Ministers launching satellites on planets
 

This thread is a continuation on the TDM thread that I had made....I went a bit off-topic at the end of that thread http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I recently did a test and I was wondering whether anyone could verify it for me.

SEIV Standard 1.02 - The individual ministers on planets will automatically launch any satellites that is created. In the particular game that I tried, the minister launched 10 sats per turn. I stopped when 100 was launched.

SEIV Standard 1.49 - Same as above

SEIV Gold...not delux - I don't and never used the gold version. It be great if someone could confirm this in gold version.

SEIV Deluxe 1.94 - For some unknown reason, the minister will now only launch sats the first TWO turns. After that...it will stop launching sats. I don't know why this is. This particular SEIV version is unmodded.

Game: Chose quick start on the main menu and chose the very first race. Go to a planet and build sats enough for 1 turn (I think you can get 10 sats per turn). Click repeat build. GO to minister control and check "mines/sats" or "mines/sats/drones" if you are using the gold or deluxe version. Then toggle minister control on for the planet. Keep on advancing to the next turn.

What I want to know is:

a. Whether the deluxe version limit the number of sats a planet can automatically launch by ministers compared to the standard version?
b. Is this a bug...or am I missing something.

Re: Ministers launching satellites on planets
 

Perhaps the minister is following its AI_settings.txt. Specifically:

Percentage of total satellites to keep as planetary cargo := 40

Try changing this number. Not sure if you have to restart a game for it to take effect.

Re: Ministers launching satellites on planets
 

Slick, you are indeed a legend! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif You are right, the setting worked. I changed the value to 0 and now the minister will launch every turn. However, even at this low value, once the number of launched satellites reach about 60 to 70, the minister will stop launching sats every second turn.

Are there any other setting (ie data files, ai setting) that controls satellite details?

EDIT: Changing the value only works for new games.

Re: Ministers launching satellites on planets
 

settings.txt defines the max satellites per sector.

AI_construction_units.txt determines what the construction minister (if on) will build.

AI_designcreation.txt determines what the design minister (if on) will design.

vehiclesize.txt determines the satellite sizes and their properties.

compenhancement.txt lists any mounts satellites can use.

components.txt lists defines what vehicles are allowed to use each component.


There are some obvious secondary effects for satellites in data files such as Satellite Bay properties, etc.