[Phoenix-D]

You cannot edit .x files manually; you need a program like Wings 3d for that. You -can- edit, say, spaceobjects_xfiles.txt though.

"Conversely, if I set 'equipped components' to 0 (zero), there are no problems. There are also no component slots on the ships! Regardless of the components file. I've noticed on the playerpurchaseships that the 'equipped components' line is parsed: 0 // 0 rather than with the number of equipped components for that ship record."

This is the problem. If you try to specify a component to equip it MUST go into a valid slot. If you try to put it into a slot that doesn't exist- error. And since your ship *has* no slots..

You need to find out why your ship's slots aren't showing up.

This also explains your Access Violation, FYI. Ships with no components have no hull points, which creates a Divide By Zero error when that ship is created in-game.