Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 are now available for download from the Proportions web page.

(Note than games in progress with many remote mining bases may want to upgrade to 2.5.2 rather than 2.5.3, if avoidance of disruption and balance issues is desired.)

Changes Log:
============

Version 2.5.3:

--------------------------
Remote Mining Adjustments:
--------------------------
* This Version is designed for newly started games, or for games where it
is accepted by players that large bases filled with remote miner
components will no longer be allowed. It is suggested that any pre-
existing bases with more than two remote miner components, should be
retrofitted to designs obeying the new limits. For players who want
to continue games without this disruption to remote mining production,
use of Proportions Version 2.5.2 is suggested.
* Added restriction on remote miner components per unit to two, halved
structure, and doubled size of ship/base Versions (compared to 2.5.1).
This prevents massively productive mining bases, which were possible
before but were unintentionally overproductive. It also presents
interesting choices between ship, base and satellite miner designs.
Pre-existing bases in upgraded games will retain their former abilities
(except structure, and bases upgraded from 2.5.2, which would be half
as productive).
* Remote mining now does not reduce value in unlimited resources games.

Version 2.5.2:

--------------------------
Remote Mining Adjustments:
--------------------------
* This Version is designed to upgrade with minimal disturbance to existing
games which may already include signifigant numbers of remote mining
battlestations. It doesn't fully correct the problem with the extreme
production from remote mining bases. It does prohibit filling starbases
with remote miner components, but pre-existing miner-filled starbases
will still operate. It is suggested that such starbases be retrofitted
with the new components, which will limit their production to about that
of a battle station filled with miner components.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Changes for smoother upgrades for existing games using 2.4.2:
-------------------------------------------------------------
* The Fighter Carriers tech added in 2.5 now costs more, is expanded in
both directions to five levels (using the Tiny and Massive carrier images
from the SE4 Image Neo-Standard) and provides improved classes compared
to the standard carriers. Existing carriers have their costs and to-hit
penalties somewhat increased. The five new carrier classes are Escort
Carrier, Advanced Light Carrier, Advanced Carrier, Advanced Heavy Carrier,
and Super-Heavy Carrier.
* Pre-existing special armors downgraded to compensate for their
ability compared to the new armors that require specialized research, and
to compensate for changes to Emissive Armor from Gold patch Version 1.78.
Unlike 2.5 & 2.5.1, they can now continue to be deployed, and may be good
choices for large ships (since they don't use Scale mounts and so will be
smaller on large ships).
---------
Gameplay:
---------
* Added six levels to the new Stealth Armor tech area, allowing eventual
(expensive) blocking of all Active and Passive EM scans.
* Added a new "Fast Colony Ships" tech area, for players who wish to develop
somewhat faster colony ships.
* Added a new "Massive Base Ship" class.
* Added nine more population modifier brackets to smooth curve for fully
populated worlds (5% jumps every 500M rather than 10% every 1000M).
------
Fixes:
------
* Fixed crippling Sergetti design bug - thanks to Oleg again!
---------
Cosmetic:
---------
* Added a new image for the Arcology facility, created for Proportions by
Bill Elliott (aka mlmbd) - thanks Bill!
* Added generic worldship images from SE4 Image Neo-Standard Expansion Pack.
* Fixed minor typo in to-hit description of some ships (said "base").
* It is highly recommended that players install the SE4 Image Neo-Standard
Expansion Pack available from www.sandman43.fsnet.co.uk/neostandexpansion.htm

PvK

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Oh, goodie! Thank You, PvK!

<font color=purple>mlmbd http://www.shrapnelgames.com//ubb/icons/icon6.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif </font>

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Excellent!

So, when are you going to make it fully Neostandard compliant???? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Maybe 3.0. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Edit:
Although... what does that mean? I think the Neo-Standard is just a naming convention for any types the mod might add. I don't think the Neo-Standard says "all mods should include all these types". So, I think the only way to not be "Neo-Standard compliant", would be to include a ship that is clearly like something in the Neo-Standard, but then ask for a picture called something else (e.g. "FunShipPic"). So in that case, Proportions has been "Neo-Standard compliant" for most or all of its existence. There are a couple of types Proportions has that don't match anything in the Neo-Standard: Starliner and StarlinerLarge, for instance, and InfantryElite.

PvK

[ February 07, 2003, 17:18: Message edited by: PvK ]

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Now that AI uses master computers, the whole Computers tech. branch is a no-go to AI... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

PvK, can you please reduce accuracy penalty on MC ? They are way too harsh, IMHO. Or can you separate MC and Robotoid factories, for example by introducing a separate research area ?

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Those accuracy bonuses to MC don't even make sense. A computer can easily keep track of more things than people can.

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Agree. You spend a fortune of research points and get an expensive component that makes your ships a sitting duck. Not to mention computer virus. The only argument is the protection against psychic races but it basically makes MC a very specialised thing worthless 90% of the game.

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

For the AI's sake I agree it would make sense to make master computers a seperate tech.

I should proabably revisit master computers a bit, but the point of the penalty is that I do not agree that a computer makes as good a warrior as a martial-minded biological. As we all know, AI's tend to be predictable and unable to adapt to the unpredictable complexities of an evolving tactical situation.

This has nothing to do with target tracking. That is covered by combat sensors and multiplex tracking, which can be used by humans or computers alike. The combat penalties for MC represent the very real factors that are beneath the scale of SE4's combat engine to represent in detail, but which would in my opinion make experiencd biological crews more formidable than computers. Ingenuity, innovation, unpredictability, will to survive, etc.

Also, I think master computers should definitely NOT have the "ability to gain experience". Relative ability arguments notwithstanding, with a computer, if it could learn, there would be no reason you couldn't download and broadcast its data to other computers, and have all master computers at the same experience level. It's not possible to mod that, nor to mod away their learning ability. The penalties therefore also compensate for this silly ability of master computers.

However, if you do climb to the top of the master computer tech tree, the penalties are only -5/-2.

PvK

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What about the neural combat net (I think that's what it's called). That allows sharing of experience.

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Spoo is right I think..just give any MC the same ability the Neural Combat Net has, and any MC in combat will have the same experience as the highest-rated MC..at least until that MC is destroyed.

Phoenix-D

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Well, except that:

1) It would only apply to ships in the same battle. In reality, it computer data should be transmittable throughout an empire, or at least permanently shared by physical transfer.

2) When the most experienced ship is destroyed, all the others would decline in experience, which wouldn't make any sense.

3) It would allow computers to use the experience of biological crews, and it would also allow empires who have an actual neural combat net, to use the computer ships' experience for their biologically-crewed ships.

PvK

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Hmm, I see that the remote miner components still say they decrease asteroid value, even though you turned that off in settings.txt...

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

PvK, that is assuming that those biologicals are never able to develop more effecient computers than we have today. The first Master Computer component does not represent a computer of today's technology, it represents a far more advanced and sophisticated computer.

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Even now, there are simple "neural net computers" capable to learn on specified tasks. Friend of mine is working on one such project for protein structure predictions. As computers getting faster and faster, there is no reasons they won't be eventually as good as biological computers - humans.

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What it doesn't represent however, is the fact that a computer is faster and sturdier than a lifeform. Maneuvers that would smush crewmembers into goo would have little effect on a machine.

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No, I'm not assuming that computers won't be more efficient than computers are today. Of course they will. What I'm saying, is that a computer-directed ship won't be better than a human-directed ship, with computers in a supporting role.

I am also following much sci-fi in this. None of the sci-fi I am familiar with has computers superior fleet commanders to biologicals.

PvK

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, I myself have programmed AI's, and am familiar with the principles of "neural networks", and other attempts to model intelligence, and I am completely unconvinced. Humans are not "biological computers", and there are plenty of reasons why computer speed will not magically achieve intelligence.

Speaking of sci-fi, most of the sci-fi I am aware of that features intelligent computers in command of armed military equipment, has those computers seize control and try to wipe out the biologicals. That's something else I'd mod in if I could, but I can't.

PvK

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What it doesn't represent however, is the fact that a computer is faster and sturdier than a lifeform. Maneuvers that would smush crewmembers into goo would have little effect on a machine.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">True. Ideally, I'd like to give computer-only ships some different advantages and weaknesses beyond the few that are possible to mod.

PvK

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Where do they say that?

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No, I'm not assuming that computers won't be more efficient than computers are today. Of course they will. What I'm saying, is that a computer-directed ship won't be better than a human-directed ship, with computers in a supporting role.

I am also following much sci-fi in this. None of the sci-fi I am familiar with has computers superior fleet commanders to biologicals.

PvK</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sci-fi is not realistic at all. There will come a point when AIs are as intelligent as biologicals. We will eventually be able to make artificial computers that function exactly like the human brain, if not more effecient. Such technology will definitely come long before any technology to establish a colony in another star system.

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">In Asimov' works robots are much better humans than most of us http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Well I guess I disagree with Fryon and Asimov in those predictions. I also think it's highly inadvisable to actually create autonomous machines with "superior intelligence", not to mention giving them control of one's weapons...

PvK

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

It is no worse than training people to use those weapons. Wait, it is better, because you can make the basic core of their programming designed so that they will obey you, and can not act to harm you.

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think an AI with the capacity of a human brain and more would definitely be able to circumvent every program barrier in order to adapt to new situations, a feature that we call "learning". The only thing that I could imagine is to program a kind of conscience, but that has failed for human brains, so it will have to fail for computers also.

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">People do have a conscience. Most people listen to it occasionally. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Laugh laugh laugh...

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There are several different factors involved in combat effectiveness, and the problem with the MC vs. 'biological' minds is that these cannot be modeled in SE IV combat, as you say PvK.

The thing that most everyone else thinks is important is sheer detail management -- tracking targets, calculating how much ordinance to throw at those targets based on expected hit ratio and damage that should be done, calculating how to maneuver for a good shot and/or to avoid being hit by enemy weapons, etc. These are all essentially about tactics and the one type of 'biological' mind that we know (ourselves) does tend to be less effective at tactical detail than a 'mechanical' mind. Thus the use of computers in almost all combat vehicles today, and many civilian vehicles.

You seem to feel that strategy and creative problem solving, 'thinking outside the box', is more important than tactical detail management. I certainly agree that in abstruse areas like ship design (balancing fuel capacity, engine power, defenses, weapons, etc...) the biological mind seems to be much superior. But what you do not consider is that actual combat is a small subset of the expansive 'real world' situation where the biological mind can find ways to work around the limitations of the mechanical mind. Once you get into actual combat it's all about speed, distance, and intersecting the enemy location(s) with your weapons while avoiding their weapons. I think that a machine will always be far superior at this limited task than any biological mind as we know them. (But who knows... maybe there is some 'super-sensory' race out there who can track a dozen moving targets at once and calculate ballistic trajectories in their heads? We definitely don't want to piss them off, if so... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif ) On the other hand, the opportunity for 'creative' solutions in the time it takes a dreadnaught to close in and vaporize you with massive mount PPBs is pretty small. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

It makes sense for the early MC to be very ineffective. All technologies take time to mature. But I think it's unfair not to allow the MC to become as good as biological crews at some point. I do agree that we should be able to have a computer that does NOT gain experience, though. There's a difference between remote/robotic piloted ships and true AI control. Only the very top-end of the computer techs should have learning computers. Yet Another Request for MM. Will he ever implement this, and a zillion other small requests?

[ February 09, 2003, 22:00: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

I emphasized strategy (meaning, decision-making) because I think that is the difference between a Master Computer ship and biologically commanded ship. As I said before I think the biologically commanded ship will have just as many computer aids for tracking targets and making tactical suggestions as a computer one will. The difference is who/what makes the decisions about what to do and when, and I think that computer behaviour will continue to be more predictable and less inspired than a skilled biological commander with insights and abilities to understand beyond formulae. Tactical formulae can produce options for the biological commander on the biological ship too, but the biological gets to use his brain to override mistakes that algorithms won't always be able to catch. Etc.

Mainly, though, I don't have many choices about how to mod this in SE4. SE4 does not give me a way to eliminate or alter the training mechanic for master computers. If I could, I might give computers some bonus, but take away their ability to gain experience, so skilled biologicals could potentially out-do them. But that can't be modded. Given my choices, this is my estimate of what the differences should be. Players are of couse free to disagree and mod the mod.

PvK

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Is it still possible to use both, computers and biomass to avoid allegiance subverts?

I mean, if I put a ship under human control with the backup solution of a computer in standby mode, but the negative combat values would still subtract from the total, right?

For this case I think about a proposal to add a neutral component with the shielding effects against AS but without any control features, maybe called "councillor", is that even possible?

EDIT: I guess it has been patched recently that even if the computer has been destroyed the AS would not take effect, so forget about it...

[ February 10, 2003, 11:51: Message edited by: PsychoTechFreak ]

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

You can partially counter-act the negative effects of the computer by adding a Combat Bridge. That will add 10 to your ship's attack/defense Ratings.

Phoenix-D

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

Yes.

Quote:

I mean, if I put a ship under human control with the backup solution of a computer in standby mode, but the negative combat values would still subtract from the total, right?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

Yes.

Quote:

For this case I think about a proposal to add a neutral component with the shielding effects against AS but without any control features, maybe called "councillor", is that even possible?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

Not currently possible. MC is a monolithic ability, even though it accomplishes two things.

Quote:

EDIT: I guess it has been patched recently that even if the computer has been destroyed the AS would not take effect, so forget about it...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes, it has.

BTW, in any SE4 ship where there are multiple life support and crew quarters, one can put, say, one MC, a bridge, and one LS and one CQ, and the ship will still fly at full speed after getting hit by a virus, and in the new patch, will still be immune to subVersion.

PvK

[ February 10, 2003, 18:25: Message edited by: PvK ]

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Combat Bridge gives even more bonus than the penalties for the higher-level master computers. Combat Aux Con will add another three, not to mention the sensor and combat support trees are very deep in Proportions, and there are other things that add modifiers.

It is a problem though for the AI, because MC's remain expensive, so it's a big waste that can't be modded around for the AI to be putting MC's on transports and escorts etc. If it weren't for John Sullivan's enthusiasm and work on the AI for Proportions, I'd've given up trying to make a decent AI opponent for Proportions. If I get time to make a new major Version, I think I will probably give the AI a lot of unique abilities to balance around its stupidity, instead of trying to walk tightropes to get it to play with the same rules as humans.

PvK

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

I've noticed that the Terran's are mixing phased shields with regenerating sheilds in the Battleship sizes in a game I'm currently playing (latest proportion) it kind of makes them an easy kill for my PPB equiped ships. Just a small bug.

I love, and play exclusivly your mod PVK

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Thanks Mudshark. Hmm, that might be tricky (or a lot of work) to mod away properly, though it could be done. They will eventually get regenerating phased shield generators.

What year is it, and what level of phased weapons are you using on them?

PvK

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Combat Bridge gives even more bonus than the penalties for the higher-level master computers. Combat Aux Con will add another three, not to mention the sensor and combat support trees are very deep in Proportions, and there are other things that add modifiers.

It is a problem though for the AI, because MC's remain expensive, so it's a big waste that can't be modded around for the AI to be putting MC's on transports and escorts etc. If it weren't for John Sullivan's enthusiasm and work on the AI for Proportions, I'd've given up trying to make a decent AI opponent for Proportions. If I get time to make a new major Version, I think I will probably give the AI a lot of unique abilities to balance around its stupidity, instead of trying to walk tightropes to get it to play with the same rules as humans.

PvK</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">With 1.84 AI fix I found Proportion' AI rather tough with medium/high bonus. Especially after I moded population*10 for AI pop.minister sake. The major problem is AI still can not mount a takeover of highly defended planets like homeworld.

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

FWIW by the way, Iain M Banks' Culture novels have, indeed, got AI in charge of fleets - indeed, arguably, simply in charge, full stop.

Terrific reading. I especially liked - and recommend - "Excession" in this respect.

Steve.

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Yeah, the Culture Minds are pretty much how I have always envisaged the SE4 Master Computers, althoguh I think PvK is right to tone them down in Proportions- they just become too powerful otherwise.

Have you read "Consider Phlebas"? I think that's my favourite Culture novel so far, a real tour of the Culture universe=-)

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Well that's the problem - if you develop a truly intelligent and superior computer-controlled fleet, that's represented during race creation in the background text, e.g.:

"The X Imperium was originally a biological democracy who failed to restrain their technological developments to match the wisdom of their politicians. They developed a very clever warrior artificial intelligence system. So clever that it is now in complete control of the new X Imperium, with only a few biologicals retained mainly for experimental purposes."

So, perhaps I should add this as a racial trait (new racial tech area), rather than a simple component available to everyone on the computers research path.

It could even be something still discovered during play. At that point, components become available which make the bridge/crew completely superfluous. Hmm... sounds like a good idea, actually.

PvK

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Yup - good idea for V3 I think!

Mind you, I also like the idea of a Racial Trait, so either way - I think both would be too much? - would be fine with me.

By the way, I still love Proportions - now play SE4 exclusively with it.

Steve.

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Thanks Steve!

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The year is 2478.6 I have phased level 8. I'm a glutton for punishment,255 systems. They happen to be 8 systems homeworld to homeword away. I have captured 1 planet 1 sys of of their home system. they still have a good presence in that system. One planet start game.

[ February 13, 2003, 01:58: Message edited by: Mudshark ]

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

786 turns! Cool... sounds like an epic game. I'd be interested to check out the saved game file, to see what mischief you and the AI have gotten into by that point. I don't think I've run tests of Proportions AI much longer than that.

What research cost setting did you use? Does the AI have a "bonus"?

PvK

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

For a really really epic game, generate a map where you will start the game stranded in an isolated group of systems. By the time you generate stellar manip and break out the AI empires will have huge economies and high tech fleets.

Dogscoff's pointless proportions suggestion of the day:
How about some cheaper-than-spaceyards "repair only" facilities, or maybe allowing distribution centres to repair one component per turn?

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Yeah, I would like to see that savegame too !
Especially if any of my AI present (pequeninos, soulhunters, nostropholo, ukra-tal, cryslonite or drushoka)

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Oleg: Drukshocka are currently giving me a hard time in my single player game - They block my only exit from the few systems I inhabit, and they have been very aggrssive. They are currently throwing BCs and BBs at my warp point, which I am barely holding with some old LCs, a few carriers and some captured ships (boarding). I don't have the resources to build anything better. Not sure how much longer I can survive against them.

Those Druk ships are ridiculously tough. If I didn't have shield + armour skipping weapons (temporal) they would have easily overwhelmed me 200 turns ago.

Oh yeah, to date they have sent 2 planet builders through the warp point! Here's me scraping together funds for light cruisers and they're building stellar manipulation ships! I managed to capture them both (had to mothball one immediately and scrap the other because even one turn's maintenance would have busted me). The thing is, how long until they start opening warp points..?

And once I get past the Druks, I have a feeling I'm going to bump into the Xi. Joy...

[ February 13, 2003, 14:37: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Captured ? Their military ships should have self-distract devices. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif I'll check if there are mistakes in design_creation file, thanks !

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Maybe the design engineers had all the self-distract devices. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif That's probably why the ships didn't get what they were supposed to. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Actually, I hit them with armour&shield skipping temporal weapons until the SDD was destroyed, then moved in the boarding ship.

In fact all that armour makes this tactic easier - If you're not lucky enough to take out the SSD early, you can just completely gut the internals (including SDD) without much danger of utterly destroying the ship because the organic armour is left 'til Last. You can then mothball the ship and repair the non-organic components.

It's a bit gamey playing the AI like this in tactical, but I've given it plenty of help already (Ai has high bonus and 3000 racial points, but I've only taken temporal and then the space wasters trait.) and I need every advantage I can get.

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

I'm sorry, but somebody forgot to post the LINK to the proportions mod.
How the hell I'm suppose to update if I have no LINK?
I guess people around here always forget the NEWBIES.....

Re: Proportions Mod Versions 2.5.2 and 2.5.3 available
 

Don't bother, I found it at the Encyclopedia.
Peter, maybe you should include your page on your signature......