Some MORE random SE:V questions
 

1) Where are the settings that control how many mines/sats are launched from a planet or kept in reserve?

2) With respect to Migration with another breathing race:
- will migration eventually undome those planets with that kind of atmosphere (i.e. or will the game keep 1M of my race on that planet)?
- if so, is there a log message that will inform me of this so I can build more facilities?

3) Why can't I get my population transports to work with the associated minister? I turned on the global minister for Pop Transports and the individual minister on that ship. The Pop Transport is of the Pop Transport design type with the default strategy of DGH.

4) I think I know there is no way to do this, but is there a way to save treaty configs so as to not have to redo them each time?

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

1. Are you talking about the AI and how many it keeps or are you talking about the rate of launch, or the total allowed in game per player?

2. It should keep the dome. The only way I know of to un-dome the population is to *cough* forcibly *hack-cough* the population which needs the dome. Ya sure there is. The log message telling you, you have just spaced the bas--er--population. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

3. Why do you need a population transport? populations migrate on their own. I know there are still some Minster bugs so maybe you have found one. Or maybe the minister just doesn't want to do what the population will do on its own.

4. Nope...

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

1) I'm investigating the use of ministers. I'm talking about using the planet ministers for launching mines and sats. As an example, in SE:IV, there was a setting that determined the % of mines to keep in planet cargo. In SE:V, I did a quick check of some of the .txt files and didn't find an equivalent. It appears that the mine launching minister will (default) launch 50% of the mines over the planet.

2) How unfun.

3) I dunno. Why is there a Pop Transport design type? I guess to move population faster than migration.

4) This game is still pissing me off over these little things. Again, very unfun.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

1. Ah... well I can't say for certain than. I thought it was in the script for the AI but haven't tackled those files yet. So I may be wrong.

2. I don't know, I always find venting populations to be a very relaxing hobby. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

3. In SE4 it made sense. In SE5 I am finding less use for them. In both I have wondered why have a troop and population transport. In SE3 I can't recall what I did?

4. ya, you should see the problems that are keeping my mod down. You want to talk about getting pissed off!

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

1. For AIs this option is in the Empires Scripts, I think in the %EmpName%_Main_Script.txt file.
set lng_Percent_Of_Satellites_To_Keep_On_Planet := 50
set lng_Percent_Of_Mines_To_Keep_On_Planet := 50

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

*smooch* Thanks. I missed that. Don't take it personally. I wonder if that can be changed mid-game?

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Hmm, pop moves its own. I missed that. maybe that is why I have been unable to load pop as cargo in a MP game? (I tried 3 times and just turned on the Pop minister, which I just learned apparently doesn't work...)

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Even with the migration thing, we should still be able to manually load population. Its automatically loaded when you give a colonize command with a colony ship over a planet...

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

You can move population, its just the load commands are a little bit wonky in simultaneous games.

use Load Cargo Remotely and it'll work fine. You don't get to pick the population you want to load, though.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Has any one made a tool or utility yet that allows you change the game files without having to hunt through them? A tool or utility program that allows you to make changes to important settings in a generally easy to use UI?

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Slick: Yeah, I know. A bit of a pain. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif This was with 1.17, so hopefully MM fixes the Load Cargo method some time.

Once it works it'll be far more flexible than SEIV's system..

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

You mean the data files? If so you can use Devnulls Editor...

http://www.devnullsoftware.com/se5/

Of course you can't mean that...you love to use Notepad....

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

5) Do alliances stack with treaties?

6)Is it possible to have planets & moons in the same sector? If so, do we not see them simply because the way the data files are written?

7) How exactly does ship/fleet experience affect things?

8) Can planets without a spaceyard in the sector repair damage to their facilities?

9) Can someone explain the way "loyalty" works in detail? It seems that there are several similarities to "happiness" but there are far fewer ways that you can improve it. The only ways I've found are a couple of cultural achievements that improve it. Are there any other ways to improve loyalty?

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

5. No. They're intended to replace treaties, and the alliance is suppose to act as a single "empire" for diplomatic purposes as far as I can tell.

6. Yes and yes. See the Balance Mod for an example of how to do this. The display is a bit buggy though (the plants clip in and out of each other)

7. There's a text file that determines it. In stock, pretty much like it did in SEIV.

8. No. Go figure.

9. No idea.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Thanks, PD. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

The default fleet experience effects are much smaller in SE5.
No more +50% legendary.
It maxxes out at +10% in stock SE5

But you can, in theory, throw any ability you like in there, not just to-hit modifiers.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Hmmm. Checked out that text file; experience only improves ability to hit.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

You should take a look at the SFTC (or SFTC-Lite they are the same file) if you are looking for a few ideas.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

10) This is just silly, but how do you get a ship with a Beta Displacement Pulser (storm killer) to move into a sector with a damaging storm? I turned off all the "don't move into xxx" options I could find but it seems my ship won't go into that storm no matter what I do.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

What about attack move?

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Nope, tried that too.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

11) Are there any effects of using a captured ship with respect to the crew being of a different race?

12) Is it possible to change the crew to a different race, assuming I have different races in my empire?

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

#2: retrofit above a planet of that race. That -should- do it..

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

That's not what I meant. Are there in-game effects of having different races crew your ships? And if so, is there a way to change out the crews to the most desireable race, even if it isn't my native population?

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

I believe that once you absorb those species into your empire they lose their native bonuses and take on your empires bonuses. As for their being differences yes. Kwok's Berserker's in the Balance Mod are a prime example. Now we are back to square one. How do you get those populations which are not absorbed and have a bonus to crew your ship so you can gain their benefit? You can't, as long as you control the ship it will have your species bonuses.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

What are the in-game effects, exactly?

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Edited: Original posted deleted by me. I got two separate topics confused.

Now back on topic. I don't understand what you are asking? What are the exact effects of what? The bonuses for the crews depends on what the bonuses for the species are which in turns depends on what mod you are playing. Sorry but you are asking for "exact" and being vague in the process. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/redface.gif

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

In stock, is using colony ships to explore still efficient?

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

I think so.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Do you guys include population on your colony ships? Ive been noticing allot of 0 population colonies if they are not in the primary system.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Be careful when using the Move To order with colony ships as it will not load population automatically as the Colonize order does. In stock there is also a 1M auto-colonization amount, but this is not in the Balance Mod or some other mods.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

That is probably the issue. I tell the colony ship to 'warp ' at the warp point since it exploring too.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

- When an empire surrenders to me, its ships keep their orders; even the silly ones like retrofitting to a design that I don't have. Is there any way to have a surrendered empire clear all its orders automatically?

- Has anyone got the Transport Minister to work yet? Details, please, for getting him to work.

- Is there a formation creator/editor out there? or is there a formation mod that adds lots of them?

- Is there another beta history.txt file around for anything beyond 1.45?

- Is the 1.45 fleet transfer screen any better? I understand that you are now supposed to be able to see/select TF leaders, but what about the other clunkiness?

- (edit) oh yeah, one more: does anyone know how to get the "Join Fleet" order to work? It seems to work for the AI. Stock hotkey is CTRL-V.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

1.46 has some good fixes on ringed planets combat, experience and retreat.
1.47 fixes 1.46.
I think Kwok will post the full list as soon as SEV.com is working again.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Version 1.45:
1. Fixed - Having more than 20 fleets would sometimes cause an access violation.
2. Fixed - An Access violation would occur occassionally after combat with a fleet.
3. Fixed - The game would report that "data files had been modified" when starting a
Simultaneous Turn game.
4. Fixed - The Space Combat Simulator would crash if a design from an Alliance was present.
5. Fixed - The log event for "facility not upgraded" had no picture.
6. Fixed - You can no longer login with a password if your empire's password is blank.
7. Fixed - Ground combat was always getting the maximum number of militia.
8. Fixed - Mines were not cloaked.
9. Added - Task Force Leader is now displayed on the Fleet Report.
10. Added - "Set TF Leader" button to the Fleet Transfer window.
11. Changed - On the Set Construction Queue window, the Available Items list will now show "Sys/Exist" and "Sys/Queue"
for Facilities, Ships, and Units. "Sys/Exist" displays the number of items of this type in existence in
this solar system out of the total in your empire. "Sys/Queue" displays the number of items of this type
queued up in this solar system out of the total queued in your entire empire.

Version 1.46:
1. Fixed - Bolt weapons were sometimes not firing on ringed planets.
2. Fixed - Ships were not auto-moving to the correct position for firing on ringed planets.
3. Fixed - Ship Experience was not always being applied.
4. Fixed - Fleet Experience was not always being applied.
5. Fixed - Experience effects were not showing in the abilities list.
6. Fixed - For Ship and Fleet Experience abilities such as "Combat To Hit Offense" and "Combat Morale",
your vehicle gets the higher value of the ship or the fleet experience.
7. Fixed - You can now Fire On And Destroy unit groups.
8. Fixed - Some cheat codes could still be used when the "Cheat Codes Allowed" was off.
9. Fixed - Filling a construction queue from a saved queue could clear emergency settings.
10. Added - When order files are loaded by the game, if there are any errors they will be displayed in a list to the host.
11. Fixed - Ships with a strategy of Never Retreat would not move away from danger in combat.
12. Fixed - Carriers that have launched units in combat should not retreat unless compelled to.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

I take it the other questions don't have a player-friendly answer.

- Is having a spaceyard the only way to repair facility damage? If so, this is just silly.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

No, check the repair bays description, I think they can repair facilities too...

For now you have to edit formations manually.

I'd like to know too about Join Fleet.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Lovely. So planets can construct facilities from scratch, many of them in one turn, with no special abilities. But planets can't repair facilites at all without something in the sector with the "repair facilities" ability. I bet it takes longer than 1 turn to repair too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

So mod it in. SE4 stock was filled with just as many stupid things as SE5.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

You are missing the whole point. It shouldn't have to be modded in.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

I've requested several times that fields for default repair rates for planets be added into settings.txt... but a few more e-mails from other players might help get it added faster.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Thanks, and you're right. It is just so frustrating because I have sent numerous emails about fundamental things and there is no evidence that the emails are even read, much less considered.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Slick said:
"You are missing the whole point. It shouldn't have to be modded in."

See, the problem is that one will never be satisfied with the stock data set, because there are always more stupidities to uncover.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Yes. So, SEV was released 10 months ago; where are all the mods? SEV is the most moddable game I have ever seen and there were numerous people, myself not included, that screamed to have MM make every aspect of the game moddable. So where are the AI mods? Where is TDM? Where is Devnull? Where is Pirates & Nomads? The MM SEV mod website is empty, but promises "Coming Soon". 10 months go by and the most significant mod, Balance Mod, exists mostly to balance the game the way it should have been in the first place. I'm deeply sorry if this offends anyone and I'm not trying to hurt anyone's feelings, but it appears to me that making the game so moddable, at the expense of making the game better has yielded only a handful of mods, most of which only change a handful of moddable things. I'm not slamming mods or modders, but it seems to be a waste of effort to me. For each moddable parameter, the game engine has to be able to handle a wide range of different things, there has to be error checking, etc. It seems that this effort would have been better spent on MM just deciding how the game should be and tweaking it to make it work well. After 4 previous versions of SE, MM is surely able to choose wisely.

Yes, since nobody is satisfied with the stock set because of stupidities, where are all the mods to address these? Are we to suddenly expect a mod explosion in the next 10 months? I hopefully await.

For the record, I was happy with the SEIV stock data set with the exception of the crappy AI, which TDM solved.

p.s. Thanks, Kwok for making BM. It sure makes SEV better.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Stock SE4 is pretty terrible in terms of balance, creativity and general sense-making (balance naturally being the greatest concern). It was pretty much a bad conversion of SE3's data, with some new items added here and there.

The MM mod site will probably always be empty. I'd rather keep the Wiki up to date, personally.

For the most part, the mods are posted and discussed on the se5.com site, rather than here. A few of the old guard try to keep Shrapnel in the loop, but all of the new people are over there. There is a stock game AI mod. There are a few mods of the "Devnull" tweak stock and add a few things variety, etc. There is a BSG mod in development, and some talk of a SW mod (though I don't think any real progress has been made on that front). P&N would be pretty boring to reimplement, which is why I suspect noone has really done it yet for SE5. The amount of mods available seems to dwarf what was around 10 months after the release of SE4 (largely due to a much larger initial install base, but still).

Honestly, I doubt Aaron would have given more care to the stock data set if the game wasn't made so moddable. Its not like it takes any extra effort to mathematically balance weapons et all from the get-go. I think he would have just spent more time on the graphics engine.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Slick, you very much have a point. SE4 was an enjoyable game for me right from the start but with an AI that needed some work. So I set down and worked on the AI.
I don't enjoy SE5 however and therefore I don't invest my rare spare time to improve the AI which is now possible on a deeper level. If I would enjoy SE5 as a game you would have seen TDM for SE5 month ago. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

Maybe you're too accustomed with SE4?
SE4 had several features I couldn't stand right from the start, like watching 50 ships fire and move one after another, or no construction spillover to the next turn (while in the early game, the most critical part, you're limited by construction rate, not ressources!). I didn't try any mods, but it's not like they could have solved those problems...

On the other hand, I didn't have any of those show-stopping problems with SEV. It might not be enjoyable right from the start (in singleplayer) now (due to the brain-dead AI) , but I wouldn't bet on that it still won't be by version 1.95!

I also find there's plenty of mods for SEV (more than I have the time to try anyway), even if it's a shame that the progress has slowed down in the past few months for some of them.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

I really don't need to make my point any clearer, but I will. See the "wish list" thread for all the modding requests:

Tell Aaron what's on your wish list

Then show us all where these are all being used in mods.

Re: Some random SE:V questions
 

The features that were actually implemented from that thread are in use. I'm not going to waste my time trying to point out exactly where; the mods speak for themselves.

The stock data set should have been better, yes. But we could only prod Aaron to do it so much during the development of the game...