Playing Thief Fanmissions with AngelLoader under Linux (Steam+Proton) [draft]

To play Fanmissions you need a program to install and run them.
AngelLoader by FenPhoenix is a fantastic software to install and manage your collection of FanMissions.
This guide explains how to install AngelLoader under Linux (specificaly under Steam)

TL;DR

• create a fanmission and a backup folder in your home directory
  
• copy AngelLoader into a folder in your home directory or in the steamlibrary folder
  
• add AngelLoader.exe as "A non Steam Game"
  
• enforce "compatibility mode" for AngelLoader
  
• use the AngelLoader.ico as a game icon
  
• start AngelLoader via Steam
  
• run the setup assistend and select the folders
  
• download a fanmission and copy the file into the fanmission folder
  
• click reload or restart AngelLoader
  
• play the fanmission

Description

This step by step guide aimes to install the fan mission loader and manager AngelLoader on Steam Linux without command line / shell commands or environment variable shenanigans.

AngelLoader is a fantastic software actively developed by FenPhoenix as open source software on Github.

WARNING!

Fanmissions are made by hardcore fans for hardcore fans.
People who sleep walk through the original games and know every trick in the book.
Sometimes those games are not easily accessible by beginners.
Don't get discouraged or frustrated.
Ask people for help or just skip the fanmission until later.

Many highly praised fan missions are long and hard campaigns.
Start with simple missions.

When I came back I tried to play IntoTheOdd as my first fanmission in years.
Which has some hard platforming sections.
I was frustrated and skipped it.
Now a couple of fanmissions in I replayed it and don't know what was so frustrating in the first place.

What you need

• A working version of Thief2 on Steam Linux (I made a guide for installing Thief2 on Linux[raw.githubusercontent.com])
  
• A version of AngelLoader (here from GitHub[github.com])
  
• The AngelLoader icon as a seperate File. LinuxSteam can't use the icon of the exe file ( available from here [raw.githubusercontent.com])
  
• A fanmission (If you don't know where to find them, take a look at the link section)

Installation [first draft]

• then open the thief_2 folder. the fastest way is over steam
  
• 
  
• switch one folder up and create a "New Folder" and name it AngelLoader
  
• 
  
• 
  
• download the most recent version of AngelLoader from github[github.com]
  
• 
  
• 
• unzip the zip archive in the AngelLoader folder
  
• 
• For the next step you need the AngelLoader.ico icon file. If your version of angel loader doesn't it you can download it from github https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FenPhoenix/AngelLoader/master/AngelLoader/Resources/AngelLoader.ico
  
• 
  
• right-click and copy AngelLoader.exe
  
• 
• In steam click on "Add a Game" in the left bottom corner
  
• 
  
• then click on "Add a Non-Steam Game"
  
• 
  
• Click "browse"
  
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• In the file select dialog click in the field file name and past the name+path of AngelLoader.ext
  
• You need to select "All Files" as File type or you can't click on open. Click "open" next.
  
• 
• Now click on "add selected programs"
  
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• AngelLoader will appear in your steam library but you can't start it yet.
  
• Open "properties"
  
• 
• click the empty squarre next to the label AngelLoader
  
• 
  
  
  
• in the file select dialog switch "file type" to "All files" and select the AngelLoader.ico icon. Click Open
  
• 
• now change the AngelLoader.exe text to Angel loader
  
• 
• click "compatibility" and set the checkbox for "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool" then close the window.
  
• 
• create a folder named "fanmissions" in your home dir
  
• 
  
• inside create a folder named "backups"
  
• 
  
• You need at least one fan mission in the fanmission folder or the program has an error.
  
• 
• 
• now start Angel loader
  
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• the settings window will open
  
• 
• open the thief_2 folder
  
• 
  
• copy the thief2.exe file
  
• 
• linux uses a different url format then windows.
  
• if you don't know how to change your path information you can use a website to convert it for your.
  
• open https://universalpathconverter.com/
  
• paste the file path in text feld and add Z: in front of it.
  
• copy the windows path and use it in the settings windows.
  
• repeat this for the "backups" and the "fanmissions" folder
  
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• 
• 
• 
• 
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• now click "ok"
  
• you can now select a fan mission you installed and click on play to play it
  
• 
• 

Links

• A Simple setup guide for Thief2 on Linux I wrote
  
• AngelLoader releases on GitHub[github.com]
• AngelLoader icon file from Github[raw.githubusercontent.com]
  
• thiefguild[www.thiefguild.com] - A great up to date source of News, Contests and Fanmission. They even have RSS.
  
• Url converter. If you don't know how to change a windows path to a linux path[universalpathconverter.com]
  
• thiefmissions.com: Cheap Thief Missions[thiefmissions.com] - A old but fast site. Unfortunately the most resent missions are from 2017
  
• The TTLG forum [www.ttlg.com] is where most of the community lives and the first place where mods and fanmissions appear
  
• Tux picture on wikimedia[commons.wikimedia.org] The source of the Tux picture from [e-mail] made with The GIMP

[biscotti]

Or you could just launch FmSel which comes packaged with TFix and T2Fix by adding -fm as a launch option to either Thief Gold or Thief 2 through Steam. Sure, it might not be as fancy but there's no elaborate install process once you have TFix/T2Fix (which are essential anyway).