I know I am... a bit unconventional to certain minds. My ideas, first in short, then maybe some in detail:
Go play Clan-Quest-MOD 2.1 and ask permission, to include the Clan-based Quests? Balance of Madness alone is worthy to install and play a Strauss-Conform Tremere!!!
Even better, learn from that and outmatch it with creative alternatives. If possible and yes, I am aware, that such is above my own skill-level, too.
STOP BEING ARROGANT: Particles and Sounds/Schemes pushed to maximum Hardware means half the fans, the downtrodden and less rich, may never play your MOD at all. I learned, how to modify and delete replace, yet most gamers are even dumber.
The following is my list of hints on hardware issues, I had no time to change it from Clan-Quest to CE. Yet I played through the game with CE 1.5 before "pestering with my feedback".
Feel free, to check Pietroschek_Clandoc_Tweak at www.moddb.com (AddOns), too.
IT IS SIMPLY ALL I CAN CONTRIBUTE concerning constructive criticism and feedback.
HINTS if you experience lots of game crashes:
1st know, that you should make backups of any original files before meddling or overwriting, just to be able to restore your game!
2nd know, that my suspicions are purely based on my own game running more stable after doing it. No guarantees.
3rd make sure you do a Windows CHKDSK or Scandisk or Linux REISERFS or FSCK scan for errors and autocorrect them. Virus scan, if you are connected to the Internet or forgot to do one on your downloaded MOD, too!!!
4th, if using Windows: Ensure, that your Audio-Codecs are in optimized priority listing. Open Sounds and Audio Devices, find the codecs and a.) configure those which need it and b.) place the more modern on rank 1, 2 or 3. My list has 11 entries and some are OLD. Lame and Fraunhofer are well-known ones you can get in modern, updated versions, in example.
BASIC STEPS, which are often needed.
Start the game with console option.
Check, if console reports errors in files!
Note which files are reported as troublesome.
C:\Program Files\Activision\Vampire - Bloodlines\Vampire\vdata\system
LevelingTemplates and DisciplineTGT files can be deleted without too much trouble. Again, make backups before doing it!
Regular Game Options:
My machine runs better, when using minimum particles & disabling bump-mapping. Contrary to manual I use 1024x768 resolution, not 800x600 as the 2nd wastes shaders and gamma.
MORE DRASTIC MEASURES:
Delete all files from the following folder:
C:\Program Files\Activision\Vampire - Bloodlines\Vampire\sound\schemes
Delete all files from the following folder:
C:\Program Files\Activision\Vampire - Bloodlines\Vampire\sound\music
***
WAV issue: File properties are too modern for the game is my guess. Schemes make WAVs sound through overlarge settings, results in plenty of crashes, Santa Monica Pier has 2 just by sound.
MP3 vague guess: Game is too old, for more modern LAME compressions and settings? This is for those with music MODs or older PC!
CPU: RTF ReadMe, some MODs tell you, that CPU 2,4 GHZ and RAM 2GB or more are needed! To play them anyway, delete particle file in vdata/system, consider what I wrote about schemes & music files here and try? My crappy old PC has 2,1 GHZ with 1,5 GB Ram and got them running.
I did put my CONFIG.CFG and AUTOEXEC into a folder named Backup originals before use.
They belong into:
C:\Program Files\Activision\Vampire - Bloodlines\Vampire\cfg
