TDM-ModPack 1.71 Posted - Report Bugs Here

[Daynarr]

Well, Atrocities, I wouldn't mind doing Borg AI for the next ModPack.
I hope to make them killer drones with lots of weapons (a big change comparing to what they are now).

I do have a gripe against the Dominion though - they are WAY too peaceful. Hell, they are even more peaceful then the Earth Alliance (I think that only Phong are more peaceful then your Dominion). You could look into this (maybe you could use politics and anger file from some other, more aggressive race as a quick fix).

[This message has been edited by Daynarr (edited 25 April 2001).]

[dogscoff]

Mod pack sounds brilliant.

Why don't MM include this as standard into a future patch? After all it adds so much to the game without taking anything away from it. I would love for this mod pack to be part of a "standard" SE installation- I hate altering the standard install because when I do I get problems with each new patch that comes out and I wind up quitting well- established games before they're finished. In fact I haven't ever played a game right through to the end.

I know there would be copyright issues with the Star Trek, B5 etc races but I don't like to play with shipsets from TV anyway. I think the SE universe has enough stuff of it's own without having to borrow from other sci-fi.

It sounds like you guys are in communication with MM, have you asked them about including your mod? (or at Last the bits without copyright issues)




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There is an exception to every rule. Including this one.

[Atraikius]

Daynarr:

Would it be possible to have the Zorians included in an upcomming ModPack once I finish the alternate speech and fix the designcreation file for the poblem I had with the "Must Have Ability One" ?

[chewy027]

Why don't you guys include EVERY competent race into this mod. As long as the maker gives permission of course. I mean instead of downloading all these different races off universal shipyards, Hyperion, UTC etc. Have them in this mod. it would be a lot easier that way. Plus newbies could get many of the player created races in one shot. Now I know this would take a lot of work but it's just a suggestion. I mean I give an A+++ to the mod now. And I appreciate all thw work already put into it. I guess I just see this mod as a sort of expansion to the game which should continue to grow as new races are added and old ones improved. If I had the talents to make a race I'd want it to be put into this mod right away, a sort of rite of passage into the race creation arena. Well, sorry i rambled

Thoughts?

[Tampa_Gamer]

Chewy - not all of the races posted have AIs and even if they do, a lot of them are either (a) just slightly modified default files from the game or (b) contain obsolete files from several Version ago. The races in the ModPack are picked b/c the authors have taken a lot (and I mean a fifty to a hundred plus) hours modifying and TESTING their AI files and continue to do so with each new Version. The authors in the ModPack are also committed to updating their races and providing feedback pretty regularly (look how fast God Emperor updated after his post).

Now please, I am not saying that others are not doing this, I am just saying that it takes awhile and a good amount of feedback before we are comfortable including a race in the ModPack. Plus, it is already getting slightly unwieldy. For instance, due to the content and size of this Last post it took the combined effort of 5-8 hours to compile and test all of the revised races to ensure no errors and compatibility - after each author submitted their latest and greatest.

Anyway, we do add races, just at our own pace. If a race has outstanding AI and everyone on the Boards are talking about it (i.e. the Rage), you can bet we will be contacting the author.

Gee - this is my second long post of the day. I gotta start working. . .

[This message has been edited by Tampa_Gamer (edited 25 April 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Tampa_Gamer (edited 25 April 2001).]

[Daynarr]

quote:

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Originally posted by Atraikius:
Daynarr:

Would it be possible to have the Zorians included in an upcomming ModPack once I finish the alternate speech and fix the designcreation file for the poblem I had with the "Must Have Ability One" ?

---

Well, it's just like the Tampa said - if they perform well enough they will find their way to the ModPack.
It is not my decision alone, of course. We usually test all races and discuss about them before we include them in ModPack. It's a process and it takes time.

Btw, I have them in my large test game with my custom map that should allow all races to have a chance for victory. I did notice that they need much larger designname file. Apparently they have a large number ship designs and they run out of names very quickly.

[SunDevil]

God Emperor:

I will focus on two of the files that will hopefully provide some tips.

1.First File
================================================== =====================================
AI DATA FILE - Settings
================================================== =====================================

================================================== =====================================
*BEGIN*
================================================== =====================================

Max Ship Size Tonnage From Start 1 Amount:= 0
Max Ship Size Tonnage From Start 1 Num Turns:= 0
Max Ship Size Tonnage From Start 2 Amount:= 0
Max Ship Size Tonnage From Start 2 Num Turns:= 0
Max Ship Size Tonnage From Start 3 Amount:= 0
Max Ship Size Tonnage From Start 3 Num Turns:= 0
Turns to Wait until next attack:= 2
Maximum Maintenance Percent of Revenue:= 99
Maximum Research Point Generation:= 250000
Maximum Intelligence Point Generation:= 150000
Maximum Systems to Defend at a Time:= 5
Get Angry Over Allied Colonizable Planets:=True
Get Angry Over Enemy Colonizable Planets:= True
Percentage of Allied Planets to consider as Attack Locations for Anger:= 40
Percentage of Enemy Planets to consider as Attack Locations for Anger:= 80
Personality Group:= 2

================================================== =====================================
*END*
================================================== =====================================

In this first file, I only see two things that could make your race description a little more accurate. In the ai_genral.txt file you stated that they are very cunning and aggressive, and have gone far in technology. I would then think that increasing Maximum Research Point Generation := 400000 thus giving them a clear technological research advantage. The second thing I would do is change the Maximum Intelligence Point Generation to about 500,000. These are just estimates and you can adjust as necessary, but with the current defaults left in, the romulans really won't be that cunning or have a technological advantage as stated in the ai_general file.

2.The second file
================================================== =====================================
AI ANGER DATA FILE - Default
Per Attack Location:= 2
Per No Treaty Ship:= 1
Per Ally Ship:= 0
Per Enemy Ship:= 0
Minimum Anger:= 20
Regular Decrease:= -2
Mega Evil Empire:= 50
Combat Attacking Won:= 5
Combat Attacking Lost:= 15
Combat Attacking Stalemate:= 0
Combat Defending Won:= 5
Combat Defending Lost:= 15
Combat Defending Stalemate:= 0
Intelligence Against Us:= 5
Receive General Message:= 0
Receive Propose Treaty:= 0
Receive Accept Treaty:= -3
Receive Refuse Treaty:= 20
Receive Offer Counter Treaty Proposal:= 0
Receive Break Treaty:= 10
Receive Declare War:= 20
Receive Propose Trade:= 0
Receive Accept Trade:= 0
Receive Refuse Trade:= 5
Receive Offer Counter Trade Proposal:= 0
Receive Give Gift:= -3
Receive Accept Gift:= 0
Receive Refuse Gift:= 5
Receive Offer Tribute:= -3
Receive Accept Tribute:= 0
Receive Refuse Tribute:= 5
Receive Want a gift:= 10
Receive Want a tribute:= 10
Receive Demand your surrender:= 30
Receive Remove your ships from system:= 5
Receive Remove your colonies from system:= 5
Receive Leave planet:= 5
Receive Stop hostile actions against empire:= 5
Receive Break treaty with empire:= 5
Receive Declare war on empire:= 0
Receive Make peace with empire:= 0
Receive Support us against another empire:= 0
Receive Attack empire in system:= 0
Receive Attack planet:= 0
Receive Stop espionage activities:= 0
Receive Stop sabotage activities:= 0
Receive Stop attacks in system:= 0
Receive Surrender:= 10
Receive Grant independence to colony:= -5
Receive Demand / Request / Warn:= 0
Receive Accept Demand/Request:= -5
Receive Refuse Demand/Request:= 5

================================================== =====================================
*END*
=============================================

Now if you haven't seen it yet, there is a big connection between this file and the one posted above. The very first line is Per Attack Location:= 2. This means that per attack location, it will add two points of anger to the anger total. Now that might not seem like a lot, but look at the settings.txt file at the bottom. It says this: Get Angry Over Enemy Colonizable Planets:= True
Percentage of Allied Planets to consider as Attack Locations for Anger:= 40
Percentage of Enemy Planets to consider as Attack Locations for Anger:= 80

Now because of this choice you made in the settings.txt file, you race will be at war with everyone no matter what for most of the game. Here is an example, if an ally has 100 planets and an enemy has 100 planets, the anger being added to your score is 80 points and 160 points respectively. 80 points by itself added to the total of romulan race anger total, will guarantee that it will hate your ally, and that person will not be an ally for very long, thus causing the inbalance of diplomacy in this game. Adding 160 points to your total will make sure that enemy will stay hated for a very long time, most likely for the rest of the game.

Now with the rest of this file, just go through each statement and ask yourself if you were the Romulan empire how angry would you get if someone told you to leave a planet of yours, or a whole star system or told you to surrender. Now remember most default races will have a maximum of 50 to 60 anger points before they declare war. I'm not saying this is right, but each statement in the anger file should have a value to it besides zero. This is just a start, if you like what you see and understand what I'm talking about I will post something more about anger files and about the political file as well. I just also wanted to thank you for your effort and time you've must of put into adding races to this game, and hope you contribute more to the community.