Space Monsters!!!

Trachmyr · #1 July 7th, 2001, 11:49 PM

Ok folks, I'm writing a mod for space monters... only need to finish the AI_const_vehicles, AI_DesignCreation, find componet/facility pics and get permission to use the Cephalopeia ship set.

But I have a question for you... Would you want a mod that is "error-trapped" OR one that is compatible with TDM???

Here's my quandry, right now it's compatible with TDM... it adds stuff, but dosen't change anything already there. But there *can* be some problems... if the monsters get ahold of tech their not suppose to (particularly ship construction) they might produce ships that aren't "right"... also their facilities are WAY overpowered if a human captures one (they are balanced for them though), this shouldn't be too easy as they are to produce lots of troops and most of their systems will have a "Change bad Intelligence -100%" ability... but it can happen.

The way to fix this is by going the P&N route and creating a "normal tech - racial trait" thus disallowing the space monsters the normal technology (and I wouldn't need to make such uber facilities to ensure that the space monsters use 'em and only them)... this is a bit of extra work on my part, and means that all empires will need to be "adapted", it dosen't take too long but it reduces compatiability.

What do you guys think?

Also, if you have/know of good "organic-looking" componets facility pics let me know... I need 'em and I'm not an artist!

[This message has been edited by Trachmyr (edited 08 July 2001).]

Trachmyr · #2 July 8th, 2001, 10:41 PM

Anyone? opinions? I'm almost done (just need a few componet pics, and get permission to use the ship set), and I need to know what the seiv comunity would prefer... a completely "non-abusable" mod or a stdandard seiv/tdm compatible mod.

Please let me know...

PsychoTechFreak · #3 July 8th, 2001, 11:29 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Trachmyr:
... a completely "non-abusable" mod or a stdandard seiv/tdm compatible mod.

Please let me know...

I would prefer the "non-abusable" Version. Otherwise -I guess- even if the human players are self-restrictive the monster techs could be found in ruins by the other AIs. OTOH, if your mod is not compatible with TDM then it could cause a lot of work -from your side

- every time when a new patch comes out ?

Trachmyr · #4 July 9th, 2001, 04:26 AM

thanks for the feed-back...

It won't be that abusable... all of the monster tech is a racial trait (although a 0 point one), but to make sure the "monsters" only use stuff from this tech I have to make their facilites (Larval Pool, Metamorphisis Nodes, Central Nervous Nexus and Organic Harvesters) "uber-facilites"... i.e., they produce alot more than their "non-monster" counterparts... but they have inherent disadvantages due to their culture setting that off-sets it. But if a human can capture one of their worlds, it could be abused.... I have them building alot of troops/fighters for defense and they get a 100% ground combat bonus and the first facility they build gives the "reduces bad intel" at 100% (I don't know if this actually works yet). They won't research/build normal stuff (even the ship sizes they use are non-standard (i.e., a small queen is 440KT a Large Soldier is 560KT) and the ai_design_creation file specifies these EXACT non-standard sizes) and they won't except trades/gifts (or any form of diplomacy) giving them the tech...

What I'm worried about is players doing their best to CAPTURE these worlds instead of glassing them... If I require all other empires to take a racial trait (0-point) of "Not a monster" (ala P&N), I can completely remove the monsters acess to normal stuff, thus I don't have to make their facilities "uber-facs"... but all empire files will have to be altered, both currently in se4/tdm and all future ones (not to mention requiring a larger .zip)

So now that I've explained it a bit further, what do you think... is the possibility of abuse remote enough that I can leave it like it is... or should I go ahead and create a "Normal" racialtrait and alter techarea.txt and all the .emp files?

Phoenix-D · #5 July 9th, 2001, 04:55 AM

Hate to tell ya, but I think if you add ANY new racial traits- even if the empire doesn't use em- the empires need to be redone.

As for human players capturing- they won't be able to build- you can't analyze racial techs, remember- so it wouldn't be THAT bad. Or.. hrm. I wonder if you could make the ships zero cost, then specifiy the planets to make one spaceyard/queen ship and abandon?

Phoenix-D

Trachmyr · #6 July 9th, 2001, 05:26 AM

Yep... just found that out, I got to make all new .emp files! great, and I thought I was almost done

Oh, well... I guess I might as well do it the "safer way" now.

BTW, I know that the tech couldn't be analyzied... I was just afraid of humans getting ahold of a built-up hive... And I wish I could get them to abandon a colony, but there's no way to do it that I know of...