jaspers Consolidated Tweaks and Tips Thread - MISERY mod for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

I often refer people to my profile page Moddb.com for copies of various white papers and often repeated advice on optimizing and getting MISERY to run best on your system. Here, I have consolidated that information so it is easier to find without scrolling through a few pages of comments in my profile.

In addition to the information below, I will help anyone via PM Moddb.com. If your issue is unique, or its solution is one many may benefit from, I may ask you to start a thread or report it on the bugs thread Moddb.com

Here, in no particular order are several articles and tips which you may find helpful:

First, a shameless link to my own add-on for more challenging/realistic medical items Moddb.com

The Known Bugs - please read this at least once. It may save you undesired misery: Dropbox.com

To customize what is retained on the actor when your drop the QRS (Quick Release System), you have to edit file "itms_manager.ltx" and add desired items to list in section

[actor_backpack_keep_items]

NEW Here is a corrected and tweaked set of loadouts (determines what weapons NPC's originally spawn with) Dropbox.com The corrections are to eliminate some residual weapons configurations which are currently not possible (like a weapon which requires an upgrade to have a scope being told it has a scope - the scope doesn't show or work until you do the upgrade and the *poof* there is one) The tweaks are eliminating all versions of the STG44 from being issued. This weapon sometimes causes empty log crashes when it is equipped. This may greatly reduce the number of those type of crashes for you. You should still be able to buy one (if you don't mind the random crashes and it's a favorite). The STG is not the only weapon to cause this, but the others are far more rare and one is never issued already. Unpack the .7z file and copy and replace over your existing configs/ai_tweaks folder. A new game should not be required, but the existing STG's will remain until all those NPC's die. Backup your original ai_tweaks folder first.

Realistic Minimum Hardware Requirements (not meant to discourage anyone, but set expectations. I can get MISERY working on many systems with lower specs) Dropbox.com

Installation instructions for MISERY 2.2 Dropbox.com

MISERY Best Practices (how to enjoy MISERY with minimal crashes) Dropbox.com

How to have nearly original scoped zoom at your favorite FOV and/or easily change your FOV: Dropbox.com

A link to Cromm Cruac's beautiful Absolute Nature 4.04 Moddb.com

Examples of AN4 themes I shot at 2160P Dropbox.com

The Salvage Feature Help Primer (in case your PC resolution does not display it perfectly) Dropbox.com

Low End Computer Tweaks (worth a read, even for 'high end' computer owners) Dropbox.com

Video Optimization Quick and Easy Dropbox.com

Blocking the radio music for streamers Dropbox.com

Two Quick Hard Save methods Dropbox.com

HUD Indicator Removal Instructions - Dropbox.com

There is probably other stuff I have forgotten

Again, If none of the above help you, I am more than willing to help anyone privately via PM Moddb.com

Happy Hunting Stalkers!

Edited by: jasper34

Thank you for this Jasper. Can you please elaborate on the "original scoped zoom" concept? What is the difference between "original" and what would currently be viewed at an 83 FOV?

In MISERY 2.2, the zooms at each FOV are accurate to the weapon/scopes description. A 5x zoom scope magnifies your naked eye view 5x. At higher FOV's it will make everything look much smaller than at 55 FOV. 2.1.x zooms were inconsistent (5x on one weapon was 3.25x or 6x+ on another. A weapon with 5x zoom at 55 FOV would have about 11x zoom at 83 FOV. This is hardly fair to see nearly twice as wide a view (easier situational awareness) while still seeing things large in the scope.

Also, Iron Sights zooms were changed for 2.2 because surveys indicated most people wanted near zero iron sights zoom. The unfortunate byproduct of this is since most models of weapons meshes and animations are really built around 55 FOV, hand positions, apparent position from the body, etc. are distorted just like everything else at high FOV. Until we bring on a talented animator and someone to fix all the meshes, we have to compromise with what xray gives us. Some weapons had to be bumped back up to nearly 2x ironsights zoom to have the models look better.

Thank you Jasper. If one were to restore the FOV zoom to original, would it require a new game? Furthermore, I may have asked this question of you before, but is it possible to manually restore the iron sight zoom to that of 2.1.1?

New game not needed. You could only restore them weapon by weapon in config files. Old files would cause CTD's because of many other changes to sounds and animations.

Great, thank you Jasper.

I have added instructions for pushing any HUD indicators you wish off the screen.

Very well done.

I used your medical items tweak on a previous installation, and it worked fine, but now i have installed it again and it wont chagne the items descprtion, or change the way medkits work D: i dont get why

You probably applied it to the MISERY 2.2 mod folder that you unpacked rather than your 2.2 installation.

I dont think so, im pasting it here F:\Games\GOG Galaxy\Games\S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat, so i dont get why it produces no changes at all, very weird indeed.

You need to paste like folders over like folders. Your alignment is probably just off.

This is great! I always wished I had this or that on me after I ran for my life LOL.

I forgot: do we need to install Absolute Nature 4.04 after Misery 2.2 clean installation or is it included?

Edited by: SilverBlack78

The 200m grass draw distance (I think) MISERY theme is included. Anyone with performance issues is encouraged to download the full AN4.04 and install with as short a grass as they like and a lower draw distance. All those millions of blades of grass, and their shadows can put a killing on anyone's frame rates. Starting a new game is not required, and you ca also choose from any of the 8 AN4 styles for each map if you want them to differ from each other.

Ok, so 200 m is the default draw distance for Misery 2.2, and about the grass height? I want to get some fps more from my rig!

I go with the lowest available, I think it is 100% grass height. I also leave my slider in the config menu at minimum ( I hate trying to find bandit corpses in the tall grass).

The textures used are small by necessity, which makes it impossible to improve the edges of every texture, so I turn off AA. Trying to remove the jaggies from millions of blades of grass is too taxing and costs performance.

Edited by: jasper34

Yes, I never turn AA on, in any game: just a waste of insane GPU time! And you don't even notice AA aftger 2 mins of playing.

Yes, if you are staring at the individual edges of the grass and shrubs, something will eat you most of the time LOL.

ROTFL!!! But Misery skies are the most beautiful, no mods has those ones...

However installing AN4 with minimum grass height and 100 m grass drawing distance I gained 10 FPS, no joking, amazing!! That means that in Zaton from 20-30 average fps I jumped to 30-40, that is real smoothness. And I changed theme for every map for a touch of diversity, that is always welcome. Recommended.

I could care less about grass, so I often set mine to 50m draw distance. Everyone has their own individual pet peeves ... mine isn't jaggy edges or maybe noticing grass coming into view at 50m. I am too focused on looking for danger to care about such IMO trivial things. Mind you, I play at UHD, so things look pretty darned good to me. I played for years limited at 30 FPS which I find just fine, but I can do 60 FPS now, so I leave it fixed at 60 FPS. Everyone should know you can limit at ANY frame rate. It doesn't have to be 30, 60 or 120 FPS, if you can maintain 35 FPS smooth average, I'm sure it will look better than 30 FPS. That's where giving a little on draw distance, or 50m lower alife switch_distance can help you reach your video happiness threshold.

Edited by: jasper34

For me anything above 30 fps is perfect. Of course, when I meet 60 fps is pure lust, but that is only in small areas or with heavy fog with my old rig.

ALife setting is 300: I beat the game as a sniper with this setting and I find it the perfect compromise.

Hey Jasper, where is your mutant interactions file at? I do not seem the Dropbox link active anymore for me to download the file to keep mutants from running around in incessant circles killing each other.

Which version were you interested in? It's been ages since I did those, I may need to double check them and verify they are current tomorrow.