Proportions Version 2.4 released

PvK · #1 July 13th, 2002, 08:51 PM

Proportions mod Version 2.4 is now available from The Proportions web page.

This is a small but worthwhile correction to a few issues, listed below.

ALSO, I discovered a problem with the PATCH Version of 2.3 - it didn't include all of the files needed to upgrade to 2.3, at least for the AI. If you downloaded the PATCH Version of 2.3, you should definitely download and install the "Patch to Version 2.4 from any earlier Version" file (or the complete Version).

Version 2.4:

* Removed defensive modifier from Efficient Engines to allow upgrades
and "show latest only" to work well without stacking modifiers with
high-output engines.
* Cue Cappa and Abbidon AI reworked by John Sullivan.
* Cue Cappa AI was not building space ports even when they had not
acquired Natural Merchants - fixed.
* Corrected position mistakes in formations Cluster Diamonds and Little
Triangles.

PvK

Edit: P.S. - I also separated Oleg's three extra AI's for Proportions into a separate file, rather than including one "Complete plus extra AI's" Version (as I did for 2.3). These AI's have not changed for 2.4, so you can just download the 0.2MB 2.3->2.4 patch if you got the big 2.3 Version.

[ July 13, 2002, 19:54: Message edited by: PvK ]

Pax · #2 July 13th, 2002, 10:24 PM

I don't suppose there's a Version of Proportions (even an OLD one) that is compatible with v1.49, is there ... ?

Puke · #3 July 13th, 2002, 10:50 PM

it would not be hard to hack, just change the settings.txt to be 1.49 compatable, and remove all references to drones. and go back to the original system types files.

Baron Munchausen · #4 July 13th, 2002, 11:58 PM

My gosh... even a fanatic can't have played a game on 2.3 before this update. This update rate is far faster than even the betas coming out of Malfador. Is it stable now? Can we play some games?

Rollo · #5 July 14th, 2002, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
My gosh... even a fanatic can't have played a game on 2.3 before this update. This update rate is far faster than even the betas coming out of Malfador. Is it stable now? Can we play some games?

Not true. I already played and finished

a game in 2.3

.

Rollo

Baron Munchausen · #6 July 14th, 2002, 12:15 AM

Rollo, I crown you 'Space Empires Ultra-fanatic'!!!

PvK · #7 July 14th, 2002, 01:28 AM

There is no Proportions for 1.49. There are some important new features in Gold that allow some things that would not be possible in 1.49.

Mainly, MM implemented a couple of requests I had for population - in Gold, you can specify the mass and reproduction frequency of population units. You could rationalize that population represents only skilled specialists and abstract development, but it would have a major effect on gameplay (these two factors combined with the Proportions population effect curve make a world of difference in colonial development rate).

Also, the massive amount of work that I, John and Oleg have done to create AI's that can build ship classes with the right number of engines, and bunches of other AI adjustments, would mostly be lost and have to be redone for 1.49.

It would be so much work that it makes no sense compared to the price of Gold, and Gold is really worth the cost to upgrade!

PvK

Rollo · #8 July 14th, 2002, 01:40 AM

I am honered

. It was not a big deal though really. Just a small galaxy. Build a fleet, capture AIs homeworld, done.

Rollo

PvK · #9 July 14th, 2002, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
My gosh... even a fanatic can't have played a game on 2.3 before this update. This update rate is far faster than even the betas coming out of Malfador. Is it stable now? Can we play some games?

Rollo's an impressive fellow!

Yes, I think the AI in 2.4 should play Proportions better than the AI in the standard game plays the standard set... which both is and isn't saying much.

I recommend starting a game versus the AI and then finding a PBW game. Humans will always be more interesting, and IMO Proportions gives many more options for humans to be creative in empire design, unit/ship design, colonial development, and maneuver and deployment than the standard game.

I do have plans for two more layers of improvement, though. One is to provide an AI that has some cheats to compensate for its inherent weaknesses, and the other is to add some things taking advantage of the new mounts in the impending Gold patch. Both of those changes will require me to break backward compatibility, though. Still, I think 2.4 is pretty polished and should make for interesting games. I'm imagine some people will find bugs from playing it, though.

Oh, and there is one issue with Proportions AI and Gold 1.67 that I couldn't fix without breaking backwards compatibility: In Simultaneous Movement games, the AI won't build any colony ships for about four years (40 turns). It seems to be a hard-coded thing under investigation, hopefully to be fixed for the next Gold patch. It does fine in Turn-Based Movement mode. Meanwhile, work-arounds for simultaneous mode include running the first 40 turns without human control, or running the first 40 turns with humans obeying a house rule to not build colony ships, or just give the AI a Low bonus, which should more or less balance it out.

PvK

Pax · #10 July 14th, 2002, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PvK:
There is no Proportions for 1.49. There are some important new features in Gold that allow some things that would not be possible in 1.49.

... and now, a brief visit from Oni no Snippage ...

Quote:

It would be so much work that it makes no sense compared to the price of Gold, and Gold is really worth the cost to upgrade!

PvK

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait a month or two before being able to try out yoru mod then. LOL, at the rate you've been updatign it, by then ... you'll be up to Version 3.x or maybe even 4.x ... heh!