August 2022

The Nearly Ultimate Fallout 2 Guide
Version 1.3
Written and coded by Per Jorner

• https://madassnews.net/thangs/fallout2.html

• https://forums.bgforge.net/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=338&p=988#p988 - NomadAI (31 AUG 2021)

UPDATE: Under Steam directory, Nvidia Control Panel's Max Frame rates is the one causing slowdowns + screen tearing. So forcing it ON via Nvidia Control Panel reintroduced the slowdowns/tearing in the Steam directory main RPU "user-unmodded" game. So forcing it OFF via Nvidia Control Panel fixes it. So I guess and I'll tinker more, the other OFFs are not needed.. the main one is the MAX FRAME RATE one.

However, what's odd, is that for the Non-Steam directory (where I will start modding, but at this stage, it's the same RPU, I can load/start game as punk girl, so RPU works), EVEN forcing OFF MAX FRAME RATE in Nvidia Control Panel
DOES
NOT
resolve the slowdowns + screen tearing... so the solution that works for the Steam directory, for some reason, does NOT work for the Non-Steam directory. Very odd indeed!

UPDATE #2: Got the Non-Steam version to work, but under different settings!
TLDR: Main thing was to have both DDRAW.INI and F2_RES.INI agree towards a FULLSCREEN and DX9 only solution, so NO windowed settings and back to 8bit, not 32bit color, that's also important, I think!
So unfortunately, I don't know how to make the windowed/windowed-fullscreen options work for this Non-Steam backup I intend to use for modding. Something about windows just messed it all up.

Note #1: bolded settings are the most important, I think
Note #2: Why MouseSensitivity to 85 under Input? Because I'm using SFALL/RPU's mouse for this FULLSCREEN mode instead of the alternative one for the High-Res Patch of f2_res.ini that worked better for me for the WINDOWED FULLSCREEN mode.
Note #2 TLDR: ddraw.ini's MouseSensitivity=85 only works when f2_res.ini's ALT_MOUSE_INPUT=0, as far as I understand.
Note #2 Rationale: Why setting to 85, less than the default 100? I found SFALL's default 100 setting to be too fast and jerky, so I slowed it down a bit. Will probably slow it down even more, but that's just personal preference.
Note #3: Why ProcessorIdle=-1 under Misc? Because using f2_res.ini's CPU_USAGE_FIX=1. They are mutually exclusive. One, or the other, not both.
Note #3 Rationale: I'll try the ddraw.ini-Misc-ProcessorIdle=1 paired with f2_res.ini-OTHER_SETTINGS-CPU_USAGE_FIX=0 combination as well and see how it performs, beucase with f2_res in control of my CPU, I've been having some CTDs... perhaps having SFALL/RPU control CPU as opposed to the High-Res patch (which is barely used in this FULLSCREEN mode) may be a better compatibilty thing. Actually, for my modding I'll go with this SECOND COMBINATION:
ddraw.ini-Misc-ProcessorIdle=1 paired with f2_res.ini-OTHER_SETTINGS-CPU_USAGE_FIX=0
Note #3 Tip: With ddraw.ini's ProcessorIdle setting under Misc, one has greater control by setting from 1-30. I'll play/tinker around with the settings to find an optimal value, at least for me.

Nvidia Control Panel:
Max Frame Rate = Off
Note: All the rest can be turned On, it seems. Odd, so only the above setting messes things up, at least for Fullscreen.

ddraw.ini:
[Graphics]
Mode=4
GraphicsWidth=1920
GraphicsHeight=1080
TextureFilter=1
GPUBlt=1
Use32BitHeadGraphics=1
[Input]
MouseSensitivity=85
[Misc]
ProcessorIdle=1

[MAIN]
GRAPHICS_MODE=0
SCALE_2X=0
SCR_WIDTH=960
SCR_HEIGHT=540
COLOUR_BITS=8
REFRESH_RATE=0
WINDOWED=0
WINDOWED_FULLSCREEN=0
[INPUT]
ALT_MOUSE_INPUT=0
[OTHER_SETTINGS]
CPU_USAGE_FIX=0

CONCLUSION: Thus, I'd call these settings the SFALL/RPU-dominant settings since most graphical controls are via ddraw.ini. The ONLY thing pushed via the f2_res.ini is the 960x540 closest to original Fallout 2 outlook, as Magnus detailed in post here:

https://www.nma-fallout.com/threads/how-to-set-correct-widescreen-resolution-for-fallout-2.213432/

The rest of the f2_res.ini settings are basically to make way and not interfere or conflict/mess up with ddraw.ini

Still, I'd like to figure out how to make the windowed and especially windowed-fullscreen work because I usually have multiple browser tabs open for guidance/walkthroughs/different character builds to try and so on. So this is still an issue, but at least, it's no longer an issue stopping me from trying on Fallout 2 modding! YAY Woot!

the house i'm living in is old; built in the 50s or 60s, easily. sits on bricks instead of a proper slab. the way it was done back then. lots of foundation problems. huge cracks on the sheetrock.

back when katrina hit, an oak tree in the back yard fell against the guest bedroom, messing it and the roof up. the entire house shifted and that's when the problems i'm dealing with now arose.

there is a bit of sheetrock in the bathroom that has separated from the window sill. about 1/2 an inch. plenty enough room for bugs to come in.

there is an infestation of carpenter ants in one of the trees in the front yard. "that's a big fuckin ant," you might say. they're drawn to water sources and/or decaying wood (from water erosion). of course they've found a way into the house via that gap in the sheetrock in the bathroom. i didn't know this at the time.

a year or so ago, i had re-caulked the bathroom and it came out fine, i guess. i had used clear caulk and that was a mistake because it soaks up dirt easily and looks bad over time.

recently, within a couple weeks, we've been having carpenter ants just showing up inside the bathroom. well that shit is fixed and i have re-caulked the tub. stuffed some foam insulation down into the hole and caulked that up. no muss no fuss.

the "trick" to caulk is make an even area with the painter's tape, lay down a bead - it doesn't have to be perfect, wet your finger and use it to smooth out the line, then immediately pull up the tape.

BEHOLD

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⣿⣿⡛⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠔⠿⡿⠿⠒⠄⠠⢤⡀⡀⠄⠁⠄⢻⣿⣿⣿
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⣶⣶⠃⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⣾⣿⣿⡿⠁⣀⣀⣤⣤⣤⣄⢈⣿⡇⠄⠄⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿
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⠡⠱⠄⠄⠡⠄⢠⣷⠆⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣾⣿⣿⡇⠄⠄⠠⠁⠿⣿⣿⣿
⢀⣲⣧⣷⣿⢂⣄⡉⠄⠘⠿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣻⣯⠿⠟⠋⠉⢰⢦⠄⠊⢾⣷⣮⣽⣛

@AskTheGiver
8:28 AM · Aug 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/AskTheGiver/status/1556995827939381248

Every piece of fitness advice I could come up with after 6 years in the gym:

1. Stop drinking alcohol.
2. Fasted workouts burn 20% more calories
3. 30 minutes is all the time you need to get in shape
4. Sun exposure can boost testosterone levels by as much as 69%
5. Don’t post gym pics for attention
6. Find a woman who loves to cook for you
7. Higher reps/lower weight to lose weight
8. Heavier weight/fewer reps to build mass
9. Never sacrifice form for heavier weight
10. Morning workouts lead to healthier decisions throughout the day
11. 10,000 steps per day is huge for weight loss
12. Increase weight or reps each week to get stronger
13. If you’re not gaining weight, you’re not eating enough
14. Train core 4-5x per week
15. Fasting + black coffee in the morning are great for burning fat
16. If you’re not losing weight, you’re eating too much or not burning enough calories
17. A few sets of dumbbells and a bench are all you need to get shredded
18. Healthy eating is easier than you think. Get a bunch of eggs, ground meat, and fruit
19. Don’t expect instant results. Take a picture of your physique on day 1, committ to the routine for 6 months, reflect on how far you’ve come at that point
20. You don’t need to follow a strict diet. Just eat whole foods and prioritize protein
21. Develop a sleep routine. Quality sleep will make your muscles grow & recover faster while burning fat quicker.
22. Working out with a partner will prevent you from using your phone during workouts.
23. Find exercises you enjoy and do them routinely. Fancy isn’t necessary
24. Lift legs 2-3x per week. This will help ALL muscles grow faster
25. Do back workouts to build depth in your physique
26. 75% of your meals should be protein
27. You cannot control *where* you burn fat. You just have to be patient
28. If your muscles are in pain, let them rest & workout a different part of your body
29. Injury prevention should be your #1 priority at all costs
30. Don’t underestimate the 2.5pound weights. Use these to get stronger gradually
31. Drink room-temperature water when working out
32. The people you meet at the gym will be the nicest people you’ll ever meet
33. Running shoes are the worst thing you can lift in. Flat-bottoms only
34. Take creatine if you’re trying to put on mass
35. The easiest way to get addicted to the gym is by doing workouts you genuinely enjoy for the first couple weeks. Once you’ve developed the habit of “going” then try doing new exercises
36. If you expect results instantly, you will fail. If you give yourself 12 months and just do the right things on a consistent basis, you’ll transform your entire life
37. If you’re not tracking calories, you’ll struggle to gain/lose weight. Use MyFitnessPal or hire a coach to make this easier
38. Lifting with perfect form should be your focus at all times.
39. Get 30 minutes of direct sun every day
40. You will never regret going to the gym even when you didn’t feel like it before
41. Use a high-quality protein powder to help you hit protein goals
42. 90% of what you drink should be water

• http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?t=458120

a lot of shit is still broken, though. keep that in mind