Custom Advanced Traits

[DavidG]

Anyone know if it is possible to make custom advanced traits? I'm thinking the advance traits are in one of the .txt files buy I can't find it. (I'd like to create some advanced traits for Star Trek races so for example romulans would have plasma tech as an advanced trait so only they would build and use plasma weapons them) IF this is not possible is there any other way to make it so a race cannot get certain weapon types?

[Suicide Junkie]

You need to look at RacialTraits.txt, and add a related entry to techarea.txt (using the racial tech #)

The only way to RESTRICT a tech from one race is to make all the other races choose a trait that gives them that tech.

See P&N, to see how I added racial traits, and restricted Pirates & Nomads from getting Normal techs.

[DavidG]

Thanks. Any idea why when I add a Category to advance traits, then go into new game I cannot add any races (says cannot load emp file) and if I create a race and start the game. the system and galaxy window are blank! :-(

[Suicide Junkie]

All EMP files are invalidated, since the number of racial traits has changed.
I suppose that the EMP records the chosen racial traits in a "yes,yes,no,no,yes,no" manner, thus confusing SE4 when it ends at the wrong time.
Randomly generated races do not suffer that problem unless traits are removed, since they pick traits by name according to the AI text files.

The blank universe is a wierd quirk... just start a second new game, and you won't see it again, until you change the racial traits again.
(Even when you shut down & reload SE4, it dosen't come back... very wierd, but only happens once per mod)

[ 19 January 2002: Message edited by: suicide_junkie ]

[Puke]

the first time i had that happen to me, i spent hours trying to figure out what i did wrong with my mod.

[Atrocities]

Yes you can do this. I have done it, but lost interest. If your interested in how to specifically do it, post, and I or someone with more experience will help.

[Andrés]

The blank galaxy problem seems to appear when you attempt to load a game started without the new racial trait or as it’s been suggested here without restarting the game after making the changes.
Another good idea is to give the mod directory (you’re using a mod directory, right? It’s not advisable to change the standard data dir.) it’s own “empires” and “savegame” subdirs so you don’t mix files meant to be used by “incompatible” Versions.
BTW David your Romulan plasma weapons sound like a good addition for the Sci-Fi Crossover mod we’re making. We could use your help.

[Egregius]

..hence I can't load ANY emp file! Thanks, that helped a lot. =)

The blank universe thing also happens when one of your modded files are eroneous, i.e. has a blank line too many between say components. I think.

[Phoenix-D]

Actually, no. The blank line just makes SE4 read it as the end of the file. Really useful for when you're screwed up, made SE4 crash, and need to isolate the problem.

Phoenix-D

[Suicide Junkie]

quote:

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..hence I can't load ANY emp file! Thanks, that helped a lot. =)

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You can only load EMPs that were created under a mod with the same number of racial traits.

So, you just have to start games with random empires, and save them in-game as EMPs.