Master of Orion 2 Mods Full Overview

It has been released at last! You can find the page here: https://moo2loknar.blogspot.com/p/complete-mods-collection.html . 

The collection gathers together all mods that I am aware of. Many long-forgotten old mods have been restored or repackaged for compatibility with the latest 1.50 fan patch.

Do let me know if there are any other mods you’d like to see added to this page or if any download links need updating. As of right now, I am still missing Evolution mod by PK.

On an unrelated note happy April 1st! Today is considered a rather special day by the MoO2 internal files— enjoy your stadiums full of cream of celery soup.

MOO2 CD-ROM "patches" & Brazilian Portuguese version

Versions 1.1, 1.2(EU), 1.3 German, and 1.31 Multi-lingual of the game are unique in that they are original cd-rom releases. Unlike the 1.31 English and German patches, the 1.40 and 1.50 patches, or the 1.31 French, Spanish, and Italian versions(found within the GOG package of MoO2), these are not able to be obtained readily on the web, outside of buying a physical disc which for some versions can be rather difficult to find. 

I have released downloads, alongside brief descriptions and details, for all of the above here: https://moo2loknar.blogspot.com/p/master-of-orion-2-version-history-and.html.

The BraSoft-released 1.31 CD dubbed and translated into Brazilian Portuguese will also be added. It went above and beyond the official language versions, modifying a plethora of game files to change text-button graphics on all screens and menus, as well as providing voice dubbing for the intro and outro cutscenes. The release was built around the 1.31 Spanish + Italian 2-1 EXE file, with the Spanish language files serving as the base for the Portuguese text translations-- the value in LANGUAGE.INI should be changed to 3 accordingly. With the DOS version ORION2.EXE being finished on May 28, 1998 and the Win version ORION95 the day prior. The English-only CREDITS.LBX and HERODATA.LBX plus a few other language files are inexplicably removed from the actual cd-rom. The readme file is also a translation of the English 1.31 readme into Portuguese but is dated as 12 March 1997, suggesting that MicroProse outsourced the Spanish/Italian version to BraSoft while Version 1.31 was still yet to be released. In any case this version contains the same undocumented bug fixes as the Spanish-Italian 1.31 and perhaps more. See pictures below. Download at this link: 

https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ztN8ntOUu9xzHeJgNEILBkRQLTZfzmes&export=download

I have included redundant files so there is no need to patch to English 1.31 first; just in the case of convenience this can be directly zipped into a fresh cd-rom install. Always be sure to back up your entire MOO2 directory.

Blog Updates

After half a decade of inactivity I am glad to announce the return of my site. It has been redesigned, rebuilt, and revived. Here is a status update of all future planned releases, in order of soonest to come:

• LINKS PAGE, including old and forgotten webpages featuring content and editors, as well as external tools that have good utility within MOO2. -- DONE!
• Collection of downloads to every official and unofficial version of the game, both CD-ROM based and patches, plus fan translations, subversions, etc. -- DONE!
• List of all known(publicized & released) game mods ever created, every single one ported to the 1.50 patch format as closely as possible, with downloads of both old & new versions. -- DONE
• NOTE: I am MISSING Evolution Mod by PK. If anyone still has this mod, please let me know!! I would greatly appreciate it shared either over Blogger email or through the MOO2 Discord.
• This is not necessarily an exhaustive list. If at any point after release I discover more old mods, or newer mods are released, I will do my best to update accordingly.
• Planned, in no particular order:
• Small guide to modding using 1.50 config format and O2M modding tool. This is meant to supplement existing resources
• Visual guide to using MOO2 Workshop editors in altering game LBX files, file format, categorization. Special concentration on game graphics.
• Compilation of other game editors and tools both old and new, alongside mini-guides.
• Overview of MOO2 remake attempts, both past and recent ones.
• Pages on game mechanics, multiplayer guides, game engine and internals
• Collection of MOO2's physical media and rare items, such as discs, merchandise, etc.
• Very brief intro to reverse engineering MOO2 and how the fan patches were made.
• WRITE-UP of History of MOO2- split into pre-development, development, early post-development, 1.40 patch, 1.50 patch. Including full descriptions on functions of tools and documentation of game changes and design philosophies.
• Encompasses nearly all of the above categories in generality.

Stay tuned!

Planned mods to be released...

AdmiralLoknar and I will soon be releasing a mods collection. It will compose of both old mods(pre-1.5 patch), and the newer mods, in config format. However, before we release the page I will post a preview, as well as going over what mods will be given. Most notably, this page will have lots of mods that people forgot about long ago!

OLD MODS:

These mods can come in a variety of formats and can be created by many tools. Some of them are there own .exes, such as DC and DD, and have their own LBXes, making sure that no original MoO2 files are overwritten. Others, however, use the exact same LBXes as original MOO(these will be shown with *), so in that case, you need to back up your moo2 files. To play these you need to mount them on Dosbox.

List of old mods that will be released:
DifficultChoice or DC- details http://masteroforion2.blogspot.com/2006/07/difficultchoicemod-b6.html

DemoDict or DD- details http://masteroforion2.blogspot.com/2006/05/demodictmod-b8.html

Decent Rocks mod- map mod for DC and DD

*Mitcian mod- old tech name mod- Download http://laaja.org/moo2/MictianMod.zip
Details http://laaja.org/moo2/

*Warmoo mod by pk-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH29lsYGtHw

*EXPa mod 1.4 by c.g- details http://www.spheriumnorth.com/orion-forum/nfphpbb/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=576
*MoO2 1.32 patch, more on masteroforion2.com

*PK's revolution mod and also balance mods-on PK's old site

*My own mod from 2010, haven't discovered a name for it yet.

NEW 1.50 CONFIG MODS

These are in the config format and can be played with moo2 launcher or ENABLE.CFG. The download zips will always provide the mod folder, so all you have to do is unzip into 150\mods. 

These mod are the ones that ARE NOT already included in 1.50 download and will be updated pending each new 1.50 version release.

Defensive Anti-Blitz-DAB version 8
Depth386 mod v 503
DemoDict mod
Expanded PickHacking
Traven's Buildsort

Hope this list helps!

NEW LINKS!

Hello, MoO2 community,
It is my delight to announce that I have posted many old links(using the Wayback Machine) for you guys to access. Some of these include:

1.PK's old site- This is the fansite of the now-inactive master PK. It is the latest working version from the Wayback Machine, in 2006(whew!). It has much useful info about mods and gameplay, as well as English and German translations.

2.ALEX|D's old site- Moo2.de.vu. By the German player Alex|D, who was a very good player with plenty of experience. It may not be that convenient in its current form, however.

3.4381's old site- Masteroforion2.com(why'd you take that domain!). This one has the first major moo2 mod, the appropriately dubbed "1.32 patch". Also includes a forum.