Author name: jdrgadmin

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been evaluating a Battlefield 1942 client tool called bf1942plus.

bf42plus inserts itself into the BF1942 process during startup, and its features can be controlled with a config file or using client console commands.

Here are a few of the features of bf42plus:

• Assign more and different colours to player names.
• Fix crash when the game is minimized.
• Fix other windows getting resized when the game is launched.
• Center kill message now shows who teamkilled you.
• Fix a loading screen crash caused by a bug in the game’s memory allocator.
• Speed up reconnecting to servers on map change.
• Changing mod when joining a server from the serverlist is faster.
• Nametags are lowered when u get close to other players so you can see them more easily.
• Yellow server messages are immediatedly copied to the console so one isn’t lost if it is overwritten by another.
• Message when someone connects to the server.
• Show player IDs in chat and/or in kill messages.
• Show player IDs in nametags.
• Show in the console who started a vote or voted.

There’s now a link to bf42plus on the Files page on this site.

NOTE: this mod has some features that are considered cheats on some servers. I currently don’t see any reason to ban its use on TPU.

Take a look! I’m finding the player name colour function to be particularly useful.

I just discovered a wealth of useful resources on the Battlefield 1942 Information web pages maintained by Eric Haines.

These pages in particular are extremely informative, and if you play BF1942, you should take a look:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Annotated Maps – maps marked with vehicles, emplacements, ammo, medical, etc.
• Tips and Tactics
• Weapons Effects and Grid O’ Death – paper vs. scissors vs. rock.

There’s now a link to Eric’s BF1942 pages on the How To page on this site. There’s also a link to a local copy of Eric’s pages on the JDRGaming server, because Battlefield 1942 is an ‘old’ game, and web sites about BF1942 tend to disappear.

Thanks to a group of dedicated fans on various sites and Discord channels, there’s a new master server for Battlefield 1942: master.bf1942.org.

If you don’t use the in-game server browser, you don’t need to make any changes, and you can still connect directly to your favourite servers directly via IP address, or indirectly from web-based server lists.

However, if you depend on the in-game server list, you’ll need to replace your Battlefield 1942 client binary with a new one that looks at the new master browser instead of the old, defunct one.

Here’s a link to the new BF1942 client files: https://www.moddb.com/games/battlefield-1942/downloads/bf1942-masterbf1942org-patch. Extract the contents of the ZIP file into your Battlefield 1942 folder. You might want to consider making a backup first.

I’ve tested the new server and the new client, joining and playing on TPU successfully.

The new client binary provides the master server fix, but also includes some other useful fixes:

Battlefield 1942 v1.612 Retail patched by henk on 23-2-2022
version 2.1

Fixes:
~~~~~~
* No CD
* Portable
* Widescreen support - In game
* Widescreen support - In menu
* master.gamespy.com replaced with master.bf1942.org
* Increased accessible ram from 2gb to 4gb
* Removed this message from console:
	 Error: failed  to add player  to buddylist. Couldn't locate player.

The Tanks ‘n Planes Unlimited server is now running a new version of the BF1942 server binary, which allows the server to report its status to the new master server. The new server binary includes several other useful fixes. Here’s the full list:

Linux Binary version 23-2-2022 by henk

Modified to include:
- master.bf1942.org replacement for gamespy master
- Ignore client version and checksum (allow 1.61b and 1.612)
- Ignore CD key checks
- No longer sends player keyhashes to public queries
- Allows all console commands on remote and local console
- Fix assaultTeam typo. Defending team now wins if timer expires
- Allow 128 players
- Fix armor zombies generated by death bubble
- Fixes IP bans not taking effect

- Fixes segfault in dice::ref2::io::NetworkManager::getNetUpdate
- Fixes segfault in dice::ref2::world::ObjectManager::checkMessages
- Fixes segfault in dice::ref2::world::FireArms::Fire
- Fixes segfault in dice::ref2::io::NetworkManager::getNetUpdateDelta
- Fixes segfault in dice::ref2::world::BFSoldier::handleUpdate

Addresses the following vulnerabilities:
- BFE-200806.01
- BFE-201107.01
- BFE-201111.01
- BFE-201211.01
- BFE-201611.01
- BFE-201611.02
- BFE-201710.01
- BFE-201804.01

Sisko sent me a video that shows someone camping at the uncaptureable Axis base on the Battle of Britain map:

The video was created using Bandicam in spectator view in a recent session on TPU. It’s a good demonstration of the kind of base camping that some TPU players find objectionable.

TPU is a co-op vs. bots server, so human players should only ever attack bots. Since the object of any base camping should therefore only ever be to kill bots, and we needn’t feel any empathy for bots, camping on TPU is technically allowed.

However, base camping can also be annoying to human teammates. In this example from Battle of Britain, the camping player is destroying Axis bombers before they can even take off, which means any players defending the factory and radar stations in England have nothing to do. Many players, including myself, enjoy dogfighting in a Spitfire over England, and this camping would reduce the potential for that kind of enjoyment.

The other problem with this kind of camping is that it’s not very challenging. Sure, the Axis bots at their base will try to kill the camper, and the camper may not last long in that position, but while there, the camper can easily kill huge numbers of bots. So it’s not much of an achievement, except for racking up kills. Padding stats like this can also be annoying for other players.

It’s an interesting issue. I’m still not convinced that we need a rule against camping. Instead, I will continue to emphasize that: a) it’s kind of lame; b) it’s too easy; c) it’s a simple way to pad stats; and d) other players may find it annoying. If a player is doing this kind of thing on TPU, and it bothers you, use the in-game chat to politely ask them to stop.

If you disagree, or have something to add to this discussion, contact me on the #tpu_server channel on the JDRGaming Discord server.