Dear fellow SpellForce friends

Maybe someone has an idea with this one. Otherwise it might help someone searching the net for this error (only other occurence I found is a unanswerd post on steam).
I try to help with visual separations of:
1) list the errors
2) some details when the crash occurs and information about my systems
3) lastly troubleshooting checklist.
(Beware: It's a long post - tried to include most of what I know about it)

Any ideas are wellcome! But I'm not in a hurry :)
(see below for what I already spent on this, energy wise)


1)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spellforce Critical Error
G:\Spellforce\release\candidate\code\Utl\UtlText.cpp(80) : error:
Assertment failed!
Message: CUtlFont::GetCharacterWidth: illegal char (Char: 8217)

If I press "cancel" it repeats a similar message.
Only if I press "ignore" it's followed by:

Code: EXEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION
Info: The thread tried to read from or write to a virtual address for which it does not have the appropriate access.
Flags: 0x00000000 Addr: 0x6f6cf7b2
eax: 0x00000001 ebx: 0x128fbb40 ecx: 0x0858fec4 edx: 0x00000000
ebp: 0x0019f578 edi: 0x6f6d0ba0 esp: 0x0019f550 eip: 0x6f6cf7b2 esi: 0x08421s20
segc: 0x0023 segd: 0x002b sege: 0x002b segf: 0x0053 segg: 0x002b segs: 0x002b


2)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, it's unmodded out of the box from GOG.
Crashes mostly on the second map then a goblin drops dead and I surely cannot pass the third map because of that. I'm troubleshooting with GOG since december 2022. Both on a DeskopPC - Windows 10 Home (1909) - and an older laptop - Windows 10 Prof. (21H2).
Desktop uses: i3 9100f with a Nvidia gtx 1650 super (gainward pegasus)
Laptop is a Lenovo t440p from around 2013 with i5 and Nvidia gt 730m

3)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

First I followed all instructions in the support section and even tried alternate Nvidia Drivers.

What I did with GOG-Support as far (unsuccsessfully):

1) GOG GALAXY repair
 
2) Install the June 2010 DirectX runtime package
 
3) If you are using Nahimic, please could you disable this audio software or uninstall it completely as it has proven to be problematic with many games
 
4) "Disable full screen optimization" and "Run as administrator"
Please go to the game installation folder:- If the game was installed via GALAXY, please select the game in GALAXY, click on the icon on the right side of the PLAY button -> Manage Installation -> Show Folder
 
If the game was installed via offline installer, then you will have to manually navigate to the game installation folder, by default it's: C:\GOG Games\game-title\
  
Once in there find game's executable, right-click on it, and select Properties. In the properties window please switch to the Compatibility tab, and enable "Disable full screen optimization" and "Run as administrator". Press Ok to apply settings, and try to run the game again using the executable file.
 
5) Close all software that has an overlay (this can include: Radeon Software, Rivatuner Statistics Server, MSI Afterburner, Discord, FRAPS, OBS, programs from Adobe Suite and similar software that may use overlay, or diagnostic tools).

6) Reinstalled the game AND added it to your anti-virus/firewall software's exception/trusted list.
 
7) Reinstalled both Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Packages:
x86 and x64
 
 
8) DirectPlay activated.
 
9) Updated graphics drivers.

10) Windowed mode (gog-galaxy and direct exe config tried)
Please click on the configure button (on the right side of the Play button)->Manage installation->Configure
Once here please select "Custom executables/arguments"->Duplicate File 1
In the field "Arguments" please type:
 
-window
 
Last but not least please select it as a "Default executable".
 
Alternatively, please go to the game's folder:
- If the game was installed via GALAXY, please select the game in GALAXY, click on the icon on the right side of the PLAY button -> Manage Installation -> Show Folder
- If the game was installed via offline installer, then you will have to manually navigate to the game installation folder, by default it's: C:\GOG Games\game-title\
 
Right-click the shortcut for the game (if there is none copy the game's executable onto the desktop and paste it as a shortcut) and go to its Properties. In the Target textbox next to the path type:
-window
 
There should be a space between the path and the switch, like here:
"(...)Folder\game.exe"-window
 
Please try launching the game from this shortcut now.
 
 
11) Applying nexus widescreen patch to the game. (spellforceplatinumedition/mods/8)
Replace the original executable file .exe from the installation folder with the one you have downloaded.

12) No third-party applications: Install and launch the game in “clean boot mode” (please make sure that "Hide all Microsoft services" is selected.

13) Install the game to a short path, for example:
C:\GOG  or    C:\Games
 
14) DEP (Data Execution Prevention) using default setting. To do this, follow these steps:
I) Open Menu Start
II) Right click 'Computer' and click 'Properties'
III) Click 'Advanced system settings'
IV) Open tab 'Advanced' and click 'Settings' in 'Performance' section
V) Open tab 'Data Execution Prevention'
VI) Change DEP setting to the first option (Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only)
VII) Confirm with OK.

15) Create a new temporary Windows administrator account.

16) Editing the config file for the game which can be found in the game's installation folder:
GOG-forumpost: spellforce_platinum_crashes_when_clicking_on_options_button
 
17) Applying wrapper DXVK to the game.
 
18) Create a new Powerplan for the game:
Make sure to set the maximum and minimum process state to 50%.

Whats the game version you try to run?
Maybe we can help you here:

https://forum.spellforce.info/viewtopic.php?p=221#p221

This is a wild guess, but since the error message seems related to the text...

in what language are you playing ?

Have you tried to change the language to see if something changes ?

Hi Unreal_NeoX

Sorry for the late answer. Have to check this thread more often :)

Thanks for the reply. Will have a look around in forum you linked.

It's Version 1.54.75000.

And the errors? Seem familiar?

Hey powergod!

Hmmm, that's an idea. And not to wild a guess! Thanks! I just now remember having had some .ini messed up in another game because of language differences.

I'm running the english game version on german windows. Sadly GOG doesn't have any other localization for Spellforce Platinum. So it won't be that easy. Would you know of a way?

In the meantime (hopefully tomorrow) I'll try to find some more information myself.

Standard GoG i asume? Maybe it would help if we provide you with a retail iso.

Yes, it's a standard GOG english only version running on german (singlelanguage I guess).

What did you have in mind with the retail iso?

Could be the GoG multi version has corrupted language files on your end. We could give you access to the retail disc version with native german files and compatibility.

Hey! And thanks for the offer by the way!
GOG-Support seemed to be out of options and offered a refund. But I would give it another try - especially as you and powergod both seem to agree that language might be an issue.

On pcgamingwiki.com I found a downloadable patch (1.2GB) to change the GOG-Version to german. Will give it a try tomorrow if possible and let you know what happened.

As you probably don't get payed by GOG to do follow-up support... hmmm, let's say: I'll try not to be a pain :) But how about arranging the iso? And even more, do you by accident know how to get the retail version running - any specific things to do?

Have a nice sunday evening!

Yes we have mods and patches for that. Please PM me at this forum for the ISO.
https://forum.spellforce.info/index.php

Can not post the link publicly here, since that would be filesharing and we do not support piracy, only use this as a final solution to issues.

Thanks for the reply.
I just finished trying the german patch mentioned - to no avail.
So, I'm ready for the next endeavour ;)
See you at forum.spellforce.info

EDIT: Probably have to wait a bit. Can't PM you right after registration. I still already copied over the initial post (slightly shortened)
EDIT2: Will continue next weekend.

It continued and continues:

In short, first trials with a german version and HDMod didn't work (1.52 iso patched to 1.54 with HDMod) . Got the same error.

Maybe there's more to try. If I don't update this thread, it means no solution was found or I eventually quit on getting this game to work.

Thanks NeoX, powergod and Falran (from GOG-Support) for what you did!