Absolute Battlefront Presents... The Dark Times - Galactic Conquest file

INSTALLATION

As always, you must have the V1.3 Patch installed for this mod (and most others) to work. You can install it here: Moddb.com

- Auto installation
1) To install, simply move both folders included ('addon' and 'data') into your GameData folder. Doing this should not bring up any clashing files*
2) Install Dark Times II: Rising Son mod, found here: Moddb.com
3) Remove custom_gc_11 from your data\\_lvl_pc folder and place it in the 'zzzGalactic Conquest' folder. This is the default 'storyline' GC for Dark Times, but the file clashes with this one
4) OPTIONAL: Add any of the supported mods into your addon folder to expand your Galactic Conquest experience

* If you are having files clashing, compare the files being clashed and move or remove the old files if necessary.

IF YOU HAVE NOT INSTALLED SOMETHING CORRECTLY, YOU WILL GET AN ERROR MESSAGE ON THE GALACTIC CONQUEST PAGE. PLEASE REFER TO THE ERRORS DOCUMENT INCLUDED IF UNSURE WHAT THE ERROR REFERS TO.

As always, I have included a 'zzzGalactic Conquest' folder, in case you have a different GC called custom_gc_8, for you to install other Galactic Conquests. This is important, as most Galactic Conquests will not function properly if you have more than one in you data\\_lvl_pc folder. However, all of my GCs work together, so you can leave my other GCs in the _lvl_pc folder if you wish, just remember to play them you need the relevant map mods in your addon folder. Hope that makes sense, in a round about way...

BUG/ISSUE REPORT

On occasion, you will get a light bloom glitch appear on the Galactic Conquest map, particularly when playing with the Dark Space mod. I've done everything I can to minimise this, but this has been an issue that has plagued every GC mod I've ever made and I just can't find the solution. If you get this light bloom appearing, save the game, close Star Wars Battlefront 2 completely, and reboot.

As far as I know, you should not have any other bugs or errors while playing this. However, I recommend saving after every round just in case the game crashes, as it often does with mods involved.

If you do encounter any issues, feel free to contact me on Moddb or on discord. On Discord I am JackGH#2841, or Jedi_Jack in many Battlefront 2 related forums.

CREDITS

All elements of the Galactic Conquest were written or created by me, with the exceptions of the following:

-Maveritchell
Full credit for The Dark Times mod goes to Maveritchell.
Additionally, Maveritchell collaborated with me on this project by providing me with the file named DarkShell2.lvl. This shell file allows for his Empire side models to appear on the unit purchase page, and I am very grateful for him taking the time to make this for me. (note that DarkShell3.lvl was created by me using stock models to fill in some gaps I had)

- Planet Models
Some of the planet models were made by me. However, many more of them weren't. I cannot express my gratitude enough to the following people and sources for their available planet models:
Dueal
Frederick R Higgins
Landon Lemmon of ‘Maps and Such’
Gregory Nelson
Shiny_Man
SOLARSYSTEMSCOPE
The Celestia Motherlode: AVBursch, bcelestia , Edasich, Fungun, Gradius_fanatic, jmdollan, Jestr, Kikinho, Pericapolis, Rob Sanders, Sen, SolonaBogon, Tleilax, Victor Dvorak, Et Al

-Additonal Space Map planet models
Korriban: Star Wars: Force and Destiny Core Rulebook/Chronicles of the Gatekeeper – Fantasy Flight Games
Ilum and Dathomir: ‘Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’ – EA
Talus: Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook – Fantasy Flight Games

-Additional Models
T21B Blaster Model - Giftheck
Naboo Hover Speeder - Conversion Pack Team

- Special Thanks
As for the Galactic Conquest map, the work on this was solely done by me. However, without everyone who came before me, posting on the GameToast forums and allowing me to collate all the experienced and knowledge I needed, I would never have got anywhere. Special thanks therefore go to the following:

[RDH]Zerted - without the sample files provided in the v1.3 patch, this would never have started, so you probably deserve the most thanks.
Anakin - A really special shout out here, as he helped push me in the right direction when I first came up with this idea on the Gametoast forum all those months ago!
DrJHanning
Firefang
Frisbeetarian
Jaspo
Maveritchell
S1thK3nny
Teancum

There are almost certainly more, however these people have given me the majority of the information I needed. Apologies if you're not on the list, your contribution was no less essential.

GAMEPLAY AND HIGHLIGHTS

Here are a few hints and tips to improve your gameplay experience:

1) ALWAYS SAVE BETWEEN EACH ROUND!

Older mods and bigger mods often have issues with loading, and I don't want you to lose your progress.

2) MAP AND PLANET SUPPORT

If all you have in your addon folder is the Dark Times mod folder this folder for this GC mod, then you will be able to play all the Dark Times and stock maps in their Dark Times Era conquest mode, a total of 29 planets in this standard mode. However, I've added additional (and optional) support to a large number of maps which have included Dark Times era support from over the years. A full list of these can be found in the included 'Dark Times Conquest Maps' excel file. You can add any of these to your Galactic Conquest by adding the mod to your addon folder.

A total of 38 other mods that support Dark Times Era are playable as optional maps, in the same way you can play my 'Choose Your Own' Galactic Conquest.

I would not recommend adding more than 5-8 additional PLANETS. This is because there is a hard-game limit of 50 paths between planets, and adding too many will cause paths to planets not to generate.

However, unless you hit the game's inbuilt 500 mission limit, there's no limit to how many maps you have for one planet.

Just remember once you have started a game, you cannot remove any planets from your addon folder. Doing so will cause the Galactic Conquest to glitch, and will become unplayable until you add the maps back into your addon folder.

3) DARK SPACE MOD

Included in the supported mod maps is Skammer's Dark Space mod, which adds an additional 14 mod maps. However, due to limitations, playing with this mod removes all stock maps. Many of the Dark Times versions of 'Dark Space' had a lot of bugs or were not playable in the original mod - I have fixed this so now all maps can be played.

4) OTHER ELEMENTS/HIGHLIGHTS

- The amount of credits won each round are random, including for Space Maps. Some rounds, you will earn more than in others. Keep taking control of planets to increase your income.
- The base element of Galactic Conquest has been removed. This means that every planet can randomly be assigned to either team, and you could start on any planet, making every game unique.
- The team assigned to each planet is randomly chosen, though it favours your enemy. You will always start controlling at least one planet, and there is a limit to how many you can start with.
- For the first time, I have done space maps properly. Every planet now has a unique space sky, using the Absolute Battlefront models, as well as a fixed loading screen title
- You have the option to play as either the Rebels or the Empire for the first time in a Dark Times GC.
- Each planet location is geographically accurate based on SWGalaxyMap.com (some are tweaked slightly to allow for more spacing on the map between planets)
- Each planet has a unique model design, camera zoom effect and capital ship positions