[JCarrill0]

DUM VITA EST SPES EST
WHILE THERE'S LIFE, THERE'S HOPE

What is Fleet Operations?
Fleet Operations is a popular skirmish and multiplayer orientated total conversion modification for Activision's real-time strategy game, Star Trek: Armada II.

The project's goal was not only to create a simple "modification", but to design a total conversion to make Armada II a worthy successor to the second best-selling Star Trek game, Star Trek: Armada (behind Interplay's Star Trek: 25th Anniversary by a small, but fair margin).
The first public version of Fleet Operations was released in 2003. Today, version 3 includes a whole new user interface, an updated game and graphics engine, completely replaced ship models, 5 balanced races with totally new gameplay and tons of new possibilities making Armada II a real real-time strategy multiplayer game.

Fleet Operations features:

• 5 balanced races: Federation, Klingon, Borg, Romulan and Dominion
• More than 200 new ships and stations
• Dynamic tactics: Avatars, ship experience system, mixed tech, warp-in, ...
• Fully supported and improved AI
• Community driven and active in development since 2003
• Engine enhancements: Widescreen support, FMOD sound engine, Tunngle online gaming, ...
• Not the Armada you played: 99% of all models, graphics, sounds, scripts rewritten or replaced
• Patched to include latest fixes up to Windows 7
• Easy Installation: Installs right off your Armada II CD - no pre-installation required

Changes and Additions: The Big Three
1. Individual Technology Trees - Each faction has an individual technology tree. In Armada II all factions had the same fundamental tech tree of stations and ships with very subtle deviation (for example the amount of ships differed in the small shipyards). The developers did not intend to stick with the Armada II layout of three research stations and two types of shipyards for each faction. As a consequence the team developed a unique technology tree for each faction, and in addition found a way to balance this in an appropriate way. Now, for example, Klingons have three shipyards while the Dominion has just two of them and the Dominion also has to build more expensive prototypes before building the corresponding cheaper "copies". Similarly, upon game startup, you have the choice to choose between one of two avatars, supporting your preferred tactics.

Research of technologies is linked with a unique system for each faction as well. A special offer you can witness in Fleet Operations 3.0 is the ability to trade technologies between factions which brings more depth and variety into gameplay.
For more information, visit the Basics section here.

2. Physics - The Fleet Ops team has removed the 3D space box from the game. This means that all actions are done at one level in height and depth (“zero” level). The result is that there is no more pointless building in height/depth and flying over defensive structures without harm. Furthermore, the warp capability of all vessels has been removed. As a consequence, retreating from torpedoes by warping away will no longer be a major aspect of gameplay, and attacking an opponent's base is composed of clever strategy and intelligent fleet combinations to achieve greater efficiency. Although maps are larger in Armada II than in Armada I, warp-capable ships could reach any point of the map within seconds, leading to Warp-In – shoot – Warp-Out tactics. It likewise removed the need for slower vessels, as well as vessels that had special weapons to lay “traps”. Turrets and defensive structures could also be easily skirted using warp.
Warp is a very good aspect if it supports the game. For example, in a game like Starfleet Command, or a first person shooter with a storyline, warp can be very interesting. For a Real Time Strategy game, however, it just doesn't fit. Thus, to allow more strategic accented game-play, only impulse speed is available. Experiences from Armada I showed the developers that this solution fits the game the best.
Of course this seems to be un-Trecky, but for an RTS game you always have to adapt the source material - in this case Star Trek - to fit the requirements of the genre. If you really need a “technical” argument, a Fleet Operations map is a sector. We rarely hear of any warp traffic within a sector or star system and as seen in one of the movies and some of the episodes, it’s also not a good idea to go to warp while being in a star system. If warp drive were that useful, nobody would use impulse drives. It is a weak point, but that's enough for the developers, as strategy always goes first - this is a game, not a simulation.

3. Graphics - This category compares the graphical aspects of stock Armada II and Fleet Operations. Unlike the Fleet Operations Gallery, you can see how the look of Fleet Operations differs in relation to that of Armada II as similar scenes from both games are presented here. Keep in mind that to really get a feel for how explosions, disruptors, and quantum torpedoes shimmer and glow, you'll have to actually play the game - pictures just can't do them justice. On to the pretty images!

• A2Starbase vs FOstarbase
• A2Sov vs FOSov
• A2outpost vs FOoutpost

[JCarrill0]

Technical FAQ

Installing and setting up Fleet Operations

Do I have to uninstall Armada II before installing Fleet Operations?
No, you can set up an Armada II installation parallel to Fleet Operations. You can even install Armada II after Fleet Operations or not at all!

Do I have to install the official Armada II 1.1 Patch after installing Fleet Operations?
Nope, you don't: all required files are included in the Fleet Operations’ setup package - you don’t even need a preinstalled Armada II. Setup will copy all required files from your Armada II CD.

Do I need to have Armada II preinstalled in order to install Fleet Operations?
No, you do not need to preinstall Armada II. Fleet Operations can be installed on a PC that has never seen Armada 2 installed before. Fleet Operations Setup copies the required files from your Armada II CD (or from the Armada II directory if you so choose and the game was already installed), so be sure you have your CD at hand when installing Fleet Operations.

Fleet Operations has been flagged as virus-laden!
Some virus scanners may identify the Armada2.exe loader as a potential threat due to the techniques used in modifying the stock Armada 2 executable. So if you run into problems during installation it is recommended to temporarily disable your anti-virus scanner and whitelist the armada2.exe afterwards. Please consider reporting the Armada2.exe as a "false positive" to the developers of your anti-virus software. That usually includes sending the file to the anti-virus developer, where it will then be analyzed. This can often be done through your anti-virus software when the file gets quarantined and it may have different names, like 'send in for analysis'.

Still, if you happen to want to not use the loader for whatever reason (let it be technical problems), just delete the Armada2.exe and rename the Armada2.LDL file to "Armada2.exe". Using the loader is fully optional. Your only disadvantage will be the 2GB ram limit and some nice icons.

Are there any "nocd-patches" available if I don't want to play with the disc?
DOCa Cola submitted one some time ago, which you can find, but it will not be linked here.

Note: If you happen to want to replace the Armada2 executable for whatever reason (in 99% of cases that'll be a no-cd patch) please make sure you replace the Armada2.LDL file instead of the Armada2.exe file.

If you still need help, please use the Armada 2/Fleet Ops Tech Support thread.

[JCarrill0]

Star Trek Armada II Import | Classic A2 Mod for FleetOps

This mod imports all of the stock A2 stuff into Fleet Operations. This mod combines the stock Armada II gameplay with the Fleet Operations enhancements to the Armada II engine. I and Blade are both working on this mod.

Current Version: 1.2d
Download
GitHub Repository

Fleet Ops 4.0 Loader hosted by Blade
To make it easier for people to see the changes that have been made, I have made a GitHub repository for this mod.

Current Bugs (1.2d)	Fixed in 1.2e?
Certain UI elements are missing due to the FO enhancements.	Unknown
teamcolor.odf gives FO names to team colors due to FO enhancements.	Cannot currently be fixed.
Map Selection window is the wrong size due to FO enhancements.	Unknown
Planet resource and research bars overlap each-other on a colonized planet.	Fixed
The trade button on the cargo ship is missing but can still be accessed by pushing the "V" key.	Fixed if using the FO 4.0 Beta loader.
In the FO 4.0 Beta loader, the map editor menu is located on the right side of the screen instead of the left.	Unknown
Recycle rates are incorrect.	Fixed if using the FO 4.0 Beta loader.

I personally do not use the 4.0 Loader.