Small Ships Mod discussion

[Captain Kwok]

I might be interested in joining this game, what are the basic changes made in the data files and to accomplish what?

...and yes, I'm sure I could dig this info up somewhere but I'm going to sleep now and hope to have an answer to read for breakfast.

[Pax]

Originally posted by Captain Kwok:
I might be interested in joining this game, what are the basic changes made in the data files and to accomplish what?

This isn't a game, per se; it's a new mod, one that's a spinoff form the idea that spawned the "Attack of the Ankle-Biters" thread.

The changes, so far, are mainly to limit ships to the smaller end of the scale, play with engines-per-move a bit (so that some later hulls are SMALLER, but in return inherently FASTER, than their predecessors), and try out osme of the less-radical changes for weapons which were discussed in the Stock Balance thread.

Not all changes to weapons are properly documented in the data files at present (I believe I forgot to STATE that the Graviton Hellbore skips armor, for example), and I am working on a new Beta 3 Version, complete with a readme documenting the changes (at least in summary format); I hope to have that Version ready for release by the end of this weekend.

[atari_eric]

Regardless of what type of planet I start out on, the game keeps giving me Gas Giant Colonization Tech - do you think Aaron hardcoded something to look for Col Tech in Applied Sciences?

[Pax]

Originally posted by atari_eric:
Regardless of what type of planet I start out on, the game keeps giving me Gas Giant Colonization Tech - do you think Aaron hardcoded something to look for Col Tech in Applied Sciences?

Hmm. That is odd (and thank you for trying lots of things out -- that one I'd've not found myself, for quite a while -- I almost always PLAY gas giant races).

I'll do some testing tomorrow (got to get some sleep soonish), and try and figure that one out.

[Fyron]

No. It gives you the technology necessary to be able to build the Last colony module appropriate to your race that is in the components file. If you place multi-type colony modules (such as Gas + Rock) after the normal ones, you will get those instead. But if they are placed before the normal ones, the AI will never be able to use them.

[Pax]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
No. It gives you the technology necessary to be able to build the Last colony module appropriate to your race that is in the components file. If you place multi-type colony modules (such as Gas + Rock) after the normal ones, you will get those instead. But if they are placed before the normal ones, the AI will never be able to use them.

Hmm. THAT sucks; it means I'll have to choose between the multi-colony module and humans-only play. Damn.

[Fyron]

You could try adding some dummy abilities and have the AIs call for those instead of colony modules. There are plenty of them available.