a quick SWP Help Guide.

[Robman]

Some folks it seems are having trouble finding out how to use SWP and get it going, but the good news is people are trying Here is a quick SWP setup "how-to"

- First off I assume you actually have the original game either bought years ago, online or free from steam. Either way you just need your SW.GRP file from the original game ( that file is basically the whole game ie: textures, sprites, maps, sound fx etc..)

- Download SWP 4.3.2 it is the lastest version of SWP and works well over Meltdown and Yang with up to 8 players multiplay. ( I have tested the "save game crash bug" and it worked perfectly fine for me. Use F6 in-game to quicksave.

- Install SWP to it's own folder ie: C:\SWP .

- Take your SW.GRP file from the original game and place it in your new SWP folder.

- Launch SWP and setup your resolution and Controls

- Click START.

- That's it ! ... play the game and enjoy !


- If you download user maps to play, they go in the MAPS folder.
- Total conversions that are SWP compatible found here at SWC and on proasms website go in the GAMES folder.
- The Maps and Tcs are selectable from the SWP main menu ( right after you launch SWP.EXE)

- If you'd like to start learning how to build your own maps for shadow warrior simply download SWPBuild and place it in your SWP main folder. ( it has to be in the same folder as your sw.grp file or 3dmode will appear all garbled because it cannot find any textures or game content )
- launch SWPBuild.exe

- SWP is the modern way to play shadow warrior on newer computer systems and O/S'. It has a vast amount of improvements but yes a bug or 2 such as at some random times when you die and go to respawn in single player the game may crash... not really a big deal if you save often. Anyway the bright side is you won't have to fiddle with Dosbox If you do find that the game is crashing when you save the game, try using SWP 4.3.0 apparently the save game bug is not present. Either way I use the lastest 4.3.2 version and that version only and works great Enjoy.

- I may start making some how-to youtube videos to help people out further.

[brandon]

SWP 4.3.2 has some savegame issues, so if you can find 4.3.0 around I would recommend that version. Not sure if 4.3.1 has the same issues so if someone could chime in and correct me that would be great!

Quick edit : Here is a link to SWP 4.3.0, check it out if you're having issues with 4.3.2. www.wangsdojo.com/files/SWP/Swp430.zip

[Robman]

excellent, more people definitely needed to post their info. I think the save game bug is more the form of corrupting game save file over time rendering them not functional. it's been along time since I actually needed to save a singleplayer game as I have moved more onto user maps and making maps. I'm still going to stick with 4.3.2 for now as it works just fine with multiplayer especially over Meltdown and Yang with up to 8 players. I remember in some previous port versions only 1v1 worked. I have 4.3.1 up for download aswell and I ll try to find 4.3.0 and get it up for download asap for those who want it.

- edit. I see you've got the link up there.. I'll slap it in the download section here aswell.

[Corvin]

Whats the SWP.GRP file all about?

And shouldn't you copy over the SW.RTS file to SWP folder?

See Hendricks has released a beta1 of SWP v4.3.3?

[Robman]

whaaaat? link?

[Corvin]

forums.duke4.net/topic/6795-other-build-engine-games-in-eduke32-how-feasible/

Its near the 2nd or 3rd page. Its a maintenance release, weigh in man Maybe he'll fix SWP editor fixed up too.

[maligned]

Hendricks is updating when he can. He definitely wants to out more time into it.

Just a shame Proasm's code is sloppier than a $3 dollar hooker. Though I have to give him credit for giving us a modern port to work with

[maligned]

Out=put damn auto correction

[Corvin]

You can read about it and DL v 4.3.3 beta 1 of SWP (updates by Hendricks266)

github.com/Hendricks266/SWP/wiki

[Corvin]

In the SWP BUILD Editor archive who wrote that text?

IS it from the SW CD?


SwpBuildHelp.txt = from where did this come from?

[Robman]

it's somewhat identical to the swbuild.txt that comes on the cd but missing a few things top/bottom.

[Corvin]

Alright. so it is Keith 3DR doc?

[Robman]

yep

[Corvin]

Well that's Just BS to pull that stunt. At first I thought maybe Ben Smit wrote one. eh...

Well I re-archived it removing the dated v4.1.0 swp and the offending text.
dukertcm.com/knowledge-base/downloads-rtcm/src-jfswarrior-tools/

[Robman]

Time your sword swipes ( start your swipe just before you get to the enemy) You'll go through a brown ninja like butter.

Learn to strafe jump.
use run mode.. all the time.
minimize your hud so just health/ammo and armour show.
couple your medkit button with another commonly used button. Mine is the same as crouch.
Configure controls to best suit your style/needs.
use the cheats to learn a map or to get more combat time in.
grenades explode on the 3rd bounce.
turn your brightness up .. game usually comes a bit too dark.

some anime girls will eventually pop out a goodie or 2 instead of shoot you.

sticky bombs have various tricks.. can be stuck to undersides of doors or frames, can put 1-4 stickies in the same spot but you have to be directly against the surface(wall) for that to work.
you can also make a sticky bomb that doesnt explode when shot with weapons, only players movement will explode it.. using a similar technique.

you can lead monsters into traps.

you can shoot through teleports.

don't forget to use all the fire modes for the rocket launcher especially.

If you look in a mirror and turn side to side.. Lo wangs Uzi changes hands.

No, really.. learn how to strafe jump and strafe run.. you ll jump farther and run faster. I cannot stress this enough.

In multiplayer, you can arm a nuke and be sitting on another one as if you are ready to pick it up, when you fire the first one it will AUTO ARM the second and can be fired immediately <-- oldschool trick. Can do this in single aswell but you come across more nukes in multi as they respawn. Serious matches do not play with nukes enables, they turn into a rocket ammo pack.

If you enable god mode press "t" to talk then "swchan", you can fly like a jetpack when you press "J" and you gain a superman logo.

press tab for other view modes, F12 to make a screenshot.

Regen health by punching the wooden dummy.

game pads and joystick such as Sidewinder will slightly increase your speed and you can also strafe with tanks and vehicles.

If you fall from very high up onto a platform made of sprites, you ll fall right through, although it will slow you up a wee bit.

speed up your x,y mouse movement.. it's too slow @ default.

Red Armour is 100 , grey is 50. TO make Kevlar ( red) armour in build, set the palette to 19. ( alt-p)

F keys do stuff.. press them. Alt..ctrl or shift ( can't remember ) + the F keys will say taunts and messages in multiplay.

Coop is really fun aswell in this game. I like the "wangBanG" or Deathmatch the best. Can play teams and capture the flag aswell.

There are lots of user maps, try them.

Cheats don't work in multiplayer(duh) or on "no pain no gain" diffculty.

If a user map or TC is not spawning enemies.. use difficulty # 3 or 4.

riot gun singleblast is more accurate than the 4 shot rapid fire.

If playing online, don't play with markers on, they are lame and also cause lag if the connection is already fragile.

Don't bother trying to learn levels 5-20 for multiplayer use, they are seldom played.. best maps for onlineplay are 1-4 ( especially #3 leeps ) .. heavy metal and house of wang.

kill ghosts just as they come out of the exploded guy ( Coolie )

pick up thrown ninja stars with the open key ( space) gotta be very close to them and sometimes be aimed directly at them. I rarely do this unless you have zero choice or are reaaaalllly bored.

use the shadow bomb ( invisibility ) .. enemies won't even know you're there. Clear out rooms with nade launcher and gas bombs.

If you ever build a map, make the map filename no more than 8 characters.. original dos version does not recognize maps with more characters in their name.

Double Uzis pack a wild punch. It's fun to slice and punch stuff in this game, both are pretty powerful, sword more-so.

try to use medkit before you pick up cookies.

shadow bomb extends your fist reach a tad.

flash bomb is brutal in multiplayer.. caltops can be aswell if a lot of them are put in a hallway around a blind corner.

this game is about speed and agility, get good at both. Jump a lot aswell.

Have mouse "y" aiming on.

always bang the gong !

sw is the best of the original 6 build games
visit shadow warrior central

that's it for now.

[Corvin]

Is this file required anymore from the ProAsm Website?


SW.ANM
Corrected 4:3 aspect ration version.
Unzip to Swp folder.

[Robman]

I've personally never used it over all the years and systems/resolutions of playing the game. Not sure what it does, I take it it's some kind of aspect ratio fix for an animated screen in the original version. That's just my take on the subject.

On another note, I fixed the SWP compatible version of LoNukem, the end button in level 1 did not work.

[Corvin]

Hmm, over on the 3DR board ProAsm mentions using a zip with still frames (png or jpg) to make up the intro animation. Apparently you can customize them. There's 3 zips available:

forums.3drealms.com/vb/showpost.php?p=866659&postcount=404

Looks like he was experimenting with getting the sound to sync up with the animation.


I just tried out the SwpAnim2.zip custom animation, you first need to drop the 2 in the file name for it to load. (ex: SwpAnim.zip)

Maybe you can include a custom animation with the SWC-CBP.

[Robman]

I was wondering how they did that. I'll have to look into it, thanks for finding that

You should get in on this lil' project Corv..

[Corvin]

I'm also guessing that if a SW.ANM file is in the root that it will play that too, or instead of the zip. I'll have too test it out. EDIT: Just tested the zip overrides the .ANM file.

I think deluxe paint/animator maker they used back then can be used to make one.


I haven't mapped in ages, let alone SW mapping, I'd suck at it. But I can test this animation stuff out. I'm also wondering if the sound can be changed.

[Robman]

But I can test this animation stuff out. I'm also wondering if the sound can be changed.

That's kinda what I was leaning towards
I don't have much if any animating experience nor have I ever changed those things for the game.

[Corvin]

Well the good thing with the SwpAnim.zip file you only need still frames, I think its 43 of them, but you can replace the first frame with your SWC-CBP title.

There just jpg or png files.

Besides the sound I'm also wondering if you can put the animation/still frames in a grp file along with the maps that get put in the /Game folder of SWP.

eh, if I don't get too frustrated I'll have these answers for you...


EDIT: Do you know of a ProAsm modified add-on that has animation in it?
From what I understand Ben Smit made SWP or the add-on's animation work, I just don't know which add-on he may have modified that has animation or if he did modify an add-on at all.

[Robman]

a lot of the tcs have changed intro art. Last warrior has some odd lil' animation and Lo Nukem has still frame intros.

Yes, you would put the new animated stuff in the group file along with the rest of the tc/ episode.

[Corvin]

Okay thanks I just looked at INTIME TC.

They use a special GRP format that requires a special tool to compile/extract them, the tools are made by ProAsm. I think you have them on your site too.

Anyhow, I'm hoping SWP uses the standard GRP format now. I'll check that out by looking at one of the ProAsm modified tcs....

I managed to get Deluxe Animate to work and loaded the SW.ANM file. just have to remember how to use the sw pallate if it requires it at all.



EDIT: SWP Uses the standard grp format. Also the intime intro animation is 43 frames but only like 4 are unique, they just repeated the last frame, so it looks still.
If you where able to make pcx files I could probably make an animation or make a slideshow with them.

There's also a SWCUSTUM.TXT file in the grp with levels names and epsiode names and midi names that you can use to assign your own stuff too.

Not too much documentation on this stuff..



EDIT2: do you know what the SWGRP.BIN file would be in a GRP file for intime? is it just ascii? N/M its ANSI, can edit it with ENDOOMER

[Robman]

right on, yeah I've been playing around with the swcustom.txt

[Corvin]

Never the less there is .DEF files to change....alot of customizing you can do with SWP.

I can help with some of this stuff if you want, getting the grp made and all the costuming....if you can get more mappers/maps made. But that's for another thread.

[Robman]

All I was planning on changing was the maps/map names and map best times, maybe a midi or 2 in the swcustom.txt file. I would leave all weapon values alone.

What do you have to change in any .def files? ... all that's really needed is the swcustom.txt filled in with the proper map names and then bundle all the maps/art/sound into a .grp file to get the basics up and running, as I've tested anyway.

I think you have to skip level 4 and tell the map ( hi tag value on the end button ) to go to map 5. Has to do with the boss meter.

If you're up for taking care of that stuff though, that would be mint.

[Corvin]

I guess I jump the gun during my research, heh. But I learned a lot today.

Anyhow, doing up a grp with just the basic stuff, you can do that clearly.

The intro ANM and cutscene ANM and a BIN file I guess is over board. The DEFs I think are for PNG items to replace tiles, like menu background and stuff, all which is over kill.
A .CFG file in the grp is for custom weapon values.

But again easy to make, a BAT file you might want.

Anyhow like I said I went nutz with the possibilities. LOL


EDIT: I just noticed that SWP doesn't even display the registered BIN file at the end when you quite or the last TEN advertisement (like in the dos version.)....that sucks. heh

[Robman]

A different Intro screen would be pretty cool.

Would a batch file then make it compatible with the dos version?

[Corvin]

I would just replace the first or first few frames of the intro with like a SWC-CBP logo or something.

The batch file, I looked at Lonukem batch and it looks like it searches for SWP.EXE, if not then SW.EXE.
PS: Batch files are not just for DOS stuff, they work for windows command line too.

@echo off
if exist Swp.exe Swp.exe -hLonukem.def -gLonukem.grp -cLonukem.cfg
if exist Swp.exe goto end
sw.exe -hLonukem.def -gLonukem.grp
:end