Technical FAQ - Archolos Fixes

Extensive guide created to fix your technical problems with TCoM: Archolos.

Gothic Science

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1467450/The_Chronicles_Of_Myrtana_Archolos/
Always play the mod using Official Sources!

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Remember to Like and add to Favourites to help with guide's visibility!

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OFFICIAL SITE - https://kronikimyrtany.pl/en
OFFICIAL DISCORD - https://discord.gg/FHDHweuCVB

Discord Contacts:
X4vv#6831
HRY#5273

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The Chronicles of Myrtana will definitely work on your computer after using this guide.
It is worth to note that this list may also help you to launch regular Gothic 2

Required Patches -- Installed automatically

Steam version of TCoM downloads required patches automatically
People using disk version need to install patches below manually.

INSTALLATION ORDER:
- Gothic 2 Fix-2.6-rev2[dl1.worldofplayers.ru]
- Player Kit 2.8[github.com]
- SystemPack 1.8[github.com]

Union - Resource Manager

In short: Union can be described as an evolution of a SystemPack.
It has numerous engine fixes, modern systems compatibility fixes and more.

NOTICE: Resource Manager is depreciated software!!!

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Main Post:
World of Players[worldofplayers.ru]

In case you can't access the forum:
Google Drive[drive.google.com]

How to install, step by step:
Reddit Guide - Use the CD / GOG installation for Archolos, because there is no workshop.

On a side note, Union lets users install plugins that can modify the game extensively in a lot of aspects.

IMPORTANT:
- Archolos is not meant to be played using plugins
- Archolos was not developed with Union in mind
- Some of them may simply cause complications, bugs or crashes
- Mod won't be updated to support particular plugins

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In case that Chronicles of Myrtana receives a patch, Union installation will break.
Reinstalling Union will be required.

DirectX 11

The only version that supports The Chronicles of Myrtana is being developed by SaiyansKing.

SaiyansKing's GitHub[github.com]
Do not use other versions.

How to install:
1. Download the newest version of the GD3D11~~.zip
2. Drag and drop all the files to the /System folder:

Steam\steamapps\common\TheChroniclesOfMyrtana\System

To uninstall or turn off DX11 mod simply remove or rename ddraw.dll file in the /System folder.


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　COMPARISON
　　　　　　　　　　　Screens below were taken at the same in-game hour.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ　　　DX7 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 DX11
　
　

DXVK

Install DXVK Wrapper on top of DX11 to keep better visuals.

What is DXVK?
"A Vulkan-based translation layer for Direct3D 8/9/10/11"

Download the latest dxvk.tar.gz archive from:
DXVK Github releases page[github.com]

- Unpack .gz and .tar archives.
- Enter 'dxvk' folder, then 'x32' folder.
- Copy ONLY dxgi.dll and d3d11.dll files to: \TheChroniclesOfMyrtana\System

NOTICE: Overlaying DX11 with DXVK may also help if your in-game water shader is not working properly, but that may already be fixed in all recent wrappers versions.

Mouse Raw Input

If you're experiencing problems controlling camera using mouse in Gothic like:
- low sensitivity
- unequal axis sensitivity
- lack of responsiveness

Try installing SaiyansKing's GRawInput[github.com]

Open downloaded archive's \System folder and put files displayed on the left to:

Steam\steamapps\common\TheChroniclesOfMyrtana\system

Available settings in 'GRawInput.ini':

• UseAccumulation - this enables the fix to accumulate the mouse input which helps with high pooling rate, therefore improves responsiveness,
  
• UseFixedStepCameraControl - this stabilizes the speed of the camera and decreases the lasso effect,
  
• SpeedMultiplierX/Y - this sets the speed multiplier of the horizontal and vertical mouse movement, can be also set to negative values to play inverted.

Additionally, GRawInput allows for keyboard remapping, by assigning real keyboard keys to virtual keys, allowing for customization of in-game actions.

VK_1 = DIK_2 ; This assigns 2 to virtual 1
VK_2 = DIK_1 ; This assigns 1 to virtual 2

This will cause your melee weapon to be taken out with 2 and the ranged weapon with 1.


Modification is Union Compatible.
Put 'Union_Raw_Input.vdf' file from archive's \Data folder to:

Steam\steamapps\common\TheChroniclesOfMyrtana\Data

Official Description's fragment:

GRawInput is a modification for games "Gothic" and "Gothic 2" that changes old deprecated DirectX7 Direct Input Keyboard and Mouse interface over native Windows Events.

+

Common iGPU issues

There are a lot of potential problems with integrated GPUs.
Gothic is using DX7 libraries that pretty much aren't supported nowadays.
Installing DX11 mod can help instantly but occasionally your dedicated GPU may not be detected...

If you don't want to use DX11, install SaiyanKing's LegacyAltRenderer[github.com]
In the launcher's menu simply choose DX9 for vanilla graphics.

Remember to set your Dedicated GPU (High Performance) as a preferred one in your GPU's Control Panel for Gothic2.exe and save it.


About Intel's 11th (and higher) generation iGPU -- credit Jakub

Intel doesn't provide drivers for DX7-9 in the newer CPUs anymore that Gothic is built on.
New Intel's dedicated GPUs will lack those drivers as well.
There is nothing you can do. Just install DX11 mod or Legacy Renderer.

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ERROR EXAMPLES:

- Can't create D3DX context!

Your iGPU drivers don't support certain DX7-9 functions.

• Disable Anti-Aliasing and Anisotropic Filtering in your GPUs Control Panel for Gothic2.exe
  
• Set your game's resolution to your monitors native resolution in Gothic.ini
  
• Lower BPP value from 32 to 16 in Gothic.ini

- DXGI_Error_Device_Removed

Your GPU is detected but cannot be used for some reason.
Plug charger in to your laptop and disable Power-Saving Mode in Windows Settings.

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I am no expert on this matter, feel free to correct me and I will make proper changes.

Error Message -- U:PAR Dat-File is not compatible.

Launch the game using Steam Client.


Do not launch via GothicStarter.exe from the /System folder.
If you did then make sure that there are files with the KM_ prefix in this directory:

 TheChroniclesOfMyrtana\Data 

if there are not, copy all KM_ files from:

 TheChroniclesOfMyrtana\Data\ModVDF 

back into the correct directory.

If this doesn't help, then reinstall or Verify Files Integrity on Steam.
　

Error Message -- C:zMusic_DM.cpp(...)

Chronicles of Myrtana has newly written music system.
Windows XP is not supported.

Here all the possible fixes we found out that managed to work for someone:
- Reboot your PC
- Reconnect your audio devices
- Reinstall your preferred audio drivers
- Purge and annihilate Nahimic drivers entirely from your Windows
- Check everything audio related like External Sound Card if you own one
- Some 'custom' Windows versions might lack certain legacy virtual audio devices that are required to synth the game's audio. Install a normal one.

Error Message -- Missing MSVCP100.dll -- Installed automatically

(for people not using Steam)

Reinstall all Visual C++ Redistributable x86 and x64 libraries one by one.

Yes, reinstall all of them just to be sure.
The process won't take long anyway.

Microsoft's VC Redists[docs.microsoft.com]
Also, Gothic is 32bit (x86) software.

Error Message -- Large Address Aware -- Installed automatically

(for people not using Steam)



Mod requires an executable file to handle 4Gb of RAM to improve game's stability.
That was not the standard yet in times Gothic was developed.

4Gb Patch[ntcore.com]

LAA Hack[www.worldofgothic.de]

Download one of these programs and use it on Gothic2.exe file located in:

Steam\steamapps\common\TheChroniclesOfMyrtana\System\Gothic2.exe

Remember to run as an Administrator

DEP - Data Execution Prevention -- Installed automatically

(for people not using Steam)

What exactly is DEP doing:

DEP can help to protect your computer by monitoring your programs to make sure that they use system memory safely.

If DEP notices a program on your computer using memory incorrectly, it closes that program.

And sometimes it thinks Gothic is that 'harmful' program...


How to find DEP:

1. Open Start Menu
2. Type 'cmd' to open Windows Commands Console,
3. Copy-paste this path and hit enter:

C:\Windows\System32\SystemPropertiesDataExecutionPrevention.exe

No Voice-Over

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1495950/The_Chronicles_Of_Myrtana_Archolos__Polish_VoiceOver_Pack/
"Installed and downloaded Polish Voce-Over Pack and I still have no voices, why?"

The reason is very simple: DLC is installed, but not activated.

To activate the DLC just: right-click on Archolos -> Properties -> DLC -> click the Square.

NVidia G-Sync

NVidia's G-Sync technology may be the cause why your Gothic crashes instantly at launch.
Monitors with Freesync or G-Sync Compatible technologies seem to work just fine.

- To fix it simply install DirectX 11 mod.

In case you don't want to play with DX11 you will have to turn G-Sync off for Gothic2.exe
1. Enter your GPU Control Panel
2. Manage your 3D Settings
3. Find Gothic2.exe and change Monitor's Technology setting.

Save Corruption

Gothic's saving system is faulty.

There may happen a scenario when your saved game cannot be loaded anymore.
Every time you try to load the game Access Violation or Assertion Failed will happen.

It's very unlikely, but there are also cases that while your save actually loads successfully, Monsters or NPCs disappear completely from the entire map.
You can't progress the game then anyway.

Such a thing can occur when your game somehow crashes during saving time.

It is rare, but certainly happens, and such save CANNOT BE RESTORED.
I will say it again before someone comments it's possible: CANNOT BE RESTORED.

Give up and load your earlier save.
Also - do NOT play the game using just one save-slot.
Also2 - do NOT use QuickSave from Gothic.ini
It is disabled by default for a reason.

Steam-Cloud

We can turn it on... but we won't since it literally breaks saves...

Don't know 100% why saves tended to get broken but they did.
It may be related to saving speed and cloud uploading speed...

That's all I have to say on this matter.

Low Performance - Advices

With a decent GPU DirectX11 mod can be a life saver.
Make sure that F11 Settings Sliders won't go over the middle point.

Do not max out settings for 'better graphics' because Zengine can't handle it too well anyway.
It's just not worth it performance wise.

Be careful with DynamicLightning and DrawShadowGeometry options in the Advanced Settings menu.
You may turn off sources of light in different .ZENs like Sewers and see nothing but darkness.
Inversly those options can also try to generate shadows on spells particles and cause massive FPS drops.

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- Install Archolos on an SSD.
Everything the game will need to load will be faster.

- Make sure that your disk the game is installed in is not overloaded.
Turn off everything running in the background you possibly can like Discord, Internet Browser, Overlays and stop downloads.

- Turn off your Anti-Virus software.
Anti-Viruses often tend to scan DX11 files created every time the game goes through a loading screen 'on the fly'. That obviously results in an extended loading screen time.

- Run different system compatibility modes like XP, Vista or Win7.
Rarely, but may help.

- Some AMD Ryzen CPUs experience performance issues in Gothic.
They are related to high core temperatures.
Check your CPU and set some limits using Ryzen Master or different software.

'Gothic.ini' -- recommended settings

If you have issues with controls, performance or are unable to launch the game then download 'Gothic.ini' [raw.githubusercontent.com] and put it in:

 Steam\steamapps\common\TheChroniclesOfMyrtana\system\ 

The file has been configured with recommended settings for a fail-safe game launch. Some settings could be increased (or enabled in the Advanced section in-game) to add more graphical fidelity / features, at the same time they're not required, and will be overridden with DX11 settings.

ATTENTION: You may want to use the Custom Config Creator [Made-by-HRY.github.io] to download a ZIP containing all of the configuration files.

Settings worth mentioning:

• Game
  
  • spawnRemoveNpcOnlyIfEmpty - set it to 1 so corpses only despawn if empty of loot
• Display
  
  • zVidResFullscreenX - set to 1280 to be fail-safe, you can set it to your native screen display width
    
  • zVidResFullscreenY - set to 720 to be fail-safe, you can set it to your native screen display height
    
• Mouse sensitivity - You can change the pooling rate (mouse refresh rate) in your mouse driver software to 125 or 250, if you don't want to play with the settings below.
  
  • mouseSensitivity - you can set it over 1.0
    
  • zMouseRotationScale - it modifies the horizontal rotation axis multiplier
    
  • zSmoothMouse - set it to 0 if you want to disable mouse smoothing
    
• General
  
  • invMaxColumns - change the amount of displayed columns in the inventory
    
  • zShowWeaponTrails - enable white trails when attacking with weapons
    

'SystemPack.ini' -- recommended settings

If you are unable to launch the game then download 'SystemPack.ini' [raw.githubusercontent.com] and put it in:

 Steam\steamapps\common\TheChroniclesOfMyrtana\system\ 

The file has been configured with recommended settings for a fail-safe game launch. Some settings could be adjusted to change the behavior of the running Gothic game.

ATTENTION: You may want to use the Custom Config Creator [Made-by-HRY.github.io] to download a ZIP containing all of the configuration files.

Settings worth mentioning:

• Display
  
  • Show_FPS_Counter - enable the in-game frame rate measurement
    
  • WindowPosX - if you want to center the window horizontally input the result of
    (Display Width - Window Width) / 2, without the decimal part
    
  • WindowPosY - if you want to center the window vertically input the result of
    (Display Height - Window Height) / 2, without the decimal part
    
• General
  
  • HideFocus - disable the highlighting of enemy mobs that were already looted empty
    
  • No_Take_Anim - disable the pickup item animation
    

'DX11' -- recommended settings

If you have issues with the DX11 mod, then download this .zip archive[github.com] and extract the contents into:

Steam\steamapps\common\TheChroniclesOfMyrtana\system\GD3D11\

Attention: If you don't have this directory then get the DX11 mod first. This archive only contains configuration files.

Attention 2: You may want to use the Custom Config Creator [Made-by-HRY.github.io] to download a ZIP containing all of the configuration files.

The configuration files were adjusted with optimal frame rate in mind [1], but still have decent graphical fidelity. Increasing the sliders will just decrease the frame rate without a significant quality uplift. The display resolution is set to 1280x720 to match the Gothic.ini fail-safe settings, you can change it.

[1] Tested on Ryzen 3600 with RTX 2060, multiple locations averaging 60 FPS at 1920x1080.

[Joe_X_78]

your links for download the fix doesnt work anymore

[Mr Unchained]

grreeat job

[smithy2320]

Hello how to fix D3DX context error while start game?

[Hei]

Game is crashing after the load screen finishes when clicking new game...
https://imgur.com/a/L9DVGw4
Can someone help pls.
I'd like to play the game

[G33/G31 ECF]

great

[X4vv]

Would be nice to see what is in your crash description, hopefully on discord and try to help you if something is not described in the guide or not described properly than reading sarcastic comment.

[garlic pancake]

It is always nice to see that you've been promised that you'll 100%-guaranteed-absolutely run the game after the guide, however the only issue you is being described in this guide as GIVE UP, LOAD ANOTHER SAVE.
I'm disappointed, because I can't load any save and even to start a new one.
Hope one day you'll find how to fix it.

[Czeu$ha]

I have a problem according to Direx Mod, I already install the latest version of Union 1.08m and systempack 2.0. And I have 300-50fps its depends when I am on open field or in the room. I have R9 7900X and 7800XT. When I installed direx mod My saves loaded with black screen, and the new game I have Jorn dialog bug, He speaks nothing to me but itts looped, you cant do anything. The older version of direx working good only to finish mission of ship. after that I have got runtime error or acess violation, Windowed = 1 didnt help. Any ideas how to fix?

[PokerRocket]

Haven't played for 1.5 months and the game started freezes/stutters often for no reason.
Is it known how to fix it?

[⛧Đeathbringer Issei⛧]

Game slightly freezes/stutters often for no reason.