Missing Captured Buddy Bug

[AltCtrlDel435]

I read about this bug on the forums a few times, usually mentioned by @thirdkeeper. I asked him for more info about it, but thought I would make a post, as well, in case others have advice. I mostly read the advice that you should do the "secret" rescue missions before starting the faction missions, to avoid a game-breaking bug at 27% progression and other specific progression stages.


But I only found out about this bug just when I reached 27% progression and one of my buddies mysteriously stopped showing up in the main menu (maybe he died when rescuing me and I didn't notice). So I only had one buddy. Below is more information about where I am in the game and my question.


I did all UFLL missions, almost all APR missions, various other side missions and also lost a buddy (died). Then I rescued another one through a mission that I got from the guard in front of the UFLL HQ. But that buddy mysteriously stopped showing up in my main menu, and I only had one buddy at this point.


I am at 27% progression and just rescued a buddy using one of the "secret" buddy rescue missions (so I have 2 buddies now). Rescuing the new buddy worked fine, but I am worried that if I do the other "secret" buddy rescue missions now, it will break my game. Is this possible? I am not sure if it is better to wait until after 27% to rescue the buddies or if I should do it now. What is the best way to go about this?

[thirdkeeper]

You're lucky to have made it passed 27%. - I've played through well over 100 times
and I never ran into the glitch when in 2018 I changed my priorities to freeing all
captured before taking on the Factions assignments. - That's about 7 years of game
play with no buddy bugs - (or any other for that matter).

I don't want this post to interfere with others who have had differing experiences
and conclusions and welcome any other ideas being shared

[AltCtrlDel435]

I rescued another buddy and did a side mission for him. Then I started another side mission, where he asks me to steal something. After stealing it, when I go back to Mike's bar to give it, the buddy does not spawn. Is this the bug that you described or is that bug only with starting main story missions?

Originally posted by thirdkeeper:

You're lucky to have made it passed 27%. - I've played through well over 100 times
and I never ran into the glitch when in 2018 I changed my priorities to freeing all
captured before taking on the Factions assignments. - That's about 7 years of game
play with no buddy bugs - (or any other for that matter).

I don't want this post to interfere with others who have had differing experiences
and conclusions and welcome any other ideas being shared

[thirdkeeper]

Originally posted by AltCtrlDel435:

I rescued another buddy and did a side mission for him. Then I started another side mission, where he asks me to steal something. After stealing it, when I go back to Mike's bar to give it, the buddy does not spawn. Is this the bug that you described or is that bug only with starting main story missions?

I'm afraid that's a differen't bug : (

The 27% ad 84% bugs are when you get a mission from a faction to free a buddy from
captivity, but when you go to the site there's no one there and you can't open the door.

It effectively ends your game progression.

If you're stuck I do have saved games as a last resort.

[AltCtrlDel435]

Originally posted by thirdkeeper:

Originally posted by AltCtrlDel435:

I rescued another buddy and did a side mission for him. Then I started another side mission, where he asks me to steal something. After stealing it, when I go back to Mike's bar to give it, the buddy does not spawn. Is this the bug that you described or is that bug only with starting main story missions?

I'm afraid that's a differen't bug : (

The 27% ad 84% bugs are when you get a mission from a faction to free a buddy from
captivity, but when you go to the site there's no one there and you can't open the door.

It effectively ends your game progression.

If you're stuck I do have saved games as a last resort.

Do you happen to also have saved games from a modded version of the game, from a good mod that works with the Steam version of FC2?

[thirdkeeper]

Originally posted by AltCtrlDel435:

Originally posted by thirdkeeper:

If you're stuck I do have saved games as a last resort.

Do you happen to also have saved games from a modded version of the game, from
a good mod that works with the Steam version of FC2?

You don't need a modded save. A save file just records player stats, position, and
any active AI and key actors, (like your rescue buddy) weather and time of day.
When loading a saved game info is applied to the base game or whatever mod
is installed to recreate the environment and situation.

Loading a modded save into a vanilla game does not modify your game.

Saved games will work with a mod, and a modded saved game will work with
vanilla and other mods without conflict because saved games are just stats
and positions.

For any mod (that's worth installing) to be utilized by the game and work properly
a restart of the game is necessary. Certain modded game configurations are created
at players first launch that are used throughout the entire game.

SO - if you want to play modded FC2 and load a saved game that will work
with the mod - install the mod first, launch and play the game, then load up
any save (modded or not) and it will work just fine.

You'll note that all of my saved games were recorded playing The Redux mod,
I was playing as Marty, and most are when I was playing a pistol only run. So
you'll have to buy other weapons if you want them, but I collected plenty of
diamonds to get you well outfitted.

All saves were captured at the start of each mission with full health and ammo
and nearly every one has the MOG parked conveniently close by.

Here's the link again so you won't have to search for it, - Saved games are
in chapter (2), third article :

- IN2FC2 -


- Best of Luck -

[AltCtrlDel435]

Originally posted by thirdkeeper:

Originally posted by AltCtrlDel435:

Do you happen to also have saved games from a modded version of the game, from
a good mod that works with the Steam version of FC2?

You don't need a modded save. A save file just records player stats, position, and
any active AI and key actors, (like your rescue buddy) weather and time of day.
When loading a saved game info is applied to the base game or whatever mod
is installed to recreate the environment and situation.

Loading a modded save into a vanilla game does not modify your game.

Saved games will work with a mod, and a modded saved game will work with
vanilla and other mods without conflict because saved games are just stats
and positions.

For any mod (that's worth installing) to be utilized by the game and work properly
a restart of the game is necessary. Certain modded game configurations are created
at players first launch that are used throughout the entire game.

SO - if you want to play modded FC2 and load a saved game that will work
with the mod - install the mod first, launch and play the game, then load up
any save (modded or not) and it will work just fine.

Thanks for all the info! I am going to mod the game and then download a save file. What would you say are the best mods to use, that are compatible with the Steam version? I saw that there are mods that make you more vulnerable to damage as well as make you able to deal more damage yourself. I like the idea of a more hardcore FC2.

Also, where can I download save files? Either yours or someone else's.

[thirdkeeper]

Originally posted by AltCtrlDel435:

Originally posted by thirdkeeper:

SO - if you want to play modded FC2 and load a saved game that will work
with the mod - install the mod first, launch and play the game, then load up
any save (modded or not) and it will work just fine.

Thanks for all the info! I am going to mod the game and then download a save file. What would you say are the best mods to use, that are compatible with the Steam version? I saw that there are mods that make you more vulnerable to damage as well as make you able to deal more damage yourself. I like the idea of a more hardcore FC2.

Also, where can I download save files? Either yours or someone else's.

You're very welcome 8 ) -

I've not tried them all obviously but I was so happy with Redux that I played it for
3 years or more before trying Realism+ Redux. Which was great but is more of a
challenge especially in the higher difficulty settings.

- I strongly advise the same path. - Try Redux first - play through at least half the
game before making any decision, but I'm positive that you'll be having a great
time and won't care about changing anything for a while. - Then when you're well accustomed to dealing well with the new environment consider restarting with
Realism+ Redux which is very similar but you'll be treated to some improved
graphics also.

(my sincerest apologies to BigTinz and Boggalog for any error or inaccuracy in the
above - no matter how slight. It's very difficult to keep all of the hours of my very
similar experiences from blending into eachother,)

- Bless you both for your amazing works ! 8 D

You'll find the link for DL and saved game loading instructions in Chapter 2, 3rd article.

- Enjoy -

[AltCtrlDel435]

Originally posted by thirdkeeper:

Originally posted by AltCtrlDel435:

Thanks for all the info! I am going to mod the game and then download a save file. What would you say are the best mods to use, that are compatible with the Steam version? I saw that there are mods that make you more vulnerable to damage as well as make you able to deal more damage yourself. I like the idea of a more hardcore FC2.

Also, where can I download save files? Either yours or someone else's.

You're very welcome 8 ) -

I've not tried them all obviously but I was so happy with Redux that I played it for
3 years or more before trying Realism+ Redux. Which was great but is more of a
challenge especially in the higher difficulty settings.

- I strongly advise the same path. - Try Redux first - play through at least half the
game before making any decision, but I'm positive that you'll be having a great
time and won't care about changing anything for a while. - Then when you're well accustomed to dealing well with the new environment consider restarting with
Realism+ Redux which is very similar but you'll be treated to some improved
graphics also.

(my sincerest apologies to BigTinz and Boggalog for any error or inaccuracy in the
above - no matter how slight. It's very difficult to keep all of the hours of my very
similar experiences from blending into eachother,)

- Bless you both for your amazing works ! 8 D

You'll find the link for DL and saved game loading instructions in Chapter 2, 3rd article.

- Enjoy -

I will mod it today. Thanks for all the tips!

Do you have any experience with the New Dunia mod? If so, what do you think of it?

[thirdkeeper]

The "Brave New World" guy with the fake "Guide" that is just an advert ?
I wouldn't in good conscience add to his DL numbers.

- He asked a few of the best modders for help in creating it. I know of at least two
who agreed to volunteer their time and expertise to share some of their secrets to
help make his dream come true. - After a bit he asked me to play test for him.
- I checked in with one of the modders for their impression and only heard that
the guy seemed a bit weird at times. - I contacted Jay, (AKA Danny?) and agreed
to playtest for him.

Very long story abbreviated here (and documented in ugly detail elsewhere) :

Guy releases a new version nearly every 2 days making thorough play-testing
impossible. - I spent hours testing and compiling detailed reports on messed
up AI behaviors. He'd ignore them and release a another "new" version the
next day. - This happened repeatedly and I started updating every 3 or 4 days
instead of every single release.

I ended up restarting 8 times in three weeks - Another DL, another install,
another restart, another message sent:

"Please release new updates once a week, otherwise this is a waste of time.

By the way the enemy AI are severely damaged. Some don't see or hear me at all
when I'm jumping up and down right in front of them."

- After a long time he replied that there was nothing wrong with the AI, he'll
release updates when he feels like it, he was tired of my "complaints" and
finished with something like

"I'm sick of this anyway and the mod is done BOOMER."

Impressive, eh?? - That kind of gratitude doesn't just grow on trees.. Not exactly
keeping his word he released another 4 or 5 versions of his mod, always with a
great deal of imagined fanfare and bragging bluster, and eventually the final,
'New Dunia' version.

Checking in again to confer with the original modder I later learned that the
guy stole code from his teachers and was banned from MDB for pliagiarism.

Kind of completes the perfect picture, eh? - Not quite.. - Also had the gall to
report the modders for harassment when they complained that their works
were stolen and used without credit, and belittled the quality of the works
of the very same people he stole from, and using the very same works to
brag about how much better his mod is from theirs. - Icing on the cake!

That concludes my little bed time story, kiddies. - * Sleep well. Dream of
Happier Times * (and don't take any wooden nickles)

- and don't bother with the mod if you've got an ounce of integrity, a grain of
moral conscience {{8~P


Nice wheeze eh? - ..been saving it up for a few years.

[AltCtrlDel435]

Originally posted by thirdkeeper:

The "Brave New World" guy with the fake "Guide" that is just an advert ?
I wouldn't in good conscience add to his DL numbers.

- He asked a few of the best modders for help in creating it. I know of at least two
who agreed to volunteer their time and expertise to share some of their secrets to
help make his dream come true. - After a bit he asked me to play test for him.
- I checked in with one of the modders for their impression and only heard that
the guy seemed a bit weird at times. - I contacted Jay, (AKA Danny?) and agreed
to playtest for him.

Very long story abbreviated here (and documented in ugly detail elsewhere) :

Guy releases a new version nearly every 2 days making thorough play-testing
impossible. - I spent hours testing and compiling detailed reports on messed
up AI behaviors. He'd ignore them and release a another "new" version the
next day. - This happened repeatedly and I started updating every 3 or 4 days
instead of every single release.

I ended up restarting 8 times in three weeks - Another DL, another install,
another restart, another message sent:

"Please release new updates once a week, otherwise this is a waste of time.

By the way the enemy AI are severely damaged. Some don't see or hear me at all
when I'm jumping up and down right in front of them."

- After a long time he replied that there was nothing wrong with the AI, he'll
release updates when he feels like it, he was tired of my "complaints" and
finished with something like

"I'm sick of this anyway and the mod is done BOOMER."

Impressive, eh?? - That kind of gratitude doesn't just grow on trees.. Not exactly
keeping his word he released another 4 or 5 versions of his mod, always with a
great deal of imagined fanfare and bragging bluster, and eventually the final,
'New Dunia' version.

Checking in again to confer with the original modder I later learned that the
guy stole code from his teachers and was banned from MDB for pliagiarism.

Kind of completes the perfect picture, eh? - Not quite.. - Also had the gall to
report the modders for harassment when they complained that their works
were stolen and used without credit, and belittled the quality of the works
of the very same people he stole from, and using the very same works to
brag about how much better his mod is from theirs. - Icing on the cake!

That concludes my little bed time story, kiddies. - * Sleep well. Dream of
Happier Times * (and don't take any wooden nickles)

- and don't bother with the mod if you've got an ounce of integrity, a grain of
moral conscience {{8~P


Nice wheeze eh? - ..been saving it up for a few years.

Damn, that sucks. You had your time wasted. I am glad I stayed with Realism+ Redux. I have been enjoying it so far.

It would be nice to see a mod that modernizes the weapons and adds more realistic reload animations. I am not sure how doable that is, but it would really improve the gameplay imo.

[UnKn0wN]

there might be compatibly issues with mixing vanilla saves with mods and vice versa, depends what the mods really do.

if mods change weapons slots or name/characteristic of guns in the shop for example, or if the mods change some major scripts like Scubrah´s patch and to some extent R+R (which uses Scubrah´s script for outposts).

the more complex the mod the more chances to end up with a buggy mess if you mix up vanilla and mods saves IMO.

maybe with old Redux you have little or no problems but with R+R or Scubrah or Toms´s mods I am pretty sure you are going to have some major issues.

[AltCtrlDel435]

Originally posted by UnKn0wN:

there might be compatibly issues with mixing vanilla saves with mods and vice versa, depends what the mods really do.

if mods change weapons slots or name/characteristic of guns in the shop for example, or if the mods change some major scripts like Scubrah´s patch and to some extent R+R (which uses Scubrah´s script for outposts).

the more complex the mod the more chances to end up with a buggy mess if you mix up vanilla and mods saves IMO.

maybe with old Redux you have little or no problems but with R+R or Scubrah or Toms´s mods I am pretty sure you are going to have some major issues.

I tried a Redux save with Realism+ Redux and it indeed did not work. The armory was all messed up, it was better to just start over.

[thirdkeeper]

Originally posted by AltCtrlDel435:

I tried a Redux save with Realism+ Redux and it indeed did not work. The armory was all messed up, it was better to just start over.

Wow.. - I'm VERY sorry to have been so misinformed! That means my saves are only
good for the mods I was playing? - This is devastating.. !!!

[AltCtrlDel435]

Originally posted by thirdkeeper:

Originally posted by AltCtrlDel435:

I tried a Redux save with Realism+ Redux and it indeed did not work. The armory was all messed up, it was better to just start over.

Wow.. - I'm VERY sorry to have been so misinformed! That means my saves are only
good for the mods I was playing? - This is devastating.. !!!

No problem! Like someone else above has said, more in-depth mods probably need a new playthrough to work well.

[thirdkeeper]

but the hours spent.. I should have played trough in Vanilla? - damn.. !

Guess I'll have to chose to remain stoically unmoved yet again. - It's either
back to the drawing board or trashing the project completely. - I'd already
replayed and recorded the second map twice to insure continuity.

Should I wipe the article? - - ? ?