Starting a new MOD ...

[Pax]

... and considering some radical changes (like that's anything new to folks who've already made MODs for SE4, heh).

Anyway, this is still in the formative stages, but I've been reconsidering the way Racial technologies work. Frankly, I think an Organic-based technology wouldn't create the same engine types as, say, a crystalline-based technology. Some racial technologies should be considered "prime" types -- selecting one will change just about *everything*. Hulls, engines, you name it.

Now, based on my still-highly-incomplete understanding of the way the tech tree works; it seems that I should be able to set up the tech tree to include *all* components, from all races, based on the basic tech fields (bear with me here), so that (say) crystalline technology, organic technology, and "standard" technology all have comparable components/facilities become available at similar breakpoints ... the non-standard components would simply have thematic "twists" to their capacities (organic components would -all- regenerate, for example). The tech levels wouldn't have to be identical; the components/facilities would not be direct parallels. But they could be roughly close to each other, and basically balanced between benefit and research cost.

Now, to keep each one seperate, I figure on setting the prerequisites to include an extra, non-researchable field (with all of one level, which the player would start with from turn 1). If one selects Organic technology during empire creation, you gain the Organic Tech "starter field", and lose the Standard Tech starter field.

Thus, if an organic and a standard race both reach X, Y, and Z levels in three different fields -- the Standard-tech empire will have pretty standard SE4-fare components and facilities.

But ... the organic-tech empire will not have access tot hose. Instead, the organic-tech empire would have access to special, organic-technology equivalent components and so forth.

Now, the problem is .... Deconstruct and Analyse. Is there a way to set a given tech field such that you can never learn THAT single field from a D&A, or would the mod have to require an honro system of "Noone performs a D&A, ever" ... or some other solution?

...

I'd also appreciate any pointers folks can give me to some good (and FREE) ways to make image files, since such a scheme will require a wider-array of components that currently have pictures (there'd have to be more than just one picture for crystal-based armor -- even if it's all just a color-shift sort of affair ...).

And anyother pointers on making MODs. This'll be my first-ever try at MODding anything ...