Modding/Scenario question & Idea

[Taera]

Hi all. I have an idea for interesting scenario set but i am wondering at one thing which is can it be done that in the start of the game i build research centers and research all i want, and when im all done with the scenario preparations i go to the data files and remove the research facilities from availability, scrapping all the facilities as unneeded? Will the game work after this is done?

And second question, is it possible to alter AI files that way it would not do certain tasks e.g diplomacy, research, espionage... etc?

And finaly i have an idea for all the people here doing scenarios. I know its a pain to start the game and begin researching all the stuff you want for the scenario. There is a solution - given you use a different "mod" folder for each scenario and DONT want anything new being researched, delete all the unwanted research levels/trees and set the starting tech to maximum! Certain weapons and components can be restricted by racial technologies...

[Phoenix-D]

"Hi all. I have an idea for interesting scenario set but i am wondering at one thing which is can it be done that in the start of the game i build research centers and research all i want, and when im all done with the scenario preparations i go to the data files and remove the research facilities from availability, scrapping all the facilities as unneeded? Will the game work after this is done?"

Yes, it will work. Just make sure the scrap the facilities BEFORE you remove them from the data files!

Phoenix-D

[Taera]

Thanks. That'll be handy if i ever get to doing the scenario.

[Suicide Junkie]

A slight tweak for that research thing;
1) Reduce the max tech levels to what you like.
2) Start a high tech game
3) Restore the techareas.txt file, returning the max techs to normal.

You don't need to keep a mod for each scenario, just a single, temporary "scenario editing mod" that never needs to be distributed to players.

This will not cause any problems, and you get no wierd tech restrictions in your scenario.
If you are making a scenario for a simultaneous turns game, just make sure all turns are submitted, but not processed before you alter the data files.

[ October 07, 2002, 14:09: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

[Taera]

The deal is, not all scenarios should be build-ups, some should be combat only with occassional planet capture. In this case you realy dont want either of the players (you and AI) researching anything new.

But it is a good idea. Thanks.

[Taera]

another question by the subject. Is it possible to edit AI files in that way that the AI wont use certan actions like designing or politics or whatever? perharps emptying the files and/or putting unreachable numbers would help?

[Skulky]

I was wondering what are the explicit steps for doing a scenario for a simultaneous game (akak PBW)?

and taera i have no clue how to do what your asking but then im not an expert either.

[Suicide Junkie]

Blanking out the AI_designcreation.txt should prevent the AI from changing any of your designs...
You will just have to be sure that the AI's build orders are consistent with your designs' names and types.

The politics will be much harder...
Wars are easy to encourage, peace will be problematic.

Clearing the research queue will not help, I believe. Eliminating research centers from the game will.

It depends on the particular area you want to affect. For details, ask an AI guru.

Reccommended steps for creating a scenario:
1) Create a mod that vastly increases research and resource production (100x is good)
2) Start a new game normally, with all players under human control. Add one extra race.
3) Have each race research whatever you want them to start with, while the extra race researches EVERYTHING.
4) Have each race colonize whichever planets you want them to, and have the extra race do all the stellar manip you want done. Have the extra race build and gift any super-advanced tech ships you want the players to start with.
5) Abandon all of the extra race's planets, and scrap all their ships, killing them. Do nothing for a turn or two until the logs empty out.
6) Save the game.
7) Look in SE4\scenario... duplicate the .TXT files in there, and match the new names to your savegame.
8) Edit the duplicate .TXT files, and write up your scenario descriptions, and message windows.
9) Ask forum goers for more details on specific items if required.

PS: Any method of getting to step #6 will work fine.
One of my scenarios was simply based on a singleplayer game that had an interesting turn of events.

[ October 16, 2002, 15:43: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

[geoschmo]

By playing with the politics file you can get the AI to be completely inert, as I did in the No AI Mod on PBW. The AI wont' accpet or offer any treaties or declare war. It might send you general Messages, or it might completely ignore you. You can also make the AI love you and accept all your treaty requests by playing with this file.

Research for the most part can be shut down. There might be some hardcode overrides that will kick in for some techs, mines eg. Not too sure about that. But as SJ says, taking out the research facilities will put a stop to it. Taera's suggestion is a better one though. Instead of taking the facility out, raise the tech level above the max level for that tech area. Stuff being added and removed in the middle of a file can cause problems during a game.

Design and construction are easily shut off. IIRC though the AI wont even attempt to design a ship unless you research some new tech, so that may not even be nessecary if you are taking research out.

Ships are hard to control. The AI is going to move them around some. Not much can help that.

Geoschmo

[Taera]

Geo: About the designs the AI designs new design based on its design file every 10 turns IIRC or when a new tech is researched. You can see this with a full-tech game after it reaches the cap for large ships and continues to redesign the same ships again and again.

As for controlling ships, remember that there are the powerful tools that AI cannot override - sentry and repeat order (same with repeat cinstruction queue i reckon). You put them once, they wont probably stop.

Thanks for the AI files. I might eventually get to creating some scenarios and this would be of a great help to me.

EDIT: I mean the help about AI files

[ October 17, 2002, 00:09: Message edited by: Taera ]