them delete the auto update every time we play with my disc! My guess on this one is that it involves a .xbe, but I'm clueless, so who knows?

This may be of some use.. You can use it to change the xbe's ID number (it'll use different folders in TDATA and UDATA).

Well I have an answer for Number 1.

-Open up your map that you have edited in a Halo 2 editing program(I like ADI).

-Go to the tag you have edited.

-Extract that tag.

-Open a new map.

-Go to the same tag and inject the meta you saved before.

-Save, Resign and transfer.

As for question #2, if you don't have anything special that you want to keep, just put a fresh copy of the Mainmenu.map in the maps folder.

Otherwise, open mainmenu.map in Ch2r and go down to the Matg tag. Double click it and you will get a list of the MP maps. Go down to Zanzibar(Should be the last one). Make sure the next 9 map spaces are all blank with -1 as map number and next map number.

Hope this helps.

does anyone know how to answer his 3rd question? I want the answer to that too...