Need a little help with DesignCreation.txt

[StarShadow]

Specificly, it's the 'spaces per one' thing that's confusing me.

If I set:

Shields Spaces Per One := 200
Armor Spaces Per One := 1200

How many shield generators should I expect to see on, say, an 800kt battleship? Also, how many armor components should I expect to see, assuming each armor plate is 30kt in size?

[Fyron]

Size of the component doesn't matter.

I forget the exact logic, but it is something like:

1) Add a component.
2) Increment some counter by the Spaces Per One value.
3) If the counter is less than the hull size of the ship, goto 1. Else, goto next component type.

==0==

You should expect to see 4 shield generators and 1 armor component added.

[Mephisto]

The line should better read "1 Component per X kt", i.e. "Shield Spaces per One := 200" is 1 Shield Generator per 200 kt hull space. I think the result is always at least "1". The line "Armor per One := 1200" in a 800 kt Hull (0,66 Components...) will be rounded up to 1 component.

Actually adding a component works like a loop. Assume
"Shields per One := 200 kt", Hull Space = 800 kt, Shield Component Size 50 kt, free hull space on design only 60 kt.

1. Loop
- "Shields per One := 200 kt" results in 4 components for this hull
- Add 1 component
- Free Space is now 10 kt since the component has a size of 50 kt

2. Loop
- "Shields per One := 200 kt" results in 4 components for this hull
- Add another component to a total of 2 components
- ERROR: Not sufficient hull space to add component
- End loop and proceed with design

If you now add a component with 10 kt it will be added to the design. Everything bigger is ignored.

SE4 reads the design file from top to bottom. Therefore placing your components in a specific order is crucial for designing. Don't add "killer lines" like "X per Once := 10" except for the last line since this will fill your complete design with the component.

I hope this was clear enough to understand. If not, just keep asking!

[StarShadow]

Ups, sorry, I'm out of practice. I wanted to respond to your post, not edit it!

[Mephisto]

This worked for me:

Name := Attack Ship
Design Type := Attack Ship
Vehicle Type := Ship
Default Strategy := Optimal Firing Range
Size Minimum Tonnage := 500
Size Maximum Tonnage := 600
Num Must Have At Least 1 Ability := 1
Must Have Ability 1 := Weapon
Minimum Speed := 5
Desired Speed := 6
Majority Weapon Family Pick 1 := 31
Majority Weapon Family Pick 2 := 25
Majority Weapon Family Pick 3 := 0
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 := 600
Armor Spaces Per One := 0
Majority Comp Spaces Per One := 1500
Majority Comp Ability := Weapon
Secondary Comp Spaces Per One := 0
Secondary Comp Ability := Weapon
Num Misc Abilities := 11
Misc Ability 1 Name := Shield Generation From Damage
Misc Ability 1 Spaces Per One := 100
Misc Ability 2 Name := Point-Defense
Misc Ability 2 Spaces Per One := 600
Misc Ability 3 Name := Combat To Hit Offense Plus
Misc Ability 3 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 4 Name := Quantum Reactor
Misc Ability 4 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 5 Name := Supply Storage
Misc Ability 5 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 6 Name := Combat To Hit Defense Plus
Misc Ability 6 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 7 Name := Scanner Jammer
Misc Ability 7 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 8 Name := Cloak Level
Misc Ability 8 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 9 Name := Multiplex Tracking
Misc Ability 9 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 10 Name := Combat Best Experience
Misc Ability 10 Spaces Per One := 10000
Misc Ability 11 Name := Extra Movement Generation
Misc Ability 11 Spaces Per One := 10000

However, there is not enough space to put all components in, at least if you use the energy weapon.

Remember, that SE4 will add items from top to bottom and then fills up with weapons. The "Majority Comp Spaces Per One" weapon line should therefore only call for 1 weapon. If you chose more it will fill up the design with weapons and nothing else (btw, Malfador did exactly this error in the original SE4 before the first patch arrived).
You need to consider that the "Armor Spaces Per One" line will call the best armor hitpoint wise, not ability wise. If you wish to have the crystal armor, you should call it with its unique ability "Shield Generation From Damage". Else your AI may get better armor from ruins or by a deal and will use this armor instead of the crystaline armor.

For many diverse ship designs and better AI, look here: http://tdm.otaku42.de/

[StarShadow]

Awesome! Thanks Mephisto! I was still having a problem getting supply storage added, until I remembered I modded the engines to hold extra supplies in their II and III versions, so an extra engine was being added instead of a supply storage component. The tip about the armor is one I'll have to remember, considering quite a few components share abilities, it could be interesting.

[bearclaw]

StarShadow said:
Awesome! Thanks Mephisto! I was still having a problem getting supply storage added, until I remembered I modded the engines to hold extra supplies in their II and III versions, so an extra engine was being added instead of a supply storage component. The tip about the armor is one I'll have to remember, considering quite a few components share abilities, it could be interesting.

And that's where AI Tags become your best friend.

[Urendi Maleldil]

It's simple once you figure it out, but the data files are very poorly worded and can get confusing.