there is no more below.....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If there is anything more important than my ego around here, I want it caught and shot immediately ~ (Zaphod Beeblebrox - Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy)

ya....thats kinda confuzzing...

Life: No one gets out alive.

I assume he is going to edit it in then?
So - can you keep old ships still like a garage or something?

Hmm - and there was i assuming someone was going to share a new deveopment with a community.

Okay - starting to assume this is not true then? NOthing below, nothing edited in (so far......or will i be eating my words? )

Edited by - chips on 14-10-2003 18:43:58

Edited by - chips on 14-10-2003 18:45:26

*Gets a fork for Chips*

Life: No one gets out alive.

PART 1
Rev 10-14-2003

OK how does it work?
The program called "FreeLancer Save File Editor" (FLSFE) created by Meuer and Burns can help us here...
Basically... your saved games... are stored at:
C:\My Documents\My Games\Freelancer\Accts\SinglePlayer

you will see files such as save17f2.fl etc...

Using the FLSFE it is possible to EXCHANGE your ships for another...
and place the "equipment" that U want there as well...
This is DONE at the DOCKed condition... and required EDITING the Saved game file.

Here's an example...
You will need FLMM 1.2 (or better) and the usual warnings about modding and backing up apply)
Run your FAVORITE MOD or a simple one whichever and SAVE THE GAME...
This creates a saved game with a NEW Time STAMP... called SaveGame1
Now... go buy a different ship... Save that GAME under a new name...(SaveGame2)
Ok so SavedGame 1 has your original ship....
Run the FLSFE...
CLICK DECODE then in the program open:
C:\My Documents\My Games\Freelancer\Accts\SinglePlayer
CLICK the right most upper ICON thats called VIEW MENU and choose details...
Then CLICK the MODIFIED COLUMN (exactly where the word modified is) 2 times...
this sorts the files by date created...
You will see the NEWEST file at the top...
Choose the 2nd newest.... (not including the autosave file)
This will be Save Game 1
for example it might say
Save0256.fl
then choose OPEN
then SAVE... (It will save it as a text file)
Sometimes this works and sometimes it don't...
You should see A new WINDOW with the name TRENT and CASH xxxx
and a central window with a whole bunch of text....
If you dont... then go back to decode....
and look for the same file... and decode it again...
or look for the savennnn.fl.txt version and open that....

here is what you might see if you had my Rhino LH ( a modified rhino)


[Player
description = 005300610076006500470061006d00650031

tstamp = 29594191,944822464
name = 005400720065006e0074
rank = 10
house = -0.9, li_n_grp
house = -0.9, li_lsf_grp
house = -0.9, li_p_grp
house = 0.028965, br_n_grp
house = -0.003505, br_p_grp
house = 0.030025, ku_n_grp
house = 0.034095, ku_p_grp
house = 0.002075, rh_n_grp
house = 0.011075, rh_p_grp
house = 0.134895, co_alg_grp
house = 0.360195, co_be_grp
house = 0.31235, br_m_grp
house = 0.267505, co_nws_grp
house = 0.229855, co_hsp_grp
house = 0.816, co_ic_grp
house = -0.286563, co_khc_grp
house = -0.105475, co_kt_grp
house = -0.6249, rh_m_grp
house = 0.844, co_me_grp
house = 0.776625, co_ni_grp
house = 0.23084, co_os_grp
house = -0.053435, co_rs_grp
house = -0.105475, co_shi_grp
house = 0.816, co_ss_grp
house = 0.38188, co_ti_grp
house = 0.7328, co_vr_grp
house = -0.35559, fc_bd_grp
house = -0.34272, fc_b_grp
house = -0.833625, fc_c_grp
house = -0.24878, fc_fa_grp
house = -0.84024, fc_g_grp
house = -0.35678, fc_gc_grp
house = -0.23589, fc_h_grp
house = -0.636755, fc_j_grp
house = 0.46909, fc_lh_grp
house = 0.111285, fc_lr_grp
house = -0.363605, fc_lwb_grp
house = -0.87918, fc_m_grp
house = -0.709585, fc_ou_grp
house = -0.609795, fc_rh_grp
house = 0, fc_or_grp
house = -0.83216, fc_u_grp
house = -0.696285, fc_x_grp
house = 0.0796, gd_gm_grp
house = 0, fc_uk_grp
house = -0.65, fc_n_grp
house = -0.65, fc_ln_grp
house = -0.65, fc_kn_grp
house = -0.65, fc_rn_grp
house = 0, fc_ouk_grp
house = 0, fc_q_grp
house = 0, fc_f_grp
house = 0.224365, gd_im_grp
house = 0.00214, gd_z_grp
house = -0.9, gd_bh_grp
money = 9823
num_kills = 0
num_misn_successes = 0
num_misn_failures = 0

voice = trent_voice
com_body = 3144214861
com_head = 2223155968
com_lefthand = 2479975689
com_righthand = 2264565644
body = 3144214861
head = 2223155968
lefthand = 2479975689
righthand = 2264565644

system = Iw03
base = Iw03_02_Base

location = 2909034243
ship_archetype = 2467793738

*** THIS IS THE IMPORTANT LINE ***
This tells FL what ship you had when you saved the game...
and here is my SHIP info:
ship_archetype = 2467793738

equip = 2968894153, , 1
equip = 2968894153, , 1
equip = 2533535562, , 1
cargo = 3109387658, 1, , , 0
equip = 3110436237, HpShield01, 1
equip = 2851656000, HpThruster01, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret01, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret04, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret05, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret02, 1
cargo = 2260588618, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2472077709, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2472077709, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2521107725, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2611157314, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2625134094, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2625134094, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2625134094, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2625138189, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2625138189, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2625138189, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2661610701, 1, , , 0
equip = 2797442121, HpWeapon01, 1
cargo = 2950730184, 1, , , 0
equip = 2959745095, HpTurret03, 1
cargo = 2988811471, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3024599373, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3024599373, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3024599373, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3099894030, 1, , , 0
equip = 3099894030, HpWeapon02, 1
equip = 3099894030, HpWeapon03, 1
cargo = 3118742732, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3219265993, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3219265993, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2300089610, 1, , , 0
equip = 2199282693, HpCM01, 1
cargo = 2736134149, 1, , , 0
equip = 2723858309, , 1
equip = 2265531853, HpHeadlight, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight01, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight02, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight03, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight04, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight05, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight06, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight07, 1
equip = 2494027655, HpDockLight01, 1
equip = 2494027655, HpDockLight02, 1
equip = 2799531210, , 1
equip = 2500775748, HpContrail01, 1
equip = 2500775748, HpContrail02, 1
cargo = 2911012559, 27, , , 0
cargo = 2596081674, 27, , , 0
cargo = 2834217409, 7, , , 0
cargo = 3130766926, 24, , , 0
cargo = 2491864709, 3, , , 0
cargo = 2210962945, 4, , , 0
cargo = 3112104454, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3130291785, 7, , , 0
cargo = 2664163777, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2810414853, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3147243791, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2293586633, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3200496391, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2815770241, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2571548236, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2863847232, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2182071621, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2866206539, 11, , , 0
cargo = 2866034054, 7, , , 0
cargo = 2792430274, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3065229389, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2479280836, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2181067140, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2305243781, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2551124489, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3062202251, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2605271178, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2518124616, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2517790468, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3028160452, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2593638279, 11, , , 0
cargo = 2979767297, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2587568141, 9, , , 0

wg = 0, HpWeapon02
wg = 0, HpWeapon03
wg = 0, HpTurret01
wg = 0, HpTurret04
wg = 0, HpTurret05
wg = 0, HpTurret02
wg = 0, HpTurret03
wg = 0, hpweapon01


AS you can see it stores EVERYTHING in 1 EASY LOCATION (as far as I can tell)

Your entire SHIP as well as CARGO and WEAPONS Loadouts...
Things not included... may be damaged stuff but I have not checked that yet...

OK now... we are going to COPY THAT SECTION TO a TEXT editor...
now go back to FLSFE and open the MOST RECENT save...

PS... sometimes U have to Re-RUN FLSFE to get it to work...

In Mine I had a dromedary as U can see here: (later in game)
Player
description = 005300610076006500470061006d00650032

tstamp = 29594191,1274922464
name = 005400720065006e0074
rank = 11
house = -0.9, li_n_grp
house = -0.9, li_lsf_grp
house = -0.9, li_p_grp
house = 0, br_n_grp
house = 0, br_p_grp
house = 0.0116675, ku_n_grp
house = 0.034095, ku_p_grp
house = -0.00664, rh_n_grp
house = 0.00236, rh_p_grp
house = 0.134895, co_alg_grp
house = 0.332195, co_be_grp
house = 0.31235, br_m_grp
house = 0.239505, co_nws_grp
house = 0.215855, co_hsp_grp
house = 0.774, co_ic_grp
house = -0.295278, co_khc_grp
house = -0.140475, co_kt_grp
house = -0.633615, rh_m_grp
house = 0.816, co_me_grp
house = 0.769625, co_ni_grp
house = 0.21684, co_os_grp
house = -0.053435, co_rs_grp
house = -0.140475, co_shi_grp
house = 0.774, co_ss_grp
house = 0.38188, co_ti_grp
house = 0.6838, co_vr_grp
house = -0.34516, fc_bd_grp
house = -0.341005, fc_b_grp
house = -0.80748, fc_c_grp
house = -0.24878, fc_fa_grp
house = -0.814095, fc_g_grp
house = -0.32178, fc_gc_grp
house = -0.23589, fc_h_grp
house = -0.62104, fc_j_grp
house = 0.635235, fc_lh_grp
house = 0.18643, fc_lr_grp
house = -0.363605, fc_lwb_grp
house = -0.870465, fc_m_grp
house = -0.625724, fc_ou_grp
house = -0.57322, fc_rh_grp
house = 0, fc_or_grp
house = -0.80073, fc_u_grp
house = -0.657995, fc_x_grp
house = 0.0796, gd_gm_grp
house = 0, fc_uk_grp
house = -0.65, fc_n_grp
house = -0.65, fc_ln_grp
house = -0.65, fc_kn_grp
house = -0.65, fc_rn_grp
house = 0, fc_ouk_grp
house = 0, fc_q_grp
house = 0, fc_f_grp
house = 0.231365, gd_im_grp
house = 0.000425, gd_z_grp
house = -0.2, gd_bh_grp
money = 410
num_kills = 0
num_misn_successes = 0
num_misn_failures = 0

voice = trent_voice
com_body = 3144214861
com_head = 2223155968
com_lefthand = 2479975689
com_righthand = 2264565644
body = 3144214861
head = 2223155968
lefthand = 2479975689
righthand = 2264565644

system = Iw03
base = Iw03_02_Base

location = 2787409282
ship_archetype = 3199383692

equip = 2638301386, , 1
equip = 2800955847, , 1
equip = 2723858309, , 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight01, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight02, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight03, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight04, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight05, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight06, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight07, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight08, 1
equip = 2265531853, HpHeadlight, 1
equip = 2494027655, HpDockLight01, 1
equip = 2494027655, HpDockLight02, 1
equip = 2799531210, , 1
equip = 2500775748, HpContrail01, 1
equip = 2500775748, HpContrail02, 1
equip = 3110436237, HpShield01, 1
equip = 2851656000, HpThruster01, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret01, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret04, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret02, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret03, 1
equip = 2442909697, HpWeapon01, 1
equip = 2611157314, HpWeapon02, 1
equip = 2959745095, HpTurret05, 1
equip = 3099894030, HpWeapon03, 1
cargo = 3099894030, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2521107725, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2625134094, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3112104454, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3112104454, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2797442121, 1, , , 0
equip = 2199282693, HpCM01, 1
cargo = 2571548236, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2950730184, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2815770241, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2866206539, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2866034054, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2472077709, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2625138189, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3024599373, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3219265993, 1, , , 0
equip = 2300089610, HpMine01, 1
cargo = 2736134149, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2518124616, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3065229389, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2551124489, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2479280836, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2181067140, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2182071621, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2517790468, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2810414853, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3147243791, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2293586633, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3028160452, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2305243781, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2605271178, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2792430274, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3062202251, 1, , , 0
cargo = 2664163777, 1, , , 0
cargo = 3200496391, 1, , , 0

Ok so U can see I am up a level and have Dromedaey...

OK NOW to properly do this... It would be great to have the .exe bit WE DON'T!
So... LETS EXCHANGE MY NICE DROMEDARY for the RHINO! (yes thats not NORMAL... but thats what we doing)

Simply remove all the original cargo and extraneous lines after the
SHIPARCHTYPE
and you get this:
ship_archetype = 2467793738

equip = 2968894153, , 1
equip = 2968894153, , 1
equip = 2533535562, , 1
equip = 3110436237, HpShield01, 1
equip = 2851656000, HpThruster01, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret01, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret04, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret05, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret02, 1
equip = 2797442121, HpWeapon01, 1
equip = 2959745095, HpTurret03, 1
equip = 3099894030, HpWeapon02, 1
equip = 3099894030, HpWeapon03, 1
equip = 2199282693, HpCM01, 1
equip = 2723858309, , 1
equip = 2265531853, HpHeadlight, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight01, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight02, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight03, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight04, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight05, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight06, 1
equip = 2470059588, HpRunningLight07, 1
equip = 2494027655, HpDockLight01, 1
equip = 2494027655, HpDockLight02, 1
equip = 2799531210, , 1
equip = 2500775748, HpContrail01, 1
equip = 2500775748, HpContrail02, 1
wg = 0, HpWeapon02
wg = 0, HpWeapon03
wg = 0, HpTurret01
wg = 0, HpTurret04
wg = 0, HpTurret05
wg = 0, HpTurret02
wg = 0, HpTurret03
wg = 0, hpweapon01


OK GREAT.... now we want to put the RHINO in... so we remove the lines referring to the dromedary ONLY
ship_archetype = 3199383692

equip = 2638301386, , 1
equip = 2800955847, , 1
equip = 2723858309, , 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight01, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight02, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight03, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight04, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight05, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight06, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight07, 1
equip = 2151659853, HpRunningLight08, 1
equip = 2265531853, HpHeadlight, 1
equip = 2494027655, HpDockLight01, 1
equip = 2494027655, HpDockLight02, 1
equip = 2799531210, , 1
equip = 2500775748, HpContrail01, 1
equip = 2500775748, HpContrail02, 1
equip = 3110436237, HpShield01, 1
equip = 2851656000, HpThruster01, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret01, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret04, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret02, 1
equip = 2259240647, HpTurret03, 1
equip = 2442909697, HpWeapon01, 1
equip = 2611157314, HpWeapon02, 1
equip = 2959745095, HpTurret05, 1
equip = 3099894030, HpWeapon03, 1
equip = 2199282693, HpCM01, 1
equip = 2300089610, HpMine01, 1

(leave the cargo lines)

then paste in the old rhino Lines

and Put the replaced code back into the FLSFE...
encode it and it should work...
I will re-edit this later and get it working for an UN Modified system...
so everyone can see how it works...
{HFH}MACK


Edited by - HFH_MACK on 15-10-2003 00:54:55

so in effect you are just hacking save game files so you can get another ship back with the equipment?

May i suggest you change the title of your post as this is not quite what it is leading us to believe .

I must admit i was sceptical, but at the same time amazed that someone had found this out when i assumed it was a game engine thing.
Now i se immeditatly what you mean, i can assure you that this isn't what I had in mind when reading your title. For a 'hack the save game file like it has been mentioned lots of times to give yourself what you want' instead of the 'we have found a way to be able to pilot ships by changing into them at the station'.

How stupid of me to have not trusted my instincts - typical :p

Theres an easier and quicker way...

Model a perfect ship in milkshape with ONLY 1 gun on the ship
select all parts (including hardpoints)
Duplicate section.
Dupliate in a row of five.
Select all five.
Duplicate into a row of 20.
Select all 20.
Duplicate into a row of 40.
Select all 40.
Make a new row of 40,40,40 until you get 40 rows.
Put into a group.
Make the Group 10x smaller
save.
Make into a mod.
It will be controlling a fleet of 1600 ships!!!!!
Make this "Fleet Control Ship" a level 0 ship and make it cos 100 Credits.
In the mission where you destroy a reinland fleet,Remember that you have Outnumbered and Out gunned them.

***WARNING***
Before the making of this mod,make all guns cheaper, Stuff 1600 Wyrm type 2's on the "Fleet" and reak HAVOK!



_____________________________

Well - that post is in the wrong thread.

Chips... I hear ya .... The Original title: MULTIPLE SHIPS: A reality? has been changed to MULTIPLE SHIPS:by Hacking Saved Games with FL save Editor: A REALITY
While I understand your initial disatisfaction regarding the idea...as far as I am concerned THIS IS A WAY TO GET MULTIPLE SHIPS... just because its not an EASY way does not make it invalid. AND YES YOU CAN DO IT AT A DOCKING STATION... But you have to ALT TAB out FL to swap the code in the saved game.

However, I will alter the title so people don't get the idea that you can do it "In GAME"... as if by magic....

However... This idea... can be GREATLY EXPANDED UPON!
Hear me out...
A person with Programming experience can EASILY set up a small program that works like this....
1. IN GAME and DOCKED... choose SAVE
2. ALT TAB to SHIP_SWITCHER program...
3. Ship_Switcher reads and decrypts ALL the save game files ( or to save time only those that have changed...)
4. YOU PICK WHICH SHIP YOU WANT....from the list of saved ones...
(it may be necessary to include the ship name in the save game title)

5. IT Saves the last file with the new ship and the ORIGINAL Cargo...
Tadaa....

I think its well worth it... and I really feel this is the best way there is right now...
(and yes.. the easy method program needs to be written by some volunteer but right now I have a way to do to hard code it...and the fact is THIS METHOD WORKS.)


Edited by - HFH_MACK on 15-10-2003 00:07:24

Oh - now that is an idea. Also - i was thinking about this too - can this be done on servers. Cos for solo play it would be kinda cool, but for internet play SOoo much better. Unfort all teh save games are at the server though aren't they.

If only that could be sorted - but you would need the nicest and most tolerant (also unemployed caffiene junky) admin ever to do that - and lots of reboots??

Personally, I think 1 of the best persons to do this is Matthew Lieder...
as part of the FLMM.
I envision that FLMM would run in the background...
When PLaying... you save the game at each new ship purchase...
Then ALT TAB to FLMM
HIT THE REGISTER NEW SHIP BUTTON... and enter the name of the SHIP that was saved...
THE FLMM would decrypt the MOST RECENT SAVED GAME, thus guaranteeing the proper ship) and Store the PARSED SHIP CODE in A SHIP/GARAGE FOLDER...
TO USE a SHIP you would simply click the GARAGE Button (or whatever)...
and it would show ALL the SHIPS that were registered...
Click the ship you want... and then the FLMM would save the new file to the saved games with your OLD CARGO intact but a NEW SHIP in place...
(This would make it fast and EASY)
THIS CAN BE DONE MANUALLY but its slower since you have to do the edit yourself)...

Possible problems:
1. I have not worked out where damaged goods are stored...
2. I don't know yet... how FL will handle cargo that exceeds the limits of an exchanged ship... if excess cargo crashed the system FLMM might have to force a cargo for cash exchange...

I will leave a message with Matt to see if he would be interested in taking this up...

That sounds like a very good idea, but wouldn't incorporating it into the existing FL saved game editor make more sense? The author of that program would also probably be able to implement it faster; I've been so busy lately that I haven't started work on FLMM v1.2.1 beta 6 yet .

I thought of that too...
But they leave no forwarding E-mail... and they have not been active in updating the program...
I could do it...
but I would need the code for the encryption and decryption...
and Then It would take me longer cause I am not a professional amateur! hehehe
Nevertheless, I strongly believe FLMM is the place for this for a couple of reasons:
1. Ships in MODS may not be Cross Compatible with other Mods... so FLMM already has that organized....You would simply create a GARAGE folder in each FLMM MOD group in the SAVED GAME AREA as you have done by concatenating multiple mod names together....
2. FLMM is well supported (Shameless I am)
3. FLMM is better known

However... If you are in the same boat as I am... and don't know the encrypt/decrypt algorythm like me I guess I would have say they are the best option...
The problem would be locating them...
Anyway let me know....
{HFH}MACK



Edited by - HFH_MACK on 15-10-2003 01:31:21

Best thing to do would be to make it a sort of plugin for FLMM so it can run with FLMM or without.... that way it makes a garage folder up in FLMM\Garage\mod name type arrangement like that. I could prolly make it if I got my hands on the code because I'm a 3rd year software developer...

Problem is it would work more like a trainer/hack than a garage because the anti cheat patches WILL detect a change in ship when one is not available at that base un thus kick/ban etc out of its server. ADVICE: Do tests on an unpatched server... lol