Anyone still play BOTF?

[Destructor]

I've had games like that, but on one occasion, a borg cube turned up with only a single Defiant in the area. I figured it (and the planet) was doomed and was quite shocked when the Cube was the one destroyed

This is a bug- if you put a Defiant ship on 'Evade', it becomes invulnerable- any cube can be defeated by any amount of defiants.

 

[Lynx]

I've also decided to re-install my old, beloved BOTF game on my computer. However, I have some questions.

I do remember that it did work on XP. Are there any problems with playing it on an XP computer with recent upgrades from Microsoft, such as newer Direct X or something like that? Are there any graphic cards who aren't working particularily good with BOTF.

I've also discovered that there seem to be a very interesting community out there who play this game. It also seems to be a lot of downloads available to spice up the game. So I must ask: Are there Star Maps and scenarios available which are based on Geoffrey Mandel's "Star Charts" or something like that?

Which downloads are recommended and which should I avoid?

Sorry if my questions are a bit amateurish but I think it's best to sort out some of those questions before I re-install the game and add some interesting add-ons as well.

 

[Seven of Five]

Yikes - the last time I played BOTF I was waiting in anticipation for this Dominion mod, kinda wondering if it would ever see the light of day. So yeah it's been a while!

I booted it up after reading this thread and it's still as compulsive as ever. Then I install the mod... I need my day off back!

 

[Deks]

I've also decided to re-install my old, beloved BOTF game on my computer. However, I have some questions.

I do remember that it did work on XP. Are there any problems with playing it on an XP computer with recent upgrades from Microsoft, such as newer Direct X or something like that? Are there any graphic cards who aren't working particularily good with BOTF.

I've also discovered that there seem to be a very interesting community out there who play this game. It also seems to be a lot of downloads available to spice up the game. So I must ask: Are there Star Maps and scenarios available which are based on Geoffrey Mandel's "Star Charts" or something like that?

Which downloads are recommended and which should I avoid?

Sorry if my questions are a bit amateurish but I think it's best to sort out some of those questions before I re-install the game and add some interesting add-ons as well.

If you are interested in replaying the game, go here:
Download latest Joker's patch for XP SP3 and Ultimate Dominion Mod - beta 3.0.i3

You will first have to install the game. Next the patch, and finally the UDM mod itself.
It greatly enhances the game.

I'm playing on 'hard' and 'impossible'.
Actually 'hard' became quite easy to beat.
'impossible' proved to be the most challenging.

There potential incompatibilities in 3d with this game and some newer graphic cards.
If you encounter trouble (such as the game throwing you out to desktop when the combat begins or when you are viewing which ships are available and will be available in the tech tree) then modify the 'stbof.ini' file in a manner to replace '3DFX' or 'DIRECT3D' under 3D with 'SOFTWARE'.
That should solve most of the graphical issues.

The game works under Vista for the most part with some crashes here and there.
Depends.

 

[Lynx]

Thanks Deks for information!

I will make a BOTF "relaunch" during Christmas and then we'll see.

I'm using XP so it should work. However, my graphics card is rather new.

 

[Deks]

I just realized the link never got posted.
Sheesh.

http://www.armadafleetcommand.com/botf/index.php

Given the fact you use XP, I don't think you will experience too many problems with crashes (maybe with the gpu itself when combat takes place or you are viewing ships ... in which case follow my instructions from the earlier post).

 

[scycon]

romulans are the shizz!!! recently playing on impossible--- i "unified" the romulan vulcan and mintakan races into one collective imperial juggernaught. I beat out the klingons, absorbed the cardies and ferengi and my cloaked destroyer IIs raided every sector of federation space dry of credits.

cardassians are the hardest to beat the game with and the most challenging but my favourite race to play. forget diplomacy with minors. you have to play dirty, be ruthless and dictatorial and use every scandalous opportunity to your advantage. i like how the game forces you to exploit your race's strong points mercilessly to even have a shot at winning on the harder levels.

 

[Deks]

Here's a tip you might appreciate though:
If you have minor races activated (I usually do), then it is my recommendation that you get as many minor races to join you as possible given the fact they provide better influx of credits and economy (which is needed for a growing Federation, Union, Alliance or Empire).

 

[scycon]

Here's a tip you might appreciate though:
If you have minor races activated (I usually do), then it is my recommendation that you get as many minor races to join you as possible given the fact they provide better influx of credits and economy (which is needed for a growing Federation, Union, Alliance or Empire).

good tip! but on impossible only a handful of minors have a chance in sto'vo'kor of willing to join the cardassian union. (even then, chances are good the ferengi will bribe them away afterwards.) the rest you have to brutally subjugate and have an inquisition run every so often (or build reeducation centers when the tech is available). or sometimes, if you're lucky, minor races ask to join if you come to their defense in a war.

 

[Deks]

The trick is to send them money.

that way ... the level of appreciation form the minors rises towards you with every 'gift'.

Of course, if you send more money, chances are the bar rise.
That's what I do for the most part.
First I buy a troop transport to extend the initial range of my scout ship ... then explore nearby systems to see if I can find some minor races while setting the SOL system to production of mass replicators, farms etc...
then when I have a decent supply of those built, I create a few more surveyors and troop transports to further extend my range.

I do colonize potentially good systems with high % of growth for the population for example (especially if it has dilithium and all).

 

[Lynx]

I just realized the link never got posted.
Sheesh.

http://www.armadafleetcommand.com/botf/index.php

Given the fact you use XP, I don't think you will experience too many problems with crashes (maybe with the gpu itself when combat takes place or you are viewing ships ... in which case follow my instructions from the earlier post).

No problems with the link actually. I guessed that you was referring to that site.

 

[Vance]

Heh, I've already played out the BOTF that my Uncle left me. Thing is, I miss it every once and awhile, but I admit that $100 ebay price tag is making it a tempting sell...

 

[Deks]

If you didn't know already, the link I posted leads to the site that deals with the BOTF community and primarily mods for the game ... but it also contains a backup ISO image of the game's CD.


I wouldn't know the exact legal implications, but given the fact the company that made the game, effectively went under years ago, I don't think that downloading the backup ISO file of the game from the site and using it would engage you in any activity that could be considered 'inappropriate'.

 

[Vonstadt]

Oh my!

Just uploaded the dominion mod and let me say WOW!

BotF just got dusted off and I'm still toying with the thing! Feels like it did when I first bought the game oh so many years ago!

So cool thank you for the link!!

Vons

 

[Lynx]

If you didn't know already, the link I posted leads to the site that deals with the BOTF community and primarily mods for the game ... but it also contains a backup ISO image of the game's CD.


I wouldn't know the exact legal implications, but given the fact the company that made the game, effectively went under years ago, I don't think that downloading the backup ISO file of the game from the site and using it would engage you in any activity that could be considered 'inappropriate'.

I don't think so either. If I was involved with the creation of the game and worked for that firm, I would be happy over the fact that fans like it so much that they keep it alive.

Besides that, if you're out in the wilderness and find an old, abandoned and ruined vintage car which no one seems interested in, I don't think that anyone would complain if you took it home and restored it to its former glory.

 

[Star Treks]

I really liked this game and wish they would do a legit sequel. The only problem was that in long games it tended to take forever between turns later in the game. I wasn't very good at micromanagement aspect (it got dull) but everything else about it was fun.

Maybe they could do a sequel using the engine from GalCiv II... that would be cool.

 

[John Clark]

This is a bug- if you put a Defiant ship on 'Evade', it becomes invulnerable- any cube can be defeated by any amount of defiants.

Oops - Missed this answer. Thanks, I'll have to remember that for future games

 

[AntonyF]

Love love love this game. Every few months I play it to scratch the itch for strategy. Just today I was thinking of playing it again, so the timing of this topic is great. This is still one of my all time favorite games.

Probably the biggest disappointment for me is the AI though. You know after a while races just turn against you for no particular reason. I wish there was more genuine guile, and the AI was less random. Then after many turns, 100+ or something, the AI just stops playing as it were... and won't budge on whatever position it's at.

In terms of minor raises, agreed they are very important. Sweeten them with money and hold a trade route with them (trade routes improve relations). But I don't take them over too soon, or you're stuck with a small race. I let them mature and grow then let them join me.

I hate when you save a planet from subjication, and that turn you message them asking them to join. Next turn they've ignored you, you send again. Next turn they're part of another race -- so it's impossible to get them to join you. Often I'll purge the planet of its population, as they pissed me off.

Love playing as the Romulans best probably, followed by Klingons. Cloaks are a BIG advantage. Cardies are fun. Federation... urgh. I have NEVER won as the Federation, has anyone else?

Fundamentally you have to have domination in the game. Other races turn against you. And the Fed population hates war, so I find it impossible.

Would *love* to do some online multiplayer games with someone. It's possible to save, so it can be done in installments.

Hmm, may play it again now..!

 

[Vance]

I've won with the Federation, but you have to have a bit of luck early to do it, and the ability to win wars QUICKLY. If you don't start out with a friendly power near you (like, say, Vulcan) and instead get stuck with Antede, Naussica, and the like, you're pretty much screwed. The Feds LIVE off the minor powers.

 

[Lynx]

I re-installed BOTF after a short Christmas vacation in another town and have been playing it for some days. It works perfect with XP. I took the precaution to modify the "stbof.ini" file where I replaced "3DFX" with "SOFTWARE" just to be sure and there have been no problems so far.

And it's really a great game! The Dominion Mod which Deks recommended have made the game even more exciting than it was in its original version. No offense to the Ferengi who I actually like but the Dominion is a more believable main empire to compete with.

Besides that, the Ferengi are still in the game as a minor race. Those small trolls have actually attacked my Federation empire in the game I'm playing and were very irritating for a while before being conquered by the Klingons.

Unfortunately my empire have ended up in a corner of space where it's hard to expand and the minor races aren't too cooperative. I had to bribe the Ktarians and the Zakdorn a lot and the Bolians ended up in joining the Romulans. Blue traitors!

The Ba'Ku are at least reliable.

But we'll see how I can change the scenario in the recent time.

I'm also impressed by the people who are maintaining the Birth Of The Federation website and are doing everything to keep this fantastic game alive.