FLEP custom patches: updates, testing and discussion (Round 3)

ChocolateFan · 30-07-24, 03:20

About

FLEP (FLExible Patcher) is a revamped and updated derivative of TREP's custom patches module. It is compatible with TRNG version 1.3.0.7.

Continuing from the Round 2

New Workflow

Downloads

FLEP main program
Custom patches (all versions)

Old Workflow

Downloads

FLEP main program (flep.dll source code)
Custom patches

Tools

Leikkuri font converter for FLEP (source code)

Common Files

Additional Files

Particles testing ground (NOTE: You might get a false positive for this. The files are clean.)
Mine Cart WAD with sounds

Source Code

FLEP main program

Installation Instructions

1. Download the FLEP main program and the custom patches from the Downloads section of either one of the workflows.
2. Unpack everything in your TRLE game folder (replacing tomb4.exe).
3. Install the plugin through TombIDE or NG Center.
4. Launch FLEP, apply the patches you want, then press the "Modify" button.
5. Add new script commands in TombIDE or NG Center if a patch requires it.

Additional steps for NG Center users

6. Navigate to your NG Center installation folder.
7. Enter the "TRNG" folder and delete or rename tomb4.exe! A warning message will appear every time you open NG Center, but your tomb4.exe will no longer be overwritten.

Transition Guide

1. Uninstall Plugin_FLEP through TombIDE or NG Center.
2. Delete the following files:

flep.dll
libtcc.dll
msvcp100.dll
msvcr100.dll
patches.bin
patches.dll

3. Install the new workflow following the instructions above.

Changelog

Code:

Version 9 (2024-11-25)
----------------------
Fixed patches:
- Fix baboon bug

New patches:
- Fix camera cutoff
- Fix loading level bug
- Wibble rooms TREP-style
- Wibble objects TREP-style
- Remove fire smoke
- Black fire smoke
- Crawl tilting

Fixed commands:
- Meshswap of Lara meshes

New commands:
- SPEEDUP
- SPEEDDN

Version 8 (2024-11-04)
----------------------
New patches:
- Decouple baboons animations
- Fix bad baboon attack check
- Remove baboon magic death
- Fix baboon bug

Fixed patches:
- Mine Cart
- Keep dead enemies

Version 7 (2024-10-30)
----------------------
New patches:
- Fix unresponsive flare throw
- Loose flare hold while running
- Enable duckcrawl anim states

Version 5 (2024-08-24)
----------------------
Fixed patches:
- Ladder to crawlspace
- HK Gun

New commands:
- Old style trapdoors

New patches:
- Horizon rotation

Version 4 (2024-08-05)
----------------------
Fixed patches:
- Fix Lara's elbows

Version 3 (2024-07-30)
----------------------
New patches:
- Vault height adjuster

Version 1 (2024-07-29)
----------------------
New patches:
- Waterfallmist status

2024-04-06
----------
New patches:
- Hit wall frames of run animation

2024-03-28
----------
New patches:
- Mine Cart

2024-03-02
----------
New commands:
- Meshswap of Lara meshes
- Exit game

2024-02-11
----------
New patches:
- Add copyright notice under main menu
- Grenadegun ammo and animations
- Title logo fade in
- Fix PuzzleCombiner

2024-01-14
----------
New patches:
- Fix ceiling trapdoor bug
- Change floor trapdoor fixed camera
- Disable floor trapdoor fixed camera
- Change ceiling trapdoor fixed camera
- Disable ceiling trapdoor fixed camera

2024-01-07
----------
New patches:
- Angkor Wat Von Croy
- Fix load.bmp stretching

2023-08-20
----------
New patches:
- Fix Sarcophagus pickups

2023-08-13
----------
Fixed commands:
- Old style rollingballs

2023-08-06
----------
New patches:
- Fix null static collision bounds
- Fix vertical rotation toward AI objects

New commands:
- Old style rollingballs

2023-06-03
----------
New patches:
- Change jump camera angles
- Fix Lara's backstep down animation

2023-05-29
----------
New patches:
- Change pickup camera angles
- Change object interaction camera angles

2023-05-28
----------
New patches:
- Remove baddies pickup hack
- Baddies and small medipacks
- Decouple baddies animations
- Remap regenerating pickups array

2023-04-21
----------
New patches:
- Hardware Acceleration preselection
- Fix sector boundaries
- Accurate hair mesh collision
- Fix wade snap
- Quake camera

New commands:
- Sprite objects

2023-04-13
----------
Fixed patches:
- Disable Hair Skinning

2023-04-10
----------
Updated patches:
- Disable Hair Skinning

2023-04-06
----------
New patches:
- Disable Hair Skinning

2023-04-01
----------
Fixed patches:
- Wibble rooms

2023-03-24
----------
Fixed patches:
- Fast alignment
- Pushable Object alignment

New patches:
- Pushable Object TestPosition

2023-03-06
----------
Fixed patches:
- HK Gun
- Wibble rooms

New patches:
- Wibble objects

2023-02-21
----------
Fixed patches:
- Fast alignment

New patches:
- Fix dying flare colours
- Rotate debris
- Pushable Object alignment
- Wibble rooms
- tomb4 circle shadow

New commands:
- Lift doors

2023-01-29
----------
New patch:
- Fix rainbow bug

2022-12-13
----------
New patches:
- Skedaddler baddies
- Fix hurt Von Croy bug

2022-11-01
----------
New patches:
- Enable bike nitro without Puzzle_Item1
- Change bike nitro item

2022-10-05
----------
New patches:
- HK Gun

2022-09-12
----------
Fixed patches:
- Keep dead enemies

New patches:
- Remove MUMMY stun animations

2022-08-09
----------
Fixed patches:
- Disable "Hang game thread" on lost focus

2022-07-30
----------
New patches:
- Add dynamic lighting to statics
- Disable "Hang game thread" on lost focus
- Save Turn Switch direction

New commands:
- Original bridges

2022-07-29
----------
New patches:
- Disable mummy follow block
- Fix Lara's elbows

2022-07-28
----------
Fixed patches:
- Font Colour Customization

Updated patches:
- Burning torch customizer

New patches:
- Level secrets counter

2022-07-09
----------
Added patches:
- Change blood sprite
- FLEP number
- Disable harmless Sentry Gun behaviour
- Burning torch customizer

2022-05-17
----------
Added patches:
- Save ropes
- Fix rope glitch

2022-05-14
----------
Fixed patches:
- Rope drop

2022-05-01
----------
Added patches:
- Keep dead enemies
- Change health and air bar low levels
- Rope drop

2022-04-10
----------
Added patches:
- Plugin integrity check

2022-03-25
----------
Added patches:
- Force bilinear filtering off
- Safe flare throw

2022-03-21
----------
Added patches:
- Fix bridge bug
- Corner shimmy without pressing Action
- Fix flashes
- Fix flipmap lighting
- Fix hardcoded lighting
- Remove LARA_NO sound for crowbar
- Hair collision with floor

2022-03-11
----------
Added patches:
- Remove KNIGHTS_TEMPLAR health regeneration
- Fix multi-mesh inventory item drawing
- Disable shotgun smoke sprite
- Remove Knights Templar sparks

2022-02-08
----------
Fixed patches:
- Objects Customizer - Squishy Block 2 No Tremble
- Static collision
- Enable gliding camera
- Fix collision when swimming on water surface

Added patches:
- Stop Ahmet from activating heavy triggers
- Fix body parts persistence
- Jeep explosion after falling
- Ammo Counter - Shotgun 6x Divider OFF
- Fix Lara's crowbar door positioning
- Customize Hotkeys
- Font Colour Customization
- Ammo type options - Menu Button Show/Hide
- Ammo type options - Shotgun
- Ammo type options - Grenade Gun
- Ammo type options - Crossbow
- Disable LoadScreens

2021-11-21
----------
Added patches:
- Change puzzle insert frame
- Remove jump to ladder

2021-10-09
----------
Added patches:
- Multi-pickup
- Fix pedestal pickup bug

2021-09-29
----------
Added patches:
- Enable gliding camera

2021-09-26
----------
Added patches:
- Enable gliding camera. requires TE 1.4.3 or later.
- Jeep without ignition key.
- Fix collision when swimming on water surface.
- Fix hair while wading.

2021-09-21
----------
Added patches:
- Fix inconsistent camera angle when hanging

2021-09-05
----------
Fixed patches:
- Clear menu backgrounds

Added patches:
- TR2Main widescreen
- Fix jumping through objects
- Static collision

2021-08-09
----------
Added patches:
- Upward standing jump ledge grab animation
- Ledge release animation
- Pickup flare frames
- Pickup item frames
- Jump delay
- Dive delay
- Crawlspace pickup
- Prevent camera position freeze
- Customize sas gun
- Fix bottom right corner bug

ChocolateFan · 30-07-24, 03:22

As of today, FLEP comes in two workflows.

The first one was introduced in this post. It is referred to as the "old workflow". The second one is being introduced today, therefore this workflow is the "new workflow".

The new workflow is intended to be an efficient, simple and robust drop-in replacement for the old workflow. But both workflows will be worked on in the foreseeable future, until the old workflow has no more users. At this point, it will be abandoned and only the new workflow will be updated.

If you are starting your project now, or started recently, the recommendation is to use the new workflow. On the other hand, if your project is nearing completion, stick with the old workflow.

As usual, feedback is welcome!

From the FLEP developers (in alphabetical order): ChocolateFan, Dermahn, Krystian.
Special thanks to: Troye.

Ruu11 · 30-07-24, 13:14

Yayy. Cool to see FLEP still going!

Chocolate, if u accept request I would love to see the body adjustement
on floor elevations when Lara is crawling and also better hair colisions
so her braid doesn't clip through her neck when in duck position...

These 2 additions would be neat!!

ChocolateFan · 30-07-24, 15:15

Version 3 is released, links in the first post.

Ruu11, if you adjust in Strpix or WadTool the LARA_SKIN spheres, you can avoid this braid issue. And about the body adjustment, it is in the list!

**Titak** · 31-07-24, 20:36

"Fix Lara's backstep down animation"
Whenever I have this patch enabled the game will crash when Lara is about to perform animation 62.

No idea if the patches.dll makes a difference in this case but I downloaded the patches.zip from the first post and installed the latest patches with it, like I always do (old workflow).
I enabled a couple more patches and clicked Modify in the FLEP program, and copied the updated patches.bin to my game folder.
Since it was a new download I also copied the patches.dll to my game folder: CRASH when the title is about to load.
When I use the previous patches.dll (copied from a backup folder) the game works fine, except for that crash when "Fix Lara's backstep down animation" is enabled.

As for animation 62, in case it matters:
It is in my LARA object, it has StateID 16.

Any ideas?

LoreRaider · 31-07-24, 20:40

Did you also update Plugin_FLEP? (or in the new way Plugin_FlexiblePatcher)

**Titak** · 31-07-24, 21:18

I did not...
Last time I did that I had a hell of a time to get it to work again.
Game kept crashing instantly. Still not sure how I fixed it...

Well, I have a backup folder, so I guess I could give it another try.
Would be nice to have that "Fix Lara's backstep down animation" patch working.

*** EDIT ***
Must indeed have been a wrong mixture of files: old files while having newer versions of other files.
I now have all the files from the recent download in my game folder and the patch works like a charm.

Thank you for the suggestion, Lore!

ChocolateFan · 01-08-24, 14:05

Indeed the old workflow is, either you do everything correctly, or something will crash. The new workflow is a lot more consistent and safe in this regard.

ChocolateFan · 05-08-24, 20:53

Version 4 is released, links in the first post.

Fixed patches

Fix Lara's elbows

Kevin · 07-08-24, 15:30

Thank you chocolatefan for keeping FLEP alive and the constant updates.

I tried the new method, unfortunately Windows Defender doesn't like the new exe and gives me a blue smartscreen warning.

I'll stick to the old method but from what I gathered new patches are still compatible, right?

31-07-24, 21:18	#7
Titak Moderator Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 33,419	I did not... Last time I did that I had a hell of a time to get it to work again. Game kept crashing instantly. Still not sure how I fixed it... Well, I have a backup folder, so I guess I could give it another try. Would be nice to have that "Fix Lara's backstep down animation" patch working. * EDIT * Must indeed have been a wrong mixture of files: old files while having newer versions of other files. I now have all the files from the recent download in my game folder and the patch works like a charm. Thank you for the suggestion, Lore! Last edited by Titak; 31-07-24 at 21:31.

05-08-24, 20:53	#9
ChocolateFan Member Joined: Dec 2017 Posts: 553	Version 4 is released, links in the first post. Fixed patches Fix Lara's elbows

30-07-24, 03:22	#2
ChocolateFan Member Joined: Dec 2017 Posts: 553	As of today, FLEP comes in two workflows. The first one was introduced in this post. It is referred to as the "old workflow". The second one is being introduced today, therefore this workflow is the "new workflow". The new workflow is intended to be an efficient, simple and robust drop-in replacement for the old workflow. But both workflows will be worked on in the foreseeable future, until the old workflow has no more users. At this point, it will be abandoned and only the new workflow will be updated. If you are starting your project now, or started recently, the recommendation is to use the new workflow. On the other hand, if your project is nearing completion, stick with the old workflow. As usual, feedback is welcome! From the FLEP developers (in alphabetical order): ChocolateFan, Dermahn, Krystian. Special thanks to: Troye.

30-07-24, 13:14	#3
Ruu11 Member Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 1,120	Yayy. Cool to see FLEP still going! Chocolate, if u accept request I would love to see the body adjustement on floor elevations when Lara is crawling and also better hair colisions so her braid doesn't clip through her neck when in duck position... These 2 additions would be neat!!

30-07-24, 15:15	#4
ChocolateFan Member Joined: Dec 2017 Posts: 553	Version 3 is released, links in the first post. Ruu11, if you adjust in Strpix or WadTool the LARA_SKIN spheres, you can avoid this braid issue. And about the body adjustment, it is in the list!

31-07-24, 20:36	#5
Titak Moderator Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 33,419	"Fix Lara's backstep down animation" Whenever I have this patch enabled the game will crash when Lara is about to perform animation 62. No idea if the patches.dll makes a difference in this case but I downloaded the patches.zip from the first post and installed the latest patches with it, like I always do (old workflow). I enabled a couple more patches and clicked Modify in the FLEP program, and copied the updated patches.bin to my game folder. Since it was a new download I also copied the patches.dll to my game folder: CRASH when the title is about to load. When I use the previous patches.dll (copied from a backup folder) the game works fine, except for that crash when "Fix Lara's backstep down animation" is enabled. As for animation 62, in case it matters: It is in my LARA object, it has StateID 16. Any ideas?

31-07-24, 20:40	#6
LoreRaider Member Joined: Jul 2016 Posts: 2,069	Did you also update Plugin_FLEP? (or in the new way Plugin_FlexiblePatcher)

01-08-24, 14:05	#8
ChocolateFan Member Joined: Dec 2017 Posts: 553	Indeed the old workflow is, either you do everything correctly, or something will crash. The new workflow is a lot more consistent and safe in this regard.

07-08-24, 15:30	#10
Kevin Member Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 836	Thank you chocolatefan for keeping FLEP alive and the constant updates. I tried the new method, unfortunately Windows Defender doesn't like the new exe and gives me a blue smartscreen warning. I'll stick to the old method but from what I gathered new patches are still compatible, right?