[oleg]

Originally posted by spoon:
I was browsing some data files, and I'm curious as to what these two abilities do for their associated components....

(from Proportions)
- Armor I
- Ability 1 Type := Planet - Shield Generation

(from P&N)
- BuckyTube Gel Plating I
- Ability 1 Type := Star - Unstable

Are there other neat tricks like this?

Thanks!
-Spoon

As already has been said, these abilities are flags to help AI. Take as an example Proportions Armor I. It is not SE IV, rather some sort of "reinforced hull. In fact, PvK renamed it more apropriately in Proportions 2.5 Anyway, by itself, Armor I does not any special ability, noy even "armor". To incorporate it into AI_designcreation file, PvK had to assign some fake ability that is not used by "normal" ship components. It does nothing but let us manipulate AI files