New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

Well, the Pyrochette Empire is not exactly a new race... in fact they were my enemies during a looong time! http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

Anyway, with the authorization of their owner and creator of the shipset, Joel Hoines, I have resurrected the Pyrochette Empire with a group of AI scripts.

I would like to receive input, of course. Because as Alpha said in one of their Posts: is not possible to one person, check all the aspects and possible situations.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

From a first impression at full tech I like the race and I congratulate you for your work. The graphics are very nice and the ship designs seem efficient.
I don't know if it is reasonable to create special empire files for full technology games. May be the problems that you got when the computer tried to use the Pyrochette as random empire were caused by this.

[This message has been edited by Q (edited 31 March 2001).]

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

Q: thanks for your comments.
About the problem with the random generator, look this from the next patch:

"19. Fixed - Characteristics in the AI_General.txt file would not be correctly
interpreted if they were less than 100."

I think that this was the problem, because the *.emp that I did for games with full tech, were added at the end.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

A short follow-up report about your race:
They colonize like mad and expand very rapidly. In my game they have inflicted severe losses to the Borg and are at the moment number 1 of 10 empires. I see however a problem arising for them: Their attack fleet is too small. Problably you should let them build more attack ships. But I'll see how it continues.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

K. But I wanted that the AI does not become lack of resources.
Currently I'm changing a bit, the numbers into the Fleets.txt.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

The planetary defence seems really to be a weakness of the Pyrochette. In my game they didn't build until now weapon platforms, mines or defence satellites even on their homeworlds. Therefore they lost several colonies to the counter attack of the Borg. You may consider to move the building instruction for the defence units more to the top of the list.
But otherwise they do well.
They increased now the number of attack ships to a reasonable amount and grouped them to a efficient fleet.
I enjoy this race an thank you for your work.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

"In my game they didn't build until now weapon platforms, mines or defence satellites even on their homeworlds. "

Looks weird to me. The Pyrochette never will build lots of weapon platforms and satellites, but yes mines and fighters.
But, in the early game, the Pyrochette always build some weapon platforms and satellites (some in the homeworld and some in their first colonies).
Are you playing a game with full tech, right? Maybe they wanted to build those defenses, but they were without resources.
How many staring planets have your game?

Thank you again for your comments Q!!!!

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Master Belisarius:
"In my game they didn't build until now weapon platforms, mines or defence satellites even on their homeworlds. "

Looks weird to me. The Pyrochette never will build lots of weapon platforms and satellites, but yes mines and fighters.
But, in the early game, the Pyrochette always build some weapon platforms and satellites (some in the homeworld and some in their first colonies).
Are you playing a game with full tech, right? Maybe they wanted to build those defenses, but they were without resources.
How many staring planets have your game?

Thank you again for your comments Q!!!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I started with 10 planets per player and full technologies and they had really plenty of resources.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

And some more feedback on the game with your race (star date 2407.1): They are second of nine remaining empires and do really good! You can be proud of them.
They build now mines and fighters but still no weapon platforms or lager numbers of satellites. The reason may be that the Pyrochette made very soon contact with other races (and got in conflict with them) so the AI state may have switched early to "attack" or "defend" mode (I really wished you could see the state the AI has!). In both states the weapon platforms are rather low on the construct list.
The other problem the Pyrochette have at the moment are mines. As almost all AI they lose lot of ships in minefields. You may consider what I proposed for the Rage: inclusion of a mine sweeping component in attack ships (see corresponding topic). The Rage are the only race until now that have this and they manage the minefields now very well.
But as I said the Pyrochette is a great race and it's fun to play with them. Thank again for your work.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

Now I can see the problem: all the test games that I have played, were only with 1 or 3 starting planets.
Is pretty easy to include more defensive stuff, but in games with less resources, they go lack of resources very fast, because the Weapon Platforms are expensives. I'll increase a bit the Weapon Platforms production, but not many.

About to include minesweepers in attack ships... I have mixed feelings.
I would have not problems to include them in big ships, like Dreadnought, Battle Ships and Battle Cruisers.
But in more small ships (like Destroyers and Light Cruisers), in my opinion, it would make the ships weak.
The problem is that do not exist good options to indicate the AI, that need to use a component, in ships with a determined size.

I forgot something: about the satellites, I think that they're not very usefull, including the large satellites.

[This message has been edited by Master Belisarius (edited 01 April 2001).]

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Master Belisarius:
About to include minesweepers in attack ships... I have mixed feelings.
I would have not problems to include them in big ships, like Dreadnought, Battle Ships and Battle Cruisers.
But in more small ships (like Destroyers and Light Cruisers), in my opinion, it would make the ships weak.
The problem is that do not exist good options to indicate the AI, that need to use a component, in ships with a determined size.
[This message has been edited by Master Belisarius (edited 01 April 2001).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If you put a component at the end of your design list and increase the major component numbers per space to a certain limit you can be rather sure that this component will only be used in larger ships. You will have to do try and error method but it's possible.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Q:
If you put a component at the end of your design list and increase the major component numbers per space to a certain limit you can be rather sure that this component will only be used in larger ships. You will have to do try and error method but it's possible.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yea... I'm doing it! http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif
BTW, can you send me a *.gam file of the game that you're playing? My e-mail is: jlperyr@adinet.com.uy

Thanks!

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

OW!!! I opened the image of the race and fell out of my chair, waaaaaaa! http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif Sweet race set, verry nice

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

I added the race to my quick start menu and tried to play as them but an error kept coming up in the AI generel. then I tried to play against them in a normal game but i had the same problem every time it was there turn it said there was a missing field in the AI general. all the fields from demeanor on down were said to be missing. What is wrong?

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

I've also had a problem with thier AI files.

If manually load them in a normal game using one of the empire files they are fine, but if they are selected randomly it goes nuts.

The errors mad it look as if something is off from "Herold" on down.

Otherwise theyt have been doing great, pretty much holding 2nd place in every game I've played recently.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

Hey guys, but with the current SE4 Version, the Pyrochette only can be used ok with the *.emp files... Sorrrrrrrrrry.
The problem is that exist a bug in the random generator, when into the general.txt file, exist values lesser than 100.

Also, the Pyrochette spend a lot of points in the Intelligence racial trait. Then, if you're playing a game with all the tech from the start, the Pyrochette will be in disadvantage... for this I did the *.emp files to play games with all the tech.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

I liked the original race portrait, myself. This one look a bit bizarre with the 'double' face. The squid-faced one for the original was quite good and the only one of it's 'type' that I've seen so far. Where can I get that original portrait? http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

I can include it in the Version 1.1 (coming soon).
But if you want it fast, send me an e-mail and I'll send you the old picture.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

I just love this race. Try playing them with conquerors as culture. It fits their RP attributes and makes them more deadly then anything existing in universe right now. If you do that and start the game away from them, they will mop up the galaxy and then you. But if you start right next to them, they will mop up you and then galaxy. Neat choices eh. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

I really like their new race picture, as it makes the look really alien and not like 3D model. You could put both pictures in next Version so that we all get satisfied.

Nice work http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

First all Dynarr, thanks for your kind words... Believe me, really it's an honor to me your comments, because you (with Tampa and Mephisto) have inspired my work!

About your suggestion to use the "Conqueror" culture, I agree with you that fit much better with the race RP than the "Artisans" culture (btw thanks for the new cultures, and you can be sure that I'll play with it in my computer), but I'll keep the "official" Pyrochette race with the " Artisan" culture. Why? Because I want to keep all the original SE4 settings.

One more thing: the Conqueror Culture is a great idea to give bonus to the AI, then honestly, I believe that any race included into the Modpack, will be deadly with this Culture.

Again, thanks.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

Sorry about that.
I didn't want to suggest to you to change their default culture in files but was nearly suggesting to all the people that use my cultures mod (not everyone has to or will, of course) to make them conquerors.

Of course, if you change their default culture to conquerors all people would HAVE to use my mod when playing with this race, and that wouldn't be right.

When I was making conquerors culture I was aiming it to be used by races that would be a huge threat the entire galaxy (something like default MEE, only this time literally Mega Evil). So far I haven't found any race competent enough and with right RP model to use this culture. This is where Pyrochette kick in. They have all the stuff needed for it. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

All I know I will use them in every game I play. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

You can use this empire in random games. The problem is in AI_General.txt with the race description. Remove the new lines and it works fine.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

Dynarr: Ok, I can see your view. And as I said, I'll use your MOD in my computer.

Procyon: I found a mistake in the General.txt, that explain the error Messages when you use the Pyrochette as random.

Exist a line that say:
Name := Herald

And must be

Name := Pyrochette

When I have started to do the AI, I had not the authorization to use the Pyrochette name... then I used the Herald name, and I forgot to rename this line.

But, although you could use the Pyrochette as random, STILL you will have the problem, that the empire generated will be much more weak than the *.emp file.

You can test it, if you want: after start a game with a random Pyrochette, change the Pyrochette to human control, and then, save the empire (using a different name than the original!).
Finally, start a new game, and into the game settings, compare the random empire that you saved, with an original *.emp file.

Re: New SE4 Race: the Pyrochette Empire
 

Great Race!
Yes, Herald was a problem http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon9.gif but he has gone on to a better place http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif