Confused, is it originals on left new on right? Or is this just the new? It'd be nice to compare, otherwise... don't really know what I'm looking at

It is entirely possible there is a publisher out there who said "prove their is an audience/appetite".

This is proving it... maybe

I really like the fact he has been enthused about what advances people have done with Freelancer - and the constant mention is bringing hope that this may be more Freelancer 2 than WC x.

After reading one topic in particular on that site though, I really hope the few thundering ego's who have (imo) tragically straddled Freelancer, imposing their self righteousness, don't damage the perception of the entire fan base.

Other than that, still giving a big WOOOHOOO! Posted about it on the Egosoft forums, as I know a fair number there enjoyed Freelancer as well

Times like these it's a good job I don't have the archive membership list... I'd be mass emailing people with a link

This is really unclear. Do you mean the shields are "down" - what makes them stay down? Or the shields are 0 capacity but not "down"?

I think even with 1 hp of shield left, a 100000 shot will still take it to 0 (shields failed) before hull takes a beating.

If the shield is down and shots aren't doing any damage, look to your sur files. In particular, do you have the sound associated with shots landing on the hull or do the just pass through?

Sorry if this seems silly, but it is actually hard to understand what the issue is.

I think you misunderstood the post entirely. For instance, there is far more going on than you realise. NPCs are worthless without the formations, the ships and their loadouts... which means all the weapons, engines and other files those items are referenced from.

System files are worthless without the same files, as well as the asteroids and other files (yes, an exclusion zone defined in the asteroid file can cause a crash in a system... funnily enough).

What you need is a means of troubleshooting because staring at the code is NOT going to solve the issue. It certainly isn't going to work just shoving up to 100,000 lines of text for others to look through either. Who has the time?

You need a process of elimination, a means of attempting to find out what it is without staring at line after line after line of completely irrelevant code.

One method is to go through your problem file and comment out every single encounter. This includes patrols and population zones. Do you still crash? If you do, it immediately helps to narrow down the issues...

Infact, I'd just start out with the zone around the Jumpgate.

Assuming Li04 I would start by commenting out this:

[zone]
nickname = Zone_Li04_to_Li01
pos = 12771, 0, -90152
rotate = 0, -159, 0
shape = SPHERE
size = 3000
comment = NY gate
sort = 1
toughness = 3
density = 10
repop_time = 10
max_battle_size = 4
pop_type = jumpgate
relief_time = 15
faction_weight = li_p_grp, 10
faction_weight = co_alg_grp, 10
faction_weight = co_hsp_grp, 10
faction_weight = co_me_grp, 10
faction_weight = co_ni_grp, 10
faction_weight = co_os_grp, 5
faction_weight = co_rs_grp, 10
faction_weight = co_ss_grp, 10
density_restriction = 4, unlawfuls
;encounter = area_defend, 3, 0.060000
;faction = li_p_grp, 1.000000
;encounter = area_armored_prisoner, 3, 0.030000
;faction = li_p_grp, 1.000000
;encounter = area_trade_freighter, 3, 0.110000
;faction = co_hsp_grp, 0.330000
;faction = co_me_grp, 0.330000
;faction = co_ss_grp, 0.330000
;encounter = area_trade_transport, 3, 0.110000
;faction = co_alg_grp, 0.170000
;faction = co_hsp_grp, 0.170000
;faction = co_me_grp, 0.170000
;faction = co_ni_grp, 0.170000
;faction = co_rs_grp, 0.170000
;faction = co_ss_grp, 0.170000
;encounter = area_trade_armored, 3, 0.040000
;faction = co_os_grp, 1.000000

Also try commenting out trade lane traffic, patrol paths that converge on the gate etc.

I would also try going to the system via a jumphole or via the gates from other systems too

Still crash? Use OpenSP to put your starting position on a station (preferably not near the gate) and see if you can launch...

Process of elimination means that with a quick bit of use of a text editor you can cut out half of the files. Or more.

IF it is a encounter, you can further narrow it down by simply de-commenting them out one at a time and finding when you crash. Then you know where to look ... at what that particular npc ship/loadout combo is, what equipment etc.

It appears that the method of troubleshooting and bug hunting is, if anything, getting worse in the remaining FL community. Stop relying upon spewtext and others, start relying upon some deduction and detective work. It isn't hard, it's far quicker, and you learn more about the game

Yeah, sorry about that, will try to sort it out tomorrow night.
Had too much wine and have to be up early for work to find source and compile it again

Sketch up? new one to me, although used blender previously I hadn't heard anyone modelling with it - but awesome stuff

Good luck with the project though - sounds interesting. As for development and time issues for development - the bane of modding Everything takes a lot longer, and there's never enough damned time ... and to top it off, people keep asking if it's done yet

but all the best