I saw this post, and it just seemed to fit what I'm looking for.  Wondering if anyone can tell me if in DL 1.4 during the combat screens, does the game compile the attack and defense abilities of each ship between rounds -- i.e., you attack, opponent attacks, and if so, does it seperate them out to beam, shield, missile, pd, armor, mass driver, with variables?   I've got an idea for a new defensive weapon to put into a mod, but in order to make it work the way I want it to, I need to figure out if there are variables are being used for the weapons and defenses, and if they can independently be seperated out during the combat screens.  I'm also trying to figure out if I can put in code for the <Damage></Damage> section of a weapon or <Absorbtion></Absorbtion> in a defense instead of simply a number, or how else I could do it.

To the present, I haven't been able to find such a thing, if there is one.  If anyone knows, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know.

Okay, Thanks Scoutdog.  now I've just got to figure out how they differentiate the variables between the two ships during the combat.  I think I've found the basic dummy names in the .str files like they'd use for your information screens, but how do they differentiate between each ship...   and both sides...   hmm.. 

anyone have thoughts, or know someone who might know which file to dig in, I'd appreciate it.  Thank god for weekends.