Kloreep on 15/8/2007 at 06:40
It's been quite a whole since I played DX1, and I want to go back for another run.
I was reading about the Shifter Mod (don't think I'll use it, I have too many fond memories of the way things are in vanilla DX :)). Apparently Ford Schick is supposed to turn up at Smuggler's later on, but doesn't because of a bugged trigger. (
http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60146) This thread has instructions on modding him back in, but it seems the pictures have since fell off the web.
I have no experience modding Unreal engine games, but I've installed the DX SDK and gone searching through the 02_NYC_Underground.dx file. Browsing through the classes, I found what looks to be the right line of code in Actor\Info\MissionScript\Mission02 but - it seems to be set correctly already!
Here's the relevant bit of code from my file, under function PreTravel():
Code:
else if (localURL == "02_NYC_UNDERGROUND")
{
// if you leave the level with Ford Schick, set a flag
if (flags.GetBool('MS_FordFollowing') &&
!flags.GetBool('FordSchick_Dead'))
{
flags.SetBool('FordSchickRescued', True,, 9);
}
}
I haven't modded my files before. This is the same copy of Deus Ex that I've always had, and I haven't seen any mention of official patches fixing this bug, anyhow. Yet I don't remember seeing Schick again later in the game. Is my memory simply faulty? Or is this still bugged somehow? Or should I be changing something else in order to correct it?
Ostriig on 15/8/2007 at 12:58
Well, don't quote me on this, but as far as I can tell, that piece of code doesn't suggest that it's broken, or that Schick should pop up later at Smuggler's, does it? It could just set the flags for the subsequent conversation with Smuggler, when you mention having saved Ford, and he offers you a discount.
Kloreep on 16/8/2007 at 05:35
Yes, there isn't really anything that seems to be missing; Smuggler does react appropriately.
Thing is, the (
http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60146) thread I linked claims there is more content relating to Schick showing up later, and that the code & conversations for this are complete except for a bug that keeps him from showing up (and a the lack of code to actually give you an aug container when he's supposed to). There were a few positive responses back then, and noone posting to say the OP was wrong, so I tend to think he must have been correct.
If you'll look at the thread, you'll see that FordSchickRescued is the name of the bugged variable that isn't triggered correctly. But, my file does seem to have the 9 that it should in order to have Schick show up later, rather than the -1 that causes the variable to be lost after the level ends.
Ostriig on 16/8/2007 at 17:43
Ah, I see. Sorry, hadn't followed the link, was only going on the bit of code you quoted. Fact of the matter is I'm not really familiar with Unreal script, so I can't be of much help (what little I know of actual game scripting comes from NWN 1).
I'm a bit confused by this bit:
Quote Posted by ferret
Note: if you want to see Ford Schick right where you are supposed to meet him, what you need do is load up another level (like 04_nyc_street, for example). Then set the two flags, and use the legend menu to travel to the new level. Ford should now be there for you, iirc on the bottom floor on Mission four, on the top floor on Mission eight.
Normally, I'd have suspected a bug in the script moving/creating Ford at Smuggler's, but I see that Ferret now makes no mention of having to manually load the character (unlike the previous instances he details), but only that you need to set the flags.
With the risk of being redundantly obvious, I'd suggest double checking the syntax. Extra or missed commas, parenthesis, stuff like that. That and maybe having a look at scripts that may be running in between the moment that the one you posted would kick in and the moment you would get to Smuggler's if you ran directly there after saving Schick and exiting the lab. Maybe there'd be one to alter the flag set by the quoted one? Otherwise, I'm afraid I can't think of anything else.
Edit:
Giving a tad more thought... Wouldn't the conversation file with Smuggler use the same flag that is set there, and supposedly would also serve to determine whether Ford should appear at Smuggler's? We know that the conversation with Smuggler works correctly, and I'm guessing that they wouldn't have used to different flags. Confusing...
