How to run tutorial - JA2 Stracciatella mod for Jagged Alliance 2

This article is taken from JA2 Stracciatella's official homepage: Ja2-stracciatella.github.io

How to Run

1. Install original Jagged Alliance 2 game on your computer. Data files from the original game will be used by JA2-Stracciatella. If you’re installing the linux port, make sure to copy over files from CD2 too.

2. Download JA2-Stracciatella or compile it from the source codes.

With the optional launcher

1. Start the launcher and use it to configure the game. It will automatically create the configuration file.

2. Set "JA2 Data Directory" to point to the directory where the original game was installed during step 1. You can manually enter the directory or use the "…" button to browse your computer.

3. If you haven’t installed the English version of the original game, you have to select the correct "Game Version" i.e. localization. Note that the game supports two different Russian localizations: RUSSIAN for the "BUKA Agonia Vlasty" release and RUSSIAN_GOLD for the "Gold" release.

Without the optional launcher

1. Start the game the first time. It will create the configuration file in

   • %USERPROFILE%\Documents\JA2\ja2.ini on Windows.
   • ~/.ja2/ja2.ini on Linux, BSD or OS X.

2. Edit the configuration file and set parameter data_dir to point on the directory where the original game was installed on step 1. For example:

   • D:\games\ja2\ on Windows.
   • /home/user/games/ja2-installed on Linux, BSD or OS X.

3. If you have a non-english version of the original game, you need to start JA2-Stracciatella with parameter telling which version of the game you are using. For example

   • ja2.exe -resversion FRENCH on Windows.
   • ja2 -resversion FRENCH on Linux, BSD or OS X.

   You should see the start screen now.

   

Further command line options are available. To list available options run

• ja2.exe -help on Windows.
• ja2 -help on Linux, BSD or OS X.

Extra configuration and modding

Advanced users can tweak additional options and make minor modifications by changing the values in their game.json.

The project extracted many other hardcoded values from the original sources into editable text files stored in the assets/externalized directory. You can edit weapons, ammo, shops, enemy weapon choices and much more!

Extra Hotkeys

Besides the hotkeys present in the original game, JA2S adds the following for greater ease of use:

• scroll lock: toggle mouse grab in windowed mode
• alt-r: reload held weapon
• ctrl-l: load game during enemy/militia turn
• ctrl-n: switch between day and night head gear (goggles) for the whole squad
• ctrl-q: swap hand items
• shift-j: climb through open window

These require you toggle a game.json switch:

• d: switch to turnbased mode from realtime

Additionally you can use the middle mouse button to make a merc look into the direction of the cursor.