Changes

Considered by many to be the best mod for RA2 ever created, DSL: Total Conversion is different enough to be a Robot Arena 3. The main makers were [[DarkRat]], [[Starcore]], and [[Lu-Tze]].

Considered by many to be the best mod for RA2 ever created, DSL: Total Conversion is different enough to be a Robot Arena 3. The main makers were [[DarkRat]], [[Starcore]], and [[Lu-Tze]].

In the spring of 2004 [[DarkRat]], [[Starcore]] and [[Lu-Tze]] had reached the point where they had considered leaving [[RA2]]. [[DarkRat]] was the premier replica bot creator and parts creator, [[Lu-Tze (Forum Member)|Lu-tze]] the innovative parts and arena maker, and [[Starcore]] the to AIer of the community having just released the [[Starcore]] V2 pack. As a swan song [[Starcore]] brought the three of them together to do a final release. To wrap an ultimate pack around [[DarkRat]]'s ultra cool replicas of Real Life robots. Most of [[DarkRat]]'s bot at the time were only picture bots. [[Starcore]] with some help from [[ACAMS]] and a few others populated the internals of the replicas and [[Starcore]] AIed all the replicas to be the 'Stock' bots of the DSL pack. [[DarkRat]] continued building an extensive range of parts while [[Lu-Tze]] in her final months built most all the arenas of the DSL Total Conversion Mod. The team innovated left and right and worked with the rivaling forums bringing them together to work on more realistic parts and standards for the DSL pack.

In the spring of 2004 [[DarkRat]], [[Starcore]] and [[Lu-Tze]] had reached the point where they had considered leaving [[RA2]]. [[DarkRat]] was the premier replica bot creator and parts creator, [[Lu-Tze (Forum Member)|Lu-tze]] the innovative parts and arena maker, and [[Starcore]] the to AIer of the community having just released the [[Starcore]] V2 pack. As a swan song [[Starcore]] brought the three of them together to do a final release. To wrap an ultimate pack around [[DarkRat]]'s ultra cool replicas of Real Life robots. Most of [[DarkRat]]'s bot at the time were only picture bots. [[Starcore]] with some help from [[ACAMS]] and a few others populated the internals of the replicas and [[Starcore]] AIed all the replicas to be the 'Stock' bots of the DSL pack. [[DarkRat]] continued building an extensive range of parts while [[Lu-Tze]] in her final months built most all the arenas of the DSL Total Conversion Mod. The team innovated left and right and worked with the rivaling forums bringing them together to work on more realistic parts and standards for the DSL pack. [[DarkRat]] accelerated the production schedule of DSL so that [[Lu-Tze]] could see it completed before she died. And she even pulled together in her literal final days with splitting migraines to fix a release issue so that the DSL mod pack would work with the download version of [[RA2]].

[[goose]] took over from Starcore as co-ordinator for DSL 2. The [[BeetleBros]], Clickbeetle and Firebeetle, were the main innovators, backed up by goose, [[Vincent]] and [[ACAMS]]. The brothers added antweight parts, new replicas, new arenas and completely revamped the original Stock AI, creating a new base DSL Stock, with 6 bot teams. They added an antweight team, a team that looked back on Robot Arena 1, and other helpful and innovative new parts. [[Vincent]] created a brand new, spectacular UI. And ACAMS and goose did their behind-the-scenes work as they did for DSL 1. Clickbeetle later released the 2.1 patch, fixing a few minor flaws.

[[goose]] took over from [[Starcore]] as co-ordinator for DSL 2. The [[BeetleBros]], [[Clickbeetle]] and [[Firebeetle]], were the main innovators, backed up by [[goose]], [[Vincent]] and [[ACAMS]]. The brothers added [[Antweight]] parts, new replicas, new arenas and completely revamped the original Stock AI, creating a new base DSL Stock, with 6 bot teams. They added an [[Antweight]] team, a team that looked back on Robot Arena 1, and other helpful and innovative new parts. [[Vincent]] created a brand new spectacular UI. And [[ACAMS]] and [[goose]] did their behind-the-scenes work as they did for DSL 1. [[Clickbeetle]] later released the 2.1 patch, fixing a few minor flaws.

Clickbeetle is currently the only person known to be working on DSL 3, which will feature upgraded replicas, SHW's, a new race mode and a few components/bug fixes. It is uunknown if Firebeetle, goose or ACAMS or anybody else is helping him at this point in time.

[[Clickbeetle]] is currently the only person known to be working on DSL 3, which should feature upgraded replicas, [[SHW]]'s, a new race mode and a few components/bug fixes. It is unknown if [[Firebeetle]], [[goose]], [[ACAMS]], or anybody else is helping him at this point.

== Bot building ==

== Bot building ==

'''Armor'''

'''Armor'''

We have still 4 materials, but now [[DSA]] is useless and the armor tab becomes realistic. You have to choose between 1,3,5 or 10mm armor of the chosen material, increasing weight and armor rating too. Example, 5mm of plastic is stronger than 1mm of steel.

We have still 4 materials, but now [[DSA]] is useless and the [[armor]] tab becomes realistic. You have to choose between 1,3,5 or 10mm [[armor]] of the chosen material, increasing weight and armor rating too. Example, 5mm of [[Plastic]] is stronger than 1mm of [[Steel]].

Armors are 6 times stronger than Stock armors.

[[DSL]] [[Armor]]s are 6 times stronger than [[Stock]] [[Armor]]s.

'''Components'''

'''Components'''

There are plenty of new components, and all the [[Stock]] motors and batteries disappeared, as the stock extenders.

There are plenty of new components, and all the [[Stock]] motors and batteries disappeared, as well as the [[Stock]] extenders.

A grand total of 5 batteries are now available, 8 different and more powerful spin motors (not including the gearboxes and different motor versions) and 6 burst motors.  

A grand total of 5 batteries are now available, 8 different and more powerful spin motors (not including the gearboxes and different motor versions) and 6 burst motors.  

Includes lots of new weapons including DSL bars that are a cross between an extender, a ramplate and a weapon, weapons from the replicas, and the old weapons are revised to be more realistic. Generally, the heavier the weapon is, the tougher or/and more damaging it is.

It includes lots of new weapons including DSL bars that are a cross between an extender, a ramplate and a weapon, weapons from the replicas, and the old weapons are revised to be more realistic. Generally the heavier the weapon is the tougher and/or more damaging it is.

A lot of new extenders has been added, round extenders can now be used in the four armor materials, there are panels that can be used to build a shell spinner, drum components, bigger discs, and skirts with hinges (actually very weak servos) to use as protection/wedges.  

A lot of new extenders has been added, round extenders can now be used in the four armor materials, there are panels that can be used to build a shell spinner, drum components, bigger discs, and skirts with hinges (actually very weak servos) to use as protection/wedges.  

Wheels have been changed for realism (now, the miniwheels are lighter than the shiny wheels), they also possess different grip, are widely extended in weight and size (from 6 to 40 kg), and do possess different hitpoints too (bigger wheels are the tougher ones)

Wheels have been changed for realism (now, the miniwheels are lighter than the shiny wheels). They also possess different grip, are widely extended in weight and size (from 6 to 40 kg), and possess different hitpoints too (bigger wheels are appropriately tougher ones)

'''Paint job'''

'''Paint job'''

There are now replicas of real robots, generally built from cheatbot2 and unbalanced components (but original, to make them look as the real robots), and rebuilds of Stock AI bots, using only non-replica parts, and seriously more dangerous than the stock AI. Some have been greatly changed (LugNut is now Lock Nut, an extremely powerful [[HS]], and Grog, the Warrior is now Grog, the Vengeful, a mighty shell spinner).   

There are now replicas of real robots, generally built from cheatbot2 and unbalanced components (but original, to make them look as the real robots), and rebuilds of Stock AI bots, using only non-replica parts, and seriously more dangerous than the stock AI. Some have been greatly changed (LugNut is now Lock Nut, an extremely powerful [[HS]], and Grog, the Warrior is now Grog, the Vengeful, a mighty shell spinner).   

The stock AI bindings have been also changed, because most of the stock AI bots drove really lousy.

The stock AI bindings have been also changed because most of the stock AI bots drove really lousy.

'''Arenas'''

'''Arenas'''

'''Sound effects'''

'''Sound effects'''

New music backgrounds have been added (Robot Workshop, Team HQ, Main UI) and the sound effects have been nearly totally renewed, for more realism when fighting.

New music backgrounds have been added (Robot Workshop, Team HQ, Main UI) and the sound effects have been almost entirely renewed for more realism when fighting.

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*Pros: Parts created to build bots that look more realistic, Challenging AI, DSL Patches and Fixes were generally easier to install and are explained thoroughly, arena and collision maps are generally well made, loads of new parts to play around with, promising and attractive GUI and backgrounds, new Introduction music when in the main menu, much more armor types to choose from.  

*Pros: Parts created to build bots that look more realistic, Challenging AI, DSL Patches and Fixes were generally easier to install and are explained thoroughly, arena and collision maps are generally well made, loads of new parts to play around with, promising and attractive GUI and backgrounds, new Introduction music when in the main menu, much more armor types to choose from.  

*Cons: Difficult AI can be a little frustrating for people playing RA2 for the first time, SHW AI take a little long to load, Mod uses a specific method to install properly which may be confusing.  

*Cons: Difficult AI can be a little frustrating for people playing RA2 for the first time, [[SHW]] AI take longer to load, Mod uses a specific method to install properly which may be confusing.  

*Community Popularity Rating: 98/100

*Community Popularity Rating: 98/100