[Suicide Junkie]

That sounds like something that was kicked around a while ago...

-Give the weapons arbitrary damage types, from a damagetype.txt file.
-Give the defences arbitrary defence types too, from defencetypes.txt file.
-Every entry in damage types goes like the following:
Name := fire
Defence name 1 := normal shield
Defence effect 1 := block
Defence amount 1 := 100%
Defence name 2 := asbestos armor
defence effect 2 := changedamage
defence amount 2 := 50% (reduces damage by half before it hits this or any other components)
defence name 3 := flammable internals
defence effect 3 := block
defence amount 3 := 500% (hurts component 5x normal)
...etc...

you could make up as many defence types as you like, and have each one block, changedamage, be skipped, by each damage type individually!

----------------------------------
For the "solar sails without ship engines" thing, I've just made two different Sails. one normal, and one with "built in steering thrusters".

The steering thruster Version will cost a little more (50/0/50), and will provide one standard movement, and have one less bonus movement to compensate.
IE. SS3, thruster Version has: 1 standard, 2 bonus.

BTW, this has been tested and WORKS!!!
Just use the standard sail for engine ships, cause the solo Version uses up an engine slot.

[This message has been edited by suicide_junkie (edited 17 May 2001).]