Help with mods use please...

Bonefish · #1 August 14th, 2003, 06:55 PM

Hi all. Can someone please give me simple and clear instructions on installing new mods (new races mainly).
I have just got se4 after years of playing se3, and find that Im not too sure were exactly to place the unzipped files of various types. Ive read a few things but they seem to conflict. Are there different ways depending on the modder? The race mods Ive seen are of very high quality, and my hat goes off to all you modders who make games like even more fun and unique for those of us with no time or know-how to do it ourselves.
Many thanks in hopeful advance.
Bonefish.

Arkcon · #2 August 14th, 2003, 07:11 PM

Sure, it's pretty easy. Unzip the mod in question to the SE4 folder. It should be in it's own subfolder and not overwrite the default SE4 data. I'm pretty sure all the newest mods are all written to work that way.

Then you edit the file named path.txt to point to your new mod folder, or use Matryx's Mod Launcher program, found on the SE4 CD.

Some mods will let you know at startup they're using the new set of data files.

Now, what you're calling race mods might not be mods at all. The TDM Modpack, for example, does use some new shipsets and mods the AI behavior files.

But any shipset you find on it's own, isn't really a mod, just another standard shipset. You just copy that folder to the Pictures\Races\ directory. And the .EMP file, if it exists to the \Empires directory. Then you start up the unmodded game, and load that race -- or ignore it and see them as a enemy when you least expect it.

[ August 14, 2003, 18:17: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

Atrocities · #3 August 14th, 2003, 07:44 PM

Grettings and welcome to the game. Arkcon has answered the question perfectly

There is new Version of the mod launcher program out, but the one on the CD in the Extras folder will work just fine. After you get familar with the game you can look up other mods and such from threads and sticky's in this forum. Good luck and enjoy

Bonefish · #4 August 14th, 2003, 07:50 PM

Thankyou. I understand what your saying, that the races are just added, rather than mods to the game. Although as you say, I think the tdm file actually changes some of the original races for the better accoring to the text file. Ive not installed any as yet. But will in a minute!
Id like to play se4 pretty much as it came, apart from extra empires and the tdm improvments. Im not worried about extra componants and the like. theres plenty there to cope with for quite a while!

I have two other brief questions...

1 - when I tried to unzip a race file, all the files came out in one big list, and not in its own folder. I think it was the one called "starship".

2 - how can I specify how many races/empires will be in the game as well as myself. I cant seem to find the option, and when i try to make my own empire up, it only comes uop as a pc contolled one.

Cheers.

Slick · #5 August 14th, 2003, 07:53 PM

I recommend checking out the Newbie FAQ. Specifically, section 16 is about mods.

link:
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin...;f=23;t=005518

Slick.

Bonefish · #6 August 14th, 2003, 07:57 PM

Hi Atrocities.

Thankyou. I believe its one of your race packs I have too. Im very impressed. All the ship sets Ive seen have been very good.
With the new AI thats 'attatched' to each race, I hope im not installing any lunatics I cant deal with !
That said, I guess I can use a ship picture set, but give it the default AI that Ive seen in the file list, when starting a new game. Its been a bit odd getting used to the different ways se4 works after se3, but it all seems very well done and very smooth.

Bonefish · #7 August 14th, 2003, 07:59 PM

Wow. Loads of replies. Many thanks fellas.
I'll go and look up the newbie FAQs and see what I can learn.

Thanks again guys.

Bonefish.

Fyron · #8 August 14th, 2003, 08:04 PM

You can find an updated Version of the Mod Launcher *here*.

Quote:

Originally posted by bonefish:
2 - how can I specify how many races/empires will be in the game as well as myself. I cant seem to find the option, and when i try to make my own empire up, it only comes uop as a pc contolled one.

1) Navigate to the folder where you installed SE4.
2) Go into the Data folder.
3) Open the file Settings.txt.
4) Look for this line:
Minimum Computer Player Low Setting := 1
5) By changing the numbers on this line and the next 5 similar lines, you can control how many empires there will be when you pick Low, Medium and High numbers of computer players in the Players screen when starting a game up.
6) You can also change how many Neutral Empires there will be. Neutrals never expand beyond their home system, and always have 1 homeworld, no matter how many starting planets you select. Note that SE4 will NEVER add more than 5 of them, no matter what you set the settings to for them.

[ August 14, 2003, 19:09: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Bonefish · #9 August 14th, 2003, 08:20 PM

Excellent. Ive had a read, (i'll be coming back to that help file again, its a great help), and Im off to install some races. Thanks guys.

Bonefish.

Suicide Junkie · #10 August 14th, 2003, 09:08 PM

Quote:

1 - when I tried to unzip a race file, all the files came out in one big list, and not in its own folder. I think it was the one called "starship".

Were you just dragging the files out of winzip, or were you using the "Extract" function?

Extract will retain the directory/folder structure, while dragging puts all the files in the place you dragged them to.