3rd party software request

[Mephisto]

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]

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]

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 ]

[JLS]

Excellent idea

[Gandalf Parker]

The follow on errors seem to be along the same line. A "compact" formation not in a file (5 races), "Colonial Development" not found (2 races), not having a count on mega evil in a file.. still working on that one.

Im kindof confused on that one since it originally seemed like the problem was missing any speech.txt file. I was going to copy the empire_AI_Speech.txt into each directory and see if it would use it or I had to (painfully) rename each one to the race name.

I still think small executable would be possible once I find a list of easily searched for items, and the recommended fix for each. But it probably wont be MY program. I could do something to read and rewrite a text file but fast searches of multiple text files in multiple directorys is something I wouldnt want to write. Some C programmer might be best. I would probably cheat and get an open-source windows Version of grep to make a list of problems then have my program process the list. Very clunky.

[Fyron]

The link in CapnQ's signature has the list of all items that need to be added to a 1.49 AI to get it to work smoothly in Gold.

Compact formation is one of the custom formations added in TDM. Everybody forgets to tell you that the mod does actually have some modified data, though it is just the Formations.txt file...

[JLS]

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
The follow on errors seem to be along the same line. A "compact" formation not in a file (5 races), "Colonial Development" not found (2 races), not having a count on mega evil in a file.. still working on that one.

Im kindof confused on that one since it originally seemed like the problem was missing any speech.txt file. I was going to copy the empire_AI_Speech.txt into each directory and see if it would use it or I had to (painfully) rename each one to the race name.

INTERESTING: And here I thought our discussion was all but over

You do realize that not all MODS use Colonial Development. And it was my impression you were searching for (inactive Ship Sets and stock ready them for se4 v1.91...

Other then AIC or Proportions I am unaware of any other MODS that use “Colonial Development“. Since you post this - I feel a response may become necessary?

- - - -

The AIC AI at one time did have an interest in Colonial Development - I decided this Tech was not for them. So for now, the AI will not research it.

Regarding AIC Mega Evil: I decided that a few Races just do not care who is winning - Serine Races would be a good example. Actually, the more aggressive the AIC race is - the more upset that AIC AI Race would get when a Human Player starts wining in a big way. In this way the AI Players do not break their Treaties with Human Players ALL at the same time. And a few like the AIC Honarabe AI Races may never break a treaty or declare war FIRST - depending on the AIC Version you have

In regards to Compact Formations - does your statement apply to AIC?
In regards to any Speech files - does your statement apply to AIC?
AIC should have an AI Speech file in all the AI Players folders

- - - - - - - -

Briefly with and with total respect to Proportions: This Active MOD also uses Colonial Development, as well; however, if the RACE designer felt that Colonial Development may not have been in that Races best interest - him or her may have just left Colonial Development out of that Races research

- - - - - -

Basically, se4 will not research anything that it does not have the pre-req for.

Very good point Gandalf.
The AI will search its own Race Folder for it’s own RACE_AI_ Speech file. If there is none - the AI will then go to the MODS main AI Folder for the Default_AI_Speech .
However, if there is no Default_AI_Speech File in your Mods main AI Folder in this instance - se4 will CRITICAL ERROR



[ July 09, 2004, 02:22: Message edited by: JLS ]