Trouble running ATF scenarios with RT

[RedMike]

Hi Pat,

I'm having trouble trying to run ATF scenarios with RT. RT exits to the desktop whenever I try to open any scenario not included with RT. Help!!

Regards,

RedMike

[Pat Proctor]

Uh oh!

Here are a few things to check. If none of these is the case, let me know and we can try more detailed trouble shooting...

1. Did you install Armored Task Force FIRST, THEN Raging Tiger?
2. Did you install Raging Tiger IN THE SAME DIRECTORY to which you installed ATF?
3. Did ATF have the latest patch (version 1.04)installed BEFORE you installed Raging Tiger?
4. Did you select "Begin Imported Mission" in order to start the ATF scenario?
5. Did you have any custom databases or add ons installed for ATF when you installed Raging Tiger?

If none of these is the case, again, please let me know...

[kbluck]

Abrupt crash to desktop when starting a scenario is typical of a missing map file.

--- Kevin

[RedMike]

I read in the manual where you say install over ATF but I was wondering if that was necessary or merely for convenience sake. That would mean you couldn't just download the bonus scenario pack and run it in RT unless you had ATF to start with. I have ATF but I uninstalled it prior to installing RT. I suspect the trouble is some sort of missing file as Kevin suggests.

[Pat Proctor]

Thank God it's not a bug :joy: ;)

The ATF Scenario Pack requires the ATF Database files. If you do not install Raging Tiger OVER ATF, the ATF Database files will not be present and, thus, the scenario pack will not work.

Installing ATF and then installing Raging Tiger OVER it THEN installing the ATF Scenario Pack should solve the problem. Sorry for the inconvenience.

By the way, this will probably be a common problem. Did the manual confuse you? (No matter how I type that, it sounds smart ass, but that is not my intent.) If there is a clearer way to explain the steps, please feel free to make a suggestion. It is hard to write help topics for a game I am so intimately involved with. I don't always know what is obvious and what is not.

[RedMike]

Pat,

I think the manual is perfectly clear. I just chose to ignore it thinking I could merely install the particular scenarios and associated files I wanted manually and leave out those I didn't want. Not that there are any crappy scenarios or anything like that, I'm just not partial to NTC stuff. I prefer historical scenarios or might have beens. I mean who the hell are the Krasnovians anyway ?? :) So, bottom line, can I install say Bihac manually as long as I choose all the pertinant files or MUST I reinstall RT OVER ATF??

BTW...I'm playing Beach Party II at the moment and some of my guys keep heading out to sea trying to bypass obstacles I guess. Another case of Water-walkers ?? I can send you the save file if you like.

Thanks Pat, appreciate your immediate and direct imput. Cool !

RedMike OUT

[Pat Proctor]

...I'm just not partial to NTC stuff. I prefer historical scenarios or might have beens. I mean who the hell are the Krasnovians anyway ?? :)

That's what the BLUFOR says when they're getting their ass kicked by the OPFOR :)

So, bottom line, can I install say Bihac manually as long as I choose all the pertinant files or MUST I reinstall RT OVER ATF??

If this is your goal, to NOT have all of the ATF scenarios on your harddrdive (how dare you ;) ), I would recommend the following:

1. Install ATF.
2. Go to the Data Folder.
3. Delete all of the files bearing the names of scenarios you do not want to preserve.
4. Install RT in the ATF install directory.

You can then install the scenario pack, and it will work correctly. This is the only way to be sure you preserve all of the non-scenario specific, essential database and vehicle graphics files.

BTW...I'm playing Beach Party II at the moment and some of my guys keep heading out to sea trying to bypass obstacles I guess. Another case of Water-walkers ?? I can send you the save file if you like.

I've got the files and I am on the case. I HATE BUGS. :mad:

[Pat Proctor]

BTW (and now I am just being difficult), all of the NTC scenarios ARE historicals. These are snap shots from real battles that took place at the National Training Center (most of which I participated in). The only exception is Crash Hill Defense, which is a planning exercise and CPX for Field Artillery Officer's Advanced Course.

But go ahead and delete them. See if I care! ;)

[RedMike]

OK...OK...I'll uninstall RT, re-install ATF, re-install RT OVER ATF, and keep ALL scenarios onboard. Happy now?? :)

OUT

[kbluck]

If you are more interested in the warm fuzzy glow of hacking a system to prove you can do it rather than enjoying reliable operation like normal people, you can try it. Some people are defective like that. I'm one of them.

You need three classes of files: Database, map, and scenario.

There will be five files for the stock ATF database, and they are named database1.*

The map files are a bit more difficult. There may be 5 or 6 files. They will have similar but not necessarily identical leading filenames. Two of them will be .bmp. There will also be a .map, .gmp, and .emp. Lastly, there may be a .aim

Scenarios are the bulkiest. You can expect at least 20 files per scenario and possibly twice or thrice that many. I'm not going to list the extensions; suffice to say, look at the beginning part of the filename, since it will likely be similar. Unless the scenario designer hates you. The most common name discrepancies are the OPORD .htm, and sometimes the designer makes a custom DB for the scenario, in which case you'll need that instead of the database1 DB mentioned above.

You'll know you did it right if you start a scenario and it works. If not, you'll get a variety of mysterious dialogs and crashes with little indication of what is actually wrong. Doesn't sorting all this out sound like fun? Bonus points if you break the whole game so it won't even start and end up having to reformat your hard drive.

--- Kevin

[RedMike]

It was merely academic, I've reinstalled over ATF and all is functioning as it should. Thanks for all, it is appreciated. RT is a blast.

OUT