Modding: systemtype.txt and quandranttype.txt
 

Ok I was trying to alter the system and quandrant types to better reflect those in Starfire, but they aren't behaving correctly. I added a whole bunch of system types based on the the star's spectral code, but now I keep getting systems without stars. When I click where the star is supposed to be, I get a range check error and SE4 crashes. I've included a saved map with the aforementioned problems.


[This message has been edited by Noble713 (edited 20 December 2000).]

Re: Modding: systemtype.txt and quandranttype.txt
 

Make sure there is an entry for the star size, color, etc combination you are trying to use in the SectType.txt file. I had the same problem, so I set the stellar variables in SystemTypes.txt to any. It seems that while there is an entry in SectType.txt for all planet size, composition and atmosphere combinations, not all possible stellar combinations have an entry. For example:
(from SectType.txt)
Physical Type := Star
Picture Num := 227
Description := A very ordinary yellow star.
Star Size := Medium
Star Age := Average
Star Color := Yellow
Star Luminosity := Average
This is the entry for a medium-sized, average aged yellow star that has an average luminosity. If you try to reference a huge, young, yellow, super-bright star in SystemTypes.txt, you will get the same error, most likely because it can't determine which Picture Num to use, because that combination doesn't have an entry in SectType.txt.

[This message has been edited by David4069 (edited 21 December 2000).]

Re: Modding: systemtype.txt and quandranttype.txt
 

Ohhhhhhh. Man that's going to be a pain to fix.... Thanks for your help, I never would have figured that out!

Re: Modding: systemtype.txt and quandranttype.txt
 

There are several stellar abilities not currently used that I have not yet figured out if they are valid (if they do anything) and what their settings are, or if they are just place holders right now. For example, for warp points there are four:

Warp Point - Ability Required
Warp Point - Periodic
Warp Point - Turbulence
Warp Point - Unstable

Periodic sounds really interesting. A warp point that opens and closes on a regular basis? Lots of possiblities for that one. Ability required sounds weird, but maybe there could be a special tech you'd have to research to get through some warp points? There's also a 'Sector - Ability Required' which might work the same way. People could experiment with these a bit and see what they can figure out.