Progress Report

Completed - 100% finished

Updates

(actual checksum fix this time) 6.2.3

2d

-added 'mcphelp' command

-added MCP Checksum Fix.bat

Checksum errors should actually be fixed this time, added a tutorial. Special thanks to panicq for their .cache cleaner. For users with checksum errors, try following the instructions on the MCP Checksum Fix.bat

Minor fixes + hats 6.2.2

3d

AdditionAdded a few more missing MvM things

BugfixFixed level 1 sentry anim. bug on custom models

OptimizationRemoved redundant models which were being loaded twice

AdditionCosmetic mods should work now?

BugfixExtremely minor fixes

Was hoping to get a loading time improvement in this update but couldn't recreate it consistently. May upload at some other date.

As always, comment if anything breaks with this update

Organization Update 6.2

1mo

OverhaulMade the setup instructions easier for regular users

ImprovementUses a separate config instead of touching your autoexec

ImprovementPreloader set in Steam launch options, this should fix the bug that breaks Compile Pal

Made the basic install use the lazy preloader since the advanced setup was way too confusing for most users. I still don't advise anyone use the lazy preloader but it doesn't overwrite your autoexec.cfg anymore. I'll make an advanced tutorial video some other time

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The new Casual preloading method requires models to actually be loaded in-game. This modernized preloader now fixes most of the caveats from the older preloaders using VScript.

Features:

• Preloads most custom models and animations
• Main menu music after preloading (thanks treacherousfiend!)
• Overrides .BSP-packed models, custom Hale models and map props can now be modded
• Works after Scream Fortress XV broke casual preloading

Caveats:

• Only works for "Casual Compatible" mods
• Sv_pure 1 still blocks non-model texture swaps and particle effects, even with a preload
• Increased startup times: My startup time increased from ~30 seconds to 2 minutes(!!)
• The game may annoyingly tab you out twice while it's starting up. Can't fix this yet

-------HOW TO INSTALL-------

1. Download casual_preloader.zip.
2. Copy the contents of casual_preloader.zip into your Team Fortress 2/tf folder.
3. Add the following line to your TF2 launch options in Steam:

+exec preloader.cfg

Done!

Advanced Setup: (Unnecessary)

• Adding Models Individually: (Advanced)
  1. Open preloader_vscript.nut using a text editor.
  2. Navigate into the exact directory of the model.
  3. Write down the directory starting at the models folder (i.e. "models/player/gibs/demogib001.mdl")
  4. Add quotes around the directory, (i.e. "models/player/gibs/demogib001.mdl")
  5. Place into preloader_vscript.nut between the "--PLACE .MDL DIRECTORIES ABOVE/BELOW THIS LINE--" lines

• Adding Big Mods Manually: (Advanced)
  NOTE: This program only scans directories in Folder form. Use GCFScape to extract .vpk mods.
  1. Download module_generator.zip
  2. Place ModelArrayGenerator.jar inside the folder of the desired mod so that the jar is next to the models folder, (i.e. tf/custom/TF2TIP/ModelArrayGenerator.jar)
  3. Run ModelArrayGenerator.jar.
  4. Copy the contents of output.txt into preloader_vscript.nut between the "--PLACE .MDL DIRECTORIES ABOVE/BELOW THIS LINE--" lines

• Make sure any animation models (weapons/c_weapons/c_demo_animations.mdl, etc.) are DELETED from your preloader_vscript.nut. Adding animation models to the preload list ALWAYS BREAKS THEM.

TROUBLESHOOTING:

• "I'm getting a ton of checksum errors and my game is lagging! WTF!!" Run MCP Checksum Fix.bat, located in your Team Fortress 2/tf folder. Afterwards, open TF2 and join any community server that works with mods (basically anything except skial or uncletopia). Scrub through all the classes in the "Pick a Class" menu and walk around for a few seconds. Disconnect from the server and restart the game. You should no longer get checksum errors when you connect to Valve servers.
• Certain HUDs can mess with the preloader or unnecessarily increase load times since they also reload the material system. Try booting without your HUD or try deleting your HUD's valve.rc file.
• Some settings in graphics configs may break the preloader, try testing your mods with your graphics config disabled
• "This mod doesn't do anything in Casual and I've tried everything! Why doesn't it work???" Besides a fresh install of TF2, I honestly don't know why it may not work for certain users. Nobody exactly knows how preloading works under the hood.

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