Mod changes rendering method for ALL particles in Kenshi and SPEEDS UP the game substantially in the process! NO, mod is not reducing particle effects nor compressing textures...
Requirements
This mod does not have any known dependencies other than the base game.
Other user's assetsAll the assets in this file belong to the author, or are from free-to-use modder's resources
Upload permissionYou can upload this file to other sites but you must credit me as the creator of the file
Modification permissionYou are allowed to modify my files and release bug fixes or improve on the features so long as you credit me as the original creator
Conversion permissionYou can convert this file to work with other games as long as you credit me as the creator of the file
Asset use permissionYou are allowed to use the assets in this file without permission as long as you credit me
Asset use permission in mods/files that are being soldYou are not allowed to use assets from this file in any mods/files that are being sold, for money, on Steam Workshop or other platforms
Asset use permission in mods/files that earn donation pointsYou are allowed to earn Donation Points for your mods if they use my assets
Author notes
This author has not provided any additional notes regarding file permissions
File credits
Thanks to Amok Harvest for providing me with information, editing scripts and investigating this possibilities! Thanks to Kenshi testing group, especially Iblis for doing basic tests as well as Program screenshots in full English Thanks to BFrizzleFoShizzle for providing me with Re:kenshi plugin for the mod Thanks to Jannifer for spell checking and grammar checking Thanks to KOZ for permissions to use his Resources (i will try to implement them if i got good place of them, for now they are just cool references) Thanks to BellCube for advice with scripting installer Thanks to BlueAmulet for his invaluable help during development of 3.0 update and all of the advice Thanks to ElgarL for tests and assist during development of fix for fatal crashes in update 3.0.1 Thanks to RobVespa for finding a solution to XCOPY issue related to command in the .bat script Thanks to Lo-Fi games for making Kenshi, game is FUN
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Changelogs
Version 3.4
Because i was doing all this elaborate mods with custom installers and file edits
i decided the best course of action would be to improve packaging of all my mods
so you can easily find and identify them in your kenshi.exe locations without having to scroll for resource, installer, backup anything like this
Entire code has been changed to supply new folder packaging and code been set better to properly identify folders
Naturally version indicator has been updated to 3.4
if you installed version 3.3 this version sadly does not provide any benefits to performance of the game over 3.3, its just cleaner packaging and new code
Text file used for instruction image is absent from current package, i just make it because it play to the curiosity and makes instruction better
i know its not much, but with number of layout files FCS generates it makes for better experience for advanced users and easier to manage mod for beginners
TEXT inside PSO installer itself was changed to indicate usage of new Folder structure for users to avoid confusion
have a good day!
Version 3.3
This version contain completely redone tornado files
Currently file have:
better transparency data
much better formatting
cleaner image quality without black border
as results game render particle faster and better looking
Version indicator has been changed to reflect current version
improved data compatibility with PerformanceFix (regardless if you use both or just one)
Version 3.2
This version adress the issue my friend spotted in skimmers roam - Credits to FrankieWuzHere
what i think happened is: someone took textures out of the folder to work on them, they never put them back into project installation
as results i restored the broken textures since good ones was never in the kenshi installation
i decided to fix the textures myself to reasonable results and since this prevent crashes and tornado spawn is just invisible without the mod
invisible and crash your game xDd but spawn, i let it slide for now
if you don't like seeing restored effects in your game, please be patient, i m working on optional mod that will prevent this tornado from spawning
Thank you for trying my work
Version 3.1.1
This version provide installer with important scripts for compatibility with GoG version of the game
Performancewise its identical to previous version, i just wanna ensure nobody will have headashes from things not working
Manual version is still up to date as it didn't needed better scripts for installer xD
Thank you and have a good day
Version 3.0.1
Hello in this update i tackle very important issue not address by anybody yet
Mod provide the game of kenshi with vital components to avoid FATAL CRASHES, i have them from old archive about kenshi modding
Update was done with the help of ElgarL he run few tests, run program thru my material files to ensure everything is perfect (it was, but its good to make sure) and experienced the crash
Crash exist and appear in vanilla version of kenshi, 0.1 at the end refer to hotfix, but its not my problem im fixing here, it was OUR PROBLEM :)
have fun playing kenshi
Version 3.0
This version was possible thanks to the user BlueAmulet(BlueLament), he provided detailed report and get out of his way to explain his methodology and answered my concerns as well as helped with the development of the update
PSO 3.0 provide multiple improvements to particle files which result in performance boost (compared to previous version and vanilla)
Update use Custom Python Script to analyze and check all the particle files to determine most optimal Format for their DDS compression
Next such files has been converted via another program bc7enc
next converted files has been supplied with custom mip-map generated from original files to improve stability of the game
Mod was improved in both ways: Visual quality (most notably for blood and rain splatters) and performance (fire and sparks, tumbleweeds)
All particle files have consistent headers which should help with processing them
Size of the package remain the same as previous version
Additional improvements ware put to the installer itself!
Our Boy now speak new lines of text (mainly if you do something wrong or already have backups) around 5 in total
Installer indicate Version of the mod before installation!
installer check for Exe, existing backups and potential file verification between the updates
Installation process no longer under any circumstances require players to type "all" - you still have to press button to let it know you are ready for next step
Thanks to usage of new Compressor everything should works better with the game than previous versions
In this version i discovered that someone after testing nice texture collection, despite verify for files did not modified vanilla vein rain, but modded one!
and because of this mod caused change to visuals in the game which even if i personally prefer is not acceptable in mod of this nature
This is fix for this, since this fix is pretty late and significant i named it 2.1 not 2.0b
Thanks for all the feedback, thanks to Shidan for pointing out Vein Rain problem
Have fun in Kenshi!
Rollback to version 2.1 to avoid corruption and broken filles post version 2.4
looks like any cuts related to this version ware right decisions and in case of performance this is PEAK
This version does everything right, Rain fixed, no squared particles, no weird while flames during the run, everything works here
This might be "Final" version, (i don't like this term, will adapt to new updates when possible and overall put care to this mod).
Any improvements i tried from this version have literally worse performance or takes even more size or cause hellscape of particle bugs
if you want peak performance for Kenshi particle effects take this version and have fun in the game!
Version 2.0
Entire mod was remade from the start ( - version 1.0 used weaker program conversion formulas and 1.1 was improvement of it for some files)
New mod is a merge between 2 brand new formulas for conversion to DDS (i only had single one at the start, but developed new "better" one and used which gave better results during checks)
Every particle file with simple alpha got 100% flawless conversion that takes very little space compared to original and preserve data
Every file with complicated alpha got converted with graphic accelerated technology to ensure maximum efficiency of the textures and no loses in quality
Files converted with 2nd formula had to be fixed by hand to ensure there are no artifacts leftovers on generated images nor in the files
all the big files take exactly 2x less space compared to previous version and their image quality is even closer to original (mainly blood files, 12 blood files and 4 splat files) will no longer raise my eyebrows during any tests
Every file was converted 1 by 1 to ensure stability and check which formula give better size/quality of image and make sure they do not crash graphic editors
There was one file (namely snake whips vertical) that had ugly artifacts under alpha, they ware left as they ware due to image from render does not posses them
Entire package is much lighter in comparison to previous version which results in following improvements:
30% faster processing of new particles compared to version 1.1
fixed the stutter on slower pc caused by high damage de-limbing harpoon shot (rarely occurred on 1.1 if enemy running to player gate get shot by harpoon for 200+ damage in leg/arm) - yes i test and use my own mods xD
Highly improved quality of particle effects, they appear smoother and should be much less distinguishable from originals (heavily mutated rat with hawk eyes needed zoom 400% before post-conversion edit to tell the difference and could only ""feel the difference"" after hand-made edits
Mod size as a whole made it easier for pre-release testing due to size of 7MB (discord limits for free members - i rather pass the package thru a server than 3rd party data storage via generated link and a lot of clicks if test-release require fixes and more testing, more version hosting and links to share)
Installer was left as it was due to his near flawless performance in windows 7-11 with both versions of the game (steam and gog)
Thanks for your time and have fun playing the game
Version 1.1
This update is magic
IT use:: Same resolution, same format and same look!
To achieve briefly 50% more performance in desert areas (which are 50% of the map)
around 30% higher performance overall
Mod don't cause any new errors while improving performance
it can be seen mostly by size of the mod
mod was tested for zone jumping, quickloads and chainloads, running around the map, combat, walking, spinning camera i wanted to make sure mod is safe
i was motivated to work on that due to positive reaction from community, thanks guys, now i rl need small rest :)
Idea is to simply make game faster without making visuals worse by altering the scripts around particle system as well as reformatting and decompressing various particle files. This mod is able to lower GPU usage without affecting visuals negatively.
PSO should drastically outperform clones thanks to unique coding and replace of original textures
in this mod we change rendering method and loading method for textures by utilizing DirectDraw Surface format in DXT compression, this allow my new textures to stays compressed in your memory and be used WELL... directly without deciphering (unlike vanilla formats), on top of that my images are easier to use by GPU which improve loading Scripts ware accommodated to support new formats and installer is making sure you got the right folders in the right place - Mod result in giant performance boost for loading new zones, traveling thru the map, using game speed settings, rotating camera - This also improve performance of mods that add or edit particle effects
- New textures should presence no difference in visuals as long as played use in-game FXAA (comparing flat textures next to each other - specially when they have high res, might reveal differences)
For example: this is ash flake in ashland, in full resolution
Mod works with my other mods due to its unique coding. Alongside with Optimization and Broken data cleanup, this is just FREE performance mod. It does not cost the game on the visual side while providing benefits from using it.
Installation instruction (installer)
- Download mod - unpack it inside kenshi.exe location which can be anywhere. For steam its usually: C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Kenshi - Run Particle fix installer (don't run as administrator) - Installer will guide you thru the process. - Done, you can run the game now!
Installer update (quick note)
Spoiler:
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if you used previous version before: - We made backup scripts safety protocol - installer check if backups wasn't made in past and if they do, it does not make new backup If it's your first time of you using this mod, just go (you will have to type "all" to confirm) - sorry for inconvenience
Installation method 2 (manual installation)
Spoiler:
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- download - Go to kenshi/data/particles - Copy folders: Textures, scripts, materials and paste somewhere to make a backup - Delete mentioned folders from kenshi/data/particles - Take folders Textures, scripts, materials from my mod package and put them into kenshi/data/particles - Done
How to know mod works? (made this section because too many people came from world of steam-mods)
If you followed installation instruction and you can load the game at all mod is most likely working!
if you wanna be absolute sure go to: kenshi/data/particles/textures and sort by type, check DDS
if you have around 90+ DDS files there that means mod installed correctly
all vanilla particle scripts should be fixed and refer to the new DDS files in material code too
Mod will not show on your modlist, this is override for whole particle system not a dds steam mod
De-Installation method:
Spoiler:
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- go to kenshi/data/particles - Delete folders Textures, scripts, materials - Find your backups (the installer stores backups in kenshi/resources/backup) - And move the backup folders Textures, scripts, materials into kenshi/data/particles - done
- Alternatively, you can verify integrity of game files or reinstall. - I can not give you vanilla files because they belong to Lo-Fi games
How to Resolve XCOPY issue (windows)
add the location of xcopy.exe to the system path. Here's how you do this:
Open System Settings (use the search option within Windows or refer to a guide to do this)
Click the Advanced tab
Click the Environment Variables button
In the System Variables section, highlight the Path option and click the Edit button
Click the New button and type the location of xcopy.exe on your system (normally C:\Windows\System32)
Click the OK button until all dialog windows are closed.
Mod is considered Completed
- i will update it with better tech or conversion method if such will work, but otherwise its perfect - i got new hobby: Collecting Endorsements
According to my research, this format in current form is as far as optimization of the graphical side of the mod goes! Game is hold back in most cases by CPU, 2GB GPU is more than enough to run it on high with my mods... I will continue looking for ways to improve the situation, but i might need someone with shadowmap knowledge for it
