Modding Questions (especially need help for AI)

[capnq]

How can you give a single weapon a combat to-hit bonus without affecting all the weapons on the ship?

I think you'd have to design a separate Version of the weapon with the bonus, and add it to Components.txt while leaving the originals in there, too.

How can one edit the AIs to comply with a new mod?[...] What is a good way to test a mod?

Depends on the mod. Mods that don't change any techs or Advanced Traits shouldn't require any changes to the AI. Tech changes may mean rewriting the AIs to use the techs or counter them.

Playing lots of test games is the best way to go, either solo or with volunteer betatesters helping. You can also set up hotseat solo games with more than one empire under your control, if the AIs can't handle the mod.

How much do troops affect a populace's happiness, can this be modified, if so then how/where, and how can you tell that it does (other than watching the 400+ troops you just dropped on the rioting planet make it jubliant the next month)?

This is defined by the race's Happiness type; the numbers are in Data\Happiness.txt . Watching what the troops do is the only way to judge, unfortunately; there's no way to see what the actual Anger number for a planet is.

[LostCommander]

Capnq, thanks for happiness info! For the weapon to-hit bonus, I am making new weapons and just wanted to know which ability it was (for a single weapon emplacement and not necessarily PD). I looked through the abilities file and could not find it. For the AI, my problem is illegal ship designs. I have gone through and crushed all non-conforming weapon family #s from the components, but there are still too many engines. I would like the AI to make the ships as fast as is legally possible, and no faster.

Desdinova, thanks for component restriction info!

[Rollo]

Can you be a bit more specific about the illegal desings? If you post the design and the engine components, some people might be able to help.

Rollo

[LostCommander]

Sure Rollo. The only change in the vehicle size file that the AI has access to is that Escorts and Frigates are allowed 8 engines and Destroyers and Light Cruisers are allowed 7 (as opposed to the original 6 for all lower warships). I am running across AI:

Escorts - command comps (B,LS,CQ), 1 DUC, and 9 regular, everyday Ion Engines.

Frigates - CCs, 2 DUCs, a supply storage, and 9 Ion Engines.

Destroyers - CCs, 4 DUCs, 1 SS, and 13 engines...

DUCs and IEs are completely untouched, ss was given 3K supplies instead of normal 500. I am, well... lost... as to what to do about it.

[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by LostCommander:
[QB]Capnq, thanks for happiness info! For the weapon to-hit bonus, I am making new weapons and just wanted to know which ability it was (for a single weapon emplacement and not necessarily PD). I looked through the abilities file and could not find it.

To-hit for weapons is controlled by the weapon modifier line of the data file.

[LostCommander]

Graeme Dice, Thanks! I am not sure why I could not figure that out. Even listed in the SEIV modding 101 page... *shakes head* better get some sleep I suppose.

BTW to anyone, can combat to-hit / to-be-hit modifiers be set to more than 99% / less than -99%?

[Rollo]

hmm, not sure why you get illegal designs with the changes you mentioned, but i have a suspicion...
what AI causes this? can you paste the design from the ..._AI_DesignCreation file. that would help a great deal to track the problem.