Weapon Families - what exactly do they specify?

[Old Possum]

Hello all.
Can someone please enlighten me into exactly what the weapon family value affects/controls/specifies?
Can you specify new weapon family values?
For example, if I create a new type of Point defense beam weapon, should I use the existing value for point defense weapons, the existing value for the beam weapon it's derived from, or can I specify a perviously unused value?

PS, Possum, are you an Organic Chemist too?

[jc173]

Not much documentation on what weapon family does, I guess it's pretty similar in use to just plain old family for the rest of the components. MM might have had something different in mind for weapon family but didn't get around to implementing it. As for a PD beam weapon if you want it to be an alternative to the regular PD cannon give it a different family number and weapon family number. If you want it to eventually replace it I think you need to give it the same numbers.

Oops yes you can specify new weapon family values if you are adding in new weapon types

[This message has been edited by jc173 (edited 01 May 2001).]

[DirectorTsaarx]

Actually, I think "Weapon Family" is used by the AI ship design files to specify which weapons will be used in a particular design.

[Deathstalker]

Yep, weapon families are for the AI for weapon choices. Look in the AI Design Creations txt. It will have 'Majority weapon Familiy pick' 1 through 5 and 'Secondary Weapon Family Pick' 1 thru 5. these are the choices of weapons for a ship in order of preference and research.(IE, 30 is shard Cannon, 2 is Capital Missile, 37 is temporal Shifter, etc.)

------------------
"The Empress took your name away," said Chance.
Owen smiled coldly. "It wasn't hers to take. I'm a Deathstalker until I die. And we never forget a slight or an enemy." -Owen Deathstalker.

[jc173]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Deathstalker:
Yep, weapon families are for the AI for weapon choices. Look in the AI Design Creations txt. It will have 'Majority weapon Familiy pick' 1 through 5 and 'Secondary Weapon Family Pick' 1 thru 5. these are the choices of weapons for a ship in order of preference and research.(IE, 30 is shard Cannon, 2 is Capital Missile, 37 is temporal Shifter, etc.)

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Whoops completely forgot about that somehow, stupid me. Thanks for clearing that up guys.

[Nitram Draw]

I think it is used when "show latest" option is used in the ship design and creation window. It is used to group the items together.

[Possum]

Old Possum,

DAD!!

(LOL)

Nope, I'm not an organic chemist, I'm just a fairly uninteresting specimen of didelphis virginianus http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon12.gif

[This message has been edited by Possum (edited 02 May 2001).]