Dash Faction Installation Guide: Difference between revisions

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{{DashInstallTranslations|Installation guide translations}}
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'''Dash Faction''' is a [[Red Faction]] game modification designed to fix original game bugs, improve compatibility with modern hardware and software, extend functionality and improve graphics quality and engine performance.
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|{{DashInstallTranslations|Installation guide translations}}
|{{DashInstallDiscord|Click here to join the FactionFiles Community Discord|If you have any questions or concerns, please join the '''FactionFiles Community Discord''' for assistance. The FactionFiles Discord is also the place to go to participate in organized community game night events, and get help with anything else related to the Red Faction series.}}
|}
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*You may have heard of '''Pure Faction''' (PF), which was the de facto standard Red Faction patch for many years. Other than some compatibility problems with some versions of Windows 10, you can still use PF if you choose - however, it has been eclipsed by '''Dash Faction''' for features and bug fixes, and the Red Faction single player campaign plus many custom mods and levels won't function properly (especially on newer computers) without '''Dash Faction'''. The '''Pure Faction''' development team itself recommends using '''Dash Faction''' rather than PF.
==What is Dash Faction?==
*For more information on '''Dash Faction''' itself, please reference [[RF Clients#Dash Faction|Dash Faction]].
'''Dash Faction''' is a free and open source Red Faction game patch designed to fix original game bugs, improve compatibility with modern hardware and software, extend functionality, enhance graphics quality, and improve engine performance. '''Dash Faction''' has been in development since 2016 and is the most fully featured Red Faction patch ever released.
*For a feature comparison between '''Dash Faction''' and other commonly-used RF clients (like '''Pure Faction'''), see [[RF Client Comparison]].
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*Please join the '''Red Faction Community Discord'''! Everyone is welcome to join (and participate in biweekly organized RF game night events). Furthermore, the Discord is also the place to get support/assistance/answers for Dash Faction issues/questions, as well as general help with anything else related to the Red Faction series.
|+ style=white-space:nowrap | '''List of Most Important Dash Faction Features'''
|-
! General
! Single player
! Multiplayer
! Dedicated servers
! Map / mod development
|-
| Full Steam compatibility 
| Autosave at the start of each level 
| Higher tick rate 
| Timer bug fixes 
| Fixes for level editor bugs
|-
| Modern OS/hardware compatibility 
| Fixed submarine explosion bug 
| Performance & stability improvements 
| Fixes for critical security vulnerabilities 
| Resolution/aspect ratio fixes
|-
| High & widescreen resolution support 
| Fixed other framerate-related bugs 
| Improved map autodownloader 
| Crash & other stability fixes 
| Custom models for multiplayer maps
|-
| Direct mouse input 
| Enhanced campaign functionality 
| Click-to-Join (rf:// protocol handler) 
| Lightweight server console 
| Raised editor/engine limits
|-
| Anti-aliasing & anisotropic filtering 
| Fixed cutscene synchronization 
| Run map enhancements 
| Hitsounds 
| DDS texture support
|-
| Higher FPS limit & configurable FOV
| Ability to skip cutscenes 
| First person & free look spectate 
| Map voting 
| Expanded debug functionality
|-
| High resolution HUD & vector fonts
| Widescreen & custom resolution support
| Multiplayer anticheat
| Additional configurable options
| Additional editor improvements
|}






'''[https://discord.gg/fRrUzuV Join the Red Faction Community Discord]'''
==How do I get Dash Faction?==
# Download and run the [https://dl.dashfaction.com installer program from FactionFiles.com].
# Click the '''Next''' button until '''Select RF.exe location''' appears.
# Enter the path to your '''RF.exe file'''. The path will most likely be correct without you needing to change it. If it's blank or incorrect, click "'''Browse'''", and locate your RF.exe file inside your Red Faction folder. For Steam copies, this is usually ''C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Red Faction\RF.exe'' and for retail copies, it's usually ''C:\games\RedFaction\RF.exe''
# If a prompt appears stating '''"Detected Red Faction version is not directly supported by Dash Faction"''', click '''OK'''. The necessary patches will automatically be installed for you.
# Click the '''Next''' button until '''Select additional tasks''' appears.
# Keeping the default options selected on this page is recommended. If you are using a Steam copy of the game, you should also enable '''"Replace the Red Faction launcher with the Dash Faction launcher"''' to allow Dash Faction to be launched via Steam, make the Steam overlay work properly, and allow Steam to track your time spent playing Dash Faction.
# Click '''Install''', then '''Finish'''
# The launcher will appear - go to '''Options''' and customize as you wish (but don't change '''Game executable''').
# Launch the game from now on by opening '''DashFactionLauncher.exe''' and clicking '''Launch Game'''.




==I'm having an issue or have questions, What do I do?==
Join the [https://discord.gg/factionfiles FactionFiles community Discord] and send a message in the ''#dashfaction-support'' channel, we'll give you a hand.


==Step 1: Downloading the installer==
Our Discord is also the place where virtually all Red Faction community activity is organized - including game night events, competitive matchmaking, and mod development initiatives - so feel free to drop by!
[[File:_150dash.png|thumb|Click the Download button to download Dash Faction]]
Visit FactionFiles.com to download the latest version of Dash Faction.
*[https://www.factionfiles.com/ff.php?action=file&id=5408 Dash Faction 1.6.1]
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==Step 2: Running the installer==
[[File:Dash150smartscreen.png|thumb|Click the options shown above]]
*Run the Dash Faction installer you just downloaded. Depending on your Windows security settings and installed antivirus products, you may get prompts from Windows SmartScreen, User Account Control, and/or your desktop antivirus software to allow the '''Dash Faction''' installer to run.
**Click the options shown in the screenshot to the right if any of these Windows prompts appear.
**Given the large number of available desktop antivirus products, it would be impossible to detail how to allow the Dash Faction installer to run on each, should it be falsely detected as malware. If you run into such a problem, you will need to create an exception in your antivirus software to allow the Dash Faction installer to run.




*'''NOTE:''' It is common for Windows and/or antivirus products to detect completely safe programs (like Dash Faction) as suspicious/malicious, simply because they are new and/or not common among global computer users. Although Dash Faction is completely safe to install and run, please remember it is open source software, which means that if you do not trust the installer/application for any reason, you are free to review its source code and compile it yourself if you wish. You can browse Dash Faction's source code here: [https://github.com/rafalh/dashfaction Dash Faction on GitHub]
'''Additional useful resources:'''
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*[[Red Faction Console Commands]] - Complete listing of all available '''console commands''' in Red Faction.
 
*[[Red Faction Command Line Parameters]] - Complete listing of all available '''command line parameters''' in Red Faction.
==Step 3: Installing Dash Faction==
*[[Red_Faction_Quick_Start_Guide#Settings|Red Faction Settings]] - Breakdown and explanation of all available Red Faction and Dash Faction settings.
[[File:Dash150selectrfexe.png|thumb|Confirm the path to RF.exe is correct. If it's not, click the browse button and locate the correct one]]
*[[RF1 Editing Main Page]] - Comprehensive community knowledgebase on custom level creation via the [[RED|Red Faction Level Editor]], and modification development.
*Run through the installer prompts as they appear. For most, you should be able to simply click "Next".
*[[Red Faction Multiplayer Guide]] - Overview of the most important aspects of RF multiplayer.
 
*[[Red Faction FAQ]] - FAQ providing answers to common questions and solutions to common issues.
 
*[https://factionfiles.com FactionFiles.com] - FactionFiles community file host, offering thousands of custom maps and mods.
*When you get to the "'''Select RF.exe'''" prompt, the Dash Faction installer will attempt to detect where your Red Faction game is installed - the path field will most likely be correct without you needing to change it. If however this field is blank, or has an incorrect path, click "'''Browse'''", and locate your RF.exe file inside your Red Faction folder.
 
 
*If you receive a prompt similar to the one below stating that your version of Red Faction is not directly supported by Dash Faction, simply click "'''OK'''" to have Dash Faction install the necessary patches.  
**'''NOTE:'''
***If you're using a digital version of the game (like Steam or GoG), the Dash Faction installer will '''not''' overwrite your original RF.exe when patching. Instead, the installer will create a new file named RF_120na.exe for use with Dash Faction.
***If you're using a retail version of the game, the Dash Faction installer will automatically bring you up to the latest official version (v1.20).
[[File:Dash150steampatch.png|frameless|border]]
 
 
*When you get to the "'''Select Additional Tasks'''" prompt, it is '''highly''' recommended you keep the default options to ensure the best Red Faction experience.
 
 
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==Step 4: Launching the game==
[[File:Dash150launcher.png|thumb|You may wish to configure custom options and/or join the Discord]]
*Now that Dash Faction is installed, you're ready to play the game!
 
 
*The default options should allow you to play the game without issue. If you want to further customize your game (including taking advantage of some of the new graphics enhancements Dash Faction brings), click "'''Options'''" in the Dash Faction launcher. As this is simply an installation guide, I won't go over all the options here, but please feel free to reference the [[Red Faction Quick Start Guide]] for recommended settings.
 
 
*You may also wish to join the [https://discord.gg/bC2WzvJ Discord Support Channel] if you're running into an issue, have a question about the game, or just want to join the community!
 
 
'''Enjoy Red Faction!'''
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Latest revision as of 02:45, 7 March 2024

Dashlogo1.png

What is Dash Faction?

Dash Faction is a free and open source Red Faction game patch designed to fix original game bugs, improve compatibility with modern hardware and software, extend functionality, enhance graphics quality, and improve engine performance. Dash Faction has been in development since 2016 and is the most fully featured Red Faction patch ever released.

List of Most Important Dash Faction Features
General Single player Multiplayer Dedicated servers Map / mod development
Full Steam compatibility Autosave at the start of each level Higher tick rate Timer bug fixes Fixes for level editor bugs
Modern OS/hardware compatibility Fixed submarine explosion bug Performance & stability improvements Fixes for critical security vulnerabilities Resolution/aspect ratio fixes
High & widescreen resolution support Fixed other framerate-related bugs Improved map autodownloader Crash & other stability fixes Custom models for multiplayer maps
Direct mouse input Enhanced campaign functionality Click-to-Join (rf:// protocol handler) Lightweight server console Raised editor/engine limits
Anti-aliasing & anisotropic filtering Fixed cutscene synchronization Run map enhancements Hitsounds DDS texture support
Higher FPS limit & configurable FOV Ability to skip cutscenes First person & free look spectate Map voting Expanded debug functionality
High resolution HUD & vector fonts Widescreen & custom resolution support Multiplayer anticheat Additional configurable options Additional editor improvements


How do I get Dash Faction?

  1. Download and run the installer program from FactionFiles.com.
  2. Click the Next button until Select RF.exe location appears.
  3. Enter the path to your RF.exe file. The path will most likely be correct without you needing to change it. If it's blank or incorrect, click "Browse", and locate your RF.exe file inside your Red Faction folder. For Steam copies, this is usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Red Faction\RF.exe and for retail copies, it's usually C:\games\RedFaction\RF.exe
  4. If a prompt appears stating "Detected Red Faction version is not directly supported by Dash Faction", click OK. The necessary patches will automatically be installed for you.
  5. Click the Next button until Select additional tasks appears.
  6. Keeping the default options selected on this page is recommended. If you are using a Steam copy of the game, you should also enable "Replace the Red Faction launcher with the Dash Faction launcher" to allow Dash Faction to be launched via Steam, make the Steam overlay work properly, and allow Steam to track your time spent playing Dash Faction.
  7. Click Install, then Finish
  8. The launcher will appear - go to Options and customize as you wish (but don't change Game executable).
  9. Launch the game from now on by opening DashFactionLauncher.exe and clicking Launch Game.


I'm having an issue or have questions, What do I do?

Join the FactionFiles community Discord and send a message in the #dashfaction-support channel, we'll give you a hand.

Our Discord is also the place where virtually all Red Faction community activity is organized - including game night events, competitive matchmaking, and mod development initiatives - so feel free to drop by!


Additional useful resources:

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