Mahzra's Package - EAP Edition addon

This is not Mahzra's Pack v2.0. Mahzra's Pack v2.0 is being built on top of Rhons' pack, as that pack actually expands the base game with missions and items and stuff. Mahzra's Pack - EAP Edition is a one-time release but does feature some stuff that's not in v1.2 of my pack. Consider it a sneak peek.

Scroll down to the bottom of the description for screenshots. Full incorporated addon list is below the screenshots.

Mahzra's Package - EAP Edition is ridiculous. There, that's out of the way. First I unpacked the CoTZ v1.2 database files, then I installed Ekkaia's outdated but absolute quality Enhancement Addons Pack as a cosmetic base to build on. I threw my pack on top of it and that broke everything. I fixed the crashes one by one until it was stable and then threw the artifact and item overhauls on top of that. Back to fixing crashes, animations, merging items, loot balancing, etc. This took about what, 16 hours? EAP Edition wasn't designed. It just sort of developed as I went on and by the end I had so much fun playing it that I decided to archive and share it.

This is provided as is. The package is solid and stable, but contains so many modded components that it may easily break. I don't recommend installing anything (even my own addons) on top of this unless you know what you're doing. Weapon packs and anything to do with NPCs or questlines (sadly that means Rhons' excellent NPC expansion and repeatable questlines addons) will definitely break the pack. I would love, love, LOVE for someone to make a re-vanilla NPC models patch for EAP so I could merge Rhons' NPC and quest addons. Sadly such a thing will never happen.

Adding anything to this pack is like playing russian roulette where a bad spin could reduce the whole pack to a very hefty windowserrormessage.wav player.

By one-time release, I mean that I will not be adding new addons or features to this package. It is what it is. I will of course fix bugs and glitches and tweak the thing FOR ALL ETERNITY. Any suggestions will be considered for future projects though, so don't be shy.

• extract the archive
• make a shortcut to the Stalker-CoTZ.exe, right-click the shortcut and click Properties
• add "-no_staging" without the quotes to the Target: line and click Apply
• always use this shortcut to start the game

After installing, download the update and install it on top of the main download.

A note on performance: this is a heavy pack to run. The first time you run the game, it will sit there and process shaders and whatnot. It may look like it's crashed. It hasn't. Be patient. After what will seem like ages, it will get to the title screen. Starting a new game will again take a while. It will get through this. After the game has finally started, you may notice stutters and hiccups. This is normal, and the game will smooth out as you play. You'll notice the next time that loading times are much more tolerable.

If performance is lacking (like due to a 2GB graphics card such as mine) there are a few things you can do to improve it:

• try DXVK
• switch to vanilla NPC models
• lower texture detail to 50%
• increase the amount of virtual memory in Windows (CoTZ being a 32-bit application, this matters)
• use low population settings
• disable EAX in sound options
• use the vanilla particles file (goes in gamedata)
• get build yourself a "rig" you filthy casual (that is not my rig)

Aside from the DX9 "Out of memory" crash there are two crashes I have been unable to get rid of. One is the "there are no free room to place item" crash. It happens semi-randomly when an ammo counter in your back hits 0 and when you equip or attach a scope or sight to some weapons. Fortunately, it's easy to prevent. Doing this is pretty good practice in general anyway.

So, let's say that somewhere along your travels you come across one or more corpses. I know, it's shocking. What do?

1. Take all their stuff. (F, Sprint/Shift)
2. Quicksave (F5) *
3. Unload all unequipped weapons (U)
4. Remove attachments using the right-click menu
5. Quicksave (F5) **

I think it's caused by AO3's ammo counter (which it also seems to use for the bullet in the chamber, the 41st bullet in an upgraded AK; it's probably how AO3 handles tactical reloads) hitting a 0 where it shouldn't. Fortunately the U to unload script makes that far less likely to happen. I suspect that for every crash you prevent by using it, you pay a bullet! :D

I call the other crash the "0K log crash". It's all I know. The game just dies and leaves an empty log. It happens rarely and I suspect it's a memory issue as I don't think I've ever seen it happen on vanilla(ish) packs.

That said, we all have different playstyles. Maybe I just don't happen to do other things that make it crash. Provide me your crash logs.

* oh my fucking god I actually hit F5 to write 5 and I hadn't saved this anywhere and I had typed so much stuff and I thought it'd be all gone but no living in the future is awesome what even is a dystopia anyway

** not this time, bitch

Gameplay is essentially the same as my regular non-EAP pack, but the inclusion of the item overhaul means you get a higher number of items you don't need and you get fewer items you do need, so survival feels more difficult as a result. Combat is as fast-paced and lethal as it ever was, but the new combat meds are just as fast and more potent. Some of the new artifacts can really mix up your character build, too.

I had to make some adjustments to animations, since the item overhaul items do not have them.

• Combat consumables, so medkits and bandages, both vanilla and new, have first-person animations
• Non-combat consumables, both vanilla and new, only hide your weapon. Let me know how you feel about the durations.

I would very much appreciate feedback on the gameplay, as balancing all these mechanics is tricky. To illustrate, in my current game, which I'm playing on Lock 'n Load difficulty, I've had to buy canned foods and ammunition. Outrageous.

The title screen is symbolic of EAP's development status. It runs, the lights come on and everything, but it's not going anywhere. Call of The Zone version not quite v1.2 because EAP was originally built on v1.1. Because someone always asks: the menu music is "Ruined World (Eternal Derelict)"

Purty.

I am personally not a fan of HD models. I love everything else about the EAP though, hence this pack.

Psssst ... don't tell anyone.

Item overhaul items are included and follow my pack's rules: no charges, everything stacks. Values and weights have been adjusted accordingly.

We are entrusted with a mission of great import. I enjoy this to an almost childish degree. Almost.

Some of the new artifacts are quite ridiculous, and this one definitely raised an eyebrow, but it's not even that outrageous in the grand scheme of things. They're interesting!

This package would not have been possible without the use of a great many addons, both in Ekkaia's original Enhancement Addons Pack and in Mahzra's Package. That this huge stack of sometimes overlapping content works at all is kind of awesome. That it works, runs well and is very stable considering all the stuff that goes on under the hood is frankly amazing. I take no credit for anything but my own addons, and the continuous and never-ending merging and balancing of all these components. The addons are listed in no particular order. May their creators live long and prosper.

Enhancement Addons Pack (these are the components that have not been overwritten by Mahzra's Package):

• Structures Redux for COC
• Absolute Nature Redux for COC
• Stalker Two-K
• Stason174's Blood texture
• Stason174's Mutant textures
• Stalker Two-K Grass
• Enhanced Sun Effects
• Particles Remade
• Hollywood FX
• EAX 3D spatial sound
• Immersive Fast Travel
• Ambient Metro
• TRX Sounds Revamp
• Stalker Two-K AmbientSounds
• Ukrainian Voices
• Whizz and buzz sounds
• Anomaly HD Models Addon
• Animated Detectors

Mahzra's Package:

• Various fixes (EFT, disappearing rain sound fix, Mangun fix, Bandits fix)
• Small adaptations pack
• Old Barkeep
• Eatmedkitscheme
• Arsenal Overhaul 3
• The Hands / Arms Project for AO3
• Wepl's Hit Effects
• Action AI for Call of the Zone
• Death Animations
• more dynamic anomaly
• Enemy Gun Jam
• No More Airlock for CotZ
• SmurthLilGABE Hybrid
• Modern Warfare 2019 Sound Pack
• No tools to detach sights in Arsenal Overhaul
• AO3 Centered and Aligned
• Enhanced Vision Tweaks
• CotZ Population Control
• Srsly Minimalist HUD
• Black Bevels GUI
• Crosshair Presets
• Balance Tweak - Repair Toolkits
• Better Vanilla Headlamp
• Outfit Marauder
• AO3 Character Creation Store
• Dead Air Sky and Fx
• Dead Air Spatial Sound and Reverb
• Skullsor animated skull cursor
• AO3 Content Integrator

Additions to Mahzra's Package:

• Items Overhaul
• Dante's Artifacts