Modding Limitations: Things needed for Next Patch

[Atrocities]

Modding Limitations:

I have noticed over the course of many days that there are several limitations as to what you can or can not mod in SEIV. If I am mistaken about something I have listed below, please let me know.

1. The game chooses a random BMP image to display while setting up your race. If the game chooses an image that is no longer available it displays an error. It would be helpful to be able to mod this feature and tell it what images to display.
2. I have tried to add requirements to ship in the VehicleSize.txt file but have been unsuccessful. It would be nice to be able to add requirements to ships, fighters, and bases. For example adding the requirement that all ships must have a warp core AND engines. Or that Federation ships must have Medical and Shuttle bays.
3. The ability to set each levels research cost independently. Example: Lv 1 cost 5 k, level 2 cost 10 etc.
4. I would like the ability to tell the game to Process X amount of turns automatically to test the AI.

5. In the Settings.txt file in the Data folder I set the amount of Neutral empires to a higher number in correspondance to the main Empires with no luck. IE 5 main AI empires to 15 Neutrals. These settings must be enacted so that we can use fewer main races. For Example: The new star trek mod only has 10 main races. I have 20 neutral races but the game will not recognize the settings for using more neutral race. Instead it copies the main races in order to fill the requirements for 20 players. This is very frustraiting.

I have found a work around for the auto turn idea, just turn off some thing in the Minister/Empire Options screen, and hold down the F12 key. Works slick as snot.

[Suicide Junkie]

3. The ability to set each levels research cost independently. Example: Lv 1 cost 5 k, level 2 cost 10 etc.

If you really want to specify exactly the cost for each level, you can make each level a separate area.

You do lose the low/medium/high cost settings though.

[Captain Kwok]

On point #1, all Aaron has to do is make it pick a random existing image in the mod directory if present instead of picking a random image based on the default ship size.

[Fyron]

MB made a program that processes a bunch of turns for AI testing, you know. I forget what it is called though...

[Taz-in-Space]

It's been posted before, but I'll post it again in the hope that 'the powers that be'(MM) will add them:
1) a component that can generate research points.
2) a component that will generate Intel points.
3) a component that will store resources.

The above will allow 'true' Nomadic Races.
The Space Gypsy's will thank you!

[Gandalph]

I am not sure how it is for testing modded data files, but for testing AI's MB's batch program is a god send. I always use it to test mine. At first, run 50 turns with a save every turn, you can see how the AI progresses in the early game. Then, after some tweaking, run 150 turns with a save every ten. Finally, after even more tweaking, run 300 turns with a save every 10 turns. No better way I have found yet. Thanks MB!!

PS - Don't forget to use the AI deathmatch map, include your race AI against the Tessalate, and run 500 turns. If you Last til 300, youve done a good job with your AI files.