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True VTMB Patch ver. 5.04AT
http://www.tessmage.com/forum/index.php/topic,1112.18.html The True VTMB Patch version 5.04AT --------------------------------------- Overview: --------------------------------------- This is a repair patch for "Vampire - The Masquerade: Bloodlines," a wonderful RPG created by the Troika studio and released in 2004 by ActiVision. This patch is intended to do nothing but fix bugs that were still present within the game, following its release. This patch will not change any other aspects of the original VTMB, other than to restore any broken (but intended by Troika) content that the official patch from ActiVision failed to repair. It is the author's intention to change absolutely nothing about the way VTMB plays, aside from repairing and restoring broken parts of the game's code. To the best of our knowledge, nothing else has been altered from the way that Troika had originally intended for the game to be experienced.In short: if you would prefer to play an unbroken version of the original game, then this patch is definitely for you. It is recommended that you not install this version on top of any other "unofficial patches" or mods. Also, this version of the True VTMB Patch does not support any previous versions of our patch prior to version 4.04AT. This is a self-contained, stand-alone patch and it must be installed into a fresh copy of VTMB. This is critical..!!! You can not just drop version 5.04AT into a pre-existing installation of VTMB and expect it to function properly. New users of the True Patch absolutely MUST completely remove and then re-install VTMB, from its original installation CD's. This point can not be stressed enough, so please be sure that you fully understand this issue, before proceeding any further. ---------------------------------- INSTALLATION: ---------------------------------- FOR VERSION 5.04AT, YOU MUST BEGIN WITH A TOTALLY NEW AND FRESH INSTALLATION OF VTMB. Any previous installations MUST be completely un-installed AND totally deleted from your hard drive, BEFORE you can install version 5.04AT of this patch. THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS ARE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN USING VERSION 4.04AT OF THE TRUE VTMB PATCH. If you have already been using version 4.04AT and if it has been properly configured, then you do not need to uninstall anything. Version 5.04AT is fully compatible with version 4.04AT and it can be installed directly on top of your existing 4.04AT installation. For new users of the True Patch... Once you have a fresh, new copy of VTMB installed, you MUST install the official v. 1.2 patch from ActiVision. This patch can be found in several places on the web, including from ActiVisions own official site: http://download.activision.com/bloodlines/vtmb_1_2.exe Once the official patch has been installed, please proceed to the next section. IF YOU HAVE OBTAINED YOUR COPY OF VTMB FROM EITHER THE STEAM SERVICE OR DIRECT-2-DRIVE, THEN YOU CAN SKIP THE INSTALLATION OF THE OFFICIAL 1.2 PATCH. THOSE VERSIONS OF VTMB ALREADY HAVE THE OFFICIAL 1.2 PATCH INTEGRATED INTO THEIR FILES. In general: if you try to install the official patch, and it tells you that it is already installed, then you most likely do not need it. Just proceed to the next section. Simply unpack this archive to a neutral, temporary folder on your hard drive. Then, copy the entire "Vampire" directory within this archive into your main VTMB folder. Next, when prompted and asked if you wish to overwrite any files, select "YES to ALL" and the patch will thus be installed. THOSE PLAYERS WHO PREFER TO UNPACK THE "VPACK" (VPK) FILES FROM BLOODLINES *MUST* UNPACK THOSE FILES *BEFORE* ANY PATCHES OF ANY KIND ARE INSTALLED (including the official patch). IMPORTANT NOTE: after installing any new patch, you MUST start the game over again using a brand-new character. You can NOT simply pick up where you left off, using pre-exising gamesaves. This is due to the peculiar way that Bloodlines saves map node data into its gamesave files. Since the True Patch alters many of the game's maps by repairing them, the data in your existing gamesave files will no longer accurately match up to the newly repaired maps. Thus, any attempt to use those gamesaves can and will result in all sorts of anomalous gameplay behavior, including such things as "frozen" NPC's, malfunctioning items and any number of other weird behaviors. You absolutely MUST start over again with an entirely new character that you created AFTER the True Patch was installed. Also, after installing and playing the game for the first time, you may occasionally see an odd message on your screen immediately after entering a new area of the game. This message usually says something along the lines of: "Node graph out of date - rebuilding. AI Disabled." (or something like that, anyway) This message is NOT a bug. It is a normal map update function of the Source engine and it will only occur ONCE for each repaired map that you enter after installing the True Patch. After all of the maps have been internally updated by the Source engine, you will never see that message again. However, it is important to point out that this automatic, one-time update procedure can sometimes cause gameplay anomalies with your current character's game. There are various work-arounds to this issue, but the only one that we favor is to allow the game to do its thing on your machine, using your maps and your settings. Thus, you will need to do something else if you would like to avoid any possibility of glitches: (1) Quick-save your game just before you enter any new areas that you have not yet visited. (2) Enter the new area and if you see the "AI Disabled" message, just wait a moment for it to finish. (3) Now, quick-reload your game. You will be right back where you were, just before you entered. (4) Enter the new area again. This time, you will not see any messages, as the update has already been completed. Go ahead and continue playing normally. (5) You may need to do this for every single new area of the game, just to be safe. I must stress once again that this procedure only happens ONCE for each map after the True Patch has been installed. Once all of the automatic updates have been completed, you will never see that messsage again during any subsequent game plays. This is a normal internal function of the Source engine. Although there is a bit of a tricky way to avoid it, we do not favor using that method and therefore, we have not included that option with the True Patch. We feel that it is better to allow the Source engine to function as it is supposed to function and just let it do its thing. It's a minor hassle to be sure... but fortunately, it only needs to happen once. After that, it's all done forever. :) It is always wise to create a backup copy of the "plain vamilla" version of VTMB, before patching or modifying it in any way. Once installed, this patch can not be removed without re-installing the entire game, or overwriting it with a backed-up copy of the game's files. The author(s) assume no responsibility nor liability for any failure to follow good backup and installation procedures on your part. Please read and understand fully all instructions and warnings before proceeding with this patch. This archive has been fully tested and all of its files are known to be in good working order. It is offered free-of-charge and as-is. ----------------------------------- NOTES: ----------------------------------- cHARACTER CREATION: Player histories are disabled by default. To "permanently" turn them on, edit the autoexec.cfg file (open with Notepad)in VamireCFG and add the following line: vchar_edit_histories "1" Some effects in player histories have been modified to avoid known buggy behavior. Added short and penalty descriptions to all histories in use. SANTA MONICA: * Restored some missing lines from Heather's opening dialogue, including Malkavian lines where appropriate * Restored dialogue and missing xp for finding Bertrum Tung * Fixed an inconsistency in Jeanette's dialogue that caused the Jeanette boink relay to fire when it shouldn't * Changed some conditions in Therese's dialogue to make sure the Spritual Release quest properly updates when the pendant is given to Jeanette * Fixed some typos in Therese's dialogue * Fixed some typos in Knox's dialogue * Fixed some typos in Tourette's dialogue * Fixed conditions in Tourette's dialouge - note that is makes it "harder" reconcile Therese and Jeanette * Fixed a starting condition in E's dialogue that checked to see if the player is Nosferatu * Restored missing xp for entering the gallery without killing Chunk and added an appropriate quest state * Restored Jeanette's e-mail and associated dialogue option * Changed Malcolm's dialogue so that players no longer say they want a "few hundred bucks" and then only ask for 75 * Made sure Knox will no longer appear in the Santa Monica hub if the player has killed him. * Restored correct sound scheme for Carson's laptop and the Keui-Jin's * Added some conditions to clean up sloppy code in Santa Monica scripts * Added some spoken lines to Mercurio's subtitles * Fixed some subtitles in Arthur's dialogue * Repaired an interesting place conversation node inside the Asylum. * Fixed bail bond entry in Kalptrick's computer for Rolf. Should display his license plate correctly now. DOWNTOWN: * Fixed Regent dialogue so Tremere players who have met all requirements won't miss out on their haven (not tested) * Made sewer map available to Nosferatu only. * Restored use of social and psychic abilites to deal with Milligan for Pisha. * Fixed a bug with Kanker not properly updating quest status on death under certain circumstances. * Fixed Mudd Hunt quest so players can't get stuck by doing things out of order. * Made abandoned building always show the murder scene when it should. * Restored parking garage briefcase exchange sequence. * Corrected a conditional error in Venus' dialogue that could result in getting her quests twice * Fixed some typos in Damsel's dialogue * Fixed some tyops in the blood doll's dialogue * Made subtitles match the voice over for the bum in the abandoned building * Removed some duplicate lines from Venus' dialogue * sharks will no longer try to hate Jets that don't exist, and vice versa * Corrected a condition resulting in duplicate lines in LaCroix's endgame dialogue * Fixed some conditions in LaCroix's dialogue regarding Masquerade violations. * Removed a duplicate line from the abandoned building bum's dialogue and ensured that he leaves when he's supposed to. HOLLYWOOD: * Fixed some sloppy code in Vesuvius scripts * Corrected some conditional errors in VV's dialogue * Made Imalia's newspaper and inspection node only appear when they should * Fixed a starting condition that could lead to inconsistency in Imalia's dialogue. * Hid Bertrum's CD from non Nosferatu * Fixed dates in Warrens ledgers * Added some conditions to Isaac's dialogue so you don't tell him about the Gargoyle every time you speak to him. CHINATOWN * Hid Yukie until after you meet Ming Xiao * Removed some unspoken lines from Ming Xiao's subtitles * Restored some Ji Wen Ja/Lu Fang reconciliation lines and added appropriate quest states * Added some conditions to Tseng dialogue to prevent some options from showing up before they should GIOVANI * Restored sound to Mira's dialogue, lines 81, 221, 231, 241, 251, 261, 271, 281, 291, 301, 311 * Nadia's "They're after us" line no longer plays when Nadia isn't present. NOTE: It no longer plays at all, now. Will try to make it play only when she's present in the future. SOCIETY OF LEOPOLD * Gave roof guards sniper and assault rifles instead of shotguns and uzis * Corrected a python script check on the escape route * Fixed some subtitles for Johansen HOLLOWBROOK * Prevented Lasombra_dead_relay from triggering too soon. * Made flamethrower a tad easier to find * Prevented Heather from showing up if she's already dead. GENERAL: * Cleared the theatre after the player's opening movie trial * Restored some missing sounds, including missing feeding sounds for female characters. * Made VV's e-mails appear at the correct times. * Made LaCroix's payment for Tommy Flayton's review appear in mailbox when it should. * Added zoom sway effect to SWAT sniper rifle, and adjusted its base damage * Restored Cabbie's alternative greetings. * Changed conditions and text for Mercurio's "Repaid Favors" email * Fixed some subtitles in Heather's dialogue * Fixed the huntersDead[] array in all main city hubs - hunters should now spawn correctly when a player violates the Masquerade too many times. * Removed duplicate $ignorez lines from money envelope inventory images * Moved Beckett's downtown spawn point to (hopefully) fix the infamous Beckett wait bug. * Fixed some subtitles in Jack's tutorial dialogue. * Additional Malkavian dialogue restored whenever it was absolutely necessary. * Several missing textures have been restored with custom-made creations by Tessera. * Several texture "stamps" have been added to certain graphics in the game, as a means of positively identifying our patch from any mods made by others. These stamps are *very* well-hidden, so have fun trying to find them all. ;) ----------------------------------- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: ----------------------------------- Acrimonious: Python script editing, fixes to coding errors, dialogue errors, item repairs and all of the required map repairs/restorations/alterations. Tessera: Creative (RP) oversight, dialogue coach, additional Malkavian dialogue, special custom texture repairs/restorations, continuity oversight and also the promotion/hosting of the True VTMB Patch series. Special thanks to our volunteer 5.04AT beta testers: Alehezar Arandie Erelas Jordi Paramecium Tinman ------------------------------------ OFFICIAL SUPPORT WEBSITE: ------------------------------------ http://www.tessmage.com (adults only, please) True VTMB Patch version 5.04AT "Hotfix 3" FINAL Release date: September 29, 2007 Last Updated: January 21, 2008
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Created by Paine for Planet Vampire
