Shadow of Chernobyl Steam version (what mods/patches to install?)

[Kuuso]

Hello,

I am unsure of what version the Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl is, which is on Steam (bought it at new year's), thus I am not sure what mods or patches I can apply to it. Also, is there some main mods that I should use that fix bugs/enchance the game without actually changing anything radically?

[Axon1988]

First off, I don't know much about the steam version but as far as I know the patches work fine on that version and you should update up to version 1.0004. Which is the last one that actually changes single player features, as far as I know.

For mods there is one really awesome mod called S.t.a.l.k.e.r Complete 2009/2012 which changes the graphics alot, and also adds some awesome AI features but still sticks to the original storyline.
It just makes the game so much more 'friendly' to people who are new to the franchise.
http://www.moddb.com/mods/stalker-complete-2009

Otherwise I believe some people might ask you what your localisation is because there is some awesome Russian mods out there, which unfortunately aren't really English friendly.

[mothra]

for using the most mods you will need the 1.004 patch.
using 1.005 you loose a few possible and very good mods (e.g. AKM and the upcoming LostAlpha)

steam has 1.006 which is basically like 1.005 with some MPfixes which you cannot downgrade so for better mods you are basically fucked. That's why I have a retail version.

[EvaUnit02]

Last I heard, Steam SoC was stuck at v1.005. Apparently v1.006 isn't considered an official patch, thus the publisher THQ never applied that patch to the Steam version.

However a lot of MP servers run v1.006, so you won't be able to play on them. But that's no great loss, next to no one gives two shits about Stalker's MP component.

[Kuuso]

Will the Complete mod for stalker work, if the version is 1.005? apparently it does. I don't think I need anything else for the time being. Also, does my saved games become invalid, if they've done before the mod?

[Ostriig]

For mods there is one really awesome mod called S.t.a.l.k.e.r Complete 2009/2012 which changes the graphics alot, and also adds some awesome AI features but still sticks to the original storyline.
It just makes the game so much more 'friendly' to people who are new to the franchise.
http://www.moddb.com/mods/stalker-complete-2009

2012? Oh my, that's gotta be better than Complete 2009 by, like, a total 3!

But no, seriously, I was going to post this yesterday but the DNS crapped out just before I hit the button - my first and only experience with STALKER so far was with Complete 2009, and the game looked and played absolutely delicious. In fact, now that I see work's officially started on Complete for Call of Pripyat, I might just put off playing it until a solid version of the mod comes out even though I have the game sitting on my shelf right now.

Will the Complete mod for stalker work, if the version is 1.005? apparently it does. I don't think I need anything else for the time being. Also, does my saved games become invalid, if they've done before the mod?

It was strongly recommended that you start a new game not just when applying Complete, but also when changing mod versions. It's why I stuck with 1.32 even after 1.44 came out, but I can't complain, the mod was already in top shape. Anyway, here's what they say in the manual:

It is highly recommended to start a new game after installing the mod, as saves using vanilla game data aren’t supported and could easily lead to conflicts and crashes when executing the mod’s game data.

[Kuuso]

Well, I've started a new game with the complete mod (and the gun-mod that was recommended alongside with it) and the difference to the vanilla is staggering. Don't think I've seen such a good "fix-everything" mod in any other game yet. Granted, you can't fix Oblivion enough anyways

It is a bit easy even though I'm playing with Master. I reckon it'll get harder once I start meeting mutants. It's also fun to see what my new computer is capable of doing as well, since it runs this game perfectly.

[Axon1988]

Yup Complete is a serious benchmark to modders out there who want their work to look more professional.

Ostriig my friend, you should check out the complete page on Moddb, they changed the name to Complete 1012 because 2009 is already behind us. And because it is when Stalker - SOC plays off right? I think a hidden reason to the name change might have something to do with this annoying Mayan calendar! Saying that the world will end in 2012, maybe the zone will live on after that.
(That would be so awesome!)

[Ostriig]

Heh, yeah I know, I'd checked out the moddb page you linked, was just taking the lol before. The 2012 rebranding is most likely a reference to SoC's setting and a good way to keep the mod from looking out-of-date, indeed.

[Kuuso]

Going off-topic now, but I just hit Agroprom and to my dismay, I found out that day turns to night surprisingly fast. One of the most intense gaming experiences yet, trying to survive against all those soldiers with only a bloody flashlight only to zip down to the underground to meet mutants for the first time.

[Axon1988]

You mean you're going underground now to meet the real manly mutants! Good luck with that one.
So a night fight against military in Agroprom sounds like fun.

[Sulphur]

It is. Lots of exploding red barrels, and a really annoying alarm that I climbed all the way to the roof so I could have the satisfaction of emptying a bullet into it. And then came back down to realise the exit was swarming with more headlamped military types than I could tangle with, and I'd actually have to stealth it out of there if I didn't go back underground. So I took the hard way out, of course. God damn that was fun.

[Kuuso]

Yes, I met the real mutants for the first time. The invisible one wasn't that bad, but the second one who apparently used sound to attack had me emptying clips by panic.

I had a pretty much the same experience then as you did Sulphur! Albeit I found that the alarm was on the roof by accident. Fought out from there through the enforcements similar as you, but the really intense part was after I got out of the yard, because there was more soldiers out in the open. Couldn't see anything there and nowhere to hide.

Btw, is it normal that rain doesn't have sound? Also, the grass and bushes seem to move way too fast sometimes, like there was a wind that could tear houses of waving them.

[Axon1988]

The rain not having sound is a add on from the game. The vanilla game doesn't have rain, so they added rain in the mod. It's silent because the normal old vanilla rain sound really is loud and annoying. I don't know why they didn't change it though. And then the grass and small plants moving so quick is also a problem from the vanilla game. but I could live with that because the only place I really noticed it was in Agroprom for some strange reason.

The first mutant you find underground, the one who is invisible, is a bloodsucker and you'll find more of them. They are pretty awesome. Sometimes there are two of them in that tunnel. Then the one after that is called a controller. He doesn't actually attack using sound waves but his attacks is actually a way of trying to control your mind.

Enjoy the game dude!

[Sulphur]

Axon, buddy, I know you wrote that with best interests at heart, but [spoiler] tag those things as you're potentially ruining those encounters for people yet to experience them.

[Axon1988]

Your right sorry okay.

[twisty]

The mutant with the psionic attack is easily thwarted by simply running towards him. It seems that the devs never factored that into their scripting as the mutant doesn't even seem to detect you after that.

[mothra]

seems to be a bug on your side. if run towards him on master without at least 1 anti-psi artifact you are insta-dead if he gets 2 "cries" . up close he also starts punching you with small artifacts coming out of his hand, only way I killed him that way was on "hard" and sprinting up to him, then shoot him 3 times in the face with the shotty. in Call Of Pripyat they are even more awesome and fling the rifle from your hands so you can't even shoot him anymore.

[Axon1988]

It's the dwarf that does the gun ripping from your hands thing. Not the controller... right????

[mothra]

yep, mixed that up:
controller: fries brain, fucks up aim and kicks you in your face
dwarf: loss of stamina, loss of weapon, likes to punch you with little gravi anomalies

[Axon1988]

I once ran into 3 dwarves and a pseudogiant right outside the Yanov train station close to that weird building! (Where the swamps is) And I was looking at them from a distance, some freedom guys weren't too far and started shooting them. So I thought I might go and help. Biggest gaming mistake of my life. Can't run away, kept losing my gun and had to search for it. And them Mr.Pseudogiant thought I might be a tasty treat so kept hitting me with his earthquake thing.

Suffice to say about 5min later I was a nice campfire meal.

[sNeaksieGarrett]

I realize this is a very old thread, but I'm just now wanting to try SoC (and I have the steam version like the OP) for the first time and wondering if I should be installing any mods. I'm mainly just interested in graphical updates and bug fixes, not gameplay changes, but apparently the Complete mod from MODDB does all three of those things.
(Could there be some way to just grab the textures and bugfixes without affecting the gameplay? Or just the textures at least?)

I'm hesitant to install it on a first playthrough, but wanted to get someone's thoughts. This thread only really seems to mention the Complete mod, so I'm curious to hear what other mods are out there that may be worth my time. (And yes, I've seen the thread about how Complete "sucks," but I'm still not sure what to do.)

[june gloom]

Complete's gameplay changes are more like "making it suck less" -- it's not a giant overhaul like most other mods.

[sNeaksieGarrett]

Hmm... That's good, but I was thinking it'd be better to start with vanilla gameplay since it's my first time playing the game. That said, if you feel that the gameplay changes from Complete are significant enough changes to make the game "suck less" then I guess I should give it a shot.

[FatSpy]

I read the complete mod makes the game significantly easier to though. I just played vanilla on the hardest difficulty and never bothered with mods. Probably should have though in a second playthrough.