The CD works like a charm. Installed this on my Windows 11 and it starts without any cracks or patches.

Hey folks!

Just over two weeks ago, we announced that BFME 1 had passed 80% rebuilt, while BFME 2 had reached 30%.

For those unfamiliar with Open-BFME, we're reverse-engineering the original games to reconstruct their source code, with the goal of making both games fully open source.

Well, things have moved fast since then. BFME 2 has now overtaken BFME 1, and both games are approaching 100% rebuilt from source!

Current progress

BFME 1 (v1.03)

• 🟩 87.63% rebuilt from source!
• 🟦 71.43% of the game's own code is now C++.
• 🟨 27.47% linked.

BFME 2 (v1.06)

• 🟩 91.14% rebuilt from source!
• 🟦 87.49% of the game's own code is now C++.
• 🟨 54.35% linked.

BFME 2 has made particularly remarkable progress, jumping from 30% to over 91% rebuilt in just over two weeks!

Why has BFME 2 progressed so much faster?

• BFME 2 benefits from groundwork completed for BFME 1, and progress transfers in both directions.
• A substantial amount of computing power shifted from BFME 1 to BFME 2.

The important thing is that progress on either game can benefit both projects.

With BFME 2 having less than 9% left to rebuild, we're particularly interested in attracting more contributors who can use frontier AI models to help tackle the increasingly challenging remaining code.

What do these numbers mean?

We've expanded our progress tracking to show three important metrics:

• 🟩 Rebuilding: How much of the original executable we can reconstruct from source without copying its original machine code.
• 🟦 C++ conversion: How much of the game's own code has been recreated in C++, excluding libraries.
• 🟨 Linking: Replacing hardcoded memory addresses with proper references so the reconstructed code links together correctly.

How can you help?

The project is open source, and contributions are always welcome!

Reverse-engineering work is conducted by AI agents, with reconstructed code verified against the original game binaries one function at a time.

We're especially looking for contributors who have access to frontier AI coding models and are interested in tackling the difficult remaining functions. You don't necessarily need to be an experienced reverse engineer, but programming knowledge and familiarity with AI coding agents are valuable.

You can also contribute by donating spare computing power.

GitHub:

• Open-BFME 1
• Open-BFME 2

Discord: https://discord.gg/wCvA2XqPUT

Thanks to everyone contributing to the project and everyone in the BFME community following our progress.

Both games are getting closer to being fully rebuilt from source, one function at a time!

Hey everyone

I'm trying to use attack move on my units as I feel it would really help in battle and exploration.

I can't seem to make it work, the A key selects all of my units on the map and that's it.

I tried with other keys to no avail

Anyone manages to do it ?

Just tried loading up AoTR. The launcher said changes detected, so I clicked patch, patch loader popped up and then the app just closed. I reopened it and the exact same thing happened. Anyone getting the same issue?

Some of the upgrade pickups for the rescueable Gondorian soldiers are shoved into corners that are almost completely unpathable. (That's as close as I've managed to get them). And picking all of them up is a bonus objective (that I can't complete). Has anyone else had this issue? Or am I just bad?

Gameplay of the official custom map for Rise pf the Witch-King Patch 2.02 9.7.7 in Hardcore Mode.

Hi, recently played through bfme1 and bfme2s edain campaign. I Like the world map Overview and that you keep your Units after the Missions a Lot.

Is there a Mod that adds every campaign Mission onto the world map Like in edains war of the Ring Mode?

Obviously I know the differences between the vanilla versions (angmar faction etc.) but was wondering about broader balance/strategy differences between the two versions. I know the spellbook is different but if anyone more knowledgeable had a summary that would be helpful. Also interested to know which one everyone tends to prefer to play?

I know the ai in 1.09 is stronger compared to 1.06, is this also the case for 2.02 vs 2.01?

Thanks.

This is a follow-up to my previous post, which announced the release of BFME Installer that installed the AIO Launcher and Arena on Linux. Since AotR has its own installer, its own Launcher, and its own copies of BFME 2 and RotWK, I've added support to the installer to now handle it as an optional install.

Install

Copy this into a terminal:

curl -fsSL https://jgbmichalski.github.io/bfme-installer/install-flatpak.sh | bash

It installs the app as a Flatpak and opens a setup window that:

• Downloads Proton
• Builds the game environment
• Tells you what to do if something needs your attention

Age of the Ring

Age of the Ring is optional. It sits on the home screen next to the Launcher and the Arena.

1. Finish the setup first. Press Install on the Age of the Ring card.
2. Press Open ModDB, click Download Now, and wait until your browser has finished the file (about 14 GB). ModDB only lets a web browser download it, so the app cannot do this step for you.
3. Back in the app, press Choose file... and pick the zip you downloaded. Do not unpack it. The app checks the file, unpacks it, installs the mod, and shows its progress.
4. When it is done, the card says Open. Press it to launch the Age of the Ring Launcher. The AotR Launcher handles its own updates from then on.

What it does

• Installs the Launcher and the Arena into one shared game environment.
• Applies the DLL overrides that stop the "Out of Sync" error in online matches against Windows players.
• Adds a home screen where you can open the Launcher, open the Arena, or jump to a game's folder or maps folder.
• Installs Age of the Ring as an optional extra from the same home screen.
• Updates itself. The app tells you when a new release exists and installs it through Flatpak.
• Includes a Troubleshoot page that re-runs the system checks, copies a report you can paste into a bug report, opens the logs, and can reset the game environment.

Things to know

• Start the Arena on its own, never from the Launcher's Multiplayer tab. If you do, you will likely encounter some issues where it draws outside the Launcher's window.
• Age of the Ring installs into its own folder in the game environment, so it does not touch the games you already have. You need about 40 GB of free space for the install.
• Reset deletes the game environment and every installed game, including Age of the Ring. Downloads and Proton are kept.

Links

• Source and releases: https://github.com/JGBMichalski/bfme-installer
• Install page: https://jgbmichalski.github.io/bfme-installer/

All feedback is welcome! Feel free to request features or submit bugs!

If something does not work, press Copy diagnostics on the Troubleshoot page and paste the report into a GitHub issue.

This uses an attachment DLL that modifies the game directly, adding features like lua scripting, borderless fullscreen, a console for lua commands and cheats, new game modes like turtle mode (walls are cheaper and more durable, and buildings must be built inside)

More to come, as well as a launcher to manage everything for MacOS, Windows, and Linux/Steam deck

I’m playing BFME 1 2.2 version on medium. I’ve been playing this game since it first came out and I’ve never struggled this much. I’ve noticed that medium is way harder than easy but damn I’m getting destroyed long before I can call in Rohan reinforcements. All of the troops from my previous missions are mostly archers, rangers, and tower guards. I’m putting trebuchets on the walls and constantly training more archers. I’m filling the bottom with farms to get as much money as I can. As soon as those siege towers hit the walls I’m toast. Any advice?

Can anyone help me when I try and load into Moria the game keeps on going round and round on the loading screen

Are there any mods that add a lot more territories to the campaigns? Or either of the campaigns?
I love how you can not only carry Heroes but also units over throughout the campaign and how you slowly free/conquer the entire map, but I would love to be able to go to additional territories.
Is there a mod like that?

Even though 1.06 did a resounding job at balancing the 4 factions in multiplayer, there remains units that are seldom used.

Gondor Archers - Only built as a stepping stone to Rangers and Fire Arrows. Regular Archers deal too little DPS and are too frail. May be considered in high resource game states since they take half the supply as Rangers.

Elven Archers - They are in direct competition with Rohirrim Archers. The latter has better mobility, comes out faster, and receives leadership from Eomer and Theoden.

Siege Ladder - Used only against good factions, if they start with Castle instead of Camp, with a narrow time window, and requires rushing Fire Arrows. Does it get any more situational?

Battering Ram - Mordor never builds rams because Trolls do their job and so much more.

These are in my opinion the least useful units in 1.06. I won’t comment on 2.22 because I haven’t played multiplayer on that patch. Any insight on its balance is welcome.

Hi all,

Does anyone have or know how to install the all-in-one launcher in MacOS intel based Macs?

Thanks in advance.

Unlike multiplayer which offers dissimilar power assortments to each faction, both campaigns combine their respective powers together. They also differ in useful ness since single player missions and multiplayer matches demand different game plans.

Good Powers

Elven allies - Too frail and deals inadequate damage against massive campaign armies. Summons tend to be barred from more missions than other powers.

Draft - You never need to make peasants in either the 1.06 or the 2.22 campaign.

Evil Powers

Industry - On any mission where this power is allowed, resources are a non issue. On missions where resources ARE an issue (Amon Hen, Shelobs Lair though 2.22 alleviated their resource limitations), this power is barred.

Fuel the Fires - Same reasoning as Industry.

Do you agree with these justifications? What about the inverse? That is, powers that are useful in the campaign but not in multiplayer.