Homeworld choosing bug in 1.78

MegaTrain · #1 November 10th, 2002, 05:22 AM

Although this is only demonstratable currently using a MOD on the basic Gold package, I believe this is a bug of the SEIV programs files, not of the MOD.

Here's the bug: Under certain conditions, you may get a homeworld that is the wrong atmosphere, the wrong size, or even the wrong type.

To replicate this, install the DevNull 1.70 mod, and start a game with a Large sized, Dense Mid-Life FQM galaxy. Make sure you increase the number of starting planets to increase the chance of this bug showing up.

This particular galaxy type increases the occurence for multiple moons for large planets, and moons are equally likely to have an atmosphere as not.

In every case that I saw this bug occur, the unusual planet had a MOON that was the right size/type/atmosphere for a home world of your race.

I think that the computer is identifying possible home worlds by size/type/atmosphere, then later on is populating the PRIMARY planet at the same coordinates, not realizing that the originally identified homeworld was really a MOON.

In some cases, this can be good news for the race. If the large planet is actually breathable (at random, of course), then the planet will be fully developed with up to 25 facilities. It could even be a different planet type (Gas instead of Ice, for example).

If the large planet doesn't have a breathable atmosphere, though, it will only have 3-6 facilities, depending on the size. Obviously, this is a pretty significant disadvantage to be short 5 research facilities and 5 mining facilities right at the beginning of the game. (With 3 starting planets, this means you only have 2/3 of the initial resource base of most of your opponents.)

Interestingly, though, the incorrect colony will be FULLY POPULATED! Even if it is not breathable, a huge planet will have 8000 pop! It actually shows "8000m/500m", and it lets you keep the extra population to spread around to your other planets.

Has this been noticed/reported before? I would assume the only reason you need the Devnull mod to see it happen is that under stock Gold, moons typically max out as size small, and are usually no atmosphere, so the computer is never going to identify them as possible homeworld candidates.

(Do I need to email this to somebody offically? Or do the "powers that be" frequent this board?)

Captain Kwok · #2 November 10th, 2002, 05:38 AM

This bug has been around for ages.

Fyron · #3 November 10th, 2002, 06:35 AM

The bug has been in the game since the very beginning. MM has been told about it for a long, long time. But, you should send your report to MM anyways (at se4@malfador.com). The more often he hears of a problem, the more likely he is to fix it.

[ November 10, 2002, 04:39: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

MegaTrain · #4 November 10th, 2002, 07:45 AM

Thanks, guys. Guess because it doesn't effect the stock game, its not a huge priority.

oleg · #5 November 11th, 2002, 03:49 PM

Most likely you get this problem playing Fyron's Mod. Then you can get around it by starting games with "good HW value" instead of "normal". HW are now have "Large" sizes and can not be placed as moons.

Arkcon · #6 November 14th, 2002, 02:36 AM

It happened to me once in a default game. That was a couple of patches back 'tho. I selected poor planet type and got a methane homeworld for an oxygen race.

I had more facilities than the domed planet could hold. Even so, I only had 3 research facilities.

The AI hosed me good in that game, couldn't find any breatheables within two systems.