Arx Libertatus and Arx Extended

[Bandy]

Looking into this forgotten gem. I understand Libertatus is required to play this title on modern hardware, and I have the game running now in widescreen.

I see Arx Extended mod requires Libertatus, but does its own bug fixing as well, and makes the game "less linear". Just curious if Extended is recommended, I will likely only play Arx once so is the "less linear" experience the way to go?

Also opinions on Arx Neuralis HD texture pack. Some textures in before/after images IMHO look worse from the HD processing, such as the stone walls have too much sharpening resulting in 'crisp pixelation'. Opinions on whether this mod worth adding, guess it may be subjective.

If any of the modding team members are in the forum thank you for modding effort!

[[U1] Masquerade]

Originally posted by Bandy:

Also opinions on Arx Neuralis HD texture pack. Some textures in before/after images IMHO look worse from the HD processing, such as the stone walls have too much sharpening resulting in 'crisp pixelation'. Opinions on whether this mod worth adding, guess it may be subjective.

Its also eat FPS in game, and time to load level. But in my opinion, all objects in game looks same.

[Metro]

Originally posted by Bandy:

Looking into this forgotten gem. I understand Libertatus is required to play this title on modern hardware...

Not true at all.

[[U1] Masquerade]

Originally posted by Metro:

Originally posted by Bandy:

Looking into this forgotten gem. I understand Libertatus is required to play this title on modern hardware...

Not true at all.

True at all.

[Blue]

For me, Arx Libertatis is the only 'must have' for playing this game on modern systems. Personally, I never found the game too linear anyway and just setting my GPU's Anisotrophic filter to 16x to increase the texture draw distance made such a noticeable improvement to the graphics quality that I never felt the need for an HD texture mod.

[[U1] Masquerade]

Originally posted by Moody_Blue:

For me, Arx Libertatis is the only 'must have' for playing this game on modern systems. Personally, I never found the game too linear anyway and just setting my GPU's Anisotrophic filter to 16x to increase the texture draw distance made such a noticeable improvement to the graphics quality that I never felt the need for an HD texture mod.

If you talk about Arx Neuralis, yes, its no need, its pretty same, sometimes just ugly.
Arx Insanity mod have different textures, different lights - its very different experience.

[Bandy]

Originally posted by Interval:

If you talk about Arx Neuralis, yes, its no need, its pretty same, sometimes just ugly.

I agree. Have some experience making texture mods for other games, and looking at the author side-by-side screenshots raised a concern (as mentioned in OP here).

Originally posted by Interval:

Insanity mod have different textures, different lights - its very different experience.

Yes, Insanity mod makes the game look more natural, the environment more filled in, such as Yellow Tulip with actual NPCs in the bar drinking, eating etc! Very nice.

But after playing a little Arx with just Libertatus and now further with Extended, the Insanity mod is taking the game experience and balance much too far from vanilla, just one example: in Insanity there is no shortage of found torches and you get the 'night vision' spell in first level or two so no need for torches anyways. In comparison, regular Arx I'm in the spider caves and cannot see a thing since I used up all my found torches earlier. It is dark as it should be underground without torches and 'night vision'. This makes it a much more compelling game experience, the next found torch that much more valued.

I would post my thoughts on Insanity Discord but already made a post that was instantly taken the wrong way by fanbois, so I'm out of there.

[[U1] Masquerade]

Originally posted by Bandy:

Originally posted by Interval:

If you talk about Arx Neuralis, yes, its no need, its pretty same, sometimes just ugly.

I agree. Have some experience making texture mods for other games, and looking at the author side-by-side screenshots raised a concern (as mentioned in OP here).

Originally posted by Interval:

Insanity mod have different textures, different lights - its very different experience.

Yes, Insanity mod makes the game look more natural, the environment more filled in, such as Yellow Tulip with actual NPCs in the bar drinking, eating etc! Very nice.

But after playing a little Arx with just Libertatus and now further with Extended, the Insanity mod is taking the game experience and balance much too far from vanilla, just one example: in Insanity there is no shortage of found torches and you get the 'night vision' spell in first level or two so no need for torches anyways. In comparison, regular Arx I'm in the spider caves and cannot see a thing since I used up all my found torches earlier. It is dark as it should be underground without torches and 'night vision'. This makes it a much more compelling game experience, the next found torch that much more valued.

I would post my thoughts on Insanity Discord but already made a post that was instantly taken the wrong way by fanbois, so I'm out of there.

I read your disscussion, im not in discord, but i have friends who tell me that problem.

I understand what you say, its not written about limits of levels, im sorry, i not see it, and we forgot it.

We have news on the site, but they are deep in the middle of the page, and this can create misinformation. I'll talk to the author, don't worry!

Screenshot that news: https://prnt.sc/1qaijo2 (sadly, i cant take a link, cause its just big one news.).

I hope i understand you correctly. Sorry, its just a demo, when author want to show what we can have in mod. I know him very close, so im sure they do all right. About night vision spell - its just for preview, in full game its will be put in correct place and time.

We all love this game, and we spend very much many time in this! Thanks for your activity and feedback!

[Bandy]

The community at Insanity was very helpful when I had repeatable CTD's. It was apparently due to a bug introduced early in the save game, no other explanation possible. Of course this type of thing happens in other games, but many players will immediately jump to the wrong conclusion. It was good, we worked it out.

Insanity will be a very good, if not great mod, eventually. So many levels to go though.

The other issue at discord was a misunderstanding by me, but in my defense the Insanity website does not say the game is only 3 levels. Saying "demo mod" does not necessarily mean incomplete game, but I get that now.

[[U1] Masquerade]

Originally posted by Bandy:

The community at Insanity was very helpful when I had repeatable CTD's. It was apparently due to a bug introduced early in the save game, no other explanation possible. Of course this type of thing happens in other games, but many players will immediately jump to the wrong conclusion. It was good, we worked it out.

Insanity will be a very good, if not great mod, eventually. So many levels to go though.

The other issue at discord was a misunderstanding by me, but in my defense the Insanity website does not say the game is only 3 levels. Saying "demo mod" does not necessarily mean incomplete game, but I get that now.

Demo - its short Demonstration. Just like preview. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_demo
Complete game for test called early access, alpha, beta version or like that.
Try to understand, author change a lot source code in game, add many new function, its all like new game. He try to have good quality for full mod, for this case he cant upload full game mod with bugs and issues, and incomplete levels. Many people can start share incomplete mod everywhere, like we have Arx Libertatis 1.1.2. I watch many streams in twitch where people say "i download this " last" version", cause in steam write it, steam its official! ". (They read arx libertatis steam guides). We carry of game, and dont want to be in similar situation. Author dont have kickstarter, he not ask money, he work more then 6 years with mod like a hobby, he just share a demo version like preview for mod. I hope you understand us.
Also, information added, thanks for feedback!
https://www.moddb.com/mods/arx-insanity-mod/downloads/arx-insanity-demo-v0-4-7

P.S. i not in insanity discord, i just a fun arx fatalis game, and try sometimes help people here, or on twitch.

[Bandy]

Adding to this related thread to not make a new thread...

Ark Extended mod is updated at Nexus on Aug 17, 2021

I am playing Ark Extended right now, have completed quests to at least level 4 (I think) so can I install the new Ark Extended mod and still play on current save file???

It is Likely too early to know, I will back up game and saves folder, install Aug 17 Extended and give it a try, will report as things transpire. No reply on Nexus at this time.