3rd party randomizer

Gandalf Parker · #1 June 19th, 2004, 09:47 PM

Im just beginning to browse the mod capability in SEIV. Im big on more, bigger, and more random. Im looking at the neutral races first, and solo play, an considering that before I get into making lots of changes to images/flags/AI that I would rather write a small executable to randomize those.

Has anyone done something like that already?

Fyron · #2 June 19th, 2004, 10:10 PM

Randomizing what, specifically? Portraits with descriptions?

Gandalf Parker · #3 June 19th, 2004, 10:46 PM

So far Im thinking everything in RaceNeutral\Neutral001 thru Neutral010

Randomly select the portraits to be used, the flags, and rewriting all of the .txt files. Its kindof the way I do things. If Im going to look up what all those settings are and what their range of choices are, I might as well put them into a program to randomize them.

At first I would probably allow the full ranges, then tighten them as errors or illogical combinations drive me to. Eventually I will understand how everything inter-reacts well enough to manually design one but I often come up with some surprises along the way.

Captain Kwok · #4 June 19th, 2004, 11:21 PM

I don't see the purpose of what you are doing unless it is to create additional neutral races from the existing ones. In that case, it might be better to apply your talents to creating random AI files which would be much more useful than new neutral races.

Fyron · #5 June 19th, 2004, 11:24 PM

Ah. SE3 was like that. There was no relation between empire name, priority of weapons research (SE3 had no moddable AI, so you just picked 2 weapons areas for the AI to research and use), and shipset/images. It was annoying.

You could go to a site such as Monolith's and get a bunch of race pictures. Create some flags. Have your program create a bunch of random neutrals using these images.

Captain Kwok · #6 June 19th, 2004, 11:26 PM

...or better yet, make some sort of program to help edit AI files.

Gandalf Parker · #7 June 19th, 2004, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Captain Kwok:
...or better yet, make some sort of program to help edit AI files.

Eventually it could end up here but Im not much for doing GUI's. It would still involve the same learning curve for what all of the things in the .txt files refer to so this is still a step in the path.

I started with the neutrals specifically because there seemed to be less involved with them, and they impacted the game less. AI's could come later. Randomly generated scenarios might be Last. Finally some editor though I doubt it since its just not really my style.

Fyron · #8 June 19th, 2004, 11:43 PM

Unless you can hack the savegame encryption, a random scenario generator is not really possible...

An AI modding program would still be useful if it would automatically generate ship designs based on input from the user, rather than having to type out all of the designs in the Design Creation files. Same with the facility construction file.

Also, you could always enlist someone to work on the GUI, so you don't have to worry about it.

There is already a generic SE4 modding program, the SE4 Modder by DavidG (Gungsten, not Gervais). It does not do AI though.

[ June 19, 2004, 22:46: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Captain Kwok · #9 June 19th, 2004, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:

quote:
Originally posted by Captain Kwok:
...or better yet, make some sort of program to help edit AI files.

Eventually it could end up here but Im not much for doing GUI's. It would still involve the same learning curve for what all of the things in the .txt files refer to so this is still a step in the path.

I started with the neutrals specifically because there seemed to be less involved with them, and they impacted the game less. AI's could come later. Randomly generated scenarios might be Last. Finally some editor though I doubt it since its just not really my style.

Neutral files are in the exact same format as AI files. In fact, the only actual game difference is that Neutrals are hard-coded not to leave their home star system. You might be thinking they are less complex because they seem to have less files associated with them, but that's only because they share more default ones.

It's not possible to generate random scenarios, at least without hacking a saved game file etc.

[ June 19, 2004, 22:47: Message edited by: Captain Kwok ]

Gandalf Parker · #10 June 20th, 2004, 12:21 AM

So I take it that apparently a randomizer/scrambler/shuffler for AI's doesnt exist?

The txt files seem fully commented. I wish they had alittle more info on what the min/max are but most are probably fairly obvious. I guess I will soon end up with something I can click on to get a whole new batch of races to meet.