couple of questions
 

1. As I understand it, the races directory (under pictures) contains everything needed for a specific race and the game will choose races based upon the directory name?

2. what is the purpose of the .emp files in the empires directory. How does one of those relate to the races directory?

3. What is a good site that has a repository of complete races with ship designs, AI, pictures, etc.?

I still am slightly confused by the whole thing and would appreciate any clarification.

Thanks

Re: couple of questions
 

I'll leave 1 and 2 to someone who understands it better. It has something to do with picking racial traits and things, I think.

as for question 3, try the following URL:

http://diesel2035.free.fr

Just about every se4 shipset ever made is linked and listed there. All of them. No exaggeration.

[ May 13, 2003, 14:19: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

Re: couple of questions
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">1. Almost. It can pick among the races that are located in the Pictures/Races directory, if there are no AI txt files in the choosen race directory it will use it's default files.

2. The EMP files should be located in the Empires directory, they contain as DS said all info on the empire. This is the settings you choose when you create your empire. You can make two or how many different empires you like that uses the same Rcae pictures and name the empires different names. When you create an empire before a game you have the option of saving it, if you do you create an EMP file in the empires directory and the next time you start a game you may choose "Add an existing" empire instead of "Create a new" empire.

When you play at PBW you must create your empire, save the empire and upload the EMP file that contains all info and settings on your empire, then you choose your shipset (Actually you do this when creating the Empire file by choosing the picture symbolizing the race and a sample ship picture, if you indicate on the PBW game when uplaoding your empire file wich shipset to use, you must choose the same as when you creted the empire file), a shipset is the same as those races in the Picture/Races directory. When you choose an existing empire the game will look in the EMP file and see what shipset(Race pics) that empire uses and use those pictures from the Pictures/Races directory, if it can't find that shipset there it will choose a random shipset(Race) and therefore switch pictures for that empire each time the game is restarted!

(I'm not good at pedagogics so I hope someone explains it better soon).

[ May 13, 2003, 14:53: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: couple of questions
 

2) When you have the game set up random computer opponents, it uses the (racename)_AI_General.txt to assemble the race's various settings and traits. The .emp files are used when you specify your own preset race (or a particular opponent/set of opponents) with the "Add Existing" button under the "Players" tab.

Just some info...and if I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me soon... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: couple of questions
 

I guess I took too long to write up my post.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/blush.gif

Re: couple of questions
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You're propably more right than me anyway
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: couple of questions
 

In short, .emp files are simply a convinient way to set up a game with predetermined oppenents and a shortcut to avoid remaking your empire next time you start a new game.
Emp. files are not used for random generated AI players, only AI_general.txt