Optimization Guide for Thief 1-Gold-2

TheFreeOne on 11/2/2009 at 21:17

Hi, TTLG and Thief Fans.

I decided to come into Thief, and I decided to do it the better way. So I searched the net for mods and upgrades.

I found a world.

I spent a whole week working on my Thief Gold installation and downloading only important mods to enhance Thief 1 and 2. I Only used TTLG, Thief The Circle and NOT TOUCHED the argument "Fan Missions" (but got prepared for it). A whole week in which I written, initially for my future needs, after for the community, my personal Optimization Guide for Thief 1-Gold-2.

Any and every person who wishes to correct/contribute is GREATLY encouraged to do it, for the sake of those Great games. The guide is ready but not finished, so please HELP!!!

INDEX:
-Optimization Guide
-For Running Fan Missions
-Minor Patches
-To be added after verify
-My Personal Technical Questions:
. -Enhancement Pack
. -Sound pack
. -Thief Gold EAX (Alex Fung)
. -Thief 2 Mission Patches (Alex Fung)

Optimization Guide for Thief 1-Gold-2

It's best to follow each step in order, and test the game after every one.
Thanks to the TTLG Forums and their users for EVERY problem and question, but mainly for the Incredible work on those games after so much time.

0: Point for EVERY problem about standard Thief playing/working to the TTLG FAQ:
(http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75031)

1: Install Thief. Make sure Thief 1 is patched up to v1.33, Thief 2 to 1.18. Thief Platinum (budget version of Thief 1) should be already patched to 1.33. Thief Gold should be already patched to 1.37, it's different from Platinum because it's Thief 1 enhanced with bugfixes and 3 bonus missions.
For installing Thief on Windows 2000, XP, Vista, go to Start, then Run, then type d:\setup.exe -lgntforce, where d:\ is your CDrom/DVDrom drive. (note: that's -lgntforce, lowercase "L"). This makes Thief ignore the NT kernel, which at his time was not compatible with Directx the way requested by Thief.
For Vista users, you may need to set thief.exe to run in Administrator mode. This is not written in the TTLG FAQ, so pay attention.
Main page: (http://www.thief-thecircle.com/media/patches/)
Thief 1 1.33 patch: (http://thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=264)
Thief 2 1.07 to 1.18 Eng patch: (http://thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=265)
Thief 2 1.07 to 1.18 Premier patch: (http://thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=423) (NOT for Thief 2 DVD version, just budget or CD)
Thief 2 1.07 to 1.18 German patch: (http://thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=595)
In Thief 2 there' a bug on mission Kidnap, you can fix it with (http://www.thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=600)

2: Install the Darkloader. This lets you easily run the fan missions. Run it and choose the "optimise Thief" option when prompted during configuration, for proper installing of FMs and other mods.
(http://www.bjoernhenke.de/frame.htm?/darkloader/index.en.htm)
Guide is here: (http://www.thief-thecircle.com/missions/direct/)
Note that Optimizing means moving the *.crf files present in your Thief directory in the RES subdirectory, and modyfing the "install.cfg" or "darkinst.cfg" so that they are loaded AFTER any *.crf file present in the main directory. This is useful for correctly loading resources from Fan Missions.

3: Install timeslip's ddfix. This should make Thief compatible with modern graphics cards/processors and removes long-standing annoyances such as the resolution switch thingy. It could be important to install this AFTER Darkloader's optimization. (http://timeslip.chorrol.com/ddfix.html)
For problems this is the topic: (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1736827)

4: Install Nameless voice (+ other good fellas) Enhancement Pack. This excellent pack improves many of the objects/models in the game. The link works also as a FAQ.
(http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118999)
The best way for avoid problems is manually install it. If you want to have this in combo with Daemonite's model pack and Orgy's texture pack, read below or look at this post: (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1687636#post1687640)
If you want just this pack, understand these instructions:
-copy the EP.crf file into your Thief directory
-modify the line resname_base in your "install.cfg" (for Thief 1-Gold) with this template:
"resname_base .\EP\Thief1+.\EP+(your Thief directory)+.\RES\+d:\thief" where d: is your CD drive (if you use it)
-modify the line resname_base in your "darkinst.cfg" (for Thief 2) with this template:
"resname_base .\EP+(your Thief directory)+.\RES\+(your thief cd path)"
This just means: the ".\" indicates the directory where "install.cfg" or "darkinst.cfg" lies (your Thief directory); (your thief directory) is intended as whole (example C:\Games\Thief); so the line states: "load the Thief1 folder inside the EP.crf in your Thief directory, then load Ep.crf in your thief directory, then load the other *.crf files in your thief directory, then load the *.crf files in the RES folder of your thief directory, then load from the cd". Note that the RES directory has been created by Darkloader when optimizing (read above). I strongly suggest you use the ".\" trick because in my Thief Gold try a long path made the game unloadable. The automatic install cannot take care of this. Also I suggest to use the full path when I wrote (your thief directory) because sometimes it won't work without, I wrote it in this way for this reason.

5: For Thief 1-Gold Install Daemonite's model replacements. This replaces Thief's models with the improved ones from Thief 2. To make this work fine in combo with Orgy's texture pack and Nameless voice's pack, read below or look at this post: (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1687636#post1687640)
Note that installing this means adding the line ObjTextures16 in the dark.cfg file, that is needed also by Nameless' pack, so you could already have this line in your file.
File: (http://thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=590)
There is the Gif (8-bit) and the Tga (24-bit), but I did not notice difference.
Optionally you can use Orgy's meshes instead of this one; Orgy himself recommends the Daemonite's one.

6: For Thief 1-Gold Install orgy's texture replacements. Does as above, but for the models. Take care to choose the right pack from Hardware and Software mode. To make this work fine in combo with Daemonite's model pack and Nameless voice's pack, read below or look at this post: (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1687636#post1687640)
File: (http://thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=597)
Guide: (http://www.ttlg.com/thievery/patchguide.htm)
Extract every content (keeping the internal paths) into a directory called fam you create in Thief directory. If you have optimized with darkloader, this directory will be loaded before the others, making the old fam.crf in RES directory not loaded.

7: Optionally for Thief 2 you can use the NTEX high-res scenery textures to use with ddfix 1.3.9 or above (sadly Thief 1 apparently cannot handle higher resolution scenery.).
(http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119451)
This is optional because many people complained about the replacing textures not exactly fitting the original texture style

8: Install Child of Karras' Sound Enhancement Packs, one for Thief 1-Gold and one for Thief2. The link works also as FAQ:
(http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119405)
Before installing, check the existence and size of the snd.crf. It is in RES subdirectory for Thief 2, and in the main directory for Thief 1. darkloader's optimization puts it in RES subfolder. It should be 164 MB for Thief 1-Gold, and 316 MB for Thief 2. If not, copy the file from your Thief CDs.
Thief 1-Gold users will find the setup won't work. It is based on an old version of Darkloader, andd searches snd.crf in a CRFS subfolder, which does not exist. The easier way to make it work is to create the CRFS subfolder, copy there the snd.crf file, run the setup, then copy back the now modified and enlarged snd.crf file. It should be now 275 MB for Thief 1 and 436 MB for Thief 2.

9: Optionally but recommended you can enhance realism (and difficulty) with Ultimate Difficulty mods, for Thief 1: (http://thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=592) and for Thief 2: (http://thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=593)
These files need just to be unzipped in the main Thief directory, overwriting (make backup if you need) your dark.gam files.

HAVING TOGETHER ORGY'S, DAEMONITE'S AND NAMELESS VOICE'S PACKS (THIEF 1-GOLD)
Nameless Voice's Enhancement Pack (EP) doesn't add T2's higher poly-count arm meshes, thing done by Daemonite's model pack.
Installing the two packs into your thief directory like said in the readme files can cause them to override each other in some models. We want Nameless' EP models loaded first (they are an improvement of Thief 2), THEN Daemonite's models (this way we will load from Daemonite only things not found in Nameless' EP). We then have to mix Orgy's textures in the cauldron.

By The Way, it's "Daemonite" and not "Daemonoite", as said in Thief - The Circle.

I listened EvaUnit2's voice from TTLG "HERE"<http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1687636#post1687640>, and so we did:
-Instead of unzipping Daemonite's pack, copy it as a whole in your Thief directory, and rename it as .crf file. Crf files are exactly zip files. Be careful to not having converted it into Rar or 7zip, as I said .crf files are exactly .zip files.
-Unzip Orgy's pack into a directory called fam like normal, then zip that fam directory and rename it as .crf
-Unzip Ep.crf from Nameless Voice pack into your Thief directory
-Modify the "install.cfg" file in the resname_base line like this template:
resname_base .\EP\Thief1+.\EP+.\texturepatchhw\+.\dtmp10_tga\+e:\Thief+E:\Thief\RES+I:\thief"
"resname_base .\EP\Thief1+.\EP+.\(Orgy's pack filename without extension)+.\(Daemonite's pack filename without extension)+(your Thief directory)+.\RES\+d:\thief" where d: is your CD drive (if you use it)
This just means: the "./" indicates the directory where "install.cfg" lies (your Thief directory); (your thief directory) is intended as whole (example C:\Games\Thief); so the line states: "load the Thief1 folder inside the EP.crf in your Thief directory, then load Ep.crf in your thief directory, then load the Orgy's file in your thief directory, then load Daemonite's file in your thief directory, then load the other *.crf files in your thief directory, then load the *.crf files in the RES folder of your thief directory then load from the cd". Note again that the RES directory has been created by Darkloader when optimizing (read above). I strongly suggest you use the "./" trick because in my Thief Gold try a long path made the game unloadable.
At last my string was:
resname_base .\EP\Thief1+.\EP+.\fam+.\daemon+c:\babi\emiliano\giochi\thief+.\RES+f:\thief

Now the final step: open Dark.cfg and make sure that both the lines ObjTextures16 and MeshTextures16 are somewhere in that file, on a line of their own. Also make sure that there is one empty line at the end of the file. Obj is required from Nameless' EP and from Daemonite's pack, Mesh is required from Nameless' EP.

For running fan missions

10: To run some fan missions in Thief 1 that needs Thief Gold media, the patch is: (http://www.thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=589)

11: If you do not have the editor installed, you need the convict.osm files for Thief 1-Gold and convict.osm + gam.osm for Thief 2. (http://thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=602)
(http://thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=604)
(http://thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=603)

Minor patches

12: Optionally you can install DromED (editor) and it's Thief 2 patch at (http://www.thief-thecircle.com/media/patches/). For Thief Gold and Thief 2 it's on the Cd on DromEd.zip or something like that, for Thief 1 you have to download it at (http://www.thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=277)

13: You may need the Direct3D patches if you get the "Direct 3D Device does not accurately report texture memory usage" error from Nvidia drivers versions 5x.xx and above. Note that Thief 2 is not present: however, you can try to place the line safe_texture_manager into user.cfg file, which should work reliably to fix this problem.

Thief 1 ver. 1.14: (http://www.thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=725)
Thief 1 ver. 1.33: (http://www.thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=726)
Thief Gold: (http://www.thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=727)

TO BE ADDED AFTER VERIFY
Garretloader
DarkMetal
DromEd DeLuxe (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69703)
AlexFung's Patches

MY PERSONAL TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
-For the Enhancement Pack: I was forced to use the the ".\" trick in my "install.cfg" because in my try of Thief Gold a long path made the game unloadable. I had the game in my C:\Babi\Emiliano\Giochi\Thief directory, and the line in the install.cfg was modified by Darkloader (and Thief was still working) and by your EP (Thief not working anymore). I controlled the sequence was correct, then I reduced everything I could with the ".\" trick, mainly the redundance created by Darkloader, and it worked. I then added Orgy's and Daemonite's packs like I said before, and it still worked.

-For the Sound Pack: Child of Karras, one or two people already posted in your topic that the installer for Thief 1-Gold won't work, it must be done manually as I described here. Would you like to write in the main post of your topic how this has to be done? If you like you can copy-paste the method I described here.

-At Alex Fung site i read this: For Thief Gold download the v1.33 patch for (original) Thief at The Patch Scrolls for EAX and A3D support!
It is true? In fact, when I set "Hardware acceleration On" and "Eax On" inside Thief game, then quit and re-enter there is NO audio at all, and I fix this by coming again in the Audio options, setting Hardware Acceleratiuon off, then On again. Sound returned.
I don't know if this gives Eax support or less.... but I would really enjoy to know!!!
This is the link: (http://alexfung.info/favorite.htm)

-Also at Alex Fung site, there are in the walkthrough of Thief 2 some patches for mission bugs that are not listed in any other site. Someone knows something?

Macha on 12/2/2009 at 20:39

Thanks very much for this. I was literally about to request someone to do something like this so good job and good job to all those other legends who have spent hours making this game a little easier on the eyes.

TheFreeOne on 13/2/2009 at 10:22

Thanks. When I saw it was a hard time to prepare Thief with all this mods, and nobody already did something like this, I guessed the work I usually do for my games would be of great help in a world like Thief mods.

Greatfellow on 18/2/2009 at 07:12

I spent a couple of frustrating hours thrying to get Thief Dark Project to run on my homebuilt dual-core with nVidia 9800gt oc, and then I happened upon this fabulous website and this excellent post.

I've been smiling and shaking my head in approval as I've downloaded, installed, and tested each of the various enhancements shown in this post. The only thing that impresses me more than the wonderful work of the individuals who've made all these tools and enhancements is the sense of community you exhibit in your combined actions. This is how the world is meant to operate--in fine cooperation and a spirit of giving--and dammit that it doesn't take the lead from you.

Thanks for all of it. I'm outta here, anxious to play this game again for the first time in a decade, and to see how it looks all grown up. :)

Bouregard on 18/2/2009 at 12:33

A small note, for your way it didn't work for me till I set the thief.exe to run in Administrator mode. Maybe you should add it if people have problems running it on Vista.

voodoo47 on 18/2/2009 at 19:24

very nice..I had my share of trouble installing the enhancement pack (I had to type in the full paths to all the files in my darkinst.cfg) and t2x,see (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112571) here and (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1755946#post1755946) here,maybe you will find some of that info useful..

poroshin on 18/2/2009 at 19:45

There is also the widescreen patch (useful even for people with 4:3 monitors).

I wonder how feasible it would be for someone to make all these fixes into a single app that would do all these manual things for you automatically, and you just tick the boxes you want?

voodoo47 on 18/2/2009 at 21:20

yeah,we need a (http://www.strangebedfellows.de/index.php/topic,392) kolya tool for thief1/2 :ebil:

TheFreeOne on 20/2/2009 at 12:52

Thanks a lot, especially the heartful post of GreatFellow. I'm enjoying this game for the first time in my life, being I one that could wait ten years to get the best from a game. And I don't have much time to play games, so time I really finish and beat and enjoy ONE, other Ten will wait.

I will get informed and try to add the advices suggested. I was a scumbag forgetting the Widescreen patch - it was in the list of things to do, but not having a widescreen monitor, i forgot it. Bad mistake!!

EvaUnit02 on 20/2/2009 at 13:56

Shouldn't Thief Gold have hardware mixing + EAX support out of the box? It's basically Thief 1 v1.37.