Carrier Battles Mod

sachmo · #1 July 24th, 2006, 11:41 AM

Well, I tried auto-combat, which seems to work best for me. Now if I can just figure out the strategies.

scJazz · #2 July 26th, 2006, 05:44 PM

Suicide,
After about 30 minutes of tweaking this that and the other thing I got CB 1.6 working with AIs. However I'm not entirely certain that I have everything setup the way you would. In one of the 1.6 downloads I found 8 AI races. In another 1.6 download I found like 17 races (TDM + extras). At the risk of sounding ungracious would it be possible for you to release a 1.7 version with instructions on things like empty out the AI directory?

Setting up your mod required...

1) Install and update to version 1.94 of a clean SEIV
2) Install of ImageMod
3) Overlay of SB 1.6
4) Removal of extra Races in /Pictures/Races after I noticed that not all were included in 1.6.
5) Re-Install of ImageMod because I thought that would help fix an error referencing /Pictures/Combat
6) A bit more tweaking that I don't quite remember right now.
7) Another overlay of SB 1.6 /Pictures/Races

Was ALL of this necessary? Probably not...

Would it work flawlessly if I just installed ImageMod on a fresh 1.94 installation and dropped your 1.6 zip in? No certainly not.

Puke · #3 July 26th, 2006, 06:12 PM

actually, yes. yes it should, and it does for me.

I'm running a clean copy of the latest version of the game. I have the image mod installed directly on top of SE4 (as its non-destructive and does not hamper stock game play). Then I have CB installed into a specific mod directory, and I use the Mod Launcher to call it.

so, essentially:
- clean, latest, se4 install
- image pack
- mod

not sure what youre doing wrong. try again slowly and carefully.

scJazz · #4 July 26th, 2006, 06:23 PM

what I'm doing wrong is not using Mod Launcher cuz I'm just getting into this whole Mod thing and haven't downloaded it yet.

Suicide Junkie · #5 July 26th, 2006, 07:07 PM

Woah, woah, woah!!!
3) Overlay of CB

That's your problem right there.
Never ***EVER*** overwrite your stock files with mods. (Only the imagepacks, since they are fully backwards compatible with savegames and PBW.)

You can add races to your stock se4\pictures\races folder no problem too, just don't overwrite stuff or put modded AI files into the stock folder. Modded AI files need to go in the se4\modname\pictures\races folders.

(Note: first, you'll probably want to restore your stock files from CD)
Here is how to install and play CB:
Step 1) Extract the zip to your SE4 folder (it will create a CB1.6 folder)
Step 2) Edit path.txt. Change the "path:=none" to "path:=CarrierBattlesV1.6"
Step 3) Run SE4.exe

These same steps apply to 99% of mods out there. Some have wacky directory structures in their zips, but all the major ones will work right.

To change mods, just change the path.txt, and run Se4.exe.

PS:
The mod launcher is overrated. Editing the path.txt yourself builds character

scJazz · #6 July 27th, 2006, 08:59 AM

AHA! My excessive lvl of geekdom forced me by habit into tweaking the $^(% out of the files themselves!

OK doesn't change the fact that one of the 1.6 downloads has 8 races and another has 17 or so.

I'd like you to consider changing the range of the PBMs to something reasonable like 10. It does a couple of things first it allows the firing ships to not waste supplies by firing a second salvo at range 20 (if they are set to long range bombardment). Currently they fire a round at range 20 which finally hits the target at turn 25 or so and then they lob a second missile that can't possibly make it to the target before turn 30. This change would also have the effect of forcing a PBM armed Bombardment Ship into closer range making it more vulnerable. Alternatively change the reload time to 30 they won't fire a second round. Right now I've changed the range of PBMs to 10 (simulating direct orders to all ship captains not to fire a PBM beyond this range).

What is the point of plasma weapons? Less damage, pathetic range when compared to a Laser Cannon for the same weight. Uptweak them please. Seems their only purpose right now would be to nerf an AI race that was using them.

Captain Kwok · #7 July 27th, 2006, 10:30 AM

The one download is the original 8-races included with the mod, while the second download inclues the 9 races that Atrocities re-worked to be compatible with the CBmod (total of 17).

I'll leave it up to SJ to explain the weapon choices.

Phoenix-D · #8 July 27th, 2006, 01:42 PM

Quote:

scJazz said:
What is the point of plasma weapons? Less damage, pathetic range when compared to a Laser Cannon for the same weight. Uptweak them please. Seems their only purpose right now would be to nerf an AI race that was using them.

The plasma weapons are cheaper and fire twice as fast. So, where a laser cannon 1 does 340 damage (sans mount) the Plasma Cannon I does 400 damage (sans mount) in the same time period.