To AI modders
 

Just wondering if anybody else has noticed this, but if you assign a created (not one of the standard) strategies to a design, it fails to use it? The way I found the problem was to take one of the modded races, Darloks... made sure that they were using the racial style, and not the default. started the game, and right away turned on all the ministers. Hit end turn and got tons of errors. Just wondering if anybody else can confirm this?
Thanks.

Re: To AI modders
 

If it is spitting out errors like 'error, unknown ability 'combat to hit add'' or sumsuch that you have an outdated modpack. Download the latest Version (not sure what # it is but check the mod section).. The latest patch improved the error checking routine in the game, it now picks up alot of the spelling/syntax errors that are in the old shipset design files.

Basic changes: combat to hit add or dec, is now Combat To Hit Offense Plus, and Combat To Hit Defense Plus (capitals are important), Phased-Shield Generation is now Phased Shield Generation (or vise versa, don't remember which off the top of my head). There were a few others in the attack strategies. But I digress, the latest modpack should solve all your problems (except how to beat the damn Xi'Chung!!! http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon9.gif.)

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"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.

Re: To AI modders
 

I can't even get the game to accept any new strategies. I tried splitting fighter into two basic types
1) bombers which attack enemy ships and bases
2) Interceptors which attack enemy fighters, seekers, and satellites first then turn their attention to enemy ships.

If I assigned the interceptor strategy to that type of fighter in the design creation file I got an error from the game about the strategy being unknown or invalid. I should probably ask Aaron if it's some sort of bug. It's weird I can get the TDM AI's to use non standard strategies that were bundled with them, but I couldn't add a new strategy to those AI's either. I suspect it might have something to do with manually selecting my opponents by selecting their emp files, but that just a wild guess.

Re: To AI modders
 

The AI races that have a *****_AI_Strategy.txt file have any additional or modified strategies located in that file. When a player race is selected, unless using race ministers has been selected with the appropriate modified strategy file located in thier ships/AI directory, the computer defaults to using the default strategies. If using race ministers any strategies used must be included in that races strategy file. When using the default settings I believe the AI defaults to using the DefaultStrategy.txt file located in the data directory instead of the Default_AI_Strategy.txt file, so any added strategies should be added there.

Re: To AI modders
 

Firstly, I'm upto date on BOTH Versions, SE4 & the ModPack. Second, I selected the race sytle for the race I was using. Also, the stategies WERE in the default.
So, again, can anybody confirm this problem?

jc, I would bet that the TDM AI's (the Darlok) AREN'T using the created strategies. I'm testing this again right now. But I am fairly certain.

K, I just checked, and they are using the created strategies... Now I'm confused. I know my ships weren't using the strats. when I turned on the ministers...

Alrighty, I knew I wasn't crazy. Just ran another test, and it appears to be a problem with the ministers not being able to use a strategy other than the standard ones.

[This message has been edited by PurpleRhino (edited 13 June 2001).]

Re: To AI modders
 

IIRC someone said that if you play the game and then turn all the ministers on at some point in the game then it will only use certain AI files in the Race folder, all others will be default. Don't know why but this could be it, the Race folders are specifying a certain strategy that the Default AI files just don't have.

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"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.

Re: To AI modders
 

Quote: Don't know why but this could be it, the Race folders are specifying a certain strategy that the Default AI files just don't have.

Well, I was think that be the case as well... so I copied the strats from the races file and put it in the default one... still get the error. I'm going to send a bug report to MM.