Jagged Alliance 2 Stracciatella Guide
Stracciatella is a mod for Sir-Tech's cRPG Definition of 1999, Jagged Alliance 2. Stracciatella is notable for solving most compatibility and performance problems in one stroke. It is also easy to set up and doesn't change the nature of the game with its default settings. cf. Jagged Alliance 2 Windows 10.
Thus, at least as it pertains to the above, Stracciatella is to Jagged Alliance 2 what OpenXcom is to X-COM UFO Defense.
Tron released the first version of Stracciatella in 2006 (v.0.10). As of 2023, Stracciatella is at v.0.20.
Jagged Alliance 2 Stracciatella Download
To install, we simply download Stracciatella from GitHub, unzip a portable archive and point the Stracciatella Launcher to our Jagged Alliance 2 1.12 installation folder. Then, we launch Jagged Alliance 2 via the Stracciatella GUI launcher.
Jagged Alliance 2 Stracciatella Fullscreen
Through Stracciatella, we can play Jagged Alliance 2 in Fullscreen mode with scaling or non-scaling. Or we can play in Windowed mode and lock the cursor to the window with the Scroll Lock key. Stracciatella supports multiple resolutions in 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios.
Jagged Allianced 2 Stracciatella Settings
The only change here is that Stracciatella opens up Dead Is Dead mode. For overviews of the Ironman concept, refer to Baldur's Gate No Reload, Master of Magic Ironman and OpenXcom.
Jagged Alliance 2 Stracciatella Problems
- As of 09-Aug-2022, we can't quickload (Alt-L) a quicksave (Alt-Q) unless the current quicksave has been manually reloaded first.
- As of 09-Aug-2022, and at least on my system, Linear Interpolation and Near Perfect With Oversampling do NOT look as crisp as fullscreen vanilla does with display driver scaling. Pixel Perfect Centered seems ok, but obviously doesn't scale the display to fullscreen (640x480 native with black "borders").
- Mouse cursor movement in LI and NPwO graphics modes is not as accurate or responsive as it is in fullscreen vanilla.
Due to points 2 and 3, I still prefer to play the vanilla original in 2023. And if I want enhanced configurability of game systems, I'll play Jagged Alliance 2 1.13 since Stracciatella is currently nowhere near 1.13's configurability level (and 1.13 is as crisp and responsive as 1.12).
October 2023 update: I still prefer to play vanilla JA2 (or 1.13) over Stacciatella. On my systems (all of which are brand new), non-Stracciatella JA2 still looks and plays better than Stracciatella JA2 as long as I employ fullscreen display driver scaling.
Jagged Alliance 2 Stracciatella Externalizations
Power users, modders and cheaters (see: Jagged Alliance 2 Cheats) can access extra options externalized by Stracciatella through its game.json and other configurable files. Note that modding game.json and other *.jsons can change the JA2 experience from what was intended by the devs.
game.json is effectively an *.ini or configuration file that allows us to change, enable and disable various Jagged Alliance 2 features and mechanics.
Jagged Alliance 2 Stracciatella Features
Stracciatella editable mechanics, features or toggles highlighted in boldface type are the ones considered by me to genuinely improve Jagged Alliance 2.
- Extra Hotkeys. [1]
- Enter turn-based mode (D-key).
- Middle mouse button combat unit rotation (FoV).
- Speed up the game: ms per game cycle, ms per time slice, website loading time scale.
- Set starting cash (can make the game easier or harder).
- Loot: drop everything, all drops visible (a cheat).
- Multiple Interrupts.
- Maximum squad size.
- Enemy AI: better aiming choice, go prone more often, threshold cth head, threshold cth legs, avoid ambushes, stay on rooftop.
- UI Extras: Shows mercenary stat progression (e.g., 1.13 merc stat progression display).
- Elite Enemy Min & Max level.
- Pablo Won't Steal (another cheat).
- Extra Attachments.
- Tailor IMP Attribute Point Pool. cf. Attributes Jagged Alliance 2.
- Choose Traits: Instead of answering questions, we simply choose our Traits Jagged Alliance 2. However, we cannot yet combine traits or choose personality traits (such as Psycho). Also, mousing over the trait does not show bonuses, penalties and features of the trait in a pop-up window (as it does in 1.13).
- Campaign Progress Tweaks: These set the progression required to trigger an event.
- Show to-hit Chance. The targeting reticule shows the percentage chance to hit.
Jagged Alliance 2 Stracciatella Drop All Loot
Some players prefer enemies to drop whatever items they are carrying when they get killed. But bear in mind that Drop All Loot trivializes cRPG Itemization by limiting scarcity, reducing logistics concerns and reducing the need for Bobby Ray's shipments. As far as I know, Madd Mugsy's 1.13 (2005) was the first mod to include Drop All Loot toggles.
Jagged Alliance 2 Stracciatella Save Game Compatibility
GoG and original CD savegames are compatible with Stracciatella; they are converted.
Jagged Alliance 2 Stracciatella Development
Note that Stracciatella is still in development. Some versions may run better than others, and there are some bugs (understandably). Stracciatella continues to externalize more and more aspects of Jagged Alliance 2, thereby facilitating easy end-user configuration and modding. Jagged Alliance 2 Android may also become a viable option in the future.
Stracciatella Extra Hotkeys [1]
- Ctrl+I shows sector inventory of selected sector in strategic view
- J-key allows you to jump over fences, climb on rooftops etc.
- Ctrl+N swaps the squad's head gear from night mode (NV or UV Goggles) to day mode (sun goggles) and back
- Alt+R to reload
- Ctrl+Q to swap hand items
- Shift+J to climb through open window
- Hitting the D-key in real-time mode manually enters turn based mode
- Middle mouse button to look in cursor direction
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