Arcanum CE Restored

A public Arcanum Community Edition fork focused on restoration, UAP bug-fix integration, expanded character support, cleaner modding systems, Module Expansion support, Classic Timing, and future co-op foundations.

Arcanum CE Restored preview build with restored Multiplayer entry and CE Settings.

Legal Game Data Required

This repository does not include original Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura game assets. A legal copy of the game is required to play. Use your own GOG, Steam, or CD install as the runtime data source.

Fork Notice

Arcanum CE Restored is a public fork of Arcanum Community Edition by Alex Batalov. The original Community Edition work remains credited upstream; this fork builds on that foundation with a restoration-focused roadmap for engine hardening, modding support, content expansion, and long-term playability.

Status

Arcanum CE Restored is an active preview and restoration fork, not a finished final release. Changes land in small, reviewable lanes with build evidence, compatibility scans, and rollback notes. Default single-player behavior is protected unless a change is explicitly documented and gated.

Current Highlights

• CE Settings main-menu screen for Restored CE options.
• Classic Timing / stock-feel pacing, currently defaulting to a 60 ms movement command delay for a closer original-game feel.
• Restored Multiplayer menu entry as a visible foundation for future co-op work.
• UAP 2.0.2 bug-fix integration work, with tooling, reports, and throwaway runtime validation before real runtime promotion.
• Effect table capacity raised from 400 to 1000 for UAP and mod compatibility.
• Loose ce/ overlay support for engine-owned files without overwriting stock game data.
• Module Expansion support, including Tarant ship captain travel, player home/bedroom travel, and return captain systems.
• Expanded character slots 13-19 for restored and expanded character work.
• Restored and expanded playable presentation work, including female small races, Bedokaan, dark elf male/female, and Malek.
• Engine hardening, including format-string cleanup, early TIG debug output buffering, read-only scan mode, and module/report tooling.
• Future mod-loading direction focused on cleaner overlay and mods/ folder support instead of unsafe drag-and-overwrite installs.

Installation

Use a legal Arcanum install as the base runtime folder. Preview builds are intended to be copied into that folder alongside the original game data.

Typical Windows layout:

Arcanum/
  arcanum1.dat
  arcanum2.dat
  arcanum3.dat
  arcanum4.dat
  tig.dat
  modules/
  arcanum-ce.exe
  arcanum-ce.cfg

The repo source and preview build packages do not provide the DATs, music, movies, modules, saves, or other original game payloads. Keep those files from your own game install.

Configuration

Player-facing Restored CE options are moving into the in-game CE Settings menu. Current CE Settings include Classic Timing controls.

The engine also reads arcanum-ce.cfg from the game directory. That file can hold runtime settings such as resolution, window mode, scroll speed, startup reporting, and Restored CE options.

Example:

profile=restored-default
module=Arcanum
width=1280
height=720
windowed=1
show_fps=0
scroll_fps=35
scroll_dist=10
startup_report=1
classic_timing=1
classic_timing_delay_ms=60

When HighRes/config.ini from the Unofficial Arcanum Patch is present, Community Edition imports compatible startup values first. arcanum-ce.cfg overrides that legacy import. HighRes-style readability and font work is being ported natively instead of installing the original HighRes component into a CE runtime.

Companion Tools

Desktop builds include arcanum-ce-module-check, a read-only scanner for loose module and data folders. The engine also has a -scan entry point that uses the same safety scanner path.

See:

• docs/ARCANUM_CE_MODULE_CHECK.md
• docs/ARCANUM_CE_OVERLAY.md
• docs/ARCANUM_CE_CONFIG.md
• docs/ARCANUM_CE_UAP202_BUGFIX_PLAN.md

Roadmap

Near-term work:

• Promote the UAP 2.0.2 U1 data import from throwaway runtime proof to the real runtime only after manual in-game QA passes.
• Continue the remaining UAP engine-fix audit and port confirmed fixes as small source slices.
• Add HighRes/font/readability parity natively, especially dialog and logbook font sizing.
• Design mods/ folder support on top of the safer overlay approach.
• Continue multiplayer/co-op transport research without weakening single-player compatibility.
• Publish preview releases and collect issue reports from real play sessions.

Reporting Issues

When reporting a bug, include as much of this as possible:

• Build or commit tested.
• Arcanum source install: GOG, Steam, or CD.
• Settings used, including resolution/window mode.
• Whether Classic Timing was on or off.
• Module and save used.
• Steps to reproduce.
• Logs, screenshots, or save files when useful.

Building From Source

Check ci-build.yml for the current build matrix and packaging steps.

Contributing

Keep changes focused and reviewable. One branch should cover one lane of work, with explicit file staging and validation notes. See CONTRIBUTING.md and docs/PULL_REQUEST_CHECKLIST.md.

License

The source code in this repository is available under the Sustainable Use License.