Readme version 3.02

THANK YOU FOR INSTALLING MECH PACK 3 PRESENTED BY MEKTEK.  THIS README CONTAINS SEVERAL DOCUMENTED ITEMS THAT PLAYERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF WHEN INSTALLING MECH PACK 3.

3.02 CHANGES

Here is a documented list of changes from version MP3.01 to version MP3.02

- Updated README file

- Security Updates

- New Maps

Pyramids Pro
GladiatorPitLegacy new update
LunarBase S
GreenPaths S
FloodedCity S
Pier18
IceCube

- Ultra AC heat adjustments

IS UAC/2: 0.10 -> 0.20
IS UAC/5: 0.15 -> 0.30
IS UAC/10: 0.75 -> 1.50
IS UAC/20: 1.50 -> 3.00

Clan UAC/2: 0.10 -> 0.20
Clan UAC/5: 0.15 -> 0.30
Clan UAC/10: 0.75 -> 1.50
Clan UAC/20: 1.50 -> 3.00

- Pulse Laser heat adjustments

IS LPL: 4.50 -> 3.60
IS MPL: 1.25 -> 1.00
IS SPL: 0.50 -> 0.40

IS LXPL: 3.33 -> 3.00
IS MXPL: 2.75 -> 1.20
IS SXPL: 1.25 -> 0.60

Clan ERSPL: 0.60 -> 0.50

- IS SRMs updated to Inferno SRMs with heat to target and effects
- IS Machine Gun Array weight reduction (2.0 tons -> 1.5 tons)
- IS Large Continuous Beam Laser weight reduction (8.0 tons -> 6.0 tons)
- Heavy Machine Gun base ammo doubled to 600 rounds/ton
- BA Heavy Missile lock-on time returned to 0.5 seconds
- Heat to target removed from Heavy Large Laser
- Heat to target removed from Heavy Medium Laser
- New models & effects for Arrows and BA Heavy Missile
- Damage Ratio and Kill Bonus values for Mechs added to Mechlab
- Warlord – CT updated to 2D
- Atlas head section hitboxes updated
- Koto stock loadout updated
- Privateer stock loadout updated
- Razorback stock loadout updated
- Tenchi stock loadout updated
- Annihilator stock loadout updated
- Argus stock loadout updated
- Brigand stock loadout updated
- Catapult stock loadout updated
- Chimera stock loadout updated
- Flea stock loadout updated
- Osiris stock loadout updated
- Urbanmech stock loadout updated
- Uziel stock loadout updated
- Warhammer stock loadout updated
- Crab accel increase (5.75 -> 9.78)
- Crab decel increase (8.27 -> 14.67)
- Assassin II minimum speed increase (73.40 kph -> 84.60 kph)
- Assassin II maximum speed increase (124.99 kph -> 133.49 kph)
- Mad Cat maximum FF armor increase (14.4 tons -> 14.5 tons)
- Wasp jump jet weight increased to 1.0 tons, fix for stock available tonnage
- Pitbull torso twist speed increase (45.00 -> 70.00)
- Pitbull S1 special section external armor increase (40 -> 48)
- Pitbull S1 special section internal armor added
- Marauder II S2 special section internal armor added
- Blood Asp S1 & S2 special section internal armor added
- Warhammer torso weapon port locations updated
- Horn sound effect replaced with various ambient sound effects on Solaris maps
- Fix for Gnome S2 special section external armor value
- Fix for Bowman S2 special section external armor value
- Fix for Mechlab Comstar info with IS & Clan Mech Paks not installed
- Fix for Observer Mode after entering and exiting Mechlab

3.01 CHANGES

Here is a documented list of changes from version MP3 to version MP3.01

- Updated README file
- HVAC adjustments (recycle times unless specified)

HVAC2 1.5 -> 1.0 
HVAC5 2.0 -> 1.5 
HVAC10 5.0 -> 4.0 
HVAC20 8.0 -> 6.0
HVAC20 Damage -> 24
HVAC10 Damage -> 12
HVAC2 Heat -> .6
HVAC5 Heat -> 1.0
HVAC10 Heat -> 1.5
HVAC20 Heat -> 3.0

- Adjustments made to Battle Armor Point/Damage Multipliers (overall decrease)

Elemental 		5.00 
Longinus 		5.00 
Kanazuchi 		4.00 
Golem 		4.00 
Standard 		5.00 
Gnome 		4.00 
Salamander 		4.00 
Gray Death 		5.00 
Infiltrator     		6.00 
Infantry 		8.00

- Adjustments made to IS weapons (recycle times)

IS Gauss: 6.00 seconds (-1.00 seconds) 

IS LBX5: 2.60 seconds (-0.40 seconds) 
IS LBX10: 3.30 seconds (-0.70 seconds) 
IS LBX20: 5.00 seconds (-1.00 seconds) 

IS UAC2: 0.75 seconds (-0.25 seconds) 
IS UAC5: 1.20 seconds (-0.30 seconds) 
IS UAC10: 3.50 seconds (-0.50 seconds) 
IS UAC20: 5.30 seconds (-0.70 seconds)

- IS Ultra AC10 weight reduction (16 Tons -> 15 Tons)
- Adjustments to BA Heavy Missile (damage to 8, range to 1000 meters)
- Reduction in Heat to Target values of Inferno LRM20
- Reduction in Heat to Target values of Inferno Heavy Rocket Launcher
- Marauder II and Annihilator torso twist rate increase:  30 -> 40
- Osiris max speed increased to 152.10 kph
- Damage transfer removed from Stalker S1 and S2
- Correction in Fenris hitbox set up (LT and RT were reversed)
- Updated weapons groupings for several stock ‘Mechs
- 3rd Person view fixed for Marauder II, Behemoth II, and Pitbull
- Increased scale for Hunchback IIC and Ursus
- Loki  – RT updated to 1E/1D
- Centurion – LA updated to 2D
- Strider – CT updated to 2E
- Avatar – reverted to MP2.1a slots, addition of 1D to chin rack
- Infantry adjustments (turn rate to 2.00, twist speed to 150, jump jets added)
- Canis torso twist speed increase (52.50 -> 55.00)
- Jump jets added to Hellhound
- BA_Claustrophobia drop zones fixed
- CrosscountryAssault Mission Play objectives fixed
- EvergreenAssault Mission Play objectives fixed
- Tangle CTF .nfm fixed
- updated AI scripts
- Fix for Standard Battle Armor CT slot allowing missiles (1D in Mechlab)
- Fix for Crab Head armor bug
- Fix for Centurion Rear armor bug
- Fix for Black Heart arm special sections
- Fix for Infantry arm special section
- Fix for Orion IIC arm special section
- Fix for Bowman damage transfers & arm special section
- Fix for Yeoman damage modifier
- Fix for RAC/2 producing 0 heat (returned to 0.15)

DEDICATED SERVERS NOTICE

If you wish to run a dedicated server, you cannot have any “Standard” Battle Armor variants in your variants folder.  There is an old bug in the system where having a variant of the 48th ‘Mech in your variants folder will cause a dedicated server to crash.  This used to be the Uziel, but is now the Standard Battle Armor in version MP3.

Also, server administrators should note that the game automatically restricts MRM30 when you host.  This is a hardcoded bug and cannot be fixed presently, so server administrators must manually remove this ban in order for the weapon to be available on their servers.

TROUBLESHOOTING AND MD5CHK

MP3 contains a batch file program called MD5CHK that can help you troubleshoot if you are having problems with the game.  Simply run the file, which is located in your Mercenaries folder.  You should get the results shown here:

If your results do not match these, one of your files has become corrupted and you should try a reinstall.  If your results do match these results, and you are continuing to have problems, please contact MekTek using the contact information at the end of this README file.

NEW VARIANTS FOLDER

All user variants created in MP3 will be contained in VariantsMTMP3.  MP3 will not see any of the variants you have created in previous game versions.  This is because any variants created in previous game versions are now incompatible with MP3, and if you try to copy them into your VariantsMTMP3 folder, the game will crash upon entering the ‘Mech Lab.

OPTIONS.H

Within the Mercenaries folder, you will find the Options.h file located in Content\MercsShellScripts.  This file allows the user to change several of the default settings for MechWarrior: Mercenaries, Version MP3.  Options.h can be edited using a normal text editor.  There are instructions inside the file to help you change settings, but it is not recommended that you change the settings if you are unsure of what you are doing.

HUNCH BACK_IIC

The Hunchback IIC is deliberately misspelled to prevent the game from requiring a user to own the IS Mech Pack from Microsoft in order to select the ‘Mech as playable.

MERCSHIELD FUNCTIONALITY

The anti-cheat functionality of MercShield has been directly built into MP3.  MercShield is no longer required to run separately with MP3.

ADVANCED GYRO

Advanced gyro has been made into a mix tech electronics option in MP3.  It was added to the following ‘Mechs from previous game versions.

Dasher
Uller 
Cougar 
Puma 
Arctic Wolf 
Gesu 
Hellhound
Cauldron-Born 
Nova Cat
Gargoyle 
Masakari 
Warthog 
Daishi

BATTLEFIELD MAP SERIES

There are eleven BattleField maps included in MP3. They are purposely set as waves games to allow non 'Mech units to respawn throughout the game. You can change these maps to a respawn game environment, but the non 'Mech units will not respawn.

BATTLE ARMOR SPECIFIC MAPS

These maps are purposely set with a C-bill limit to allow only Battle Armor and Infantry units. You can change the C-Bill limit to allow 'Mechs, but please be advised that these maps were set up specifically for Battle Armor and Infantry, and 'Mechs may have difficulty navigating them and may even become stuck.

The following are Battle Armor specific missions:

BA_Alpine 
BA_Concourse 
BA_Claustrophobia 
BA_Defiance 
BA_DefianceIndustries 
BA_Factory 
BA_Lostcity2 
BA_Ruinedcity 
BA_Switchback 
BA_UrbanChaos 
BattleField10 
BattleField11 
TunnelThunder

INTRODUCTION VIDEOS

In case there are problems with the game freezing during an introduction video, players can use the /gosnovideo command to bypass the introduction videos.  In order to do this, right click the shortcut on your desktop for Mercenaries, and then select Properties.  Under the Shortcut tab, you will see a Target: box.  After the path to where the game executable is located, enter the /gosnovideo command.

Example:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Mechwarrior Mercenaries\MW4Mercs.exe" /gosnovideo

This can also be used to fixed problems with videos freezing the main menu.  It will disable the main menu videos as well as the introduction videos.

BATTLE ARMOR WEAPONS

Battle Armor weapons have special icons to make them visible from a normal ‘Mech weapon.  While you can mount ‘Mech weapons on Battle Armor in a limited fashion, you cannot mount Battle Armor weapons on ‘Mechs, despite having enough free tonnage or correct number of hard points.  This is intentional.  The Battle Armor slots will decrease and increase according to how many slots are available.  There is also an indicator on the Battle Armor weapons to show how many hard points the weapon will occupy.

MISSILE LOCK ICONS

Missile lock icons have been added to all missiles that have a lock on target functionality.  This functionality was removed from some missiles for MP3.

MW4Mercs_win32.exe

MechWarrior: Mercenaries, Version MP3 no longer uses MW4Mercs_win32.exe to host a dedicated server.  The file is obsolete.  All dedicated servers should be run using the Mercenaries Dedicated Server batch file or though MW4Mercs.exe.  You can do this by right clicking on your Mercs desktop shortcut and putting a “-win32dedicated” command after the path that appears in the target box.  This will automatically launch a win32 dedicated server instead of launching the game itself when you click on the shortcut.

Example:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Mechwarrior Mercenaries\MW4Mercs.exe" -win32dedicated

MAP EDITOR

Those who wish to use the map editor with MP3 must now use the new .exe file that was included with MP3.  This file is MW4EdMP3.  After clicking this .exe file, the map editor will run as normal.

NEW SLOT TYPES

There are three new slot types in MP3.  They are:

Direct Fire (blue) – allows for only energy and ballistic weapons.
Heat Generating (purple) – allows for only energy and missile weapons.
Ammo Consuming (light blue) – allows for only ballistic and missile weapons.

PURE TECH ENFORCER

MP3 contains a pure tech enforcer.  This will be activated by adding +PT+ before the server name or before the mission name (by editing the .nfm file).

Example:

+PT+ Pete’s Server
Frostbite - +PT+ Team Battle

When an offender is caught breaking the pure tech rules, the offending weapons on the ‘Mech will be deemed “out of ammo” and will not be able to fire.

MP3 COMPREHENSIVE MAP LISTING

Here is a comprehensive list of the maps and missions included in MP3.

Arena - Egypt
BA_Alpine
BA_Concourse
BA_Claustrophobia
BA_Defiance
BA_DefianceIndustries
BA_Factory
BA_Lostcity2
BA_Ruinedcity
BA_Switchback
BA_UrbanChaos
BattleField1
BattleField2
BattleField3
BattleField4
BattleField5
BattleField6
BattleField7
BattleField8
BattleField9
BattleField10
BattleField11
Cityscape
ColiseumLegacy
Crosscountry
DeathTrap
DeepFreeze
FloodedCity
GladiatorPitLegacy
GreenPaths
Harlech
Ironmountain
LunarBase
MiningCorp
MossValley
MountDooM
RollingDesert
Talon Pro
Tangle
Titan Base
TunnelThunder
UrbanWreck

COMPREHENSIVE ‘MECH CHANGES

Many ‘Mechs were changed from previous versions to MP3.  Here is a summary listing of those changes:

Slot Changes 

Annihilator 
- new arm slot configuration, new stock configuration

Arctic Wolf 
- 1O added to Right Torso 

Argus 
- D Slot implementation 

Argus XT 
- D Slot implementation 

Atlas 
- Leg Missile Launcher activated 

Avatar 
- Split chin rack, 40 Left Arm 

Awesome 
- CT: 2M 2M, Left Arm H slot implementation 

Black Hawk 
- D Slot implementation 

Black Knight 
- D Slot implementation 

Catapult 
- 2E added to Center Torso 

Chimera 
- D Slot implementation 

Commando 
- H Slot implementation 

Daishi 
- Arms changed to 3E/2O 

Dasher 
- H Slot implementation 

Deimos 
- D Slot implementation 

Dragon 
- D Slot implementation 

Fafnir 
- Arms upgraded to 4E 

Flea 
- D Slot implementation 

Gesu 
- D Slot implementation 

Gladiator 
- D Slot implementation 

Grim Reaper 
- Split chin rack, H slot implementation 

Hellhound 
- D slot implementation 

Hellspawn 
- D slot implementation 

Highlander 
- A slot implementation 

Hollander II 
- split chin rack, H slot implementation 

Hunchback 
- A slot implementation 

Kodiak 
- D slot implementation 
- RT 3B to 4B 
- Arms 3M 4E

Longbow 
- Torsos increased to 3M/2E 

Mad Cat 
- D slot implementation 

Mad Cat Mark II 
- D slot implementation 

Nova Cat 
- H slot implementation 

Owens 
-1E added to each arm 

Raven 
- Right arm becomes 1E/1E 

Rifleman 
- Chin rack split, arms become 3E/2D 

Stalker 
- A slot implementation, new stock load out 

Strider 
- Split CT into 1E/1E, Right Torso and Left Torso become 2O 

Thanatos XT 
- D slot implementation 

Thanatos 
- D slot implementation 

Uller
- D slot implementation

Uziel 
- Beam Pod activated

Mech Attribute Changes 

Annihilator 
- 25 tons max armor 
- new stock load out 
- twist speed lowered to 30
- speed scale changes

Ares 
-Score multiplier reduced to 1.55 
-increased scale 
-LAMS removed 

Atlas 
- 3 free tons added 
- 25 tons max armor 

Black Hawk 
-Speed adjustments 
-Min speed to 82.82, max speed at 118.9 
-Turn rate set to 1.05 from 1.57  

Black Knight 
-LAMS removed 

Catapult 
-Leg armor down from a max of 60, to 56. 
-Catapult arm armor up from a max of 36, to 42 

Daishi 
- 3 free tons added 
- 25 tons max armor 

Dasher
-6 tons max armor
-5 tons base weight
-8th & 9th engine upgrades removed
-turn rate reduced to 1.40 from 1.57

Fafnir 
-25 tons max armor 
-improved agility 

Gargoyle 
- Speed adjustments 

Gesu 
-Free weight modified (gave it 0.25 tons more). Reduced its base weight from 9.75 to 9.50 

Gladiator 
-LAMS removed 
-22.0 tons max armor 

Hauptmann 
-22.0 tons max armor 

Kodiak 
-25 tons max armor 

Mad Cat 
- new texture 

Marauder 
- LAMS removed 

Nova Cat 
- LAMS removed 

Puma 
- 10 kph increase to speed increments 

Ryoken 
- LAMS removed 

Stalker 
- new stock load out 

Solitaire 
- LAMS removed 

Templar 
-hitboxes revised 
-ECM added 

Uller 
-Max armor for arms and side torsos upgraded 

Urban Mech Clan 
- stock reactive armor 
- increased internal armor 

Urban Mech IS 
- increased internal armor 

Warhammer 
- new texture 

Warthog 
- new speed scale 
- speed upgrades of about 5 kph each for min speed 60, max speed 95 kph. 
- 22.0 tons max armor 

Wolfhound 
- LAMS removed

MP3 PLAYABLE UNITS

Here is a list of playable units that MP3 provides in addition to those in previous versions:

Inner Sphere: (30)

Infantry (Ballistic)
Infantry (Energy)			
Infantry (Missile)
Infiltrator (Battle Armor)
Gray Death (Battle Armor)
Standard IS (Battle Armor)
Longinus (Battle Armor)
Kanazuchi (Battle Armor)
Wasp (20 Tons)
Duan Gung (25 Tons)
Koto (25 Tons)
Razorback (30 Tons)
Panther (35 Tons)
Assassin II (45 Tons)
Black Jack II (50 Tons)
Crab (50 Tons)
Centurion (50 Tons)
Trebuchet (50 Tons)
 Privateer (55 Tons)
Shadow Hawk (55 Tons)
Yeoman (60 Tons)
Catapult K2 (65 Tons)
Tenchi (65 Tons)
Archer (70 Tons)
Black Heart (70 Tons
Talos (80 Tons)	
Thug (80 Tons)
BattleMaster (85 Tons)
Marauder II (100 Tons)
Warlord (100 Tons)

Clan: (24)

Infantry (Ballistic)
Infantry (Energy)
Infantry (Missile)
Elemental (Battle Armor)
Salamander (Battle Armor)
Gnome (Battle Armor)
Golem (Battle Armor)
Locust IIC (25 Tons)
Jenner IIC (35 Tons)
Reaver (40 Tons)
Fenris (45 Tons)
Hunchback IIC (50 Tons)
Ursus (50 Tons)
Rabid Coyote (55 Tons)
Vulture C (60 Tons)
Bowman (70 Tons)
Pitbull (70 Tons)
Orion IIC (75 Tons)
Wildcat (75 Tons)
Vulture II (75 Tons)
BattleMaster IIC (85 Tons)
Supernova (90 Tons)
Behemoth I (100 Tons)
Behemoth II (100 Tons)

CONTACT INFORMATION

Any serious bugs found after MP3 will be addressed in a later patch.  A MP3.1 Patch is already planned for a future release.

If you have any questions or concerns, please visit www.mektek.net .  For quickest answers to any questions, please visit the forums.