Riddle me this

[Elowan]

I'm running 1.78.

I've designed 4 new ships, made the bmps, named them, changed VehicleSize.txt to add these to the bottom of the file, ensured that each had unique 2-letter codes, tech areas, etc.

Each time I tried to Create>Ship>newship I got an error to the effect that SE can't find generic_portrait_newship.bmp.

When I dutifully copied the minis and the portraits to the RaceGeneric folder and renamed them to generic_*.bmp - the error went away and the ships display. At least the portraits do.

Wazzup widdat?

[Krsqk]

Where did you put the BMPs? I think you need one in the RaceGeneric directory, so races which don't have that BMP can still display the ship.

[Elowan]

They're special ships that no other race can construct. I set a special racial trait that worked in 1.67.

[ August 27, 2002, 04:15: Message edited by: Elowan ]

[Suicide Junkie]

Anything that one race can build, can also be built by a race using a different shipset.

All they have to do is pick that special racial trait.

[Elowan]

Are you saying that the AI can pick any trait off the list? If that's the case - how can you make anything race specific?

[ August 27, 2002, 06:40: Message edited by: Elowan ]

[Phoenix-D]

The AI can be *made* to pick any trait. Players have no restrictions. You cannot make something race specific except by agreement with the players not to take that trait.

Phoenix-D

[DirectorTsaarx]

Originally posted by Elowan:
Are you saying that the AI can pick any trait off the list? If that's the case - how can you make anything race specific?

As Phoenix and SJ point out, if you play multi-player, other humans could choose your special racial trait. And, since you can't force players to use a particular shipset based on using a racial trait, you have to have at least a "generic" Version of special ship hulls.

[Elowan]

Everthing you say about multi-player is all well and good. However - I play alone.

I established a racial trait for the soul purpose of being able to display specialized ship designs. Call it 'role playing', whatever. I am not aware that the various AI's pick their traits at random or that the AI will pick random traits to generate one of the 'neutral' races.

Having said that, let's get back to my problem.

Before I installed the update - SEIV would display my designs just fine. Since the update - it complains that it can't find generic_mini/portrait_whatevership.bmp. It only complains about the specials and only the Last 2 on the list.

Why is it asking for a 'generic' pic? Did Malfador restrict the number of vehicles in VehicleSizes.txt?

[Suicide Junkie]

- Even single-computer, sequential turn games can be played hotseat multiplayer. AI players can be switched to human control at a moment's notice. SE4, really can't tell if you're playing alone.

- As for why it is complaining, probably a safeguard for modders who might forget to add a generic image.
As far as SE4 is concerned, anybody could be playing it, not just you. That isn't the case here, but it dosen't matter.

======================

If you want to avoid the complaints WITHOUT making new generic images, simply set the ALTERNATE BITMAP NAME to something that already exists, preferably something close in size to what you've added.
That will fix all the problems with using other shipsets, automatically.

[Elowan]

I tried using an alternate bmp name. Problem is - I got the alternate picture when I tried to load my new ship.