ETHERLORDS. Update 1.07 for US/English version of the game ========================================================== July 17, 2002 (C) 2001, 2002 JoWooD Productions Software AG, (C) 2001, 2002 Nival Interactive 1. INSTALLATION =============== This is the fifth official update patch for the English version of the game since its release. Update patch version 1.07 includes all fixes and upgrades offered by versions 1.02, 1.03, 1.04 and 1.06 and can be installed either directly on the original version of the game or on top of update patches versions 1.02, 1.03, 1.04 and 1.06. To install the patch, please launch EL107_ENG.exe file and follow on-screen instructions. By default the patch is installed into C:/Program Files/Fishtank Interactive/Etherlords folder. After installation you can launch the game in the usual way, either by using your computer's Start menu or by double-clicking on Etherlords.exe file in the game's folder. 2. PROBLEMS FIXED BY UPDATE PATCH VERSION 1.07 ============================================== Update patch version 1.07 offers the new ability to play a multiplayer game on strategic mission map, plus play a multiplayer game in duel mode on a single computer (duel hot seat). Multiplayer game on strategic map allows playing via a LAN or the Internet using either a direct IP address, or GameSpy server. Update patch version 1.07 includes 7 new multiplayer maps (these maps have already been added if you installed v.1.06) Duel hot seat mode allows two players play at the single computer simultaneously, taking turns to make their moves. Players will be prompted to make a move. The player who is making a move will be automatically shown the sequence of events which took place during his opponent's previous move. Update patch 1.07 fixes a number of issues that were found in 1.06 dealing with the strategic multiplayer mode, including multiple problems with connections and the loading of previously saved games. Update patch version 1.07 also fixes the following problems discovered after the release of update patch version 1.04: The game's strategic phase -------------------------- - introduced diplomacy in multiplayer game on strategic map - fixed incorrect messages appearing after destruction of Castles - implemented all global spells and fixed several bugs with global spells - the winner now gets all artefacts previously owned by the losing player - fixed the bug causing "hanging" if a message about capture of resources and a tutorial window were displayed simultaneously - added message informing about ether attack on defenceless castle - fixed the bug causing crash after a hero on whom certain global spells have been cast died The game's combat phase ------------------------ - fixed the bug with "Change Of Command" enchantments: if control over a creature has changed several times, when one of "Change Of Command" enchantments was dispelled the creature used to be returned to a wrong controller - fixed the bug with casting "Desintegrate" spell after installation of update patch version 1.04 causing the game to "hang" during combat - fixed the bug causing a game crash in both single- and multiplayer duel modes if "Greater Unsummoning" spell has been used while having three or more "Walking Horror" creatures present on the arena - changed "Vitality of Finguses" specialisation's probability of taking effect when fingus was sacrificed - now this probability amounts to about a 30% chance of the specialisation taking effect when a fingus dies of normal means - fixed the bug with "Barbed Souls" enchantment - now it only works on creature's death, not on "unsummon" - fixed critical bug causing system crash due to "Water Link" and "Change of Command" enchantments. If "Water Link" and "Change of Command" were cast on a creature, the whole game "hanged" after the creature's death - fixed the bug causing "hanging" at the end of duel consisting of several rounds - fixed a duel bug, when "End of Phase" button was enabled at the beginning of combat during the opponent's turn - fixed the bug causing display of inactive icons above creatures during combat immediately after loading the game 3. PROBLEMS FIXED WITH THE EARLIER UPDATES ========================================== Update patch version 1.04 fixes the following problems identified after the release of update patch version 1.03: Change of spells and artefacts balance -------------------------------------- - made significant changes to artifacts' prices - made changes to several spells - made changes to several specializations, in particular changed probabilities of specializations occuring - the cost of several spells in terms of resources is increased - the cost of the highest level of abilities' development in terms of resources is increased Specific detailed information on changes are shown in tables included in Balance changes.rtf file which is placed in the game's root folder after update patch installation. All changes are shown in blue font. Increased protection from cheating ---------------------------------- - eliminated the chance to see your opponent's "hand" before dueling. Introduced duel log ------------------- - the log includes the player's deck and all messages displayed on the screen in tactical mode, such as spell casting, artifact usage, specialization activation, and creatures using their abilities. At the beginning of each player's turn the following information on each hero is put into the log: current value of life, amount of ether channels, quantity of spells in hand (and a list of spells for your hero), quantity of creatures on the field, a list of creatures on the field with attack/defense parameters, quantity of creatures in graveyard. C++ Runtime error at the beginning of the game ---------------------------------------------- - fixed the bug causing game to "hang" with "C++ Runtime error" message on some computers at the beginning of the game during a mission map loading. Gameplay errors --------------- - fixed the bug causing game to "hang" during combat when one of the participating heroes has the "Adhesive" specialization. - fixed the bug with using "Adhesive" specialization: when this specialization took effect, a player did not have to expend any ether to dispel the enchantment. - fixed the bug with using "Halos' Twins" and "Velos' Twins" specializations: the summoning creature spell was cancelled if the specialization took effect while the hero had 9 creatures on the field. - fixed the bug with the missing message about the "Rebirth" specialization when it took effect. - fixed the bug causing "Spiritual Web" enchantment to take effect after de- incarnation of a creature. - fixed the bug causing a game crash after using the "<" or ">" characters for a saved game name. - "Tap Life" spell and "Lifetap" creature ability now do not give the hero using them more life than the enemy hero had. - if you try to delete a saved game, a warning message now appears on the screen. - fixed the bug causing "Data Attraction" spell to take effect just after it's cast. Interface errors and additions ------------------------------ - if you try to delete a set of spells (spell book), a warning message now appears on the screen. - filters that control choosing a spell book now work differently; when a filter is on, only spell books of the filter's resource level are shown - spell books, compiled before the patch 1.04 release, and now not matching their resource level (specified earlier) due to the increase of artefacts' price are distinguished with color in the list - fixed the bug casuing incoorect save of the duel log option's state ================================================================================ Update version 1.03 fixes the following problems identified after update version 1.02 was released: Increased protection from cheating --------------------------------- - improved process for checking integrity and correctness of the enemy's Spell Book in duel mode. System errors ---------------- - fixed the bug which caused the game to crash occasionally after losing a combat. Gameplay errors ---------------- - fixed the bug with "Alpha Strike" spell action. - fixed the bug which prevented the player from using Pteros' ability to break enchantments. - fixed the bug with using Chaots' "Stones' Wrath" and Kinets' "Winds' Wrath" specializations, causing the specializations to work only on rare occasions. - fixed the bug which allowed a 3rd level mine to transform into a 1st level one. - fixed the bug with "Change of Command" spell action. ========================================================================= Update version 1.02 fixes the following problems identified in the release version of the game: Windows XP problems ------------------- - fixed the bug which frequently caused a game freeze after end of duel. - fixed the bug which occasionally caused a game freeze or crash when exiting to Windows. C++ Runtime error at the beginning of the game ---------------------------------------------- During installation, a program component responsible for correct processing of certain types of files used by the game will be installed on your system. It's a standard component which normally comes with all MS Internet Explorer versions newer than 4.0. Systems using MS Internet Explorer versions 4.0 or lower may have been lacking this specific component, causing the game to fail with an error. Installing this patch addresses this problem. Launching the game in Windows 2000 ---------------------------------- - Fixed the bug which caused an error when trying to launch the game after logging on under different user accounts in Windows 2000. If the game has been installed by the user while logged on with one user account, and then launched while logged on under a different one, the game would usually fail with a C++ runtime error. Patch 1.02 fixes this problem. After installing this update, we recommend launching the game immediately under the same user account. From that point forward, you'll be able to launch the game successfully after logging on under any user account. Other system errors ----------------------- - fixed the bug which prevented the game from running if there was no drive C: in the system - fixed the bug which caused frequent connection loss when playing in duel mode via the Internet - fixed the bug which caused a failure to identify 3D hardware accelerator in certain systems Gameplay errors ---------------- Update version 1.02 fixes a number of gameplay errors. The most serious of those are: - fixed the bug causing the game to crash after using global spell "Warrior of the Realm" - fixed several bugs connected with using Ethereal forts - fixed the bug forcing two player's heroes to enter combat in case one of them was in a fort - fixed several global spells (in particular, spells "Hypnotism", "Lighting wrath", "Gifts of the Forest", "Channel Warp", "Regeneration" now work correctly) - fixed the bug which impeded heroes exchanging found global spells - in consecutive duel rounds, spells are now issued randomly - amended victory conditions in a number of missions - fixed the bug causing a game crash after inflicting very large amount of damage to enemy castle - fixed the bug connected with simultaneous use of a structure (e.g. Academy or Dungeon) by several heroes - fixed the bug in the 4th mission of the "Flying Leaf" campaign, which prevented completion of the mission after killing 9 Aviaks, in case there was another Aviak in the dungeons. When saved games are loaded with the completed mission condition, the mission will finish successfully. - fixed specializations "Gibberlings' Restlessness" and "Lamias' Thievery" - fixed the bug preventing use of certain spells in hand after switching to artifacts - fixed the bug which occasionally caused a shift of runes' value from the spell icon to an empty screen - fixed the bug causing a change of creatures' parameters in case the AI- controlled opponent had the "Delusion" spell Additional improvements achieved by installing the patch -------------------------------------------------------- - new info messages during combat: information on using artifacts, recycling spells, creatures' abilities - new message about deployment of specialization - new messages for Master - more precise wording for several spells - in Multiplayer game chat, names of users who created their own games are now highlighted in colour, to distinguish them from other participants of the chat - introduced mechanism for checking correctness and integrity of opponent's Spell Book in the Duel mode 4. ADDITIONAL ADVICE ON OPTIMISING THE GAME SPEED ================================================= To avoid problems (especially low game speed), we do not recommend changing Windows swap-file to custom settings. In certain cases limiting swap-file size can cause a random exit to Windows. In any case you should have at least 500 MB of free hard disk space for the swap-file (after extended gameplay, it can become quite large). 5. Developer feedback and support ================================= Nival Interactive and JoWooD Productions do not guarantee full operability of this game on all hardware. However, experience has shown that most computers which meet the minimum system requirements will be capable of running the game. We greatly appreciate all notes and bug reports. JoWooD Productions offers technical support through E-mail and via phone. If you have problems with the program, and the information in the manual and Readme file are insufficient, consult the support area on the Etherlords web site at http://www.etherlords.com. Our web site contains up-to-date information on the most common difficulties with our products, and is kept current with the most up-to-date information and patches. If you have a problem and need to contact technical support: - Go to Start menu and click . - Type in the message box and press Enter to run Microsoft DirectX Diagnostic Tool. - Go through all tests. - Once all tests are complete, click on . - Send the diagnostic text file created by dxdiag and a complete description of your problem to support@jowood.com Please be sure to include the following information: Title of Game Version of Game (patch) Operating System DirectX version Type of CPU, and speed in MHz Amount of RAM Sound card type Video Card Video Card's driver version CD-ROM Mouse type and driver version (if available) And a detailed description of the problem you are having. If you need to talk to someone immediately, you may contact Customer Service at ++49 (0) 6102 8168 - 068 for gameplay related questions, and ++49 (0) 6102 8168- 168 for technical questions. Please have the above information ready when you call. This will help us answer your question in the shortest possible time. Customer Service at these numbers is available from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Central European Time (CET). Our web sites ============= http://www.etherlords.com http://www.jowood.com http://www.nival.com