Because this is no MOD, just a patch that will try to fix the balance issues/lacks of EaW, i post it here. We hope that the XMLs files will be ready by the end of this weekend or the next one. Unless developers don't materilise them first Note that this unofficial patch will try to fix only the Gameplay issues mentioned below. The AI-Graphics and MP problems are devs' job to do. Feel free to suggest any more changes that can be done directly through XML editting. Issues such as "instant damage, camera angle view and diplomacy" are obviously part of an x-pack, not a simple patch. Btw, it's obvious that anyone can sit down and edit the XML so that he balances the game as he wants. Yet, this is an effort done to help some players that cannot do this. ================================================== Threads where the balance issues/lacks were tracked: 1. Official Petroglyph "Need to fix" Thread - 1.02 Patch Released 2. my rants and raves.... [contains spoilers] 3. Dear DEV. Team plz read this 4. Cheap AI tactics 5. Some Balance Issues Balance issues/lacks according to those threads that can be fixed: Gameplay 1) Disable TIE Maulers’ ability to run over infantry. 2) Reduce TIE Maulers’ attack damage made by their auto-destruction ability. 3) Reduce bombing runs’ damage made to enemy. 4) Activate friendly fire damage made by bombing runs. 5) Tweak superweapons fire damage/refill time. 6) Tweak Antilles and Red Squadron’s fire damage/speed/refill time. 7) Reduce Artillery’s damage made to infantry and increase it against vehicles/buildings. Reduce Plex soldiers’ damage made to heavy vehicles. 9) Increase troops’ fire damage made against other infantry. 10) Reduce to zero (if possible) troops’ damage made to Armored vehicles such as ATAT. 11) Tweak ALL health/attack/defense/accuracy status to the space ships so that: (a) Space battles last longer and so lay more strategies on the battlefield, (b) Capital ships oppose a serious threat against fighters. 12) Re-activate the color identification of cursor for in-range, out-of-range signal or re-activate firing-ranges both in land and space combat. 13) Apply TIE Mauler’s auto-destruction ability to all the space ships; when a space ship is destroyed, then the surround area feels the impulse of its destruction. 14) Deactivate pirates from MP or minimize their forces. AI - Graphics • Correct issues with objects flying through each other. • Problematic path finding issue for infantry (mainly) on city maps. • Fix AI’s “ability” to overpass the population capacity limit. • Fix AI’s “ability” to track the enemy when inside nebulas. Multiplayer • Fix MP connectivity issues due to firewalls. • Fix MP stability issue (exceptions, lag) • Fix MP ladder system IMPORTANT! -(will be editted shortly before the patch is out) All the players that will download this unofficial patch must back up their original XML files stored in C:\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars Empire at War\GameData\Dat and named as: 1) … 2) … 3) … The reason to do so is the MP incompability issues that arise when you alter you XML files. So, if your opponents do not have this unofficial patch as you do, you must copy & paste the original files for the MP session and then to copy & paste your fixed files for single player. ------------------------- from the eaw forums i love fanpatches...but before the parent company has abandoned the game i don't see the point!