It also doesn't take much to make save game files incompatible with an "improved" progs.dat.

Like what, any example? 

imo the right place to fix this is in "clean qc"/"bugfixed id1 progs" type of mod.. and maps that need the fixes would target that mod 

he means different precache_model+precache_sound calls, which is why dp+fte+qss save the sound+model precaches into the saved game.

Next Baker will be arguing to leave all the segfaults in... 

if its so important that everyone have the exact same progs, then maybe quakespasm should include a copy of progs 1.06 for all those people with cd versions that came with 1.01

throwing in some extra things that mean we don't need more absurd+awkward function hacks can only be a good thing. 

My monster randomizer for the speedrunning community breaks the save files... and breaks it hard. 

Now I wonder what code have you added :) 

Looks like I had stirred up quite the discussion touching on the very fundamentals on what to fix/improve/modify and where.

How about I just remove that one explobox from my map to remove the stack overflow, and we all forget this ever happened, shall we? ;D

But in all seriousness, it's good to have this discussion. Seems there really is no clear-cut right answer for it. @~@ 

Start a map, pick up some guns, shoot some monsters leaving some alive, open some doors, turn on some lights and save.

Now open the save game file.

Look at the monsters and the doors, etc. in the save game file.

Now realize if you change the names of any of that stuff in your progs, it can't load that save file.

Go to the Teaching Progs New Tricks thread, realize if you rename any of that stuff or rewrite how it works, any of the maps using those tricks are now broke with your progs. 

Ahh, ok. Just opened saves and now I see what you mean. Idk why I never opened Quake saves. I probably thought they are binary...

So if I keep names intact and just add new stuff, it should work just fine. Only problem with this approach might be when there is a new field added to some entity and it's not available in save file. This field will become null or empty after loading. 

Exactly. Breaking things would simply be normal. Someone would have to set out to deliberately not break things.

Adding fields? Well, now you are making a mod, not bug fixing the original progs.

Makes as much sense as saying "Hey everyone! I created an different flavor of vanilla ice cream!"

If you see my point. 

Adding fields? Well, now you are making a mod, not bug fixing the original progs.

Yes, I was thinking more about mods compatibility, so they don't break vanilla behavior etc. That's why I was curious about saves.

But speaking of vanilla patching, I agree, it needs to be made carefully, with lots of testing and solid code review, with attention to backwards compatibility.

It might be a little tricky to refactor vanilla progs, but there are many smart guys in this community, so I'm optimistic :) 

http://imgur.com/fCG3ovD

What causes this "Host Error" ?

Im using the newest version that was released with ad_sepulcher 

that is "quakespasm-spike-admod"

it works fine in "quakespasm-spike" 

I got a few instances of older maps that don't load with the AD1.6 mod. In their case, I got some Host errors. Loading them with the ID's default goes well, though.

I wonder what may brake some maps with the AD mod ? 

The spike FXs from QuakeSpasm-spike-admod are working great with AD1.6. But AFAIK, these new FX aren't dependent on AD, and yet I don't have them when loading any other mod.

Any other players here are able to get the FX with other mod, and not just AD ?

If so, how could I turn on the FX with other mode ? Is there a special command for that ? 

AD does NOT support quake maps designed for other mods and maps that use map hacks, it makes no sense loading a quoth map and expecting it to work.

Even maps designed for vanilla progs can break in AD, due to maphacks/unconventional mapping features.

Same applies to the Spiked FX, each entity has to be specifically setup to support it.

So, in short, no, there is no easy command to make it work for older maps. 

Sorry, not sure.. I tried running a few quoth maps in quakespasm-spike-admod and couldn't reproduce. Does it work in regular quakespasm? 

if you want QSS to load up some custom particle effects then you can name them via the r_particledesc cvar.
eg place https://sourceforge.net/p/fteqw/code/HEAD/tree/trunk/engine/partcfgs/high.cfg into id1/particles/high.cfg and set r_particledesc high and it'll use those particles.

If you want to use particles made for DP, you can set r_particledesc effectinfo[_foobar] which instead will load id1/effectinfo[_foobar].txt in a manor compatible with DP. This is effectively what AD does, except AD names them via ssqc (which then causes the client to load them as needed).

Some of the other things that AD has (like flame particles) is done via the qc itself. You may be able to replicate such effects via a particle config with the r_effect command (which attaches particle effects according to model), but the result is unlikely to be identical. 

I got it working in quakespasm-admod. just quakespasm-spike-admod that im having trouble with. :shrug: 

 

When I start Quake with the AD mod, I can start any custom map in my ID folder and get the special FX. They are all working great. I would like to get the same effects while starting Quake with the default ID too, without having loaded AD.

So what file should I add to my ID folder ? It's not clear to me. 

Come on dude, Spike said:

place https://sourceforge.net/p/fteqw/code/HEAD/tree/trunk/engine/partcfgs/high.cfg into id1/particles/high.cfg and set r_particledesc high and it'll use those particles

1) He gave you the link to the file
2) Says where it goes
3) "r_particledesc high" is what you type in the console. 

Well ok, I placed that high.cfg file into a new "particles" folder, and typed r_particledesc high. It did worked somehow, but the effect is really not the same as running from AD.

Also, I got this error message in the console :

Unknown particle command "cl_expsprite". 

AD has extra effects coded into the game logic, the same way it has extra monsters coded into the game logic and optional floaty particles. So it isn't going to be the same no matter what you do.

But that config Spike provided will give you something. 

Grab the effectinfo.txt file from ad and shove it in id1 or whereever. set r_particledesc effectinfo.
that'll get you as close as is easy to do. As I say, it won't affect torches or anything the mod does explicitly, like the teleporter effects or the skill pillars, or the pentagram effects etc, but you should get the blood trails and weapon effects.