Arcanum Arcanum Multiverse Edition

Arcanum has finally been given some recent attention thanks to (Russian) modders.

Multiverse Edition comes pre-packaged with the essentials plus some unique tweaks. Most notably, it integrates a launcher with a decent amount of visual and performance customisation options, alongside an auto-update feature - which makes me feel slightly optimistic about Arcanum's modding future.

I haven't played with it long enough, so I'm not sure if there are any game-breaking bugs. But so far, performance is great by default - something that Arcanum notoriously struggles with on current OS.

Anyway, it's existence hasn't spilled beyond the Steam Community, so spread the word!



TAKE NOTE: - The Installer UI language key is easy to miss, highlighted below left. After that, immediately go to Settings and adjust your language and preferences before installation. *Mod is compatible with GoG version.

 

Meingott

:russiastronk:

 

suo Drog Black Tooth

 

Whoa

But..... Steam only? Or is it okay for GOG?

 

Can confirm it works with GoG

 

Thanks. Is there any direction to install this with GOG version? Is it the same as the above? Mine's modded up to the ass, and I'm kinda want to re-do my playthrough since it was my first one and it was spoiled by walkthrough, and I've gotten to Tarant but the spoiling has taken its toll. Maybe I'll just delete the whole thing, re-install and do the steps above if possible.

 

Up to you man, backup your saves though. It creates a new directory within Arcanum, so I doubt save files are compatible anyway.

 

Wasn't there some guy few years ago who made thread in Codex Workshop where he posted Arcanum Factory or whatever it was called, software pack that help with modding the game?
http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/modding-tool-arcanum-factory-1-3.82298/
there it is
now start being productive member of the forum

I was thinking about playing the game again as a mage who don't use Harmspam, now it's good time.

 

Awesome!

 

Because they are poorer, so chances are if you have a home PC, you belong to the smart segment of the population. And that computer is likely to be old and not compatible with new games.

This leaves them with playing old games. When you play old games, it is easier to sort out the good from the shit. Russians end up playing old classics, and Amerilards play the latest AAA drivel - even poor Amerilards have consoles and play games. Once the hype is over, there is really no compelling reason to play shit AAA titles. So they never really sift through to Russia.

Compared it with the situation if you only could watch black-and-white movies. You would only watch the good stuff - movies whose only force of attraction is novelty value, a good poster, and press hype will slip you by completely unnoticed, and are completely unnoticed today.

History is often a very good filter. It's always fun to read about with authors and works of art were popular back in the days. People like Mozart and Bach have gained immensely in popularity through being lauded by the increasingly expert audiences that classical music has, while the mainstream composers of the time have instead been increasingly forgotten. Paradoxically, by being poorer, the Russians are experiencing the evolution of gaming through a quality filter.

 

imma try it soon

 

For all the questions about compatibility etc, the 'mod' installer is actually an entire repack of the game, file-sharing style. they even call it a repack. the only reason they go through the whole install with steam etc part is due diligence to avoid advertising that they're offering the game for free.

i don't blame them, I think they literally had to repack the game to incorporate all the fixes.

 

Awesome. Any try to get other mods to work with it? Like the new Overhaul mod for better combat? I think its called equilibrium or something.

 

How/where exactly did you install it?
I also have the GOG edition. I installed in it the GOG/Arcanum folder. Installation seemed to go well. But whenever I try to launch the game something weird happens. The launcher seems to continually open and close. And all open programs seem to be alt-tabbing or it might be that my resolution is continually changing or something. Anyone have an idea what's causing this?

 

I just followed the steps: "D:\GoG\Arcanum\Arcanum" - then to launch the game, use Config.exe, from that directory.

These are my settings



EDIT: Uncheck "Enable autoupdate..." only after it installs the latest patch, if you want. Otherwise it checks for updates with every launch.

Also, in the same directory, use HiRes.exe if you want to tweak your resolution - uninstall then reinstall. HiRes sets a default and the Config launcher MUST match it, or the game won't run.

Hope that helps!

 

Because the western world is in decline due to a fatal jewitis-infection.

 

What is HEL? For my windows7 install, I only enabled double buffer under Basic (enabled by default if you select windowed). Using a wrapper or the Wine libraries made the game much laggier.

For the high-res patch, you don't need to do what you outlined above. Select the options you want under the HiRes Patch option, and click the left button in Pyc. It applies the settings.



If you change any options on this tab and ONLY click Run Arcanum, they won't take. Click Применить (RUS apply) first, then Run Arcanum.

 

It did help, thanks! I used your settings and now it's running fine.

 

So are the changes to the game itself very discreet 'unfinished business' style stuff, i.e. restoring clearly cut lines and cleaning up the maps? Nothing egregious or noticeable?

 

I thought we were past this

This "Pyc" language seems interesting, try it out.

 

So... I'm gonna bite the bullet and play this game for the first time. Are there any important tips for a first timer? Or is it possible to beat just by picking whatever skills and doing whatever I want?

 

How not to play Arcanum:

 

The Only Tip You'll Ever Need

• Bite the bullet by going in blind, don't read any guides or ask for more tips

Or...

Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler

ARCANUM MANUAL: PAGES 174-175

Strategy Tips

Here are some tips on playing Arcanum.

General

• A simple but effective character is a Half-Ogre with good Melee and Dodge

skills. He is easy to play and can hold his own in most combat situations.

• Putting a point into Gambling at the start of the game will allow you to

gamble with the first shopkeeper (and get more items than you would

normally be able to afford!)

• Be wary of armor sizes. For example, smaller characters like Dwarves cannot

wear normal or large-sized armors.

• If you're already boosting certain stats to buy spells or tech schematics,

consider buying skills that also use the same character stats. For example, a

mage might also look into buying Haggle since that skill is dependant on

Willpower, or a technologist might buy Gambling or Heal since their

Intelligence needs to be high.

• Find combinations of spells or skills that will work well together; don't buy

something just because it "sounds" cool.

• If you're a magic user, be sure to put points into constitution as well. It

helps to have extra Fatigue.

• You don't have to talk to everyone in town, but if you do, you're likely to

more quests, which means more experience points.

• Save often as you'll never know what lies beyond the next corner.

• Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to scroll the isometric view while you

use your mouse to move your character.

• If you know many spells or have many items you want to put in your hot

key bank, select the ones that need to be quickly accessible, not necessarily

the ones which are often used.

• Just because you got a fate point doesn't mean you have to use it right away.

It makes more sense to use a fate point to help you do something your

character has never been able to do before (for example, a fighter may save

a fate point to successfully pick someone's pocket).

• Being encumbered is no fun. If you must carry around bunches of heavy

stuff, choose how you want the weight to be distributed. Decide who in

your party needs to be the fastest.

• Most puzzles in Arcanum have more than one possible solution. Experiment.

• Find a good balance of skills to help you in town and in dungeons. For

example, Pick Pocket might be an incredibly useful skill in civilized areas,

but it won't help you at all when a horde of angry zombies are after you.

Technology

• Dwarves have innate technological aptitude. Dwarves, therefore, make great

technologists.

• If you're going to be an explosives expert, make sure to put points in

throwing. Your weapons are useless, otherwise.

• If you're going to be a gunsmithy expert, make sure to put points in your

firearms skill. Your weapons are useless, otherwise.

• Remember, Half-Ogres cannot use guns because their hands are too big!

• If playing as a firearms or bow character, consider carrying around a backup

weapon in the event you run out of ammo/arrows.

• There are useful tech manuals out there that you can read to improve your

Technological Expertise. Look for them!

 

Yeah. This is my fatal mistake; I played by a walkthrough and when I arrived at Tarant, I realized what I've done. That's why decided to not back my saves when I deleted the whole thing and re-installed with this mod.

 

A friend of mine reads guides for every game, plotting out his skills and min-maxing to an absurd extreme. Never understood why.

Half the fun is not knowing what to expect and making characters with unanticipated flaws or strengths.