Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

I've never downloaded anything from USYs site even though I've looked some. I've just looked again (been awhile) and noticed this moniker under their Gold Shipset: "These shipsets are completely complete with AI scripts, and other extras. Well worth Downloading."

There are 5 Races/Shipsets listed in the gold section. My questions to those of you in the know around here are:

Has anyone downloaded any of these 5 races and played w/em? Are they up to the standards set down by Mephisto, Tampa & Daynars Mods found here (appologies to all other race modders out there, but so far these are the only 3 I have downloaded and played a game with)?
Are they even the same thing - that is complete races like our beloved 3?

Before I go thru the trouble of downloading and messing w/those at USY I hope to get some feedback.

And as always, any help would be appreciated.

------------------
Character is best defined as that which you do when you believe nobody is watching.

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

I just recently downloaded the Gold races plus some of the Silver races and started a game with them. I have not really seen enough of them yet to tell much about them, though I can say that at least everything seems to be there and working. I'm afraid that's about all I can tell you at this point.

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

Now that their website seems more stable, I have been able to get on and download a few races. In a quick review of the files contained in the ones I downloaded I saw that the gold ones contained the "basic 7" files that all races have (e.g. Anger, Design, Fleets, General, Politics, Research and Settings). Our Mod Pack 1.01 contain an additional 4 files for each of the races (e.g. Constr_Facilities, Constr_Vehicles, Planet_Types and Speech). These extra files contain a great deal of specialization for each particular race (and take a lot of time to get even half-way decent). Having said that, however, it is great that the artists have taken the time to include the "basic 7" because that means you download them and play with them immediately. Some of them even have the .emp files already set-up.

[This message has been edited by Tampa_Gamer (edited 31 January 2001).]

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

I can answer some questions about my own race, the united flora, but I don't know about the other shipsets.

I haven't rewritten the AI for this race, it uses the Ukra-Tal files, because these are closest to the characteristics of my race. I have however made a completely new speech file for my race, and made a original designnames file (plant names theme)I'm not sure if John already put those files Online, if not I can post them in the mods forum.

I'm not planning on writing an AI, I'm better at making shipsets, and I think a lot of shipset designers do the same. If anyone ever makes ai-files for a biological race, and needs a shipset then you can use mine.

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

This is a good chance to ask some questions on this topic that have been bugging me.

I'm a programmer so the very first thing I wanted to mess with when I started to create my own race was the data files and the race AI. I was hoping that there would be some generic shipsets available out there for download that I could use for my new race. To my dismay I discovered that no one was making any shipsets for that purpose. They all come with some race AI files and a big disclaimer saying no one can use the shipsets without the specific permission of the author. So, not having much recourse, I've learned how to use Moray and am busy now building my own shipset, which is a heckova lot of work, by the way.

So, one question is why isn't anyone building any generic shipsets without the race AI for those in the community who can't build their own shipsets but can modify data files like a pro?

Also, why isn't it enough to give credit to the author of a shipset in a text file that you package with your mod rather than seeking out specific permission. I tried that and I never even got a response back. In every other gaming community that I've ever been a part of this has been the accepted practice. Why is SE4 different?

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

What strikes me is, that the Earth Alliance is only silver as it only has "some basic AI files".
Mmm, ok, could be my hurt ego, but then again, maybe not. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ColdSteel:
This is a good chance to ask some questions on this topic that have been bugging me.

I'm a programmer so the very first thing I wanted to mess with when I started to create my own race was the data files and the race AI. I was hoping that there would be some generic shipsets available out there for download that I could use for my new race. To my dismay I discovered that no one was making any shipsets for that purpose. They all come with some race AI files and a big disclaimer saying no one can use the shipsets without the specific permission of the author. So, not having much recourse, I've learned how to use Moray and am busy now building my own shipset, which is a heckova lot of work, by the way.

So, one question is why isn't anyone building any generic shipsets without the race AI for those in the community who can't build their own shipsets but can modify data files like a pro?

Also, why isn't it enough to give credit to the author of a shipset in a text file that you package with your mod rather than seeking out specific permission. I tried that and I never even got a response back. In every other gaming community that I've ever been a part of this has been the accepted practice. Why is SE4 different?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think you're reading too much into the copyright notices. Would you seriously expect some graphics designer to sue you because he found out you were using his shipset in a multi-player game (i.e. you sent copies of HIS files to other people so they could see your ships!? Horrors!! http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif ) This notice is to keep some profiteering &^#$*^$ from slapping all these ship sets on a CD and charging $19.95 for it. I would be really surprised if anyone would care that you wrote custom AI files for their ship set. Just distribute the files seperately and include a notice "I use these AI files with the XXX shiptset created by Joe Schmoe" and you'll be fine.

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
"XXX shipset"<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

What kind of Ships are you designing Baron????



------------------
Character is best defined as that which you do when you believe nobody is watching.

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

I think the Baron said those XXX ships were designed by "Joe Schmoe". Can't pin nothin' on him. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Anyway, the Baron's point is well taken. Universal Shipyards *could* be a bit clearer on the issue, though. I think it might discourage some people from using the shipsets, which may not be exactly what was intended. It sure discouraged me.

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

Mephisto, you was robbed.

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

Cold Steel: there some sets (bronze?) that are simply shipsets.

also the Kuat shipyards and Atrocitie's site has some Sw and ST sets...

also I too am designing a new race but have borrowed heavily in the AI from the EA, then modified the research, designname, anger & I think the politics files. *shrug* all I wanted to do was see if I could do it. hehe, I may over done things it by what I have seen in testing.

and I too have gotten Moray but so far it has proven beyond my abilities to figure it out http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon9.gif So the shipset is the XiChung's with a minor change.

*grumble, wish I could type/spell*

[This message has been edited by pathfinder (edited 01 February 2001).]

[This message has been edited by pathfinder (edited 01 February 2001).]

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

Mephisto:

I *think* that the EA set on UnivShipyards comes with an AI written by someone else (Philip somebody-or-other). I havent checked it but that was the way it was originally released.

Hope it helps the 'ole bruised ego there! http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Talenn

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

I too am working on a new ship and race set. No detials as of yet, just in the planning stages. (Will be non star trek race)

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

Thanks Talenn for the try but it only helped marginally. Said Philipp is just me. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Talenn:
Mephisto:

I *think* that the EA set on UnivShipyards comes with an AI written by someone else (Philip somebody-or-other). I havent checked it but that was the way it was originally released.

Hope it helps the 'ole bruised ego there! http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Talenn<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

Pathfinder,

*grumble, wish I could type/spell*

I don't do too well either so ...

Do a web-search for "Quickspell" (shareware) and try it. It will spellcheck ANYWHERE as you type and/or spellcheck the document. Works wonders for me in forum Messages. One hint, change the Ctrl-S hotkey to Ctrl-W.

Try it, bet you'll love it. I am not in anyway connected with the publisher!

Old Man

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

Hey Mephisto (at least you have a unique ship set for Earth Alliance) the poor Darlok are still using a modified form of their cousins' (Xiati) ships http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif I did not understand why the EA were down in silver either - I had assumed they hadn't added your AI files yet. Of the "gold" races I have added thus far to my playtesting games, none have come even close in score to the augmented Sergetti, EA or Darlok because those races still use a number of the "default" AI files. As Henk Bruower (sp?) said below, they emphasize the artist side, while we concentrate on the AI files (not necessarily a bad thing since I can barely draw a stick figure). B/T/W Henk, United Flora is still one of my favorite races that I added way back in Nov/Dec - great job! Too bad they wouldn't work with the Darlok.

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

Please whoever made the Darlok Shipset do not get offended at this. But I was very angry when I downloaded the mod pack to find a shipset that I had been hearing about forever was so great didn't actually contain any ships. To me the artwork is very important. I'm glad that US focuses on artwork more than hard AI files. I can't beat the ones made by MM why do I need harder ones. But I do need interesting races with good pictures. So to be as long as the AI is there and it works. (no errors) and it has a detailed and interesting (orginal) Desription, culture and history. Then it is gold in the AI. But to be gold it also requires good Pictures.
Earth Aliance is to me a shipset with decent pictures and an unoriganal idea F- But A+ on ai becuase no error and Mephisto fixed some of MM's errors. But overal that makes a bad Shipset. (one I don't even keep in the directory becuase I don't want it randomly picked)

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

Darwin

I hate to tell you this, but right now the big demand I see from people is for more difficult AI's. This is why people are modding the AI files, and not really worrying about pretty shipsets.

Besides, if you wanted cutting edge graphics, SE4 is not the way to go.... http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Derek

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

what Mephisto and Derek said...matter of choice. not everybody has 3D modeling software (or like me just learning it), soooooooooooo, my suggestion is if you're into pretty graphics, don't d/l any race style I make. but they will be, uhm, different to play.

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

Darwin - As the author of the Darlok AI files (except for the speech file created by John Zamarra), I am not offended at all. Everyone plays these games for their own reasons and has their own personal prefs.

Everyone else - My own opinion and preference is to "immerse" myself as much as possible. Because I have been playing these games for 20+ years there are a great number of races out there in my failing memory http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif. Already, by my own count, there are 48 custom race/shipsets (not including MM's 20). To me, some of the greatest moments in the past years/games was exploring along and suddenly finding myself bumping up against a really memorable race which I knew was going to cause problems (i.e. Bulrathi or Darlok in MOO, Klingon or Romulan in BOTF, etc.) Then it is the interaction/diplomacy and speech between our races that assist in that immersion as well as sound, characteristic building and facilities (i.e. Darlok with massive intel or EA/Star Wars-Empire with tons of fighters). I applaud others that have time to create totally new races, but (a) I am not that creative and (b) I have a hard enough time as it is preventing the 60+ races from melding together. So my goal is to take those races in my memory from past games or movies and make them as memorable and as "real" as possible. I want the Cylons and the Galactica to form a temporary alliance against the Empire and I want the Darlok and the Romulans to launch intel against each other. Since I am no artist, I am limited to analyzing the AI and data files to make as memorable opponent as I can.

Sorry for the long post, I guess I sort of just drafted my "mission statement" ackkk darn consultants are rubbing off on me. . .

[This message has been edited by Tampa_Gamer (edited 02 February 2001).]

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

"Des Menschen Wille ist sein Himmelreich"
roughly translates to "the human will is his heaven empire"

Hey Darwin, where is your personal shipset, you can't complain if you just sit on your behind and don't contribute. Just Because you might have shelled out some money for a game doesn't entitle you to free tech support and game remakes for life. If you don't like the shipsets, i suggest you make some for the gentlemen kind enough to give us AI's that give you a run for your money.


[This message has been edited by Triumvir Emphy (edited 02 February 2001).]

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

IMO sites like US and HB that try and subjectively categorize shipsets based on their opinions is doing a huge diservice to the SEIV community in general. It tends to turn people off from playing sets that may turn out better to play than some of the pretty ones. Placing sets in categories based on enhanced AI scripts versus standard or no scripts is fine, this way gamers can select shipsets based on their own gaming desires, but to place opinions on the actual picture designs is pretty ridiculous. Some players want B5 shipsets, or to create a Star wars or Star Trek universe...others want orignial ideas...more power to them. Besides. I havent been able to download anything successfully from US anyways (something to do with that Tripod server). I end up having to go to the author or another site to get it. I find the UFA/TCO site to be one of the few un-biased sites out there..besides..I like his joke section http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

To Henk Brouwer: Just found your post on the US board. Thanks for the effort, henk. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

To Darwin: Well, I too love good artwork but that is not why I buy or play a game. AI is much more important for me. Then again you cannot argue about personal taste. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

"Des Menschen Wille ist sein Himmelreich"

[This message has been edited by [K126]Mephisto (edited 02 February 2001).]

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

Ok, I'm back again. (and its always a pain thats why I don't post unless its important. Anyone know why this place won't save my password or let me change it to something I can remember?)

I wasn't trying to anger anyone in my post. Mearly saying to me that Harder AI isn't important to me as the standard ones can beat me on medium and up. For all of you who want hard I really hope you get it.
Now yes I want AI scripts in there. A good Speech file is important. And a decription of the race are too.
I just feel that any race without custom pictures should have the same kind of warning as you would put if it didn't have AI files.

I don't play SE as a desktop General. I play as a Desktop leader. I like to stay in character. Forget it's a game and really believe that the colony ship I just lost, 20 million people, real people died becuase I made a mistake. I try to imagine the little stories in there.
As for the person who said I bought the wrong game looking for good grapix. I bought se4 because I've been playing se for 6 years I fell in love with se2 shareware Version that looked up when I entered combat. So I played by myself without AI. And loved it. Esentually I had won before I started but it was still enjoyable to be. Everyone gets something different out of this. Me I get a great story, all in my head, Its just that seeing the Xiati twice or some ship from a TV show runs it.

You questioned what about my shipset. A sample is included (I hope) In the end we simply disagree about importance. But I really feel that in a shipset the Ships should be the most important thing

------------------
Lord Darwin,
Space Empires Fan since
Space Empires 2 in 1995

Re: Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....
 

Darwin: Nice looking shipset there!

Great that we can disagree on detail but come to the same conclusion...a great game!

Cheers and have fun!

Tampa: Talk about shock when meeting a new shipset just installed--first time I ran into the Borg in-game and they came across with that in-character "prepare to be assimilated" or something like that my jaw hit the floor. Man, do I love some of these MODs! Unfortunately, I haven't actually run into the the Darloks ...yet http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

[This message has been edited by pathfinder (edited 03 February 2001).]

[This message has been edited by pathfinder (edited 03 February 2001).]