So I reverted to the original EXE (this version only had the widescreen hack, I did check to make sure multiplayer was capped at 64 with that version and it was) and then modified the meme files for CampaignMenu and SkirmishMenu. I increased the max bot count in the AIDefault.con file for my mod and then tried out the menu changes. It worked! Got 256 bots working in Instant Battle mode and this shouldn't need any hacks to the EXE!
Basically I changed the Slider node max value from 400 to 1600 (unlike the CreateGame menu, the player count is percentage based instead of an exact player count, this might be why we are able to get more bots in Skirmish Mode without EXE hacks). I tried something crazy like 3200 (this would in theory give me 512 bots), but the game crashed as it ran out of "descriptors" to assign to the players. So like multiplayer, the game has a memory allocation limitation and there can't be more then 256 players. So to be on the safe side just set the max bot count in your AiDefault.con file to 255 instead of 256 as you have to remember the human player counts towards the player population in Skirmish Mode just like in multiplayer. So you can safely have 255. But you can go ahead and try 256 bots if it turns out the game has a little leg room and allows 257 players.
Download Link:
256BotMod.rar
The AiDefault.con file is not included. For the mod you are going to use this on, you'll need to edit that file your self. Details are included in the ReadMe file in the archive linked above.
This mod is compatible with vanilla BF1942, however it will also work in any mod that hasn't already modified the CampaignMenu or SkirmishMenu meme files. This includes mod like DesertCombat.
My upcoming rebuild of the BF242 mod will already have this menu mod, so don't attempt to use this with my BF242 mod as it wouldn't be needed.
EDIT:
Important! There was one thing I forgot about. (Thanks to Swaffy for discovering that there was an issue involving the vanilla maps)
Most of the vanilla maps has this code line in the SingleplayerAxis/SingleplayerAllied.con files (Skirmish Mode uses these con files to setup the tickets and load the objectspawns/CPs)
Code: Select all
game.maxNrofPlayers 18
Most mods I don't think really have this. But if you run into maps that seem to ignore the new max bot count, that would be the first place to look.