Half-Life 2 CSS Sci Fi v2.1 Mod

This mod for SMOD takes Counter Strike: Source maps and turns them into "Counter Combine" maps with randomly allocated enemies and resources.

-- CSS SCI FI 2.1 --
An SMOD mod by Fitzroy_Doll
Based on an idea by the SMOD author.

CSS SCI FI homepage:
http://www.amphibian.myzen.co.uk/css_sci_fi

SMOD homepage:
http://accept.hopto.org/smod/

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Overview
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CSS SCI FI is a single player modification for Half Life 2. Maps from Counter
Strike: Source are used as the setting for intense Half-Life 2 combat action.
CSS SCI FI mixes random generation of enemies and resources with map-specific
scripting to create a fully realised and readily replayable game.

The latest CSS SCI FI 2.1 release contains scripts which enable you to use SMOD
to play 12 user-made custom maps and 15 original Counter-Strike: Source maps as
two single player Half Life 2 campaigns. All custom maps are unmodified and
installed to your Counter Strike: Source maps folder in their original state,
including bot navs and author documentation.

Within each map the player spawns with a randomly selected and armed team of
fellow citizens, who are optionally assisted by Alyx, Barney and a further
randomly selected ally. These forces are pitted against a fixed number of
Combine, whose type and armament is also randomly determined. Between the two
forces is a random assortment of zombies and autonomous Combine weapons. The
goal of the player is to eliminate all of the Combine forces, or to rescue at
least one hostage alive, depending on the type of map. The player may also be
given additional tasks, such as to find a particular weapon, eliminate a
specific NPC, or protect an NPC from death.

In addition to allies and enemies, maps contain a randomly determined number of
resources held in crates, which the player will need to survive and win the
game. Randomly generated props appropriate to the theme of the map are also
seeded through the map in order to provide additional interest and challenge.

Players will also face enemies including helicopters, gunships, apcs and other
challenges, whose behaviour is tightly controlled through scripting in order to
produce a challenging yet realistic gameplay experience.

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CONTENTS
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1. Requirements
2. Installation
3. Configuration
4. Running the game
5. What to do when SMOD is patched
6. Compatibility
7. Uninstallation
8. FAQ
9. Gameplay tips
10. Project questions
11. Changelog
12. Credits
13. Contact
14. Legal

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1. Requirements
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Half-Life 2
Counter-Strike: Source

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2. Installation
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CSS SCI FI is packaged as a fully functioning installer. To install the game,
ensure you have a full version of Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike: Source
installed, then run the installation program.

During installation, SMOD 39D2 will be installed to your SourceMods directory,
and CSS SCI FI will be installed within the smod folder. All custom
Counter-Strike: Source maps and nav files will be installed to your
cstrikemaps directory as normal.

During installation you will be asked to choose a number of configuration
options. All options can be adjusted at any time by using the SMOD
Configuration Utility. For more about this feature, please see the
configuration readme.

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3. Configuration
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After you have completed installation, you are ready to play. If you would like
to try a different configuration, simply run the SMOD Configuration Utility,
which you will find in your SMOD directory or as a shortcut on your desktop.
This will guide you through the game options for SMOD. After running this
utility, you do not need to take any further action - the game is now ready to
play.

Please see the configuration readme for more details on the SMOD Configuration
Utility.

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4. Running the game
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CSS SCI FI has been fully integrated into the main SMOD chapter menu. To play
the maps as a single player campaign, ensure "Campaign Mode" is enabled in the
SMOD Configuration Utility, then run SMOD. The first two chapters in the New
Game menu show the start of each campaign. Campaign 1 features 12 custom maps,
while Campaign 2 features 15 retail maps.

You can also play each map one at a time. If you wish the map to reload when
the objectives are complete, select "Round Mode" in the SMOD Configuration
Utility. To play a map, start SMOD and then select "New Game". You will find
all 27 CSS SCI FI maps, followed by Lost Coast and the Half Life 2 single
player campaign.

Because the chapter menu is limited to 32 chapters, not all of the HL2 single
player chapters can be displayed. If you wish to play a Half-Life 2 single
player campaign chapter which starts at a different point in the story, please
run the SMOD Configuration Utility and choose the option to install the
original HL2 chapter menu. Using this feature you can switch between the CSS
SCI FI menu and the HL2 chapter menu at any time.

Like many HL2 mods, please note that loading times are very long initially, but
improve once the game is running. Please be patient.

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5. What to do when SMOD is patched
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SMOD is patched and upgraded frequently. All new releases can be found at the
SMOD forum or at the official download mirror. For each numbered version, such
as 39, there will be a cumulative lettered patch, for example smod39b.zip. To
install the patch unzip the patch to your SourceMods directory, being sure to
overwrite all files. To install an updated numbered version of SMOD, follow the
same procedure. It is not necessary to delete your SMOD installation prior to
upgrading or patching.

After patching or upgrading, you must run the SMOD Configuration Utility and
choose the option at the end to "restore core files". This will ensure that you
have both the latest version of SMOD as well as a fully functioning installation
of CSS SCI FI. If there are any incompatibilities between a new SMOD patch or
version and CSS SCI FI, a CSS SCI FI patch will be released via the mod website
and the CSS SCI FI Moddb profile.

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6. Compatibility
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CSS SCI FI has been designed for SMOD only and should not be used in
conjunction with other SMOD mods. CSS SCI FI is not compatible with "SMOD
Tactical" or the "SMOD mapadd generator".

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7. Uninstallation
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To uninstall CSS SCI FI, exit Steam and delete your SourceModssmod directory.
This will remove CSS SCI FI and SMOD.

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8. FAQ
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Installation

1. Do I need to download SMOD first? No. SMOD 39D2 is included in the
installation, so you do not need to download SMOD separately. If you already
have SMOD installed, it will be upgraded to version 39B2.

2. If I want to play the original SMOD and CSS SCI FI, do I need two
installations? No. You are only wasting hard disk space if you do this. To play
SMOD in its original form, simply use the configuration utility to switch the
chapter menu to the Half-Life 2 single player campaign. CSS SCI FI does not
interfere with or inhibit any of the original functions of SMOD, so one
installation is all you need.

3. Do I need Counter-Strike: Source? Yes, you must have an installation of
Counter-Strike: Source before installing CSS SCI FI. This is because the maps
that CSS SCI FI uses were made for Counter-Strike: Source and they will not run
(or even exist) without it.

4. Is CSS SCI FI compatible with "SMOD Tactical"? No. The two mods use many of
the same script files, and errors may occur if the files from one are used to
overwrite the other. Scripts which control mission goals, npc movement and
spawning will break if key files are not in place or have been modified
incorrectly. This will result in games being impossible to complete and/or game
crashes. CSS SCI FI is also not compatible with the "SMOD Mapadd generator",
which will also overwrite key files used by the game.

Players can, however, use any models, custom weapons or sounds they like, as
these will not affect the mechanics of the game. Players can also upgrade SMOD
as patches are released, as long as the SMOD Configuration Utility is run
afterwards and the restore core files option is checked.

Gameplay

1. Long initial loading times. This is normal for Half-Life 2 and cannot be
improved. Once the first map has loaded, subsequent loads will be faster.

2. It crashes/runs poorly. First, check Steam Support and the HL2 TweakGuide
and ensure that you have performed all necessary maintenance to improve the
performance of the game, including updating to the latest version of your
graphics drivers. Most crashes relate to difficulties with system memory, so
ensure you have plenty of RAM and that it is in good working order.

If performance is still poor, run the SMOD Configuration Utility and choose
less expensive options. Settings which will reduce framerates are:

"Maximum" on the Performance page.
"Bloom with exposure" on the Bloom page.
"Full ragdoll collisions" on the Game enhancements page.
"Extra Enemies" on the Gameplay options page.

All of these should be disabled if you are having performance difficulties. For
more about how various settings in the SMOD Configuration Utility can impact
performance, please see the Configuration page.

3. Game is too difficult/easy. If you find the game too difficult (or too
easy), quit and re-run the SMOD Configuration Utility to select easier or
harder options. After running the configuration utility you can still set the
difficulty to Easy, Medium or Hard in the options menu as normal, thereby
allowing you to create a combination that suits you. In general, the game >
options skill setting relates to damage and health, with easier settings making
your weapons more effective and enemies weaker. The SMOD Configuration Utility
primarily adjusts accuracy and behaviour. Easier settings mean that your allies
get more hits and enemies fewer, while harder settings mean that enemies are
more aggressive, miss less often and fire for longer periods. For more settings
which may affect difficulty, please see the Configuration page.

4. Changing back to the standard Half-Life 2 chapter menu. To change the New
Game chapter menu back to the standard display of the HL2 single player
campaign chapters, simply run the SMOD Configuration Utility and choose
"Original Half-Life 2 chapter menu" on the Game options page.

5. Screen is black and player cannot see anything when the game starts. The
shader used for bloom may not be compatible with some older video cards. If you
have selected any type of bloom during configuration and the screen is
completely black as soon as the game starts, then quit SMOD and run the
Configuration Utility again. Be sure to select "No Bloom" and run the game
again. This will eliminate the problem.

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9. Gameplay tips
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1. Save often. Though these are Counter-Strike:Source maps, the gameplay is
pure HL2: you do not have to win in one round without dying.

2. Keep an eye on Alyx. If you enable Alyx in the SMOD Configuration Utility,
she will lead you to the hostages in CS maps, and if nothing else, you may wish
to use her pistol after she dies.

3. Use squad commands. Your Citizen squad, including hostages, can be
commanded. Use C to send them to a location under your crosshair, and CC (C
twice) to recall them. If sent to a location, they will remain there until
recalled. This can be useful to get them out of the way, or to send them to a
place of safety while you clear an area. Citizen allies will either give you
health or ammunition, so keep them alive as long as you can.

4. Hostage rescue. There are two ways to win a hostage map. The first, and
easiest, is to park your hostages in a safe place while you clear the way to
the rescue zone. Then stroll to the rescue zone to win the game. The second is
to make a dash for the rescue zone with the hostages in tow. Remember that you
must rescue all living hostages in a map to win the game. After you rescue the
hostages, all Combine will be removed from the map, including their weapons,
even if they are already in your inventory. This is normal (you've won!).

5. RPG. If you start the map with an RPG you will usually have to deal with one
or more large enemies. Don't waste your ammo on smaller targets unless you have
located an rpg ammo crate.

6. Rollermines and hopper mines. Use grenades or rockets to destroy
rollermines, in combination with an smg or shotgun to push them towards the
blast. Rollermines can also be incinerated using the ANM14 grenade or the
Flaregun. Hopper mines can be sprinted past if you are careful (but be sure to
send any followers somewhere else first).

7. Special grenades. Special grenades (anm14, gravity grenade and motion
sensor) use the same ammo counter as your normal frag grenades. The number of
these you can carry is equal to the number of frag grenades you are carrying
(but they are very rare).

8. Weapons share models. Some weapons share models. The Flaregun
(weapon_flaregun) uses the same model as the Pistol (weapon_pistol). If you
break open a crate and find pistols, be sure to pick them up as they are
Flareguns and are very useful for setting Combine soldiers on fire. The
Lasergun (weapon_lasergun) shares its model with the Combine Pulse Rifle
(weapon_ar2). You will only find this weapon on dead Combine.

9. APC issues. There are two issues which can arise in maps featuring the
Combine APC. The first is that friendly NPCs will not attack the APC, even if
it is attacking them. This is because NPCs can only hate and attack other NPCs,
not inanimate objects such as the APC.

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10. Project questions
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1. Were any maps decompiled to make this? Absolutely not. All maps are byte for
byte the originals as released by their respective authors, and are included in
the installation package only as a convenience to players of CSS SCI FI. All
maps are fully playable using SMOD or Counter Strike: Source. No files need to
be moved or copied to switch between SMOD and Counter-Strike:Source, all you
need to do is start the game of your choice and the maps will be available.

2. Some maps are missing. CS Italy, CS Havana and CS Compound are missing from
CSS SCI FI due to difficulties with converting their nav files to SMOD node
lists. They may form part of a future release.

3. What's the point of this project? These script files solve a long standing
problem in HL2 editing: how do I legitimately make maps for HL2 which make use
of CS:S content? According to the relevant article in the Developer Wiki, all
content for each game must remain in its original GCF, which means you can use
the content, but not if you extract it and re-distribute it. Essentially this
means that you will never be able to watch a Combine Gunship sweep down through
the autumnal leaves of Militia or see a strider stalking the swampy ground of
Aztec. Until now?

4. Can I use these scripts as a basis for my own releases? Of course. Our
benefactor, the original author of SMOD, has made the game in such a way that
editing is easy, and one person's project can become the basis for another. I
only ask that you credit me (fitzroy_doll), this website:
(http://www.amphibian.myzen.co.uk/css_sci_fi) and the SMOD author as
originators of the scripts, and let me know so I can check it out! CSS SCI FI
is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 license, so be sure you
understand the terms of this license before reusing any content.

5. Is Vista supported? Yes, as long as you run both the installer and the SMOD
Configuration Utility with full administration rights, it should not produce
any problems. However, I do not have access to a copy of Vista so if anyone
using Vista and this game would like to give me feedback, then please do so at
antiscope [at] gmail [dot] com.

6. Are translations of the SMOD Configuration Utility available? Not at
present, but if you would like to help then please get in touch at antiscope
[at] gmail [dot] com.

7. Help and support. If you have a question about CSS SCI FI and have read all
the enclosed documentation but still can't find what you're looking for, then
please check the CSS SCI FI moddb profile or send me an email.

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11. Changelog
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2.1 October 2007
* Added "Campaign Mode" to the retail and custom map packs. All 27 maps can
now be played as a 12 or 15 map campaign. Players can also select "Round Mode"
in the SMOD Configuration Utility, which reloads the current map when the
objectives are complete.
* Upgraded SMOD to 39D2. This adds four new bullet time modes which can be
enabled using the SMOD Configuration Utility.
* Fixed scripting problems in several maps which could cause issues if the
game is loaded from a save.
* Enhanced performance of some maps and improved AI behaviour in many maps.
* Remade DE_Train with new goals.
* Created new node graphs for Port, Nuke, Militia and Beirut, which give
improved AI behaviour.
* Changed AI behaviour so that if only one enemy remains he will stop moving
around the map. This makes it easier for the player to find and eliminate.
* Changed player weapons so that the player starts with more effective weapons
in harder missions.
* On screen text has been cleaned up.
* Fixed missing sound references for snow footsteps and nightvision.
* Fixed missing antlions in Coast levels.
* Changed shield rules so that more NPCs have a chance to use facemasks and
riot shields.
* Added soundscapes to some custom levels which were previously silent.
* Added ability to play Lost Coast.

2.0 June 2007

* Added 12 custom maps.

1.5 June 2007

* Expanded SMOD Configuration Utility to include features in SMOD 39B,
along with more detailed preference settings.
* Included SMOD 39B2. Players now no longer need to download SMOD
separately. SMOD 39B2 fixes all ladders and displacements as well as the ammo
problems in the RPG, msbomb and lasergun. These weapons now appear at low
frequency.
* Added a number of special weapons to the item crate spawns.
* Improved precaching. All maps will load much faster and run far more
smoothly than before. Crashes should now be very rare.
* Improved Alyx's navigation. She and her team will now find the hostages
in CS maps for you and will defend them until she dies.
* Improved Citizen allies. All citizen allies now spawn as medics or ammo
resuppliers.
* Improved Hostage triggers. Hostages will not join you until you have
triggered the hostage rescue entity.
* Hostage triggers have been reduced in size in some maps so that they can
no longer be triggered through closed doors and walls.
* Fixed prop spawns so they never conflict with the player start.
* Reduced the speed of speedhacked Combine.
* Changed the grenade system for Combine.
* Reduced damage done by NPCs using the SVD sniper rifle.
* Ammo capacity of AR2 increased to 90, to increase its usefulness for
people using only one rifle at a time.
* Added capacity to choose player allies and enemies which appear in each
map.
* Weapon spawns are now specific to the type of NPC.
* Maps now fade and disconnect automatically when a map has been won.
* Added new commands to keyboard layout options.
* Set Combine Ace colour, now that the colour is retained on the ragdoll.
* Scripting changes to Militia, Nuke, Prodigy and Dust which improve
gameplay and performance.

1.3 March 2007

* Full installation version.
* Integrated CSS maps into chapter menu
* Numerous configuration changes.
* Wrote the SMOD Config Utility
* Made all prop spawns map and context specific (so no more rusty bed
frames in Office).
* Changed the way that the SVD is selected for the Combine to make it more
rare.
* Changed the way Combine Aces and Cloaked Combine are selected to make
them more rare.
* More minor tweaks to CS Militia.

1.2 February 2007

* Fixed a problem in Port that could lead to endlessly spawning
reinforcements.
* Fixed a problem in Nuke that prevented the end from being triggered.
* Fixed a problem in Office that might result in the hostages being
executed early.
Various improvements to CS Militia.
* Removed mines from the tunnels in Chateau.
* Added custom weapon weight (controls the order in which npcs prioritise
weapons).

1.1 January 2007

* Rewrote configs and introduced variable skill system. Players can now set
skill level using the autoexec.

1.0 January 2007

* Initial Release

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12. Credits
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CSS SCI FI was produced between October 2006 and October 2007 by fitzroy_doll.

Programming
SMOD author: Original scripts upon which CSS SCI FI is based, not to mention
SMOD itself! http://accept.hopto.org/smod/
Valve: Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike: Source. http://www.valvesoftware.com/
fitzroy_doll: All scripting, configuration utility, website.

Maps
Bluestrike : Cs_Beirut_HDR and De_Battleship_HDR. http://www.bluestrike.be/
DjBourgeoisie : Cs_Xcom. http://www.djs-mappingworld.com/
eXpendabLe (Scott Hilbrands): De_Toxin_50. http://www.expendable.us/
Grazer (Jürgen Oswald): De_Atown.
http://newdawn.paynereactor.com/portfolio/index.html
jamin620 (Benjamin Rosen): De_Venice.
Magikus

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