StarFire Mod v-Beta 2

[Fyron]

Originally posted by clc19k30:
Actually thinking about the engines being blown and the continued movement caused me to regress to high school physics. No friction in space, ergo no slowing down. So the engine problem is not a real concern. Not blowing the crap out of the other guy is. Must fix so death can be dealt. I say go with what we have and fix problems as they occur. Hey that is why it is a Beta Test.

Unfortunately this is impossible to model in SE4. The ships would still be able to turn and decrease their velocity with no engines, which is physically impossible (without some sort of tractoring from other ships of course).

[Dan Kochheiser]

Wubbles: as for the engines, I can hang with option B and add in Ic. It be closer to cannon.

clc: The Starfire physics of the engines is basically this: They create a field that spreads the inertia of the ship over the surface of this feild. This inertia is so spread out that it becomes nearly meaningless as it is spread over many miles. When the drive field 'collapses' the inertia of the object is immediately imparted back to the ship in an instant.

Dan K

[President_Elect_Shang]

Ok now that all of you have patched to the latest Version of SE4G it is time to patch some more, with the Image Mod! Just follow the below link and there you will see a list of sites to download at, I suggest selecting the link to “Imperator Fyron’s Mirror #2”. It is almost always reported as being “offline” but do not let this fool you. Once you click on it you will want to download, unzip, and copy and paste into your *root* SE4G directory the following files:

Facilitiespack11 ====== Full
Planetpack9 =========== Full
Eventpack2 ============ Full
Componentpack22 ======= Full
Combatpack10 ========== Full

You could get the patch only file and save some download time, but I would play it safe. Finally I can send you the Mod in one of two forms: zip or rar, just IM or PM me with your choice, once contacted I will start the final list and add your name with your preference, if your name is not on the list you can still add yourself but it may not be in time to meet the Friday release.

http://www.geocities.com/hohoho611ca/imagepack.html

*Root* Unless you changed it at installation your root SE4G directory should be:

C:\Program Files\Shrapnel Games\Malfador Machinations\Space Empires IV Gold\Pictures\???

Where ??? indicates the corresponding folder, answer “yes to all” when asked if you want to over right, copy over, oh you will know what I mean when you see it.

So I have 1 vote for B2…

All green still counting… T minus 2

If I have not said it enough let me say it again, thanks to all of you for your work, input, and patience; especially you Floppy and Dan K too.

[Fyron]

Once you click on it you will want to download, unzip, and copy and paste into your *root* SE4G directory the following files:

I strongly suggest that you do not unzip those to the pictures directory! They have no inherent folder structure, so you will get 1000s of images in the pictures directory. Instead, download them to there. Then, unzip each pack into the approriate folder, which is the same name as the pack. So ComponentPack22 gets extracted into the Components folder, for example. Create no new folders!

[Magnum357]

But Fyron, what if you still want too keep an unmodded SE4G on your system? I plan too have unmodded and the Starfire Mod both on my system and interchange from each one if I wish by changing the .exe path.

Hey Shang, I vote for Plan A because you have already started it that way, and I don't mind ships still having some combat movement speed (I would consider it as auilary Feild Generators kicking in too componsate for the main ones being destroyed) which would allow you some limited movement abilities for a short while (at least for a few hours for combat purposes). I was thinking about voting for Plan B, but with all those engines for each hull size, that might be difficult too code into the AI files effectively.

[Fyron]

My post was only about installing the Image Mod, not SF mod. Shang was directing you to install the images into the stock folders already, but he assumed that they would have a path info built in and get extracted to the appropriate folders automatically, which is not the case.

The Image Mod (not really a mod) does not replace any stock images. It just adds (tons) of new ones. You will still be able to play unmodded SE4 just fine, even in multiplayer, with the Image Mod installed, and there will be no difference what so ever. The point of placing the Image Mod into the stock picture folders is so that you do not have to have more than one copy of the images if you use two or more mods that use the Image Mod (most mods use it these days).

[ February 12, 2004, 07:06: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

[President_Elect_Shang]

Actually Fyron I was not saying to download and unzip into the root directory, thus I said to “download, unzip, and copy and paste INTO your root directory” notice the commas. Why would I ask someone to copy and paste something from a directory back to itself? Then below that I go on to explain the path and that ??? indicates the corresponding directory, what I did not say and what does not need said was that you would want to put the combat pack into the combat folder etc.

Magnum: Do not worry about adding this [the Image Mod] into your base SE4G game, it does not change any of the play factors; it only adds more pictures that other mods may call for. Otherwise you could get a nasty little error message. So in essence your SE4G game will still be unmoded. Does this mean you have had a change of heart and want to beta test? I thought that you were busy… it isn’t too late I just need your file preference [*.zip or *.rar]. *raspy voice* “Magnum…You are my son…Join me.”

Wasn’t that how it goes, it has been a long time since I watched it. So moving on, do not worry about the AI aspect although I am glad that someone brought it up. The AI will always check for mounts as that is hard coded into the game, they should not have a problem using the engines.

Edit In:
Two more things:
1) The *.zip file is looking about 1.19 MB in size, the *.rar file is about1.02 MB.

2) Magnum: considering the work you have volunteered to do for this mod I think that more than entitles you to a copy of the Beta without feeling the need to actually “test” it, but I would still need your file preference.

[ February 12, 2004, 13:10: Message edited by: President Elect Shang ]

[President_Elect_Shang]

Beta Testers who have checked in:

Dan K = File format “StarFireMod.rar”

[Magnum357]

Hey Shang, I'm honored that you would really like me too be a part of the Beta test crew. But again, I must decline because I'm putting my full concentration the ship sets (which is fairly time consuming) and I have other projects that I need too take care of too.

I still vote for option A on this, but option B is not bad etheir. I'm glad that you can code in the AI too understand option B.

[President_Elect_Shang]

Here we are; I must admit that I am somewhat nervous. I should also admit that I am prepared for the worst, that this Mod sucks and should be shot and dragged around the forum to be laughed at. Ok, all of my concerns aside here it goes, as they say Last call for alcohol:

Dan K = StarFireMod.rar
Clc = ???
GrowlTigger = ???
Mike (not Forum) = StarFireMod.rar

T minus 1

[ February 13, 2004, 02:53: Message edited by: President Elect Shang ]