Topic: I can't pick my ship

[SaladBadger]

I installed a new copy of Descent 3 + Mercenary using the Dateiliste installer and started Mercs before Retribution. This has apparently butchered the ship selection system in Retribution and I can no longer pick my ship, and I'm being forced to use Phoenix. I thought that recovering the phoenix on Level 6 would probably fix it, but it didn't. (I'm not sure about the Tank on level 9) Does anyone have any idea how I can enable the Pyro, because I'm not really the greatest phoenix fan anymore?

[Kaiaatzl]

That is odd.

Better to ask on Dateiliste I think, not necessarily because it's the problem (though it could be) but because it probably has the highest concentration of people who are very knowledgeable about the game.  Also Thomas knows the installer inside and out (he wrote it after all), so if it is a problem with the installer he'll probably know about it, or at least be able to figure out how to fix it.

[SaladBadger]

I don't think the Dateiliste installer is the problem here, as if I start a new pilot and then begin playing Retribution using the new pilot, I get the Pyro as expected.

Though I guess I can also ask there.

[TechPro]

In both Retribution and Merc, you have to play through certain portions before you can select your choice of ship.  It's an "accomplishment" thing.

[SaladBadger]

The problem here though is that I've reached the proper places (post-level 6) and it's not letting me pick my ship. Plus, even before beating level 6, I was being forced to use the Phoenix rather than the Pyro.

I'm not noticing any issues with Merc, as I'm getting the black pyro on all levels as expected.

[Kaiaatzl]

You should actually get the Phoenix for the first two levels in Merc.
Once you've completed those levels you get the Black Pyro for all levels -- including replays of the first two.  I guess they did this to add replay value.

[SaladBadger]

Yeah, the first two levels did give me the phoenix as usual (you know, I have this really bad habit of forgetting to mention things. I should fix it), and I'm wondering if this is what's breaking Retribution, since I started my merc game before my retribution game. On another note, all other SP missions are giving me Pyro as usual.

EDIT: this is strange

it looks like, somehow, the Pyro never got enabled. After recovering the Magnum it was added to the available list, but the Pyro isn't present.

[Scyphi]

Huh, never heard of this bug before... 

[Foil]

Sounds like it's definitely related to the fact you started Merc before Retribution.  The code which initially enables the Pyro is probably in Retribution.

[Kaiaatzl]

...The code which initially enables the Pyro is probably in Retribution.

Wouldn't that have to be in the training mission though? Because that's always where you go the first time you start a new game with a new pilot. And you have the pyro there.

I always thought the Pyro was just coded to be the default unless said otherwise.