starting technologies allowed

Lastseer · #1 January 29th, 2001, 09:16 PM

A good idea about starting settings:

Perhaps instead of turning certain technologies off at the start of the game you could change settings to allow you to set a maximum level. That way instead of turning shield technology off for the game, You could limit it to level 6 (high regular shields, or low phased) and then limit phased weapon technology to level 2 (limit to level 0 would be off). Also with the current settings you can't turn off certain base technologies like missiles, or satellites, but with this new setting you could limit them to level 1.

What do you think?

Lastseer · #2 January 29th, 2001, 09:25 PM

Another good change:

Change the game to have a file (probably belongs in the 'Data' subdirectory) which allows us to control what the default settings are when a new game is started. Every time we start a new game we have to change the same settings (Technology Cost, Starting Resources, etc... ) back to our Favorites (or the contest rules) over and over again.

What do you think?

WhiteHojo · #3 January 29th, 2001, 09:36 PM

Lastseer, I believe you can MOD one of the Data Files now to limit the level you will be able to reach in a particular tech area. Hopefully one of the more experienced Modders out there will fill you in on the details.

------------------
Character is best defined as that which you do when you believe nobody is watching.

Jubala · #4 January 30th, 2001, 10:44 AM

Yes, it's like WhiteHojo say, it can be done by modding the datafiles, the easiest one would be TechArea.txt in the Data directory. Somewhat of a hazzle, but it can be done.

Tenryu · #5 January 30th, 2001, 01:13 PM

Lastseer, in the Data directory in SE4 is a file named TechArea.txt.

1. Put a copy of this file in a folder as backup if you want to return to what you had.
2. Open the TechArea.txt file and look at its contents.
3. Notice each 'Tech Area' has a line headed "Maximum Level".
4. Change the number value in that line to the cap you want.
5. Save the file changes.

If you make a bunch of copies of this file with different settings and save them with different names, something like; "TechCap1.txt", "TechCap2.txt", etc., all you have to do before you start a game is choose the file, rename it TechArea.txt, stick it in the Data directory and play the game.

Of course, only one file in the Data directory can be named TechArea.txt at a time.