MFOS

I just wanted to publicly thank Mike T from Combat mission World for helping me sort out some trouble I was having with some files I grabbed from his site. Not only was he prompt in getting back with me, but he completely solved my problem. The cool part though, is that he did it witout making me feel like I was bugging and annoying him. You are a class act mate. Thank you. MFOS- Mouth Full of Spiders

Read This: Downloading Inservice - MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders

Ok. Before anyone gets their nerves bent, I suppose I ought to take a moment and share some downloading info with you. I intend on asking some questions around here, so I may as well help out in areas I CAN help in. Here goes. The problem is obviously two things: Number of people downloading at the same time, and the small pipe that said file is hosted on. Bigger pipes cost money to hold on to, suffice it so say ... you get what you pay for. BFC has a fat pipe, because they pay for it. I am only assuming, but I would say that the HQ is hosted by and shares the same pipe. (Perhaps it is split, or they actually went the deluxe route and obtained two. The poor cat everyone is slagging, is using a value host, or possibly a free one, and that is the best he can do. Hosts are expensive, for a decent one, and most only provide a certain amount of bandwidth per month -some are per day. Even if you buy a plan and then the bandwidth exceeds you alotted amount, you have to pay extra (Or the site cannot be accessed - the exceeded bandwidth error). The first is a most disturbing surprise the first time it happens to you. Often times it can be so substantial, that it can literally force you to drop the account, and sell the mother in law to pay off the bill. Ok so, most folks here just want to share Mods, bull**** with each other, talk tactics, etc. Not manypeople want to be required to take out loans to keep a site up. However lets not get ahead of ourselves. Some people, schools, employers, etc., also have access to webspace, fat pipes and a buddy with OS administrative rights. These are often time some of the larger independants, and/or the folks who maintain nice FTP archives. So, what you have left are some very dedicated kind souls out there who; either have better than average cash flow and don't mind using it to support thier hobby; and/or are clever enough to have found a host which is inexpensive yet not too tight fisted with the bandwidth; and/or are just so passionate about the hobby that they just assume it as another bill, and simply budget it into their monthly expenditures. Which brings us back to my new friend at the Database. He is too polite to say it, so I will. You want to see quicker DL's, try clicking on that donation to paypal link and give him a hand. Hosting costs cash, unless you want a freebie site. Notice he mentions no popups. That means that he probably already is paying to get the site hosted, most free ones require a popup, unless you want to pay to get the deluxe no popup advert free hosting service. You like the service, hey kick the brother some cash. A few bucks here and there would probably help him out a lot. (This is not meant to imply that the owner is in any financial difficulty, hell he could be a millionaire for all I know. What I do mean to say is that, a good host, with nice speed, and high uptime, costs money. Money that most didn't really expect to be paying, when they came up with the idea of creating a web site. - Trust me on this one. Someone asked in another thread where are all the sites going? Easy answer: free hosts usually suck, maintianing a page is alot more work than anyone who has never webmastered one can imagine, and it pretty much a thankless job. Even domain names are overpriced. Once the dot com boom sort of started to fizzle, they neglected to bring back down the cost of domain names. After all it is primarily just a matter of book keeping. But i digress. So the million dollar question is: How can I actually complete large downloads on slower sites? Chunks is sort of a solution. However that requires people to stay on the pipe an equal length of time though, and that still ties it up. Remember we want to ideally have less people on at a time. It's upside is that when the download is interupted , or dropped, which happens on lower quality hosts frequently, you may have gotten at least some of the pieces. Otherwise, you will have to redownload the entire thing. Putting it on the HQ has been suggested, but I get the impression they are sort of letting that place just rest for a while. So that probably wont really work. Besides, running YOUR own site is cool. It is yours. Gives you some "street cred", makes you feel good to be contributing and helping others enjoy, you get the picture. The Best option would be to have BFC host it themselves, with its own domain name, etc. It would be rather simple to do, the authorizations for what could be accessed would be the only sort of tricky bit. If he owns the domain, the ip address and all could be swapped out no prob. Customize the site a bit, make it look all cool, and load it up with BFC adverts and logo's etc. Hell, that would be pretty easy too. Email me if you would like to see a site I own and designed. It is private and work related so I would rather not just give it out publicly. Anyhow, so If you read this far I will give you an actual tip: Find an FTP program that can do at least these two things, Detect a URL in the clipboard, and that can resume downloads. Many probably will do that, I use BulletProof FTP. I think it is the best and it is pretty inexpensve to register if you like it alot. Start up the FTP program ,and then simply select any file off of the Database webpage, right click it, and select "copy shortcut. The FTP program will automagically detect it and begin downloaing it. Bulletproof even changes it to the correct port (Should be 80), and the download begins. If you have a half done file, like I did, then as soon as you finish clicking "copy shortcut", it will ask you if you wish to overwrite, resume, or cancel the download of the file.Obviously, choose resume. Bulletproof and other programs, can even be instructed to retry automatically after a certain amount of time. Make it several minutes please, trying every few seconds is called hammering and it is bad form. (Will usually get you banned as well). Also, you can cue downloads, so that you don't have to keep going back and and clicking the next mod every couple of minutes, seconds, hours or days. Just cue em up, and watch them go. With this method, you will be able to minimize your time on the pipe, and get it onto your rig as quickly as possible. Another BIG point is to not have more than one download going at a time. On a server that can handle it and is flying ...well go ahead. But, on a bandwidth challenged page, please don't! It typically makes all of your downloads take longer, and it does the same to eveyone else.(For the most part) Oh and for all of you Highspeed Sluts like me, always remember that you can only take in data, as fast as the other end can provide it. So T1 to T1 line is gonna blaze. T1 to someplace like Homestead or Anglefire at 3:00pm to 7:00pm is probably gonna be like trying to drain a swimming pool with a soda straw. Shoot me an email if I can help ya out pal. I am sure we can probably get you sorted out. Till then, I hope this really longwinded inservice has been of some value. MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders [ January 28, 2003, 10:24 PM: Message edited by: MFOS ]

You've got mail MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders

I grabbed a few mods off of your site, and had some trouble with them. (CRC errors, etc.) Please contact me. MFOS- Mouth Full of Spiders Strangely not the entire zip, only certain files inside. For example dfdr1.2 try opening the zip file and looking at the terrain.jpg. Winzip says : nope.

Agreed. I like the packs. Easier to install and easier to store for later use. After trying to unzip a couple of hundred CMMOS BO mods (And trying to figure out why such and such BMP wants to overwrite such and such BMP, it is nice to be able to just unzip and enjoy. I am up to 54% done now, and I will drop off to allow someone else the bandwidth. Will resume with my acquisition of a few other tasty mods much later this evening. I just grabbed a beer, starting doing some serious unzipping, and keep checking in on my DL. No worries. Anyone got a hot tip on a Multi file unzipping utility. I tried Wolverine, but it is a little too basic. I am now trying Power Archiver 8.0, but it deosn't give me the file size comparisons when it prompts me for an overwrite. (Does give the date and other important info though.) I like to see the file size comparisons, so that way if the dates match and the file sizes are the same, I usually feel comfortable overwriting them without much worry. OH NOOOOOOO! I spoke too soon. My Dl just bailed at 10 megs, and now I have to do it all over. No continue option. (Problem solved, see later post for soultion) MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders :mad: [ January 28, 2003, 10:27 PM: Message edited by: MFOS ]

Uhm ....like I said: I know how to change resolution. A quick search gave me that info. I was just curious what resolution people tend to run their games in. Thanks for trying to help me out anyways. Any input is better than none. MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders

Hmmm. Nobody willing to help out on my last question. (Except Rob I think ...thanks!) Let us try another. I know how to change my resolution after a nice search, but what do you folks typically choose to play in? Reason I ask is my new laptop has a 1600 X 1200 deskyop resolution. SO, when I put BO and BB on it, it obviously was run at that resolution. I never even considered changing it. For the most part it runs really smooth and looks ... AMAZING. (I have an ATI 9000 mobility card with 64 megs ..wanted 128, but it wasn't an option at the time). Anyhow, I finally get around to putting them on my desktop at home, where the desktop is at 1240 X 768 or whatever that one is, and Thus I choose that resolution during setup. However, it clearly looks like a different game. Yet, I can tell a difference in speed especially during large battles. (Home Pc's vid card is a Hercules Gforce 3 TI500, that was top of the line not too long ago ...even mail ordered it becasue the local shops didn't carry it). So, the query is: What Resolution do you run in? My other specs if you are curious: Home: P4 1.8Ghz, 512 Megs DDR ram, Nice KDS 19" monitor...yada yada. Laptop: P4 2.0ghz, 512 Megs DDR ram, Most expensive LCD screen they had, yada yada. I actually prefer playing on the laptop, because I can get the higher Resolution, BUT those damned ATI cards don't show fog. Snow and rain looks a treat, but no fog. So waht resolutions do you folks typically play at? MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders Ps. If any of you would be so kind, please go back a page or so, and see if you can help me out with my CMMOS questions. I bumped it once already to fish for some answers, but doing it twice is pretty bad karma. Peace

Yikes!!!! What amazing detail. Wow. Mr. Noobie, you are extremely talented sir. Thank you for sharing this with us. It never ceases to amaze me the dedication and effort that folks like yourself put into projects like these. I am very familiar with several other scenes were mods were utilized (The Quake community, etc.), and despite the differences in the type of people playing each game and the obvious style differences (Strategy Vs. FPS, etc.) the work of those in the "community" is the life blood of these games. Yet, in many games, mods are fresh coats of paint or a variance in a style of play. However, in this game, the attention to historical detail, accurate and detailed markings, etc. It just takes my breath away. I wonder how many people realize the amount of time that goes into creating a mod? Not simply the work in the image editing application itself, but the research, testing and so forth. For all of you who make these wonderful addition to our beloved game. Thank you. MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders Ps. This is the slowest download I have ever gotten from the CM mod database. I always thought you guys were joking around, because I always had decent speed before with my ADSL. Oh well it is certainly worth the wait, and thanks for hosting it.

It is just a typo. "The core file of CMMOS 4.02... Required to install the Mods!" It should have been changed to, the core files of CMMOS 4.03 ... required to install the mods. No worries grab 4.03 and all will be dandy. MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders

Shamefully bumping my own post MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders

Hello, A few new questions - I hope (Some BO some BB): Lets get this out of the way now, I am becoming a mod slut. (Good or Bad ... I dunno) 1. When I am using CMMOS for BO mods, (After a solid backup of core files) should I use a fresh install from the CD ... or should I install Maddog pack first and then and fixed bmps, etc.(What I consider my standard installation). I know Alec's Normandy MOD specifically states it should be added to a fresh non modded install, but I am not sure about the others. Weren't some new essential files added in the maddog pack ... kinda of a graphic addon from the BFC guys? What I did so far was a fresh non modded install, and then I added the Normandy MOD. (Which I renamed and gave its own folder, so I could swap it out whenever I felt the urge) I then reverted back to the original BMPs and then began adding all the CMMOS mods. I plan to then back that BMP folder up, so I can have swap it out too if needed (Although I wont be able to use CMMOS then) I plan to also add the maddog pack to the base files and create its own folder as well. But the inital question remains, should the maddog pack be installed into the (What I am calling) Cmmos BMP folder? Do any of the other CMMOS mods modify the maddog pack files? I noticed CMMOS has a MDMP option in the filed and stream, but it is much smaller ... is it essentially the same thing? How is it different? What I want to do eventually is mod out a BMP set that I like best and then just keep it. However trying to rename all of the cmmos mods to try out different combinations just takes more time than I wish to give up. (I'd rather be playing). So I figured, I would use Cmmos to help me get it the way I wanted, then maybe just sort of forget about it. (Example I love TAL's BB trees, but can only find CMMOS versions for BO), etc. etc. 2. I tried CMMOS with BB and although I know it worked and all, after all of the scrambling and double clicking, none of my units were decked out in their new bmps. I know it depends on year and season for some mods like uniforms. However, do the vehicle mods work that way also? I tried to install Gordon's Dunlegrau grey mod in BB, and they worked in one scenario and not another. That leads me to believe that my intial hunch is correct. So can someone shove me in the right direction to work out what mods appear during which time? (Does that make sense?)I am obviously not a GROG yet ... but I am willing to learn 3. When I install a non Cmmos'ed mod into my bmp folder and then do a restore type thing with CMMOS, does it literaly restore to the original BMP's, or does it restore to whatever the bmp was before I cmmosed it? (Again, does that make sense?) Example: I install panther mod not cmmos'ed and then install a cmmos panther mod. When Cmmos backs up the original file ... before it replaces it, does it save my non cmmos'ed bmp?(The non cmmos panther mod) Likewise, when I decide to revert back via CMMOS, would it revert back to my non cmmos'ed panther mod or the stock graphic? Thanks for the help, MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders PS. Happy Superbowl and thanks for the patience and understanding. This game had become an addiction and I pleased to be part of this wonderful community of gamers and Grogs. [ January 27, 2003, 12:55 AM: Message edited by: MFOS ]

Nor should you mate, they are all really amazing. I am glad you did not take my question as criticism. That was certainly not my intent. I will have a look at the choices again and see what I can come up with. However, I am pleased to hear that I could, if I wanted, renumber a few of the bmp's to match my personal taste. For some reason I am, like most newbies, liking my troops decked out in the dark grey/green '41 Heer type/style of uniforms. Thanks for the tip on Michaels site. It seems that was when the light bulb went on in regards to most of this matter to begin with for me. I had initially wanted the LW uniforms, and was such a noob, that I assumed that all of the models would wear the same uni's regardless of year and troop type. (Read: I couldn't figure out why none of my troops were wearing the new gear) When I discovered that there were so many variables and options, I was overwhelmed and then very pleased. Thank you for your time and speedy reply. Don't change a thing. Your work is amazing. Thank you for sharing it with us. MFOS

-E- Hello and thank you for the reply. Any chance you could send me the batch file? That sounds really usefull. I was considering trying to do a "find and replace" type of thing, but that might be a little tricky. MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders

First of all: Thank you for all the amazing uniform mods and the other as well. Now that I am getting the hang of mod installation, my game is looking really sweet. I do have a question though. After DL'ing all of you Axis Uniforms, and going through and selecting the options I want, I have found a few uniforms that (Though historically accurate), are not really what I want visually. (Blasphemy I am sure ... but I am not quite a Grog YET!) The alternative uni's are not really what I would like to see my soldiers kitted out in either. So, would it be possible to use some of the uniforms from a different year and renumber them ... so that when I play they will use them instead? Does that make sense? It would help if I could be more specific I know. I will update the post after I grab some chow and fire up the gaming rig. I am pretty sure it was late war waffen SS. They have a very well done orangish camo, and I would prefer a darker greenish camo or greyish uniform like the early Heer or somefink. I dunno. Please note that I am in no sense of the imagination trying to put down your amazing work, and I am quite certain that it is very accurate historically and all. However, I am simply asking if I could substitute the proper ones for a inaccurate but more to my persoanl tastes version of another uniform that I like. I am assuming that since the uni's seem to vary per year and type, that if I renumber the set I did not presently like as well, with a set that I do ... I should work. Is this true? Even if I could not, your mods have really brought the game to a new level for me. With Tanks A Lot's new trees and bases, JuJu's small arms and various terrain and buildings, etc. My game just looks amazing. I do wish I could find a hi res grass that I liked, something a little richer green. I have yet to start modifying my vehicles, support guns, and Armor. That will be the next mission. MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders Ps. Thanks again for all of your time and hard work. I don't think we as a community can say that enough to you kind folks.

nobody hopped onto my little story bit ...sniff sniff ... guess I better lurk some more to get the hang of that sort of thing before I jump in. So I will simply : Bump! MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders

Hey Tanks A Lot, Thanks for the help with the tree situation. I got it sorted out now, and it looks s-w-e-e-t!! All I can say is stunning ! 'nuff said. Peace, MFOS

~Bump~ MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders

The gooey cheese pizzas they had ordered. They were suffering from a vicious case of the munchies ... Eucalyptus has a narcotic effect on koalas -true-. The Roos' refused to allow the pizzas and bears to share a ride home in their pouches ...cheese sticks to their fur and burns as it clings to the flesh. So they tried to catch a ride with ... MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders

Hello. (Wow ... Nice to meet ya) Uhmm ... I have 8 tree mods by you. You mention 2. Fall scattered tree and tree bases (2) CMBB tree (1) summer scattered tree and bases(2) winter scattered trees and bases (2) Winter trees (1) If the 2 you are talking about are the CMBB tree and Winter Trees ... do I need the bases also or are they imncluded. Where the others primarily for BO? Thanks and sorry to be a pest. I am just very curious. MFOS - Mouth Full of spiders

First of all, I am new to this board and would like to thank you all for the enlightening and entertaining discussions I have been reading over the past few weeks. I have found out alot of usefull information, and I am sure that there is plenty more to gather. So to my points: (As this seems the easiest way to start) 1. Got a few uniform packs, but the never show up in my game. After visiting MDorosh's site I see that the game has multiple sets of german uniforms, so it would appear that I need to DL all or most of them. (To allow the new ones to be seen regardless of year or scenario) Correct? Likewise, some of the sets have winter uniforms in the initial zip, but then I see winter uni's zip files too for some of the sets. What do I do in this case? Which are the most current versions, or are they alternatives. 2. Terrain: I DL'd a terrain mod by DD that comes in two zips, but doesn't give any photo or what not. What is it's story, and how is it? Likewise, I DL's Gunslingers True Color mod 4, that I found in another thread. it is huge 251 megs. What is that one all about? I must have missed the ealier thread. I have decided I really like JUJU's and Tanks A Lot's work, especially the terrain and buildings, but the tree in particular are a b it confusing, can anyone shed a little light on the differences and when to use them (Do I have to swap them out each time depending on the season?) 3. Vehicles: I like the Dunkle Grey mods that GM has available for CMMOS, but I am not really sold on the software yet. (No offense) On my monitor 1600x1200 the Svinirik (Spelling) icons are way off the edge of the screen,etc. Too, many of the mods I am currently most interested in are not compatible. So how does one go about selecting? Do you need to choose a mod for each and every vehicle that you wish to alter? Who provides sets of similarly painted and kitted vehicles, vehicles, etc. That ought to get the ball rolling, I wll update this thread as I run into other questions. Thanks to all who reply, and to those who make this possible BFC, the modders, and the webmasters and forum moderators. You guys have certainly made this game come alive and have cost me every available free hour since I obtained this awesome game. MFOS - Mouth Full of Spiders