Call of Duty 5: Fixing 2048 materials Assets Error

Clients usually gets this error but it can also show up on a Server side on map rotation. The solution is for the MAPPER in this article, and some advice for modders.

Background on Error

After testing quite extensively we finally discovered the reason as to why only some players with some mods would get the error on detailed maps.

Note that I say detailed because this only starts to happen when a map uses a total number of materials assets (Textures, Techsets, Probes, FXs..) over 680 (you can check your total using Launcher > BSP Info).

So when a map is detailed you can get easily over 680 materials assets and this combine with materials loaded by the engine as default - Thats all the MP game/hud stuff - you can be near the limit already (the limit is 2048).

There are however a few more factors which tip the balance and trigger the message:

• The Mod assets: Of course the more materials the mod has the more change you have of triggering the error! At present AWE counts 12 materials, ACE has 11 and X5 has about 16.
• COD4 assets: yes you heard correctly, Treyarch has left several COD4 materials assets in the rawfile and in the stock .ff so about 25 of them (maybe more) are taken up for no reason!
• Duplicates: I don't know the origin of this problem yet but a lot of materials are listed in the count 2,3 sometimes 4 times!
• Loadscreens from other stock/custom maps: This is where the difference is usually as the number of loadscreens materials (along with the thumbnail created - _ig) will varie depending on how many custom maps a user has in his <LocalAppData> Usermaps folder.

Solution *new*

Quote:

Hi all,

We’ve got a tip for those of you getting the 2048 material asset error message when playing a mod. If you have any custom maps in the usermaps folder, the game automatically reads them for you, so they can be added to the map list when starting a server, and to the ingame votemap menu. In order to skip this automatic process, you need a mod.arena file. The arena file will be read instead of the usermaps folder, and only the maps specified in the arena file will be added to the map lists.

It is possible to use an empty mod.arena file for the sole reason to skip reading the usermaps folder.

Server admins might want to use a mod.arena file with the maps in rotation if they want the map loadscreen to show in the votemap menu ingame. To get this working, the loadscreen materials must also be included in the mod.ff. The iwd with the arena file will be downloaded by all users of the mod ensuring the users won’t load unnecessary material assets when playing the mod.

The mod.arena file must be inside an iwd in the mod folder. Inside the iwd, the mod.arena file must be at the root.

There are two methods to add the arena file:

1-Drag and drop the arena file into any iwd inside the mod folder

2-Zip the mod.arena file into a new uncompressed zip file in the mod folder, and change the extension from zip to iwd.

In short, Modders should bundle an empty .arena file with their mods; Server admins should keep it updated with their desired map rotation. Users shouldn’t have to do anything if modders and admins do their part.

Regards,

-JD

Source

Workaround

Mappers

So how to fix it? Couple of things you can do as a mapper:

• Decals: each time you place one a Techset will be created, a Techset can use 1 or more material files! An excellent workaround is to place your decal (nodraw brush or patch) exactly 0.25 Units above the brush/patch its meant to go on.

This is not to be used for terrain in general, just for small decals like posters/grim/signs.

• Textures: Dont go mad on textures is probably the best advice here, try and stay at around 180 - 200 textures in use to allow for overhead on the limit. Note that Xmodels/FXs also count as they all use materials, sometimes more than one file!

• TIP #1: When making a map i suggest placing extra Destructable models in the map (hidden from view) and test with a few mods regularely during mapping, the extra destructables will provide a safety net if you reach the limit - you could then remove them.

• TIP #2: Always test your map on local server (+set dedicated 1) using the main Mods, also tests on an online dedicated server before release if possible.

Server Admins

Not much you can do, you can have as many maps you wish and it shouldnt make a difference on server.

Players

The only thing you can do is go to your LocalAppData folder, under usermaps and remove any map you arent playing anymore to free up materials when maps are loading.

Note that the IWD in the mods folder do not have any effect at all since they contains the IWI, not the materials.

Avoid Duplicate Materials

To avoid loading redundant assets you should remove the redundant assets from your fast files using the “ignore” command in the fast file CSV. Follow these steps when building your mod and level fast files:

• When you build your mod.ff fast file, a CSV named mod.csv will be created in /zone_source/english/assetlist. This file is a list of all the assets currently in the mod.ff. Rename mod.csv to mod_ignore.csv.
• Open mod_ignore.csv and remove, from the CSV, the assets you have modified specifically for your mod.
• At the top of mod.csv, add this line: ignore, mod_ignore
• Build your mod.ff fast file again. The new fast file that is created will only contain your modified and new assets.

This is also valid for maps .ff although not many materials will be duplicated.

Make sure your main Map Zone File has the following lines:

ignore,code_post_gfx_mp
ignore,common_mp

And that your Map Localized_ Zone file has:

ignore,code_post_gfx_mp
ignore,localized_code_post_gfx_mp
ignore,common_mp
ignore,localized_common_mp