MODding Problem - Please Help

[Fyron]

Upload such long things as a text file and make a link to it next time. That post is just way too long.

[Atrocities]

Excellent point Fyron, but how many people will know to do this on their first post? How can we get the word out?

[LostCommander]

Hi. I hope this is the right thread for my short question. I was wondering why, after I added some components, facilities, and vehicle types, the AI is fielding vessels that do not follow the design rules in the vehicle sizes file or vehicle resrictions from the components file (more than the allowable engines, weapons only troops can have...). I would really appreciate the help. Thanks TTYL

- LostCommander Conquest

[Wanderer]

Originally posted by LostCommander:
Hi. I hope this is the right thread for my short question. I was wondering why, after I added some components, facilities, and vehicle types, the AI is fielding vessels that do not follow the design rules in the vehicle sizes file or vehicle resrictions from the components file (more than the allowable engines, weapons only troops can have...). I would really appreciate the help. Thanks TTYL

- LostCommander Conquest

Because the AI designer doesn't pay much attention to the rules! If you're not careful it'll build ships with two space yards or something similar.

You have to mod the AI design choices to accord with the game rules and restrictions you've set up yourself. The stock AI is supposed to be set up to use the stock technology without breaking any rules, but modding or adding components will probably break this.

[LostCommander]

Well, now that I know what is wrong, how do the AI design creation files work? I did not see any weapon family choices in the files specifying the troop weapons and I have no idea how it is choosing X number of engines for a ship. Thank you very much.

[Wanderer]

From AI/Default_AI_DesignCreation.txt (not sure what other files need to be changed [presumably the race-specific ones], but here is the best place to start):

Name := Attack Ship
Design Type := Attack Ship
Vehicle Type := Ship
Default Strategy := Optimal Firing Range
Size Minimum Tonnage := 10
Size Maximum Tonnage := 5000
Num Must Have At Least 1 Ability := 1
Must Have Ability 1 := Weapon
Minimum Speed := 4
Desired Speed := 6
Majority Weapon Family Pick 1 := 9
Majority Weapon Family Pick 2 := 1
Majority Weapon Family Pick 3 := 25
Majority Weapon Family Pick 4 := 0
Majority Weapon Family Pick 5 := 0
Secondary Weapon Family Pick 1 := 0
Secondary Weapon Family Pick 2 := 0
Secondary Weapon Family Pick 3 := 0
Secondary Weapon Family Pick 4 := 0
Secondary Weapon Family Pick 5 := 0
Shields Spaces Per One := 250
Armor Spaces Per One := 1200
Majority Comp Spaces Per One := 1200
Majority Comp Ability := Weapon
Secondary Comp Spaces Per One := 0
Secondary Comp Ability :=
Num Misc Abilities := 11
Misc Ability 1 Name := Point-Defense
Misc Ability 1 Spaces Per One := 400
Misc Ability 2 Name := Cloak Level
Misc Ability 2 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 3 Name := Quantum Reactor
Misc Ability 3 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 4 Name := Combat To Hit Defense Plus
Misc Ability 4 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 5 Name := Combat To Hit Offense Plus
Misc Ability 5 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 6 Name := Multiplex Tracking
Misc Ability 6 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 7 Name := Shield Regeneration
Misc Ability 7 Spaces Per One := 800
Misc Ability 8 Name := Emergency Resupply
Misc Ability 8 Spaces Per One := 800
Misc Ability 9 Name := Self-Destruct
Misc Ability 9 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 10 Name := Scanner Jammer
Misc Ability 10 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 11 Name := Supply Storage
Misc Ability 11 Spaces Per One := 500

Weapon family 1 is the Anti-Proton Beam, 9 is the Ripper Beam and 25 the Depleted Uranium Cannon. The AI will use APBs if researched, but if not researched it'll try and use Ripper Beams. If it hasn't researched those either it'll use the DUCs. Race-specific ones tend to favour better weapon sets...

The minimum and desired speeds are the numbers of engines it'll try and place. I suspect it may check to see what the restrictions on engines are at this point - certainly I've not seen an AI-designed dreadnought in the standard game with 6 engines .

Note that replacing all the abilities with
Num Misc Abilities := 1
Misc Ability 1 Name := Space Yard
Misc Ability 1 Spaces Per One := 500
should cause the AI to design attack dreadnoughts with two space yards! So pay close attention to these abilities. Some modders add dummy abilities to certain items that serve no function other than to encourage the AI to use them effectively.

As for troops. I won't paste the whole entry up, although it is somewhat shorter. It calls for weapon families 100 and 101 which are small APBs and small DUCs.

[Atraikius]

Maybe this will help, its a revised Version of the cheat sheet I made back before the Gold Version.

1040385338.zip