Re: Has anyone created new formations?
 

Don't have it with me right now, but in the newest TDM ModPack, there is a new formations file with a custom formation called "Dark Wing" that the Darlok use.

Re: Has anyone created new formations?
 

Can you post it?

Re: Has anyone created new formations?
 

On Monday, I'll post a simple graphical formation editor I've been working on. It lets you edit formations by placing tiles on a 19x19 grid and moving them around as you like. The Last piece I'm working on is the code to change the type using a Right Click menu and such.

Here is a very simple formation that puts two beam weapon ships up front. Behind these two ships are a couple of artillery ships. Bringing up the rear are two missile ships. In order to use this formation, you will need to go into the Ship Design window and add the types: Beam, Artillery and Missile and then assign these types to ships.

Sadly, I haven't found any other way to customize the ship types other than saving the empire to a *.emp file--which is not a text file. Anyways, here is the data for this simple formation I created mainly to test my understanding of the 'type' field:

Name := Column
Description := Beam ships, Artillery ships, Missile ships in a column
Leader Position Xpos := 9
Leader Position Ypos := 7
Leader Design Type := Beam
Number of positions := 5
Position 1 Xpos := 10
Position 1 Ypos := 7
Position 1 Type := Beam
Position 2 Xpos := 9
Position 2 Ypos := 9
Position 2 Type := Artillery
Position 3 Xpos := 10
Position 3 Ypos := 9
Position 3 Type := Artillery
Position 4 Xpos := 9
Position 4 Ypos := 11
Position 4 Type := Missile
Position 5 Xpos := 10
Position 5 Ypos := 11
Position 5 Type := Missile

Re: Has anyone created new formations?
 

OK jpinard, here is the "Formations.txt" extracted from the TDM Mod Pack and used by the Darlok. The only thing I changed from the default file was the addition of the "Dark Wing" formation.

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

Re: Has anyone created new formations?
 

When you make formations, do you have to have both the graphical presentation and the x,y coordinates at the bottom? Or is that for ship formations?

I've been thinking of making some satellite and base formations so it will spread them out a bit. Unfortunately, the way satellites and fighters are deployed they can't use any formation since they're all stacked together on the system map.


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"What do -you- want?" "I'd like to live -just- long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price. I would look up into your lifeless eyes and wave like this..." *waggle* "...can you and your associates arrange that for me, Mr. Morden?"

Re: Has anyone created new formations?
 

Sinapus - I don't know how you would do that - good ideal - especially for sat deployment under 1.27b - I prefer the old method of how many per group. Under 1.27b, it puts all the sats in one group, so you get no spread.

Re: Has anyone created new formations?
 

You don't need the graphical representation of the formation. The real data doesn't begin until after the *BEGIN*.

Re: Has anyone created new formations?
 

You can still get satellite spread, if you launch a group from your planet, one at a time during your turn. Either in combat or on the strategic map. A little tedious, but better than having ALL your satellites of the opposite side of your world during an attack.

Re: Has anyone created new formations?
 

You can get satellites on different sides of a planet? How do you do that? Mine are always on the same side, the wrong one, no matter how many Groups I have.

Re: Has anyone created new formations?
 

Actually, that may have changed for 1.27b. Or at least that same trick won't work for fighters. Haven't tried for satellites quite yet but will test that asap.



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"What do -you- want?" "I'd like to live -just- long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price. I would look up into your lifeless eyes and wave like this..." *waggle* "...can you and your associates arrange that for me, Mr. Morden?"