snatcher

Welcome to the Snatcher's Workshop. Come on in, we may have something for you today. Feel free to look around. We trade everything here. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- We realize new ideas and take existing ideas for a spin. For fun. Somewhere in this post you will find a download with mods. Good care was put to make all mods as little intrusive as possible to make them compatible with as many missions as possible. This set of mods will never break your game but some features won't be available in a handful of missions (the reasons are known). Feel free to report here what works and what doesn't. TDM Modpack vs. Unofficial Patch The TDM Modpack and wesp5's Unofficial Patch are incompatible since both the Pack and the Patch use a similar approach to mods. With the release of recent versions of the TDM Modpack I consider the most relevant features of the Unofficial Patch have been matched, superseded, improved, or simply implemented in different ways. More importantly, the TDM Modpack is not only tightly packed and it has a minimal impact in your install but it achieves more by altering less core files, meaning more compatibility and less maintenance. One can, of course, argue. TDM Modpack v4.0 Compatible with The Dark Mod 2.12 ONLY A lightweight, stable, non-intrusive, mission-friendly Modpack for The Dark Mod that includes many enhancements and a new set of tools and abilities for our protagonist: peek through doors, blow and ignite candles, whistle to distract enemies, mark your location, an invisibility-speed combo and more. Mods included in the pack do not alter your game or any of the missions in any relevant way. The pack includes enhancements to the core game and additions that can be used in missions but at the same time respects the vision of the mission creators. It is up to you to make use of any of the new tools and abilities or not. Please note that sometimes authors include in their missions their own versions of core files and as a result, some mods are not available in some missions. All missions will play fine regardless. Release posts: v4 series: v4.0 v3 series: v3.8 | v3.6 | v3.5 | v3.4 | v3.3 | v3.2 | v3.0 v2 series: v2.8 | v2.7 | v2.6 | v2.5 | v2.4 | v2.2 | v2.0 v1 series: v1.8 | v1.6 | v1.4 | v1.2 | v1.0 What's included in the pack? -:- APP: GENERIC MOD ENABLER -:- Credits: JoneSoft License: Free for unlimited time for Home users and non-profit organizations. Description: A portable, freely distributable Mod enabler/disabler. This application is required to run mods safely and it is included in the pack. At the heart of the Modpack resides JSGME (JoneSoft Generic Mod Enabler), an application that allows players to enable and disable mods with one click. JSGME has been around for more than a decade and it is to be fully trusted. Refer to the install instructions section at the bottom for full details. -:- MOD: AUTO COMMANDS -:- By activating Auto Commands some key bindings will be set automatically. F1, F2, F3 and F4 keys are not used by the game and we are reserving them for mods: - F1: Cycle through the Skills category - F2: Cycle through the Tools category - F3: Switch between Loot and Stealth stats - F4: Direct shortcut to "Penumbra" None of these categories or shortcuts can be set to any hotkey in-game currently, so we are using the built-in autocommands.cfg file to set up the keys. It may be the case you already make use of the autocommands.cfg file to configure other things to your needs or liking therefore consider yourself warned. Enable Auto Commands if you plan on using Core Essentials and/or the Skill Upgrade. -:- MOD: CORE ESSENTIALS -:- A pack that includes a variety of mods from the best modders of TDM: ~ FAST DOORS Credits: Idea and programming by Obsttorte. Treatment by snatcher. Availability: All missions except Noble Affairs, Seeking Lady Leicester, Shadows of Northdale ACT II, Snowed Inn and a handful of lesser missions. Description: Being chased? In a rush? No problem: doors open and close faster when running. Topic: Slam doors open while running ~ QUIET DOORS Credits: An idea by SeriousToni (Sneak & Destroy mission). Mod by snatcher. Availability: All missions except Noble Affairs, Seeking Lady Leicester, Shadows of Northdale ACT II, Snowed Inn and a handful of lesser missions. Description: A vast number of doors play more subtle, sneaky sounds for a quieter, stealthier experience. This applies to doors that come with default sounds but only when manipulated by the player. Topic: Decrease volume of open/close door sounds triggered by player ~ LOOT ANIMATIONS Credits: Original idea by Goldwell (Noble Affairs mission). Programming by Obsttorte. Treatment by snatcher and wesp5. Availability: All missions except Noble Affairs, Seeking Lady Leicester, Shadows of Northdale ACT II, Snowed Inn and a handful of lesser missions. Description: Moves the loot towards the player before putting it in the inventory, underlining the impression of actually taking it. This mod comes with a subtle new loot sound that goes along nicely with the animation. ~ DYNAMIC LOOT INVENTORY Credits: snatcher. Availability: All missions except Noble Affairs, Seeking Lady Leicester, Shadows of Northdale ACT II, Snowed Inn and a handful of lesser missions. Description: When picking up loot this mod displays the loot info in the inventory and shortly after reverts back to the last non-loot item selected. ~ SMART CONTAINERS Credits: Obsttorte (source code updates), Dragofer (similar attempts), snatcher. Availability: All missions. Description: To facilitate looting, the bottom of many containers (chests, jewellery boxes, etc...) gets automatically disabled at the beginning of the mission and only the lid remains frobable. ~ STEALTH MONITOR Credits: kcghost, Dragofer, snatcher. Availability: All missions. Description: Display some stats (Suspicions / Searches / Sightings) and the Stealth Score during a mission. Bring up the "Loot" inventory icon and press "Use" or just press F3 repeatedly if using Auto Commands. ~ STEALTH ALERT Credits: snatcher. Availability: All missions. Description: Completing a mission without being seen is something that can be done with some practice and patience. This mod will play an alerting chime whenever you are seen so that you don't have to monitor the Stealth stats all the time. ~ BLINKING ITEMS Credits: snatcher. Availability: All missions. Requisites: Console command r_newFrob must be 0, which is the game default. Description: Items within frob distance that go into the inventory (plus static readables) emit a subtle blink. This pulse can help you identify some valuable items that otherwise are difficult to detect. Topic: New Frob Shader ~ SMART OBJECTS Credits: snatcher, Dragofer. Availability: All missions. Description: Sometimes it is difficult to tell if an object is being held or not. Three dots will be displayed on screen whenever you grab an object, unless the object has name, in which case the name of the object will be displayed. In addition, objects (except AI entities) do not make or propagate sounds on impact while being manipulated. Topics: No impact sounds while holding an object / Nameless objects... a missed opportunity ~ SHADOWMARK TOOL Credits: snatcher, Obsttorte. Availability: All missions. Description: Our protagonist's lucky deck! When the item is selected the player can drop and throw playing cards to mark a location. Cards can be retrieved. AI will not normally mind a single card lying around but cards can sometimes be noticed. Topic: Find more details in this post ~ ALT FOOTSTEPS ON WATER Credits: SeriousToni. Availability: All missions except Hazard Pay, Noble Affairs, Shadows of Northdale ACT I and ACT II, Snowed Inn, Volta 2: Cauldron and a handful of lesser missions. Description: Alternative sounds of footsteps on water for our protagonist (walk / run / land). Topic: New Footstep sounds ~ OTHER ADDITIONS Re-worked Inventory menu (more compact). Semi-transparent backgrounds for the in-game Inventory Grid and Objectives screen. Alternative high mantle sound for our protagonist. Revamped and extended "Mission Complete" audio theme. -:- MOD: SKILL UPGRADE -:- A new "Skills" category is added to the inventory on mission load and the category includes the below abilities: Did you know? When using Auto Commands you can press F1 to access the "Skills" category and F4 to quickly access "Penumbra"... ~ SKILL: OBSERVATION Credits: Dragofer, snatcher, wesp5 Availability: All missions. Description: When the "Peek Door" item is selected the player can peek through any regular door. Select the item in the inventory and "Use" it on a door. Topic: Peek through (almost) every door ~ SKILL: MANIPULATION Credits: Dragofer, wesp5, Obsttorte, snatcher. Availability: All missions. Description: When the "Blow / Ignite" item is selected the player can blow out and light up candles and oil lamps. Select the item in the inventory and "Use" it on small flame sources. Topic: Extinguish small lights with a blow ~ SKILL: COMBINATION Credits: OrbWeaver, MirceaKitsune, datiswous, wesp5, snatcher. Availability: All missions. Description: When the "Alchemy" item is selected the player can alter the properties of broadhead arrows by applying different reagents. Select the item in the inventory and "Use" it repeatedly to cycle through the different arrow types. Topic: Alchemy to alter arrow properties? Arrow types: Shadow arrow compound or "Darkdust": Widely believed to be a myth, little to nothing is known about anti-light matter. Where did our protagonist get his formula from? When this substance is subject to strain the particles implode and the residual component absorbs light until it dissipates completely. Flare arrow compound or "Starlight": A recipe based on luminescent mushrooms and other exotic herbs. The resulting powder produces, for limited time, a dim but steady blue-ish glow when mixed with the right reactive. A high concentration of the active mixture can cause a burning sensation to the eyes. ~ SKILL: DISTRACTION Credits: snatcher. Availability: All missions. Description: When the "Whistle" item is selected the player can whistle and draw the attention of nearby AI. The more you whistle, the more attention it draws. Select the item in the inventory and just "Use" it. Keep a safe distance. ~ SKILL: ALTERATION Credits: VanishedOne (speed potion), kingsal (invisibility potion), snatcher (alchemy). Availability: All missions. Description: When the "Penumbra" item is selected the player can avoid light sources and run faster than usual for limited time. Health consumed will gradually be restored. Penumbra doesn't muffle the noise you make and it doesn't work when in contact with water. Press F4 to quickly access this ability if using Auto Commands. THE PATH TO UMBRA: How to become one with the shadows -:- MOD: CLASSIC BLACKJACK -:- Credits: Obsttorte, snatcher. Availability: All missions except A House of Locked Secrets and By Any Other Name. Description: A straightforward approach to blackjacking with new rules and mechanics inspired by the original Thief games. Never miss a KO again! - No indicator required. "Classic Blackjack" rules: Some AI are KO-immune and cannot be KOed: * Undead, creatures... * Guards wearing heavy helmets (to respect TDM vision) * Other: set by mission authors for the plot, in example The rest of AI can be KOed, just aim for the head: * Civilians: Can always be knocked out from any direction * Combatants: Can always be knocked out (including when fleeing) from any direction except when in high alert state (normally in combat mode) As reference, you can find in the Wiki the set of rules of the non-modded TDM: https://wiki.thedarkmod.com/index.php?title=The_Dark_Mod_Gameplay#Blackjacking -:- MOD: FLASH GRENADE -:- Credits: snatcher, kingsal. Availability: All missions except Hazard Pay and Moongate Ruckus. Description: Flashbombs are clumsy and loud but as effective as ever. Instead of throwing Flashbombs like a cannonball we now toss them. Instead of exploding on impact Flashbombs now have a fuse. The chances of blinding have been greatly increased. -:- MOD: HUNTER BOW -:- Credits: snatcher. Availability: Most missions (a few missions do things differently but you should never notice). Description: Nock and draw arrows at a faster rate. Extended radius of gas arrow effect. Chance to retrieve rope arrows when missing a shot. -:- MOD: SHOCK MINE -:- Credits: wesp5, snatcher. Availability: All missions. Description: This mod replaces the Flashmines with customized, "High Voltage" electric mines. Remember: mines can be disarmed with the lockpicks! -:- MOD: SIMPLE SUBTITLES -:- Credits: Geep, stgatilov, snatcher. Availability: All missions. Description: A minimalist, imperfect approach to subtitles (you can set the scope of the subs in the audio settings). Topics: Subtitles - Possibilities Beyond 2.11 / English Subtitles for AI Barks Go to the audio settings and set the scope you prefer: Story: Story only On: Story and general speech (Give it a try!) Off: Disable subtitles Features of the mod: Background replaced with a font outline. Audio source widget replaced with a text transparency based on distance (volume) to the source. Yellow font color for story subs for best contrast, light grey font color for anything else. Non-story subs limited to a single instance, so that players aren't bothered too much with non-relevant subs (barks). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- DOWNLOADS / INSTALL / UNINSTALL So, how do I install and play with all this? Quite easy, but pay attention. I don't want you to break your game so we will be using a "Mod Enabler". A Mod Enabler allows you to enable and disable mods at will, with a few clicks. Before moving forward you must know a couple of things: The moment you enable a mod, previous saves will not work. If you want to load previous saves then you will have to disable the mod. If you play a mission with mods, the saves will only work when that exact set of mods are enabled. This above is important in case you deem your current saves precious. Consider yourself informed. DOWNLOADS You can download the TDM Modpack from Mod DB: INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS Download the zip, unzip it, and move contents to your TDM root folder: Folder "MODS" File "JSGME.exe" Go to your TDM root folder and double click on JSGME.exe (yellow icon). The first time you launch JSGME, it will ask for the "Mods Folder Name". Leave "MODS" and click OK. Now to your left you will find a list of mods available. To your right you will find a list of mods currently enabled. To enable a mod, select a mod on the left, and click on the arrow pointing to the right. To disable a mod, select a mod on the right, and click on the arrow pointing to the left. Go and enable the mods you want: UNINSTALL INSTRUCTIONS Quit the game (to unblock files) Go to your TDM root folder and double click on JSGME.ese (yellow icon) Disable all mods found on the right Close JSGME Delete the following: Folder "MODS" File "JSGME.exe" File "JSGME.ini" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope you enjoy the mods. No coin? then leave a like for pirate's sake!

Ouch. Trust me, I tried. Many times. I just didn't expect to find the grab there. Grounded for 24 hrs. Fell free to dump this topic. And thanks.

Hi, I don't know how to use DarkRadiant but I can tell a lot effort (went and) goes into it. Thanks for this piece of software and thanks for your work, developers. May I suggest that it would be helpful if we could grab and resize the Property / Value window in the Entity inspector? The search is fine if you know what you are looking for but otherwise checking all properties in such narrow window is a little painful. I am using v3.0.0.

I don't recall going that far down into the settings! The HUD/Size Opacity screen is fantastic! Thank you developers for your great work and thanks stgatilov and Obsttorte for the help!

My main concern about the GUI is found in the objectives screen. Trying to compare the differences between Easy-Medium-Hard difficulties when the list of objectives is long is a daunting task because of the large fonts and the next/prev page system. To keep thing simple, I think the problem could be solved if we somehow could reduce the size of the font in the objective list, either via config file or in-game via A+ and A- buttons. A more elaborated approach would involve scrollbars. Please let me know if didn't explain myself well or if you require clarifications to understand what I am talking about. Many thanks.

Hi stgatilov, Thanks for your work. Are you open to suggestions about the GUI and is this a good place?

Good. I think I figured out an icon and a skill name most of the people will be satisfied with. I will be testing v0.7 for a few days and then we can go for an formal v1.0.

I don't know what you are doing there but if you want only the Blow then take the last version and comment this out: // can it be ignited and is it not ignited already? else if (small_flame.hasFunction("response_ignite") && small_flame.m_bExtinguished) { // play flint sound, add propagation $player1.cacheSoundShader("tdm_flint_sound"); $player1.startSoundShader("tdm_flint_sound", SND_CHANNEL_BODY); $player1.propSoundMod("bounce_small_hard_on_hard", 0); // add a failure rate for fun if (int(sys.random(3)) < 2) { // fireworks entity projectile = sys.spawn(getKey("def_projectile")); projectile.setOrigin(flamePos); // (origin, direction, velocity) projectile.launch(flamePos, playerViewDir, playerViewDir); // ignite a standalone flame or all flames in a holder thread small_flame.response_ignite(small_flame, 0); } return; }

Seven years is - symbolically - a lot of time. We live seven years twelve times. Twelve times to change course in a lifetime, if you like. I have big respect for the - past and present - developers of the game. TDM is a marvel and the fact that it still is well supported is admirable. We decide what to do with our free time, preserve stuff in a Museum or visit a Theme Park. Thing is, one option doesn't cancel the other. Should small static oil lamps be extinguishable up close? - Yes

Valid argument but there is no way back! Mappers must come up with more elaborated tricks. Here is v0.7 - What's new? The skill has been temporally renamed (in-game) to "Blow & Spark" (I can't make up my mind). I think I have identified all base small flames, including legacy or deprecated ones. I also extended the support to portable torches since this ability can come in handy. Portable torches can only be ignited though, you must drop them to extinguish the flame. Internal code optimizations. I wanted to add support to (some) custom flames but I will not. I had a look and noticed some mappers instead of adding their own creations as a new class or instead of editing values of existing classes they decided to rename base class definitions, and the corresponding def files are being recycled in more and more maps. I disagree with this approach because - as can be seen - it can impact other projects but I guess some authors want to have full control of their creations and I shall respect their decisions. The new Blow and Ignite skills will not work in their maps but hey, we have 95% of the missions and flames covered Find the download below. Cheers! FlameMaster_v0.7.zip

That's correct. How we perceive things is important and that's why the name and icon aren't right. Suggestions anyone? Make fire as you wish... is it difficult to accept in this world that one of the basic tools our thief always carries in his pocket are a tiny sparking stone and piece of steel? For larger fires we have the professional flint.

Forgot in the list above oil flames, of course I am not done yet with this, in case you wonder. Before I go for a version 1: I don't think it will be possible to use the skill when no item is selected in the inventory and I need to find a good icon and a good name for the skill (I don't quite like "Flame Master" as a skill, any ideas?). I want to play some missions to see if I should increase some tolerances: when players decide to go for a flame, I want them to succeed. I would like to understand what mappers did with some custom small flames, and support their creations. I think that's the wish list. Blowing up candles when carrying a body or holding an object is not possible, I am afraid.

Ok... *My* flint is standalone, uses a different technique (no stim) and it only works with small flames. Both the original flint and the new skill can coexist. I don't think I will ever extend the current "ignite ability" to larger flames since lighting up torches, fireplaces... "on the go" doesn't seem very realistic to me. When I started playing the game I would have liked to: Extinguish small flames without grabbing holders first, and Light candles back up Regarding the second, I many times entered a room or area and put all lights off. After some time I realized the area was safe and I wanted to relit at least a single candle. Well, we can do all that now to some extent, and rather easily.

And here is version 0.6 I managed to detect if a flame is lit or not and that allowed me to do something I wasn't sure could be achieved. The idea keeps growing, evolving and taking new forms and now Blow and Ignite have been merged into a single skill: Find the download below. FlameMaster_v0.6.zip

You can find in this post version 0.5. Added detection of light_candleflame_moving & light_oilflame_moving Both Blow & Ignite abilities get silently loaded on mission start - thanks @wesp5 ! Is player looking in the direction of the flame? Check! (from the Flash-bomb script) Is there anything in-between the player and the flame? Check! - thanks @Dragofer ! I appreciate if the code gets reviewed for potential errors or improvements. I have been looking to see if I could detect if a flame is on or off. getKey("extinguished") apparently doesn't get updated "live". Any ideas on this matter? Blow_Ignite_v0.5.zip

I don't see why I would need a box in this case and tracePoint does the job pretty well. Thank you very much.

@Dragofer the trace works, thank you very much vector player_pos = $player1.getEyePos(); vector flame_pos = small_flame.getWorldOrigin(); if(sys.trace(player_pos, flame_pos, '-0 -0 -0', '0 0 0', CONTENTS_SOLID, self) == 1) { // go! } A question for everybody: what are '-0 -0 -0' and '0 0 0' for? A tolerance? Not sure I should use them.

Thanks, Dragofer. I will have them included the same, just in case. Very nice! English isn't my native language so I cannot tell what works best. Let me say though, the more recognizable a name is for an international audience, the better.

Which base objects do the below flames get attached to? light_candleflame_moving light_oilflame_moving I don't know what these are for

And I encourage you to do so. The more feedback, the better. Briarwood Cathedral. You can do what you please, Sir. Just make sure to have fun.

Geez man, relax and enjoy the ride We aren't there yet.

The current distance between the flame and the player's eyes is the minimum distance (plus a buffer) required to extinguish a standing chandelier without the need of a jump. We'll have to determine if something else is between the player and the flame but we aren't at that stage yet. We must determine if the player is looking in the direction of the object. We need help from Obsttorte, Dragofer or any other guru. You need to review my posts in this topic In any case, the idea is to do without any icon. ---------------------------------------------------- And before you come and say: the blow doesn't work in this mission! - know that I am well aware of. Some mappers employ their own custom flames.

Yep. Few more battles ahead before victory is ours.

I am investing more time requesting help and following the discussion than in anything else. The current code is as simple as it gets. I count on you for the next steps. I need you. We need you.

Here is Version 0.4. Check it out, if you like. Added the ability to extinguish the standalone "Oil Flames" we have been recently discussing about. No need to alter any map or any def file. Secondary: added random failure when using the flint / tinderbox (just for fun, don't ask about it ) Blow_Ignite_v0.4.zip