Ambitious Star Trek Mod Idea

[Captain Kwok]

There a number of good Mods out there and even a few based on Sci-Fi TV like Babylon 5 (which is shaping up to be a fantastic Mod). However, there is no real Mod for Star Trek, a favourite of many Space Empires fans. What I am considering is to put together a team to do just
that - build an extensive Trek Mod.

Here is a possible outline:

It would be based on Star Trek in the TNG-DS9-VOY era (minus the silliness of VOY "Endgame").

It would include the Federation, Klingons, Romulans, Cardassians, Dominion, Ferengi, and the Borg as major races and a few of the minor ones like the Bajorans, etc, as Neutrals.

Instead of having unique techs such as crystalline etc, each race would have their own unique tech to allow for race specific components and facilities - like the Dominion's phased-polaron beams or the Federation's phasers.

Other components or facilities that are common to multiple races like disruptors or shields would be accessible for any race to research.

Most of the original SEIV components would be replaced by their Trek equivalents when necessary like anti-matter torpedoes becoming photon torpedoes or ion engines to impulse engines - things like that.

I don't think a FTL system is needed, so it would just use the normal warp point system of SEIV - but ships would probably use QN propulsion.

I would also like to add some more planets and things along that line just to add some more depth to the galaxy.

AI's wouldn't be so hard to make. Already there exists a number of Trek AI's whose owners would just have to modify them to use the specific components of the Mod.

Ok...so far not so hard right?

Well, here is the ambitious part:

For the major races I would like to see each have a ship set of custom made images and race portraits along the lines of the existing SEIV races. They do not have to be exact perfect replicas of Trek ships - but something fun and original. It might be a little time consuming but there are a number of creative SEIV community artists who are more than capable of putting a single ship set together.

I would also like to see a few new planet, component, facility pics made to represent the new techs. This wouldn't be very difficult and I have a few planet pics already.

So what is needed?

Well, people are needed.

For those who are not graphically inclined - you can easily contribute by doing some of the ground work in the data files. It's easy enough to add components and facilities and a few people could have it wrapped up in no time.

For those who are graphic compatible, it would great if a few of you would donate your time to building one of the ship sets needed. For those of you who don't have the time to build a ship set maybe a couple of planet pics or buildings would just as great.

If you are interested in any way, shape, or form - I would like to hear from you!

[email protected]

So what do you think? Post your ideas or comments that you may have.

[ May 28, 2002, 18:52: Message edited by: Captain Kwok ]

[Baron Munchausen]

The shipsets already exist. Atrocities has a more-or-less complete collection. Modding the game and then altering the AIs to suit the mod is all you would have to do.

[Andr�s]

It would be nice, even if you want to make it a separate mod, if you can consider the basic structure of the sci-fi crossover mod (like the guy's working on the B5 mod) to make it easier to eventually merge it.

[geoschmo]

You should also probably call it something other than "Trek Mod", to avoid confusion with the previous Star Trek themed mod by that name.

Geoschmo

[Captain Kwok]

I am aware that Atrocities has compiled some find ship sets - I just thought would be more fun to make some of our own that fit in with the SE:IV style. I know it's kind of an unnessecary detail and to some it might be a waste of time or effort - but I am still hoping a few Trek fans would be interested in doing it anyways. If not, then oh well, we can always work on the data files otherwise.

[oleg]

Consider to import colony development from Proportions. Babylon5 and Derek' mod using it.

[Captain Kwok]

Oleg - I was thinking of including something like the cultural facility or cities from proportions but maybe even something like giving reduced construction abilities to planets with low populations. For example a colony of 20 million would only build at 20% instead - combine this with increased population weight and it simulates the proportion mod feeling without the extra work.

Here is a image I just threw together in ten minutes of a galaxy class ship to give an idea of what I meant by original images...keep in mind it has no textures, so it will look much better when it does...

Galaxy Class

[Atrocities]

I messed with the idea of making a trek mod earilier this year, but the task of editing all the AI to use the modified RACE ABILITIES, was far too much for me to fathom. Hense, I stopped work on it.

I had set up files for each race so that each race had its own Racial Trait and race specific technology. Something along the ideas of what the Crossover Mod people have been working on.

[Captain Kwok]

Atrocities: There would only be 7 AI's to consider and it would be more of a change the numbers kind of thing...

This is how I would hope to distribute the work:

First there would be some sort of brainstorming session that would establish the common techs and custom techs for each of the 7 major races. Once those were decided, then we could make or modify the components and facilities. Each person of the team could pick one or two Groups and edit the data before it was compiled into the mod.

At the same time, our ship volunteers could work on designing the ships and other graphics.

Once the data files were done, the AI files could be edited and testing started. When the graphics were done then the whole mod could be put together and play tested.

Hopefully, if four or five people could work on the data files and a similiar amount on the graphics, it wouldn't be so much work for any one individual.

If you want to work on this Mod please let me know and what you would like to work on

[email protected]

Once a few people have signed up then we can hold a brainstorming session where ideas for techs can be submitted and work can begin!

[Captain Kwok]

In Addition...

I think I might call it the "TNG-Mod" since it takes place during that timeline of the Star Trek universe.

Also, please be aware I do not intend to create whole new tech trees for each race, just a few custom techs and facilities to give the race the flavour of the Trek universe.

Here is a rough Romulan Warbird that I just put together as another graphic example - of course it doesn't have any real textures but I thought is shaping up okay.

Romulan Warbird