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Patch version 3.1c

This is the latest non-Boneyards (BY) patch Cavedog released for TA. All patches made after version 3.1c were related to Cavedog's own online game service BY. As far the community knows the BY patches didn't fix any of the bugs still in version 3.1c. Considering that and the fact BY died with Cavedog there is really no reason to prefer the BY patches over version 3.1c although they were released after patch 3.1c came out.
Other reasons why you should stick to the 3.1c patch are:
  • Some third party programs like the TA Recorder assume you have version 3.1c installed on your computer. With another version of TA you may run into problems when using these programs or not all of their features may be accessable.
  • It contains almost all of the units CD offered for free download on their web site from 1997 until 2000. Only the latest six downloadable units are not included. Keep in mind though the patch does not contain any new units introduced with the expansion TA:CC.

Install TA in the correct order

It's important to install TA, its expansions and the 3.1c patch in the correct order. The right order is as follows:
  1. Basic TA game from CD1 of the two CDs set
  2. Core Contingency expansion (TA:CC)
  3. Battle Tactics expansion (TA:BT)
  4. 3.1c patch
If you don't have a particular expansion listed in the above installation chain then just skip it and proceed with the next step.
Although the expansion TA:CC installs a larger set of units than the 3.1c patch does it still contains the older game engine version 3.0. And so does the second expansion TA:BT which was shipped with the game engine version 3.0b.

Re-installing the TA:CC or TA:BT expansion over a TA installation that was already patched up to game engine version 3.1c will overwrite the TA game engine files of version 3.1c with the older files of version 3.0 respectively 3.0b. In this case you have to re-apply the 3.1c patch again in order to get the maximum possible set of units and the latest game engine.

The 3.1c patch file

Download the file below, put it into any folder and launch the patch process by double clicking on the file from within the Windows explorer. Make sure the folder name suggested by the patch program is actually the folder where your TA installation resides.

ta1x-31c.exe (7.93 MB)

Verify 3.1c patch installation

Once you have the patch installed check if it was applied correctly in order to avoid unneeded debates on game services caused by the fact that the patch process actually failed and people keep telling you would lack the patch while you insist you had it installed.

Configuration file totala.ini

Allows the host of a multiplayer game to set the maximum unit limit per player up to 500. Higher numbers are ignored by the 3.1 game engine. Just put this file in the same directory where your TA installation resides.

totala.ini (1 KB)

Units not included in any patch or expansion

The following units never made it into any TA patch or expansion. To get a complete set of all official TA units you have to install these six units besides the TA:CC expansion.
If you prefer to play only one side of the TA races then install the three units of the other side too. Having only additional units for one race installed is not the best start to make new friends at the TA online game services.
Besides downloading and running the official installers below you also have the option to dump the unpacked unit data into the TA folder.

Arm Fast Assist Repair Kbot (FARK) (113 KB)
Arm Flea (75 KB)
Arm Scarab (117 KB)
Core Hedgehog (111 KB)
Core Immolator (102 KB)
Core Necro (171 KB)

get all unit installers above with a single download (650 KB)

Additonal maps released by Cavedog

You won't find most of the maps below on any of the original Cavedog compact discs since they never made their way into the expansions although they were available for download on the Cavedog site.
Most players don't have all of the maps below installed. I emphasized those you should download and install because they are at least every now and then picked to play games on.
Besides downloading and running the official installers below you also have the option to dump the unpacked map data into the TA folder.

Note

Some of the maps below won't work if you don't have the Core Contingency expansion installed

AbysmalLake.exe (1.12 MB)
ancient.exe (5.84 MB)
Cloudious Prime (5.24 MB)
Comet Catcher (2.46 MB)
Evad River Confluence (1.52 MB)
floggen.exe (1.29 MB)
Long Lakes (1.14 MB)
luschie.exe (6.04 MB)
luschious.exe (5.08 MB)
Metal Isles (1.53 MB)
mndsmars.exe (1.96 MB)
Plains And Passes (5.50 MB)
Ponds.exe (0.98 MB)
StarfishIsle.exe (0.73 MB)
thundurlokrok.exe (3.88 MB)
tropical.exe (3.88 MB)

get all map installers above with a single download (50.50 MB)

You also may want to check the section containing often picked 3rd party maps

Page last updated 2006/11/19 by tcbw@tcbw.net