Captain Kwok's Balance Mod for Space Empires V
==============================================


Contents
========

1.  Background
2.  Brief Summary of Changes
3.  Installation
4.  Using Tampa_Gamer's Sound Pack with the Balance Mod
5.  Adding Custom Races to the Balance Mod
6.  Website and Contact Info
7.  Special Thanks


1. Background:
==============

The original purpose of this mod was to supplant the default data files that
are provided with Space Empires V with balanced files that retained the spirit
of the standard game. A collection of SE:V beta testers participated in its
development providing suggestions, comments, and some data files to assist in
the development of the Balance Mod. Hopefully the mod addresses most of the
issues that take away from the standard SE:V game.


2. Brief Summary of Changes:
============================

For the most part, the tech tree remains close to default SE:V with most of the
changes confined to a reduction in the number of tech levels and where some of
branching occurs. Overall, research has been increased in cost slightly to
retain the long length of the tech tree and to reduce the need to retrofit
items frequently.

Ship sizes have been slightly modified and there is a return to a SE:III 
style propulsion system where larger ships require more engines to move. Ship 
balance between small and large ships is better, along with some tweaks to 
reduce the stress of ship design.

Components should be more balanced and a few additions were made to help with
ship designing. Costs are slightly more diversified and descriptions updated
to provide helpful ability or stacking information.

Weapons have also been adjusted to allow for a variety of research and
deployment options. Hopefully this should allow for a number of viable weapon
strategies that can work throughout the game. Weapon mounts now provide only
a slight bonus to damage in exchange for increased cost.

Resource extraction has been slightly diversified to make Organics/Radioactives
more important. Intel/Research have seen some addition, with changes to the
Intel script to reduce the impact of some projects.

There's also been tweaks to improve the fairness of racial traits and other
empire modifiers like government types or society types. A few graphic changes
were made, reducing the size of empire flags without reducing the usefullness
of the colony status bar.

Work has been done with the AI scripts to improve the AI's performance and is
ongoing.


3. Mod Installation
===================

1.  Extract the contents of .zip file to SE:V's GameType folder (..Space Empires V\GameTypes)
2.  When starting a new game or using quick start, select "Balance Mod vX.XX" from the list
    of game types to use the mod
3.  Enjoy!

Note that saved games with the mod will automatically load the mod when you load them.


4. Using Tampa_Gamer's Sound Pack with the Balance Mod:
=======================================================

If you have Tampa_Gamer's sound pack installed, follow these steps to use it with the Balance Mod:

1.  In your Balance Mod data folder, rename SoundEffects.txt to SoundEffects_Stock.txt
2.  Then rename SoundEffects_TG.txt to SoundEffects.txt


5.  Adding Custom Races to the Mod:
===================================

If you've downloaded a new shipset and would like to use in the Balance Mod, follow the steps
below:

1.  Create a folder in the Balance Mod's Empires folder with the same name as the Race's default folder - it
    is important to use the exact same name so the game will now where the pictures and models are
2.  Copy the race's [Race Name]_AI_main.txt file into that folder
3.  Edit the following lines in [Race Name]_AI_main.txt:

    From:
    AI Script File                                := [Race Name]\[Race Name]_Main_Script.csf
    AI Script Empire Setup File                   := [Race Name]\[Race Name]_Setup_Script.csf

    To:
    AI Script File                                := Default\Default_Main_Script.csf
    AI Script Empire Setup File                   := Default\Default_Setup_Script.csf


This will tell the AI to use the Balance Mod's default AI files with the ship set, making sure it works
properly with the mod.


6.  Website and Contact Info:
=============================

For updates and information:
http://www.captainkwok.net/balancemod.php

Balance Mod Forum:
http://www.spaceempires.net/home/forum-73.html

Comments/Questions:
E-mail me at balancemod@captainkwok.net


7.  Special Thanks:
===================

Chris Traber (Tampa_Gamer)
  - Ship Experience values, testing and suggestions, tech chart

Nolan Kelly (Fyron)
  - Some system files, generic slot layouts, testing and suggestions

Nick Dumas (SuicideJunkie)
  - Suggestions, small main Empire flag sets

Jonathan Sorensen (se5a)
  - Testing and suggestions

Chris Newton (Deadzone)
  - Testing and suggetions

Philipp Kullmann (Mephisto)
  - Testing and suggetions

Bruno Ethier (Paladin)
  - Testing and suggetions

Baron Munchausen
  - Testing and suggetions

Wayne Witzke
  - Additional small size flag sets

A special thanks to all the posters at Shrapnel, SpaceEmpires.net, and SpaceEmpires5.com for their 
feedback, AI script suggetions, and other comments!