Vidiotmaps for Homecoming

[AboveTheChemist]

24 minutes ago, Marshal_General said:

I had a weird bug.

 

Vidiotmaps and the 'fog of war' have nothing to do with one another. There have been at least two prior bug reports about this issue in the Bug Reports forum, based on a cursory search. I'd recommend posting your observations in one or both of those:

 

https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/41581-atlas-zone-map-not-showing-up/

https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/30543-map-has-black-fog-of-war/

 

Also, as far as I know the 'fog of war' files are stored by character. So, if you log a character on, uncover some fog, and then log off, look in the folder with the 'fog of war' files and the most recently modified file will be the one that belongs to the character that was just played.

[Marshal_General]

This wasn't fog of war. This was black as in I could see nothing but a few poi icons. I couldn't even see the stuff that vidiots puts outside the map area.

 

Even with fog of war, you can zoom in and read the map. When I zoomed in, all I saw was a closer look at black.

[AboveTheChemist]

23 minutes ago, Marshal_General said:

This wasn't fog of war.

 

In your previous post, you stated:

 

2 hours ago, Marshal_General said:

I created a character and the map for Atlas was black. Even the text outside of the map. As I moved, it cleared up.

 

If it cleared as you moved around the map, it's 'fog of war'. It's not normal 'fog of war', which is translucent, but it's 'fog of war' nonetheless. I recommend you post to one or both of the two bug threads I linked, as your problem matches the bug described therein exactly. Again, your issue isn't related to vidiotmaps.

[Reiknar]

I've only recently returned to playing Homecoming (had played a bit back in 2019), and I began this with just attempting to get vidiotmaps setup and working. This led to setting up City Mod Installer, where I picked up a few other things that looked fun or useful. Sadly, while those other things I found, worked fine, vidiotmaps refused. I tried multiple times installing, starting the game, get error. Close launcher, uninstall maps, close City Mod Installer. Restart City Mod Installer, install maps, start launcher, start game, get error. Rinse and repeat, at least 5 times. Perused this topic as well as the City Mod Installer topic for clues about what I could do to fix it, closest thing related was a post someone made on page 4 of this thread. They posted having the same error I was getting related to vidiotmaps. But not the solution, just that it magically began working for them.

 

This was the error I saw each time,
- Fileheader extends past end of .pigg, probably corrupt .pigg file! #135 (note: the hashtag number at the end of the error message would change each time, I suspect this is normal for the error reporting from the Homecoming Launcher)

 

 

I realized after the first attempt, that City Mod Installer indicated it was "attempting" to download the file for:  hc_vidiotmaps.pigg
 

 

As I mentioned I tried Uninstalling and re Installing the vidiotmaps mod several times, at least 5. The message there about attempting to download, did change a few times, but I don't recall what other messages it gave. However it still never worked.

 

But, ya'know what they say, it's always the last thing you try is what works... heh.

 

On my last attempt, I tried the same thing as every time before that, but this time, viola!

 

 

The message finally changed to say "Installed"

With no small amount of trepidation I attempted to start the game. I very much believed that this would be the solution I was looking for, ie. that basically I just needed the install to go off without a hitch. Lo an behold! It did, no hitch and it works fine now. I can happily fly about collecting badges.

I don't know what the "trick" was, or if there even was one. That last attempt, I didn't give City Mod Installer very long before checking and seeing the "Installed" message. In my attempts coming up to the last one I gave it much, much, more time before attempts to start the game. Perhaps it was still downloading in pieces, each time I reattempted the install? I never did find a folder with V_Maps to remove, delete, etc. So perhaps that's in there somewhere and the installer was just building on it with each attempt, and so the last attempt just had to "finish up" right quick?

Note that I did attempt to use the Refresh option on the Installer, several times over the course of the process. The message "attempting to install" would go away, so I thought it was done. I did not realize I needed to wait for it to say "Installed" (thought it certainly makes a heaping pile of sense after the fact). I'm honestly not sure if it was still attempting install on all of those other attempts, or if it had hit an error of some sort and failed in process.

So for anyone else experiencing this, and possibly getting frustrated, I can just say that perseverance pays off. I would like to know if it was recurring problems with the download/install, or if it was just a matter of time accumulated across the attempts that caused it to finally finish as it were. That portion of the issue, might best be addressed in the City Mod Installer thread, I'm unsure, and saw nothing about this over there (there very well could be and I just missed it).

 

To be clear, a massive heart felt thank you to all of those who put in work on these mods (this includes the mod installer!) and share them with the rest of us. Modders in any game often receive a lot more grief than they do appreciation, just want to be clear that it's all appreciation on my side of the screen here.

[AboveTheChemist]

9 hours ago, Reiknar said:

I never did find a folder with V_Maps to remove, delete, etc. So perhaps that's in there somewhere and the installer was just building on it with each attempt, and so the last attempt just had to "finish up" right quick?

 

The V_Maps and similar folders (the ones I cover in the deleting old installations section) are related to the old way that vidiotmaps was installed via the data folder. The new install process, which has been in place for about a year and a half now, utilizes a single pigg file installed into the assets/mods folder, and doesn't use the data folder at all. You may find the occasional mod that still uses the data folder for one reason or another (one of mine does), but anything installed with City Mod Installer goes into the assets/mods folder. It is critically important to check for those old installs, though, and to remove them if you find them, so it's good that you looked for those folders.

 

9 hours ago, Reiknar said:

I would like to know if it was recurring problems with the download/install, or if it was just a matter of time accumulated across the attempts that caused it to finally finish as it were. That portion of the issue, might best be addressed in the City Mod Installer thread, I'm unsure, and saw nothing about this over there (there very well could be and I just missed it).

 

I found at least two instances where the exact issue you saw was addressed in the City Mod Installer thread:

 

https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/49175-city-mod-installer-released/?do=findComment&comment=565000

https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/49175-city-mod-installer-released/?do=findComment&comment=593048

 

I feel certain it appears in prior pages of that thread as well, but I got tired of looking. It's an issue that has come up often, and is typically related to something interfering with the download process.

 

At any rate, I'm glad the download eventually worked and that the mod seems to be functioning, and thanks for the kind words!

[LynnD]

Vidiot maps needs another update.  The Sentinal badge in Atlas Park got moved to Echo: Atlas Park.  The Rookie badge got moved from Echo: Atlas Park to Atlas Park just behind Ms Liberty.  The Bicentennial plaque in Kalisti's Wharf needs to be added to the map.

[AboveTheChemist]

4 hours ago, LynnD said:

Vidiot maps needs another update.

 

I replied to your PM before I saw this, but the updates you mention were made months ago, as noted in the zone-specific update log in the top post. It sounds like you either need to update your vidiotmaps installation or delete an old installation that might be overwriting the most recent version. Instructions for those tasks can be found in the top post at this link.

 

Edited May 14, 2024 by AboveTheChemist

[kelika2]

The first dropdown menu in the OP worked best for me, manual is best.  thanks

[TheMultiVitamin]

Is there a legend/guide as to what the different icons mean? I know that the numbers correlate with the numbers on the top/bottom of the map and the like, but I don't know what icons are for what so I don't know what numbers correlate with what. Unless it tells you what icons match up ON the map itself and I'm just blind.

[Luminara]

5 minutes ago, TheMultiVitamin said:

Is there a legend/guide as to what the different icons mean?

 

https://homecoming.wiki/wiki/The_Players'_Guide_to_the_Cities/User_Interface/Map_Window

[TheMultiVitamin]

1 minute ago, Luminara said:

 

https://homecoming.wiki/wiki/The_Players'_Guide_to_the_Cities/User_Interface/Map_Window

I meant specifically for Vidiotmaps, I know what the normal icons mean but I don't know what the 1 in a yellow box icon is for, or the green badge shaped 3, or the 8 in a red diamond, that kind of thing.

[AboveTheChemist]

On 10/29/2024 at 3:14 PM, TheMultiVitamin said:

Is there a legend/guide as to what the different icons mean?

 

Click the 'City' tab in the map window. There is a legend there, for any area of CoH that you are in.

 

Edited November 25, 2024 by AboveTheChemist
correct my abuse of the English language

[TheMultiVitamin]

2 minutes ago, AboveTheChemist said:

 

Click the 'City' tab in the map window, there is a legend on there for the symbols, for any area of CoH that you are in.

 

Wow I really am blind! Thanks!

[ispiff]

Just chiming in to say THANK YOU for keeping this project alive and well!  Easy installation - much appreciated!!  

[Marshal_General]

OK, I have had the problem I had earlier this year happen again.

 

Before anyone tries to tell me it is Fog of War, like I don't know the difference. The first picture is Kings Row and shows FoW.

 

The second is Atlas and is not FoW.

 

As you can see, I can none of the map in Atals unlike what I can see in KR.

 

What is this?

[Michiyo]

3 hours ago, Marshal_General said:

OK, I have had the problem I had earlier this year happen again.

 

Before anyone tries to tell me it is Fog of War, like I don't know the difference. The first picture is Kings Row and shows FoW.

 

The second is Atlas and is not FoW.

 

As you can see, I can none of the map in Atals unlike what I can see in KR.

 

What is this?

This has nothing to do with Vidiots, and it *IS* Fog of War.  Your client tracks the areas of the zone you've uncovered in local files, not on the server, and when one of these files gets corrupted you end up with fully opaque FoW usually used for hazard zones, instead of the translucent FoW used for city zones.  Again, this has nothing to do with any mods, the client sometimes just writes out the FoW file incorrectly.  The only fix is to either use reveal on the map to clear it all at once, or delete the corrupted file in ""Homecoming\accounts\(ACCOUNTNAME)\maps", if you go to the effected map, then log out the latest updated map should be the most recent "Data modified" in that folder.

[Marshal_General]

On 12/9/2024 at 11:52 PM, Michiyo said:

This has nothing to do with Vidiots, and it *IS* Fog of War.  Your client tracks the areas of the zone you've uncovered in local files, not on the server, and when one of these files gets corrupted you end up with fully opaque FoW usually used for hazard zones, instead of the translucent FoW used for city zones.  Again, this has nothing to do with any mods, the client sometimes just writes out the FoW file incorrectly.  The only fix is to either use reveal on the map to clear it all at once, or delete the corrupted file in ""Homecoming\accounts\(ACCOUNTNAME)\maps", if you go to the effected map, then log out the latest updated map should be the most recent "Data modified" in that folder.

I still do not consider it fog if it blacks out everything the fog lets you see.

 

Deleting the file did work though so thanks for that. I wonder if it only happens to Altas as that is the only map that it has happened to me. I also skipped the tutorial so Altlas would be the first map that character entered.

[randomx]

Is this not being updated any longer?

[lemming]

4 minutes ago, randomx said:

Is this not being updated any longer?

It's been updated everytime there's a need for a change.  Just haven't needed one since last year.

[AboveTheChemist]

7 hours ago, randomx said:

Is this not being updated any longer?

 

I am not sure what would lead you to this conclusion, but your fears are unfounded. As lemming noted, the last update was a year ago almost to the day, and it was a big one containing 28 maps. Given the magnitude of that update, perhaps I can be forgiven for taking a break for a while. That being said, I know of some future changes that are going to necessitate some small updates, so I am beginning anew the process of planning which zones to update next. I'll probably pick a few from my backlog as well, with the goal to update 5 or so maps in the next update. I have no timeframe, but I'll aim to update it roughly the same time as the next page releases.

[GM Crumpet]

1 hour ago, AboveTheChemist said:

 

I am not sure what would lead you to this conclusion, but your fears are unfounded. As lemming noted, the last update was a year ago almost to the day, and it was a big one containing 28 maps. Given the magnitude of that update, perhaps I can be forgiven for taking a break for a while. That being said, I know of some future changes that are going to necessitate some small updates, so I am beginning anew the process of planning which zones to update next. I'll probably pick a few from my backlog as well, with the goal to update 5 or so maps in the next update. I have no timeframe, but I'll aim to update it roughly the same time as the next page releases.

As stated above, if we change something we let AboveTheChemist know so they can update vidiotmaps as required. It might take a few days if the change is a last minute thing, but we appreciate the work they do for no reward except the gratitude of everyone who uses vidiotmaps. Any changes between updates are generally just slight tweaks if a marker is slightly out. And that is a very rare situation.

[Bionic_Flea]

1 hour ago, AboveTheChemist said:

Given the magnitude of that update, perhaps I can be forgiven for taking a break for a while.

 

You take whatever time you need.  Your efforts are truly and greatly appreciated.

[AboveTheChemist]

31 minutes ago, GM Crumpet said:

Any changes between updates are generally just slight tweaks if a marker is slightly out.

 

Just to expand on this, my current workflow on any map that I update is to do a complete map overhaul, which includes a thorough check of all marker locations (badges, plaques, contacts, day jobs, GM markers, and anything else), a thorough survey of all NPCs in the zone to make sure the critter notation is accurate, and some other consistency checks for text and other stuff on the map. That way, once I finish a map, I shouldn't ever need to revisit it outside of any changes the HC team might make.

 

The exceptions to this were 11 maps that I updated for Bicentennial markers only, because I just didn't have time to give those maps the full overhaul treatment. I'll likely pick a couple from that group of 11 to overhaul for this next round of updates.

 

And thanks muchly for the kind words!

[GM Crumpet]

8 hours ago, AboveTheChemist said:

 

Just to expand on this, my current workflow on any map that I update is to do a complete map overhaul, which includes a thorough check of all marker locations (badges, plaques, contacts, day jobs, GM markers, and anything else), a thorough survey of all NPCs in the zone to make sure the critter notation is accurate, and some other consistency checks for text and other stuff on the map. That way, once I finish a map, I shouldn't ever need to revisit it outside of any changes the HC team might make.

 

The exceptions to this were 11 maps that I updated for Bicentennial markers only, because I just didn't have time to give those maps the full overhaul treatment. I'll likely pick a couple from that group of 11 to overhaul for this next round of updates.

 

And thanks muchly for the kind words!

My apologies if it sounded like I was trivialising the work. Even just a small change can take ages to implement as it needs to be checked and double checked, then the whole thing updated. I know how much time a "minor" fix can take 🙂