Orbital Colonies

[Krsqk]

I don't know what results you get by removing some/all of the standard sizes. I do know you have to go through the SystemTypes.txt file and remove any references to the old types. You also have to go to DefaultColonyTypes.txt (I think that's the name} for each AI that has one and remove planet type entries for those sizes.

[LostCommander]

Gee... This is a lot more complicated than I thought it would / could be... I think I am going to stick to resource stations with cargo space...

[geoschmo]

Ok, great news!

First, another discovery. Adding a planet size smaller than tiny does cause the moons that are specified as tiny to come out as small as you guessed it might Puke.

But adding the new planet size has no effect on the player planets. An "average" start results in a medium planet, and a "Good" start results in a large planet. The same as the stock files.

I modified the systemtypes file and every where it called for Huge I changed it to Large, and every where it called for Tiny I changed it to the new smaller than tiny planet size. The results were better than I expected.

The planets that are specified as Large come out as Huge, like they are supposed to be anyway, and the planets(moons) specified as micro come out as tiny, like they are supposed to. So we end up with the new planet size and everything else exactly as it should be. And no need to add any new Huge planet sizes as you suggested Puke.

The game does add a few of the new planets in a random map, Typically one or two for a small map, and 4 to 5 for a large map. I don't think that is all too bad. Even if a player got lucky and had one in their home system it's not like it would be a tremendous advantage or anything. Actually it could be a slight disadvantage because it would take the place of a larger more usefull planet.

Geoschmo

[Puke]

cool! thanks Geo!

now for the LaGrange points. what if we made them as a starfield shaped planet type, that you could colonize? and if the game placed more of them, no big deal: more naturally occuring stable gravitational points. maybe they could be gas giant types - gas colonies are described as being orbital anyhow.

[Urendi Maleldil]

The LG points can't be planet types. If they were you could just colonize them. If they are stars you can use "build constructed planet" on them and if they are asteroids you could use "create planet" on them. Either way we need an extra planet type to be the space colony.

The problem with the first one is that some systems could end up with an LG point at the center instead of a star.

The problem with the second one is that the map generator will place planets (not constructed planets) just like normal stellar objects. And you can build a space colony on asteroids too.

[cshank2]

COuldnt you make it so the Space Station (The Base unit) is the hull then add a component that gives it planet like qualities? Like for instance
Star Base
Components: Bridge, Life, Crew, then something like Colony Module that makes it look like a planet in tactical with the output?> it would still grow population and the likes it would generate say 600 rescources a turn and whatnot?

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by cshank2:
COuldnt you make it so the Space Station (The Base unit) is the hull then add a component that gives it planet like qualities? Like for instance
Star Base
Components: Bridge, Life, Crew, then something like Colony Module that makes it look like a planet in tactical with the output?> it would still grow population and the likes it would generate say 600 rescources a turn and whatnot?

This can't be done through a mod currently. Malfador would need to make hard code changes to allow this sort of thing. Population on a ship or base is just cargo. They don't grow or give any abilities to the ship.

Geoschmo

[ December 16, 2002, 22:23: Message edited by: geoschmo ]