The new Circle of Eight modpack, version 5.5.0 BETA, is now available for download at ModDB. You can get it by following the link in The Circle of Eight Mod Pack: A Step-by-Step Download Guide thread in the Downloads forum here. Special thanks to the many contributors involved in this release. This one took an unusually long time to come out, and it's probably more content rich than any previous Co8 release. Please read the release notes. They are available here. Also, please read the installation instructions carefully. They are available here. Remember, Agetian's ToEE Front-End X requires Microsoft .NET. Starting with this release, you must use TFE-X to launch the game. You also must start a new game, and we strongly recommend that you reinstall the entire game from the ground up before installing Co8 5.5.0 BETA. Saved games from earlier Co8 mod packs or from the unmodded game will NOT work. Please post bug reports in the discussion thread here. And last but not least ... enjoy the mod! - The Circle of Eight Team
Below is a re-post of pertinent info regarding Co8 5.5.0 BETA. Please read it carefully: Co8 5.5.0 BETA will require not only that you start a new game, but that you reinstall ToEE from the ground up. That's right. So wrap up your current campaigns if you're eager to see the new package. Otherwise it will be waiting for you whenever you're ready sometime down the line, but make no mistake, you will have to reinstall ToEE and start a new game when you use it. New features: Co8 5.5.0 BETA will include all material from the original modpack, the latest CMF, and all the mods submitted since the latest CMF. It will also include: Hickory Branch 2.0 A repopulated Hommlet, with many more children and adults running around. Most of these are generic, but this reflects the module more accurately. Hommlet is not supposed to be a ghost town. Dialogue overhauls for Brother Smyth, Captain Renton, Kent, and the Woodcutter, among other things. The possibility of discussing Welkwood Bog with Smyth and Renton. The complete maps for Welkwood Bog. Note that there will be nothing yet going on at Welkwood Bog, despite what people may say, but you can go there anyway and look around. The complete mod will be an upcoming priority, but I thought it would be nice to let you see the maps and experience the 'ambience' ahead of time. If you so choose. New outfits for some NPCs, where appropriate, to more accurately reflect their portraits. Plus, NPCs you got used to seeing in hats may not wear them anymore if they don't have them on in their portraits. The new shopmap will be the starting point for everybody. You won't have the option of not installing it. If you hate the new shopmap, however, you need only step into the portal the moment you arrive there. Players will start the game clothed, with no weapons or armor except for the cases that were recognized previously (bastard swords for whoever, etc.). You will not be able to change this. Proper money levels for starting characters (as was the case with the old shop map). Players will have to carry out NPC levelling themselves. This will no longer be optional. It will be mandatory that you use the new front end, TFE-X. You won't have to install it separately, however; it will come with the mod along with detailed (but simple ) installation instructions. TFE-X has been shown to be exceptionally stable, and Agetian has even fixed the earlier issues with the Polish version of ToEE, so this shouldn't be an issue for anyone at all. You will not be able to play Co8 5.5.0 BETA without TFE-X. Redacted features: The new modpack will not contain: The Desperate Housewives mod. (Don't worry, this will be offered as an add-on pack that you can install at your discretion.) There will be no fog of war in Hommlet and Nulb, nor any option to re-enable it. Jade Empress and her voice set, along with the custom voice sets of a few others that were sub-par. In related news: When Co8 5.5.0 BETA is released, the old CMF submissions and discussion threads will be closed down and out of business. In their place, new CMF submissions and discussion threads will arise, geared toward 5.5.0 and assuming it as a starting point. Additionally, the discussion thread will be run more formally so as to efficiently deal with bugs in a more productive manner. There will be bug-reporting guidelines put in place that are similar to what you remember from the TFE-X thread. (In fact, Agetian is also working feverishly as we speak to establish these guidelines.) You may think these guidelines are mean, but they are not. While we do enjoy being mean to you, we also want to help you. We are not very well able to deal with "my game doesn't work, what should I do?" style reports, so you will have to jump through some hoops if you want your issues addressed. That's just the way it is. The hoops are really not that high though, and by jumping through them you help us to help you. Final note: Co8 5.5.0 BETA will be a public BETA release. The plain fact is, we don't have the resources to beta test this properly ourselves. So you, the people, shall be the beta testers. Eventually, with your help, it will come out of beta and just be a regular old release. We're counting on you. :yes:
