The A2 Physics Project Version 1.1 - by Thunderfoot006 and the StarFleet Kid.

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Table of Contents
- A ReadMe, which no one will read.
- Installation Instructions, complete with uninstall instructions also. Ignore these at your own risk!
- The files needed to add in this mod.
- Backups of the stock files, because we all forget to backup our game whenever we add in something. These are here for your benefit and convienence.

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ReadMe
1) Recently, we released the Borg and Species 8472 add ons for the A2 Physics Project. This caused me to look again at the original project. Despite our best efforts, the original is full of typographic errors and dumb mistakes. The installation instructions are confusing. Following others instructions if they are not written clearly can potentially cause a fatal error which would compromise a computer, not just the application. The original project is in three separate downloads which are not interconnected and are not completely balanced agaisnt each other. Downloading two or three parts of the same project can be irritating. For these reasons, and foolish pride too, I decided to make a better version of the A2 Physics Project. Version 1.1 is now available for download.

2) WHAT THIS IS NOT. Compatible with Patch Project 1.2.5. Some people have reported to me if they installed the Patch Project first and then A2PhysProj, it worked fine. I have not verified that. I built and tested the original A2PhysProj on my personal install, which has about 2.56GB of stuff tacked onto it. That is where the problem was I am sure.
I may go back and try this out with the Patch Project in place later. For now, I just want to release this. Anyone who has made this work with Patch 1.2.5, please tell the rest of us how you did it. Also, A2PhysProjV1.1 will not make your coat shiner or make you more attractive. Dammit, Jim! We're modders, not miracle workers.

3) What A2PhysProjV1.1 IS. A compilation and minor improvement of the original three projects. Errors have been removed and some things which did not work as planned are adjusted. Only the stock Folders of Ships, Stations, Other, and Weapons have been modified. I have included backups of the original files to preclude you not having any to hand. Just in case there are problems. To prevent others having problems with installing this, I adjusted the stock ships ODFs. This way people will only have to swap out files, rather than copy and paste inside a stock file. People will still have to copy and paste to the ODFs for custom ships. However, the additions for A2PhysProj are at the top of each stock ODF and plainly marked so they are easy to find. Here is the entry for the stock Borg Cube ship ODF:

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//A2PHYSPROJV1.1 PARAMETERS
physicsFile = "borg_sbattphys.odf"
avoidanceClass = 9
//rangeScan = 1100.0f

Version 1.1 combines the three current downloads into one package. Version 1.1 also has three 'levels'. Players will be able to 'opt in' for as much or as little of the project as they want. The levels are:

1) Leaving the rangeScan line commented out, installing the new ship ODFs and the Other ODFs. This will give ships the new movement abilities.

2) Installing ships, physics, and weapons ODFs, while leaving the rangeScan line commented out. This will give ships the new movement, and the new weapons ranges and rates of fire while retaining the stock visibility ranges.

3) Installing all of the new ODF files, plus removing the slashes from the rangeScan line, will turn A2PhysProjv1.1 all the way on. This is my preferred way of playing because now unless I ALT-V the map, my limited ability to see adds much more challenge to the game. Coupled with the Improved Single Player Campaign(Coming soon!), I believe the AI becomes as serious a threat as we can possibly make it. Now, when Bones looks up right before the commercial break and says, "He's dead, Jim.", he may be speaking about you. Please remove the red shirt before you play the game.

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Below is the original mission statement for the A2 Physics Project.

Mission Statement:
To modify movement, combat movement, weapons, and sensor ranges within stock Armada II with Patch 1.1 applied to provide a closer to canon feel to the appearance of how ships move and fight. within the game.

Priorities and Goals:
1) To have a minimal impact on the files in question so anyone can add this into a stock game or a heavily modded one without the danger of a fatal error. To also modify and make available the files in question so modders can include them in their own mods with minimal adjustments

2) Closer to canon movement. To have ships in A2 move in a fashion similar to how they move in a series episode, movie, or other Star Trek based game. If done correctly, any player should be able to recreate any ship movement sequence seen in either a series episode or movie with a fair degree of accuracy.

3) Closer to canon combat movement. To give players the ability to recreate in A2 any ship to ship combat sequence seen in any series episode, movie, or other Star Trek based game with a fair degree of accuracy. The DS9 episode 'Sacrifice of Angels' combat sequence came to mind instantly.

4) Modify all ODF files to support the above. This includes, but is not limited to:
-Creating ship specific physics files.
-Adjusting formation sizes and spacings.
-Adjusting ship ODFs.

5) Modify the weapons ODF files to support the above. This includes, but is not limited to:
-Adjusting ranges and damage effects.
-Adjusting rates of fire.
-Adjusting LOS ranges for all ships and stations.

6) Create a template or tutorials for all of the above. To allow other A2 players, especially those with minimal modding experience, to 'Plug and Play' a custom ship either of their own creation or downloaded from any fan site.

As you can tell from this document, it is a pretty ambitous project. I hope it meets with your approval and enjoyment.

Purists, please note:
We are not trying recreate exactly the way the Enterprise moves in any movie or episode. The game engine of A2 is pretty antiquated and barely up to the task of depicting space combat at all. We are trying to get the engine we have to be a little closer to what can be seen in the episodes and movies. If we have accomplished this successfully, your Bird of Prey will no longer have the same turning rates as your Vor'Chas and your Sovys will move with the stately majestic grace they should move with. Further, your ships will no longer spit photons like a belt fed machine gun. Combat sequences ingame will last longer and a player should be able to micro manage a fleet.

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Potential Problems
This mod has been tested only within the SP Campaign and Instant Action vs. the 'puter. I do not know if it will work in online Multiplayer. As always, I accept no responsibility for your 'puter or your game. This file was checked for viruses and completeness before upload. If it doesn't work right the first time, please go back and read the directions. Then, install the mod again AFTER you read the directions.

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Credits:
Gene Roddenberry, for giving us such a cool place to play.
Achilles, for feedback and good advice.
Chiletrek, for the same and some beta testing.
k_merse, for allowing the use of some of the materials from his StarFleet Shipnames and Registries
The StarFleet Kid, for being the bestest modding partner ever! He sits there quietly and instantly does whatever I ask him to. Whenever I ask him what he thinks of something I am doing for the mod, his response is always, "Brilliant! You are a true visionary genius!" Honestly, how can anyone go wrong with that kind of support? :D (J/K!)
YOU, for D/L'ing this mod.

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Release Info:
Permission is hearby granted to use any part of, or all of this, in any mod you intend for public release. That is correct. I am giving permission for you to use this in your mod before you ask for it. Achilles, Chiletrek, and the StarFleet Kid provided invaluable assistance on the original project. Without their sweat and good advice, there would not have been an A2PhysProj 1.0 let alone a new and improved model. I insist their hard work be recognized. If you do use anything herein in your own publicly released mod, please be polite enough to include their names in the credits section of your mod.

If you do attempt to pass this off as your own work, well, that is fine by me. After all, you and I will always know the real truth, won't we?

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Contact:
Any doubts, questions or suggestions, you can E-mail or PM me from here.
All of the people mentioned by name herein are blameless for anything which may be wrong with this mod. All the mistakes are mine alone.
We are not responsible for any type of damage to your 'puter or application from misuse of this mod.

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Copyright and Distribution Permissions
THIS PATCH IS NOT MADE, DISTRIBUTED, OR SUPPORTED BY ACTIVISION TM & (C) ACTIVISION & PARAMOUNT PICTURES.
Copyright notices:
Star Trek, Star Trek Armada II, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: The Next Generation,
Star Trek: Voyager (and the various logo devices used in them) are copyright Paramount Pictures, as are the characters, related images, and sound from the productions.