[Ragnarok-X]

Well simple as it is, i was a fan of babylon 5 since i first watched it. I was visiting these forums regulary about 4 years ago, eagerly awaiting a good release of the b5 mod, that was back when Val was here.
Now I followed the progress since years, and lately month. Latest achievements were the enhancments done by Timstone, Grumbler and Pathfinder (...).

Then we started a pbw game and i hate to say, but that game is barely any fun at all. Players are simply overwhelmed by the mod, there is too much to do or to consider. There is no development at all, even if there were, there are still to many things that need to be...repaired.

The mod will be totally revised. I have already adjusted most facilites cost/effect, as mentioned in my posted email. Population effect has been decreased/adjusted, but there is a lot of work still to do. One of the things that will be reworked IS the armor system. I have done a few testgames, and the game seems to have better "flow" now, everything seems to work just okay, at least from what i have seen.

I just took another more focused look at the files, and the armor system is just way to complicated.

There are about a DOUZEN tech areas.

Inert Armor Physics
Inert Armor Engineering
Inert Armor Manufacturing
Scattering Engineering
Scattering Manufacturing
Refractive Engineering
Refractive Manufacturing
Channeling Armor Engineering
Channeling Armor Manufactoring
Conductive Armor Engineering
Conductive Armor Manufactoring
Emmisive Armor Engineering
Emmisive Armor Manufactoring

This alone is already too much, but to make it worse, take a look at the armor component family. Offered are like a douzen different armors, all having "weird" names and classifications, names consisting of numbers, letters and additional thingies like primary, additional or whatever.
To make it even worse each armor needs SEVERAL tech requirements which can be far too EASILY be mixed up.
Imagine you have 3 tech areas and want to get a good armor...how are supposed to know WHAT exactly you need to research how far until you get that armor you want ?

There is definitly no point in going with the current system in the long way. No offense SJ, but if you want to do a realistic mod then the armor system is okay. Unfortunally i dont want to make the b5 mod even more realistic, i want to make if FUN.

The expansion/development pace will reworked as well, dont worry. I just dont really get the point in argueing with people who most probably not invested as much time as i did into the mod. I know SJ and Fyron are good members of the community, but i have a goal to achieve, and reworking the armor system is a part of it.

After all it is Timstone and i who will do the work / have done the work, and im positive things will be far superior once we are done.

Tell me Fyron, if you think the armor system is so great, why didnt you implented it into your adamant mod as well ? Maybe because its to difficult to get a good use by the players ?

I really like the "cheap" armor system of adamant mod. Research and you get components which offer more damage resistance. Thats fine. Have components with 10kT and 1kT size, everything will be alright. Just a small note, i dont get the point in using 0kT armor components at all. I could use pack my ship with those components until my shipyard need another turn to construct it. So lets say i have like 30 of those 0kT armors on my ship, but its the point ? Once out of combat i need to repair the vessel, how am i supposed to repair 30+ components ?

I may even consider adding my own armor system, which is acompnent with a size of 0 kT and a basic damage resistance of 50kT, and has a scale mount for every shipsize, so it will take lets say 250% damage on cruisers and 125% damage when scaleused on frigates, in addition to convential armor layeringg

The size of most tech areas is okay, its the way research points are accumulated which is FU. If research-facilites are build faster, everything will be alright, at least partly. Since population has less effect on production things are more faster than ever.