Big Trouble in little mod

[Wydraz]

Well, I'm starting to tackle to data files for my mod, and am terribly frustrated. I used a copy of the Campaign 1 files, and changed some of the stuff in the Terran map. Now I get an error "Cannot Find Starting Point" and I think its because I changed the name of the Terran Starbase. So I changed it back. It wasn't the name. It could be the other files I changed. I don't know.

The data files are so interrelated, I may have screwed everything up. Going through several files to change "Terran" to my own race may have done me in. Or maybe it was some other design change.

Have any of you modders figured enough out from the data files to know exactly what you need for a proper Starting Point?

We really need a good tutorial for mod-makers like me who only know enough to get us into trouble. Grrr.

[Mehrunes]

The only places I see the campaign starting point referenced are in the CampaignData file and the Maps_*_Map file for that particular system. In campaign 1 it's...

Entrance 2 Obj Name := Terran Starbase
Entrance 2 Offset X := 0
Entrance 2 Offset Y := -30
Entrance 2 Offset Z := 0

...at the beginning of Maps_Terran_Map.txt file.

And in the CampaignData file at the end of the main section it lists the starting map as 1 (the Terran system) and the entrance point as 2 (entrance 2 only appearing in the map file itself as per the snippet above).

[ October 13, 2003, 00:10: Message edited by: Mehrunes ]

[Wydraz]

Yes, but if you change the starting point's name, there's a ripple effect...

My Map File Entry for the Starbase:

Obj Name := Starbase Romani
Displayed Name := Starbase Romani
Type := Ship
Position := Ring From Object
Offset Name := Planet Romani (yes, I added this to the map, and it works)
Offset Radius := 60
Starting X := 0
Starting Y := 0
Starting Z := 0
Enemy Class Name := Rhone Starbase
Other Description :=
Landing Site Name := Starbase Romani
Landing Distance := 30
Landscape Bitmap Filename := Landscape_Starbase_Terra.bmp

Change in the SpaceObjects_XFiles for the Terran Starbase:

Name := Rhone Starbase (also tried Starbase Romani)
XFile := human_starbase.x

And in the Main_Sites file:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Unique Sites
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Site Name := Starbase Romani
Site Music := Space Empires- Starfury-Track 13.mp3
Number of Sections Present := 4
Section 1 Name := Galactic News Center
Section 1 Type := Mission Text
Section 1 Center ID := Galactic News Center
Section 2 Name := Rhone Contact
Section 2 Type := Mission Text
Section 2 Center ID := Rhone Contact
Section 3 Name := Spacedock
Section 3 Type := Spacedock
Section 3 Center ID := Rhone Spacedock
Section 4 Name := Ship Dealer
Section 4 Type := Ship Purchase
Section 4 Center ID := Rhone Ship Dealer

I have also tried changing the SpaceObjects_XFiles Name to Starbase Romani but still get the same error.

So, what have missed. What have I messed up here?

[ October 13, 2003, 01:07: Message edited by: Wydraz ]

[Suicide Junkie]

Sounds like you just want to change only the "Displayed Name" in the terran_map.txt, and the related mission descriptions and etc.

To dig through and change all the internal references will be more difficult.
A search-replace in all files of Terran -> Romani should do it...

-----

I notice you also changed the enemy class name, but didn't mention editing the enemies.txt in order to define what exactly a "Romani Starbase" is.

-----

From your description of the error message, it sounds like something is causing the starbase to not be generated, and thus, you can't spawn beside it...

The easiest way to fix it all may be to change the spawn point to the warppoint. Simple and easy, then you can work on the rest of the stuff.

[ October 13, 2003, 01:57: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

[Rollo]

What you are missing are the correct references in Main_Enemies.txt and Main_PurchaseShipsEnemy.txt files.

Originally posted by Wydraz:
Yes, but if you change the starting point's name, there's a ripple effect...

yes, that does cause a chain reaction for all the references. Like SJ said, just changing the displayed names in the respective files would be easiest.

[Wydraz]

OK. I've started over with fresh files and will take your suggestions under advisement. Thanks for the tips, fellas!