3rd party software request

Gandalf Parker · #1 July 6th, 2004, 07:13 PM

Yes, STOCK might have been the word Im looking for. But so far Im having fun with the stock game and the stock AI. Im just in a hurry to increase things like my choice of races, events, neutral races, design names, components. Anything I can add-on without finding myself in a different game or suddenly facing a whole new level of enemys.

Im sure that will come just as it did for the advanced players here. But I keep getting suggestions of MODs. And MOD is something I tend to hold off from for awhile. Most games MODs tend to be peoples rewriting the game to their idea of improvements, or turning it into something completely different because they had played the stock to death. No problem with those, I just dont seem to need them yet.

Where do I go for the biggest add-on collection to the stock game? I think my mistake before was in finding Tescoma(?) before I knew what all of the compatibility notes refered to.

JLS · #2 July 6th, 2004, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
Most games MODs tend to be peoples rewriting the game to their idea of improvements, or turning it into something completely different

Not to press the Issue but to state an observation.

If something is modded or as you say (� rewritten �) slightly from default se4 and you are comfortable with this - its ok in your opinion and not a rewrite but is truly authentic to that of se4 Gold and its Version releases.
And you state that MODS that have � rewritten � DATA or a "catch all" that is not to your taste; in my interpretations, is a gross change from the authenticity of se4.

Your comments would not interest me if you were not representative of Shrapnel Games (Title standing in full) and therefore less weight may be applied to your statements and or opinions.

Yet you yourself - want to change the DATA that deviates from the defaults that se4 offers, and in fact will change the outcome that the default AI�s must bare, if released as such (hypothetically of coarse) - would this now be considered a mod and is this not as gross of a change: if the default AI suffers in the coarse of my game allowing my outcome to be determined by your modded ("Rewritten and your preceived "idea of improved") AI?

[ July 06, 2004, 19:44: Message edited by: JLS ]

Gandalf Parker · #3 July 6th, 2004, 10:32 PM

To me there are add-ons or expansions, and there are MODs (modifications). In SEIV it seems that the line isnt as clearly defined as in some games.

I was seeking expansion sets without mods. I dont want to change the game, just increase the options of whats there. Obviously if a MOD changes it into purely a StarWars game, or a Babylon % game, or an AI upgrade for advanced players, then those are mods I dont want yet.

Atrocities says that I can set the game to use a MOD. As I understand it I can make my own MOD directory, tell the game to use it, and copy all new things there. That makes it easy to turn off anything that I do which seems to go too far. That kindof blurs the definition of MOD but I can see the sense in it. I also got the impression that one of the downloaable mods was already along that line. A collection of many peoples projects which basically expanded what the stock game already had.

Gandalf Parker · #4 July 6th, 2004, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JLS:
Your comments would not interest me if you were not representative of Shrapnel Games (Title standing in full) and therefore less weight may be applied to your statements and or opinions.

Kindof like pestering the janitor for algebra answers because he "represents" the university?

Im sure you are probably correct and Im using the wrong terms. It is your area. Or I could ask the developers. We have those.

Mephisto · #5 July 7th, 2004, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
That all sounds good. So TDM just adds things without rewriting the game? DevNull sounded like that also. I was trying not to use a MOD at all but its beginning to sound like a catchall for added things so I dont make the mess I did

That's exactly what TDM is doing: it adds races, improves their AI but does not change any rules, techs etc. from the Stock game. Just more and improved races.

JLS · #6 July 7th, 2004, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:

Im sure you are probably correct and Im using the wrong terms. It is your area. Or I could ask the developers. We have those.

Whats in a term anyway, perhaps its just the level of the verb, who knows?
That and I am attempting to quit Smoking again - I should just shoot myself

I also enjoy the tdm MOD pack
And as I assuredly recommended earlier in the thread, TDM is exactly the instructional base you needed.

Truly Gandalph, perhaps we may have other fine debates, I have enjoyed this one.

= = =

Actually, I am unsure how this got OFF topic, it was so long ago.

Other developers may be a good idea to bring into this topic - we could discuss that 3rd party program resolution?

[ July 07, 2004, 14:44: Message edited by: JLS ]

Gandalf Parker · #7 July 7th, 2004, 10:47 PM

OK I finally worked out a way to find the offending races. I used the file search to look for "Number of Anti-Ship Drones Per Target" in all of the files in all of the race directorys. Then I sorted it alphabetically, and used explorer to give me an alphabetical view of the races directories. I lined them up side-by-side and looked for gaps (meaning directorys where the settings file did not have that line)

Sure would have been easier on linux where I could have grepped */*settings*.txt for NOT having the line. That took care of most of the problems although there are some small errors in some that pop up once in awhile.

It is beginning to look like a checker would be pretty easy to do.

[ July 07, 2004, 21:48: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]