(last updated September 09, 2006)
Table of Contents
Preface
1. Purpose and audience for this FAQ
2. Acknowledgments1. Installation
1.1. What are the requirements of the patch?
1.2. How do I apply the patch?
1.3. How do I configuring the Moo2v140 desktop shortcut?
1.4. Why only the DOS version?
1.5. How do I launch Moo2v140 from Kali?
1.6. How do I launch Moo2v140 from DOSbox?2. Bug fixes
2.1. What are the bugs in the latest (v1.31) official patch?
2.2. What bugs does the v1.40 patch fix?
2.3. What bugs do you plan to fix?3. New command line switches
3.1. What command line switches are there already in v1.31?
3.2. What command line switches have been added in v1.40?
3.3. How do I use the command line switches?
3.4. Who needs to use the command line switches in a multiplayer game?
3.5. What command line switches do you plan to add?
3.6. Why do the save games from v1.40 cause problems with the Map editor / Leveler?
3.7. How do the home system switches interact with each other?
3.8. Why does the galaxy map seem different in v1.40?4. Playing over the internet
4.1. How do I play Master of Orion 2 over the internet?
4.2. What is kali?
4.3. Where do I get kali?
4.4. What game server to people play Master of Orion 2 on?
4.5. Why cant I find the MOO2 server?5. Cheat codes
5.1. What cheat codes are there in Master of Orion 2 ?
5.2. Why do you plan to disable cheat codes in multiplayer games ?Preface
1. Purpose and audience for this FAQ
This FAQ provides answers to frequently asked questions for the Master of Orion II v1.40 patch which I began writing in December 2003. The reason I wrote this FAQ is quite simple, a growing number of people keep asking me the same questions about the patch.
2. Acknowledgments
Thanks go out to all those within the Moo2 kali community that have very supportive of this project:
INver, Cybersaber, 4381, Skybandit, PK, NightWolf, RedDog, Siron, Alex-D and many others...
Questions and Answers
1. Installation
1.1. What are the requirements of the patch?
This patch requires the DOS v1.31 English version of Master of Orion II. It will not work with earlier versions, other language versions, or the windows version of the game. You should be able to patch a non-english version of master of Orion II with the english v1.31 patch and effectively convert it to the english version (which should allow you to apply the v1.40 patch at that point).
1.2. How do I apply the patch?
Applying the patch is simple. Just put the patch exe file into the orion2 game directory and run it. It will create a separate orion2v140.exe file. This is the patched game executable. It will also optionally create a desktop icon for you which you can use to launch the game.
1.3. How do I configuring the Moo2v140 desktop shortcut?
I would recommend that you use the patch to create a desktop icon. It is a shortcut.
1.4. Why only the DOS version?
I primarily play orion2 on the internet using kali. The windows version of the game does not play very well over the internet (to much lag).
1.5. How do I launch Moo2v140 from Kali?
Many players use a private server and the desktop shortcut to launch the game. Game lobbies are also an option and very commonly used by new players. Refer to the kali web site for instructions.
1.6. How do I launch Moo2v140 from DOSBox?
Setting up a DOSBox game can be more difficult than with Kali but the players tend to experience less lag during game play. The host of the game must use the 'ipxnet startserver' command in the dosbox window prior to starting orion2. All other players must use the 'ipxnet connect x.x.x.x' command (where x.x.x.x is the hosts ip address) in the dosbox window prior to starting orion2.
2. Bug fixes
2.1. What are the bugs in the latest (v1.31) official patch?
Leaders bug - The game will instantly crash when you attempt to view your ship leaders but have no ships.
Arti bug - This is a LAN game bug that occurs when you are the first player to arrive an arti system. You will receive the free technologies but the arti planet may permanently lose the arti planet special on the next turn.
Last race bugs - LAN games crash when a player presses the Last Race button. Also, it is possible to pick the same race picture as an opponent in multiplayer games.
Credit cheat - Under certain circumstances a player can both produce an item and receive trade goods (full amount) at a single planet in a single turn. This is an exploit used to generate large amounts of cash by some players.
Auto factory bug - The game can crash when you mouse over a building in the colony screen. This often occurs when you go to scrap an Auto Factory but can occur with other buildings also.
Cloned monsters - Under certain circumstances the combat round with a monster is ignored. Sometimes monsters or ships which were destroyed in combat are still alive after combat. This seems to be a network game problem only.
Cloned cship or opship - Sometimes a colony ship or outpost ship is not deleted after it is used to make a colony or outpost. It can be exploited to generate a very large empire in a very short period of time.
Soils bug - Quite often in the round that you produce a building which creates a food or production bonus, the bonus is not applied properly to all workers that turn. Moving workers around can result in all or part of the bonus being lost temporarily or even a game crash.
Retreat from battle field - Retreating from a battle sometimes can result in a game crash. It seems to only occur in LAN games when you retreat from the edge of the combat area.
Retreat with navigator - Retreating from combat can result in loss of your entire fleet if there is a black hole in the retreat path even if you have a navigator.
Travel distance/ETA incorrect - Travel distance and ETA are not calculated correctly in some situations.
Annihilation bug - Under certain circumstances, annihilation can result in a planet with zero population. It is impossible to invade or bomb. Also, if an invader remains in orbit of this system it can prevent the invader from entering combat at other systems as well. This can be exploited to create a permanent outpost.
Overpopulation bug - Under certain circumstances, it is possible to overpopulate a planet with androids or captured races. This can be exploited to create a super planet.
Not asked to land opship when cship is present - When a colony ship and outpost ship are present with your fleet, sometimes you will not be given the option to land your outpost ship. This seems to occur in systems with no habitable worlds.
Phantom missiles - Shooting down missiles can result in a missile stack with a quantity of zero. The defender can waste many defensive shots on them but these missiles cannot be shot down. The missiles will proceed to target but they seem to do no damage.
Stealth bug - Ships equipped with the stealth technology are still visible on the galaxy map by your opponents. They are visible at the same range as regular ships.
Cloaking and Phase Cloaking bugs - Ships equipped with the Cloaking or Phase Cloaking technology are still visible on the galaxy map by your opponents. Also, during combat only player #0 will have his phase cloak revert to regular cloaking after 10 rounds.
System Specials not shared - When two players arrive for the first time at a system with a system special, only one player will receive the special (such as rescued leader, money, or technology).
Evolutionary Mutation - It is possible to change some race picks that you should not be able to once you have researched Evolutionary Mutation.
Repeat build cheat - It is possible to cancel the production of a repeat build item after it has been bought. This allows money to be converted to stored production. It can be exploited to purchase expensive items by canceling multiple cheaper repeat built items over the course of several turns.
Tractors bug - Moving a ship while tractor beams are engaged can often crash the game. The crashes occur most frequently if one of the ships involved are off the screen.
Tech Trading bug - You cannot demand or trade optronics computer technology.
Stolen Tech bug - Some stolen technologies do not apply until you build a new colony or outpost.
Autobuild bug - Autobuild can be exploited to produce an item and trade goods in the same turn. The exploit is very simular to Credit Cheat.
Stategic outposts bug - Outposts are often destroyed in strategic combat even when the defender wins combat.
Time Warp Facilitator bug - Ships equiped with phasing cloak and time warp facilitator can re-cloak in the same combat round in which they fire weapons. This make the ships impossible to destroy.
Black Hole Generator bug - Black Hole Generator does not destroy ships when ship initiative is enabled. The ships remain immobilized rather than being destroyed on 3rd turn.
Immobilization bug - Ships are not immobilized by tractor beams or blackhole generators until the beginning of the next combat round. This allows them to move when they should not be able to.
2.2. What bugs does the v1.40 patch fix?
At present only leaders, arti, credit cheat, stealth, cloned op/cship, repeat build, cloak, phase cloak, tractors, blackhole generators, VESA, and last race.
2.3. What bugs do you plan to fix?
Hopefully all of them.
3. New command line switches
3.1. What command line switches are there already in v1.31?
The command line switches that I am aware of are:
/skipintro Skips the intro movie.
/monsters = num Sets the preferred number of monsters. Valid values are 0 to 255. Default is 255 which is random seed.
/nolog Sets a flag in the game that seems to never be used anyways.
/net = value Parsed but seems to do nothing.
/date Displays the version date and exits game.
/maps = value Parsed but seems to do nothing.
/seed = num Seed for random number generator. Valid values are signed long integer (-2147483648 to 2147483647). Default is 0. Seems to only effect first galaxy map generated and does not effect monster placement.
/saveset = value Something to do with autosave but seems bugged.
/saveset Something to do with autosave but seems bugged.
/quickstart Parsed but seems to do nothing.
/nosaves = value Parsed but seems to do nothing.
/stats = value Parsed but seems to do nothing.
3.2. What command line switches have been added in v1.40?
/nowh No wormholes are generated on new maps
/nobh No black holes are generated on new maps
/noorion Orion and Guardian are not generated on new maps
/noreport The report button on the diplomacy screen will be disabled preventing you from seeing what technology your opponent has. Also, Technology demands and trades are greyed out.
/droids All players start out with the ability to build androids (all 3 types).
/minstart The unoccupied planet closest to the sun in all home systems will be at least 2 production per worker and its gravity will match that of the homeworld.
/hugestart The unoccupied planet closest to the sun in all home systems will be huge and its gravity will match that of the homeworld.
/richstart The unoccupied planet closest to the sun in all home systems will be rich and its gravity will match that of the homeworld (this switch is ignored if /goodstart is used).
/goodstart The unoccupied planet closest to the sun in all home systems will be Ultra Rich and its gravity will match that of the homeworld.
/nosplint No splinter worlds unless there is a monster guarding it.
/planets = num Sets the minimum number of planets in all home systems to num. This value includes the home world. Valid values are
2-5 (default is 2). If you try a value outside of the valid range it will use the default./picks = num Sets the starting race picks points to num. Valid values are 10-14 (default is 10). If you try a value outside of the valid range it will use the default. Note: some screens in the game only show the first 11 race picks (it is possible to pick more than 11).
/nonebula When used the map is generated without any nebulas.
/nohousing The housing option will no longer be available from the build list so housing production will not be possible. Also, this switch adds +150% bonus to population growth. The bonus will be added into the growth formula exactly the same way that the bonus from universal antidote is.
/noscan This switch will disable the scan button in combat so that detailed scans of ships will no longer be possible. Only quick scans will be possible by mousing over the ships.
NOTE: the switches /minstart, /hugestart, /richstart, and /goodstart all effect the same planet. The effect is cumulative. These switches ONLY EFFECT ONE PLANET. ALL OTHERS ARE COMPLETELY RANDOM.
3.3. How do I use the command line switches?
You need to edit the properties of desktop shortcut. Just right click the icon and pick properties. Go to the program tab. On the command line add the switches you want at the end *(after /skipintro) with spaces between each and click ok.
NOTE: If you do not spell things correctly there will be no errors when you start the game. Your misspelled switch will simply be ignored. Also, Windows has a limit to the length of the command line. It will not tell you that you have reached this limit. It will just chop off some switches that are over the limit. You can reopen the shortcut properties and look at the command line to verify that the switches are not chopped off.
3.4. Who needs to use the command line switches in a multiplayer game?
With the exception of the /picks switch, only the host needs to use the command line switches. The switches from all other players are ignored (except /picks).
The /picks switch in a LAN game must be put on every players command line (if you do not put it on your command line then you will receive the default of 10 points). Each player can have a different number of race pick points. This will allow people to play with a handicap if the choose to.
3.5. What command line switches do you plan to add in the future?
Check my blog site. I usually post what I am working on.
3.6. Why do the save games from v1.40 cause problems with the Map editor / Leveler?
This issue only effected old versions of the patch. Please upgrade to v1.40b21 or later.
3.7. How do the home system switches interact with each other?
The home system switches effects add where possible, however they only impact one planet in the home system. For example:
/hugestart /goodstart gives a huge ultra rich planet
/hugestart /minstart only gives a huge planet
/richstart /goodstart only gives an ultra rich
3.8. Why does the galaxy map seem different in v1.40?
The /nobh switch converts black holes into stars. As a result, there will be a slight change in the galaxy quality (a few extra planets) if this switch is used.
Also, the home systems are improved slightly. This obviously has an effect on the overall galaxy quality.
The /noorion switch prevents the game from generating Orion and instead it generates a regular system in its place.
Also, the /nosplint switch converts splinters into gold deposits. There will be a slight increase in the number of gold deposit worlds if this switch is used.4. Playing over the internet
4.1. How do I play Master of Orion 2 over the internet?
I recommend playing using Kali and Windows 98 as your operating system. This is the best combination that I have tried so far. There are also frequently several players on the Kali MOO2 server who enjoy playing games regularly.
4.2. What is kali?
Kali is software that lets you play LAN games over the internet. It supports DOS games well. There are many chat servers and game lobbies for players to meet and organize games.
4.3. Where do I get kali?
4.4. What game server do people play Master of Orion 2 on?
Come join us on the kali ->MOO2 chat server (currently #138 in the server list). There are several regular players on this server to play with.
4.5. Why cant I find the MOO2 server?
Sometime you do not get the full list of Kali chat servers when you load kali. What you need to do is refresh the list. It may take several refreshes to get all 300+ servers on the list.
5. Cheat codes
5.1. What cheat codes are there in Master of Orion 2 ?
There are many cheat codes in Master of Orion II. The codes vary from version to version of the game. These are the codes that are scanned for in v1.31 and v1.40.
From Galactic Map:
ALT + EINSTEIN All research technology
ALT + MOOLA Add 1000BCs to your treasury
ALT + MENLO Current research completes next turn
ALT + ISEEALL Toggle omni race pick on / off
ALT + SCORE Show your current scoreFrom the Colony Screen:
ALT + CRUNCH Finish current production item immediately.
ALT + TOGGLE All building will be available on the Construction Orders screen. Even those not researched.5.2. Why do you plan to disable cheat codes in multiplayer games ?
There is no reason to cheat in a multiplayer game. If you want to cheat, do so in a single player game.
