Total Annihilation MULTIPLAYER and PATCHING: (OTA 3.1/3.9 & ProTA 4.4 & ESC 9.2.0)

[Mossman]

Edit: March2023

3.9 Community Patch drop in install link;

https://github.com/gammata/TA-Unofficial-Patch-Install

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[Edit: 9JUNE2022 = ProTA]

Play it online here:
https://www.taforever.com/
(Last time I checked, those active there were rather unfriendly and unwilling to help new people though. /2023)

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[Edit: APRIL/2020 = revised]

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content sections of this post:
-updating 3.1 to 3.9
-getting TA:Escalation
-playing TA online
---------------------------
GETTING 3.9

Originally posted by | Stuart98 ||:

Windows 8+ versions can have trouble with TA. This is due to a Windows 8 feature called DPI scaling. To fix it, right click on your TA exe, go to compatibility, and disable DPI scaling.

Originally posted by Scott (GameRanger Dev):

Hi all, just added automatic support for the Steam version of TA into GameRanger, and did some brief testing and it looks good to go.

That means that the Steam version launches well with www.gameranger.com

Steam TA is 3.1+CC+BT OTA (Original TA). It can be patched outside of Steam into more modern 3.9 which is compatible with 3.1 Steam version.

(1a. if you have trouble, move TA to a new folder outside Steam or x86 [remember to close Steam if you move it], f.e. C:\Cavedog\Totala\ )
1. install Patch Resources, check the correct path to totala.exe folder
2. install TA Patch 3.9
3. from now on launch TA directly from GAMEFOLDER/totala.exe
4. if it wont launch, see post #23 for hotfix .dlls (copy & overwrite)

http://www.tauniverse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43735

------------------------------------------------------
troubleshoot w10 and other things @ TA Universe Forums:
http://www.tauniverse.com/forum
remember to have new GPU drivers... use hotfix for 3.9 if needed.
Remember to run totala.exe directly from the folder.
--------------------------
GETTING TA: ESCALATION

TA:ESC installer creates the folder GAMEFOLDER/TA Escalation/ (check pathway).

To install:
1. Run ESC 681 installer:
http://taesc.tauniverse.com/downloads/TAESC_BETA_6_8_1.exe

2. extract 818.rar into GAMEFOLDER/TA Escalation/ and overwrite.
http://taesc.tauniverse.com/downloads/TAESC_BETA_8_8_0.rar

3. Copy any maps you want to play with ESC into GAMEFOLDER/TA Escalation/.

4. run from GAMEFOLDER/TA Escalation/totala.exe


inside a Gameranger.com room you can switch your GR pathway quickly by hitting Ctrl+e, and you can switch between OTA and ESC at will.

OTA: GAMEFOLDER/totala.exe
ESC: GAMEFOLDER/TA Escalation/totala.exe

http://taesc.tauniverse.com/?p=downloads
--------------------------
Play OTA and TA:ESC ONLINE at www.gameranger.com

(TA works best on IP to IP, which requires portforwarding, but on GR this might not even be needed. However to make sure that you as a player are most connectable even in 10 player games, then please read the following:

forward/open the following router ports to improve connectivity to others:

FORWARD TO YOUR IPv4 (optional):

16000 UDP (GameRanger port)
range 2300-2400 TCP+UDP (TA ports)
47624 TCP (TA port)

You might have to create a static IP, if your router does not support "Preferred IP", because when you reboot your computer, the router will assign it a new IP address, thus rendering port forwarding obsolete. With a non-changing internal IP the forwarding will stay in effect.

about static IP:

http://portforward.com/networking/staticip.htm

1. Run - cmd
(Open Command Prompt)

2. ipconfig/all

3. see your Default Gateway number

4. Type your Default Gateway to your browser address bar to access your router

5. Entering the router is usually easy as the password is usually empty, leave name and password blank/empty. If that does not work, try name admin password empty. 3. name AND password might be admin admin. etc.

6. check your IPv4 number from your Command Prompt ipconfig/all

7. FORWARD THE PORTS TO YOUR IPv4 and SAVE and EXIT

---------------------------------------

Helpful links to know:

INFO AND LINKS:
http://www.d-gun.com

3.9.02b PATCH:
http://www.tauniverse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43735

portforwarding (do not pay anything)
https://portforward.com/router.htm

GR ports if needed:
http://www.gameranger.com/support/network/

TA Facebook Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/196335423727495/

TA ESC Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/552679241441878/

TA ESC:
http://taesc.tauniverse.com/?p=downloads

MAPS:
http://www.goodhilldata.com/ta/ta_links.html

V3 V4 map packs and Map Features:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ngaoye8ncyreaqp/AAB3Ka9zMrEc6V6AGjcK4_cYa?dl=0

--------------------------------
SETTING UP your TA for playing:

(TA has a system of commands that are for gaming and sharing and allies, these are separate from cheat codes, they are part of the game)

LASTING COMMANDS:
(launch your TA into a game and type these in the chat (Enter) as you see the map and your Commander. Then Exit the game and they are ON forever.)

+clock (gametime ON/OFF)
+switchalt (ability to switch to Ctrl groups without the Alt key ON/OFF)
unit health bars toggle ON/OFF = Shift + * (the button above Enter on my EURO board)

----
Getting 10 AI players into Single Player Skirmish mode:

In battleroom hit Shift + * + X to get 10 AI slots.

---------------
Setting/editing your 3.9.02b speed macro:

Hitting F11 ingame will launch the code.

to edit:

Hit Ctrl+F2 to set your F11 macro and the marker key which is by default the button under Esc.

My personal macro is:
+setshareenergy 950
+setsharemetal 950
+shareall
+noshake
+shootall
+bps
+contour 30


remember that +setshareenergy / +setsharemetal have to be before +shareall

INFO:

+setshareenergy will set the limit of your sharing, it will not start to share anything without +shareenergy or +shareall command, it can only share from available storage, if you have no storage, it will not be able to share. Same goes with metal.

+shareall toggles +shareenergy and +sharemetal ON/OFF individually. Unless there is a valid +setshareenergy etc command, it will share storage to 0 (ZERO). Sharing to ZERO is the best way to give emergency energy to your allies, but remember that the TA engine only shares to the "next ally", not equally to the whole team.

+noshake will toggle screen shaking ON/OFF, useful for online games to be more effective.

+shootall will allow your units to automatically target visible in range non-armed targets, like solar collectors and factories. Unless you are dogfighting with Fighter Planes, it should usually be ON at all times.

+bps toggles bits per second view ON/OFF, not useful, but I use it to see if my macro is on or off.

+contour X sets visibility of terrain elevation. 0-30 is useful. +contour or +contour 0 will toggle it off.

+dither makes playing metal maps more easy as it toggles a different Fog of War ON/OFF.

--------

You can share selected units and resources to a selected person with the H button ingame. Remember that all shared units will take a while to be given, and they including factories will always be on DO NOT FIRE setting. Select them with Ctrl+A and set everything to FIRE AT WILL if you ever receive units or factories as gifts.


WHITEBOARD KEY and marking:

by default the Marker Key/Whiteboard key which can be set from Ctrl+F2 is holding the button under Esc while drawing with mouse.

Hold key and:
hold left mouse = draw
double click = text marker
middle mouse+click = speed dot mark
hold right mouse = erase

-----
QUEING FACTORIES:

one left mouse click = add one unit to build que
one right mouse click = erase one unit from build que
Shift + Click = add/remove 5 to que
Shift+Ctrl+click = add/remove 100 to que

BUILDING WITH CONSTRUCTORS:

Hold Shift to add buildings and Orders to que.

Hold Shift and X to CLICK + DRAG LINES of buildings of one type to add to que.

Hold Shift and hover construction selection over a building to place of ring of buildings to surround it.

----
ingame:
Ctrl+A = select everything (if sharing them with H, factories have to be closed to be shared)
Ctrl+Z = select all units of the same type
Ctrl+C = select and follow Commander (move the screen a bit to unlock)
Ctrl+D = toggle self destruct in 5 seconds ON/OFF
Ctrl+B = cycle idle constructors
----------

Good luck and have fun!

[AT☢️MIC]

Thanks

I seem to be having issues getting Gameranger to recognise TA. Anyone else having this issue?

[Crene]

Getting 10 AI players into Single Player Skirmish mode:

In battleroom hit Shift + Alt/Ctrl + * to get 10 AI slots.

not sure if it has changed after 3.1 but it was Hold Shift + 8 then Hit X for Getting 10 AI players into Single Player Skirmish mode

[Qai]

Thanks OP. Can you comment on compatibility with the patch you are linking to and the Escalation and Zero mods? Is it possible to install the patch + these mods?

EDIT: NVM, found the answer:

Starting now, mods currently in development at TA Universe (such as TA: Escalation, TA Zero, and Total Mayhem) will be built using the TA Patch as a base and will therefore also require the installation of the TA Patch Resources. If the TA Patch Resources are not installed when you attempt to intall the TA Patch or a TA Patch based mod, you will be given the option to automatically download and install them.

[Qai]

Originally posted by Decepticon:

ANYONE CONTRIBUTE:

1. Did you get 3.9 working with Steam TA?
2. Are you able to play Steam TA on Gameranger?
3. Is your normal Steam TA launching?
4. Are you experiencing any problems?

It seems that the Steam version does not actually have Steam DRM. You can play the game perfectly without having Steam running (online/offline, doesn't matter) by accessing the game's exe directly.

To answer your first question, I can confirm that the 3.9 patch works on the Steam version (although I launch the game outside of Steam by using the exe directly, i.e., with the shortcuts provided by the install process of the patch).

[ratsnoMpmawS]

thanks for this guide there needs to be an update to the just the connection to this game im not sure why they didnt intergrate some sort of update seeing as how 90% of people will not take the time dealing with this to even play the game. but i will say im dying to play and i have about 10+ people on board for a t/a mashup

[Crene]

Now only if there was a 1.5k/5k unit patch for 3.1c that works with 64bit

[Crene]

3.9.02b does not work in fullscreen mode with Windows 8

---------- Known Issues --------------------------------------

There are still some outstanding issues that need to be resolved before the v4.0 release. Remember, while nearly complete, this is a beta patch.

- On many machines with newer AMD/ATI graphics cards or Windows 8, the game will not launch in fullscreen mode. The current workarounds are to use windowed mode (which will definitely work, but the megamap, whiteboard, line building, and multiplayer ally resource bars won't be available) or to set vsync to 0 in the registry at HKCU\Software\TA Patch\Eye (which may or may not work, and even if it does work the frame rate on the megamap and possibly the main game view may be unsatisfactory)
- The Weapon ID increase is currently disabled by default for multiplayer because the Replayer still needs to be updated to correctly interpret the new packet structure while at the same time maintaining backwards-compatibility with old .tad recordings.

[Zefar]

I don't see the point of making the game ends when the Commander dies and then make rules about how you're not allowed to use him as a bomb.

Like what's the point? You're gonna lose if you do that. Also the commander isn't all that important if starting energy+Metal is on 1000. He'd be more worth it if you have like 5k energy and metal in the start.

Not to mention you could just build an small army of air units like Hawk and death rush him and win. Unless they have been able to get up enough energy to cloak him.

Oh and if someone is able to bring a commander close enough to D-Gun the other it means that he barely built anything or you're near death.

[RedKirby]

So I'm feeling really dumb since I used the 3.9.02 patch before. How does it work now? I installed using the "TA Patch Resources v1.0" and there's nothing in my TA folder under steam subfolder. The patch itself is sitting there and there's no instruction anywhere??

Edit: Nvm...false alarm. Downloaded a corrupted file. Tried again and it works with the hotfix.

[proNobe|E-Mantra_Arcana]

thanks for all that info man

[Stew]

I''d buy it if it was a patched ready to go Steam version. got the Boxed version here from years ago. Gret game. Go on do a special version please!!!!!

[Crene]

Originally posted by Crene:

3.9.02b does not work in fullscreen mode with Windows 8

---------- Known Issues --------------------------------------

There are still some outstanding issues that need to be resolved before the v4.0 release. Remember, while nearly complete, this is a beta patch.

- On many machines with newer AMD/ATI graphics cards or Windows 8, the game will not launch in fullscreen mode. The current workarounds are to use windowed mode (which will definitely work, but the megamap, whiteboard, line building, and multiplayer ally resource bars won't be available) or to set vsync to 0 in the registry at HKCU\Software\TA Patch\Eye (which may or may not work, and even if it does work the frame rate on the megamap and possibly the main game view may be unsatisfactory)
- The Weapon ID increase is currently disabled by default for multiplayer because the Replayer still needs to be updated to correctly interpret the new packet structure while at the same time maintaining backwards-compatibility with old .tad recordings.

This Temp Fix from there site seems to work just right (windows 8.1) http://www.tauniverse.com/forum/showthread.php?p=718283

[S̨̛k̀͡͞y̵͜͝Ń҉͝e͢t]

Why we should make this for our money? Publisher's or developer's - maybe?

[Megadirettore Galattico]

My Gameranger does not recognize the game, I installed the patch as you said. Have you got any solution? Thanks

[Megadirettore Galattico]

Oh, I understood that by doing what the guide said I would have been able to play on gameranger, nvm then, I'll try to fix it out with hamachi then