Some Modding questions.

from GalCiv2 Forums
Hi, I have some modding questions..

1. Is there a full tech tree somewere? (other then "in game") specifically, the weapon and shield trees?

2. How high can AI priority be set for a tech?

3. Anyone know of a good free .BIK program?

4. What is the "average" poly count for SD ships? Or what would be considerd a "acceptable" poly count?

5. Generaly if you see a "string not found" error, what would that generally mean (IE locating, ie a .str file, or the exe?)

6. Can we add "more" of something? For example, minor races, techs, resources etc.. what is "hardcoded" for the number of things? (like 10 major races for example)

7. Does "Line order" matter? The order that things are in? For example should it reflect the "ignor" text at the top?

8. What are the "Hard codded" limitations? Obviously you cant list them all, but what are the known ones, or ones you know of offhand?

9. Can widgets be added "in-game"? For example, you have a MP3 player widget on the start screen on the news area, can that be done "in game"?

10. Can we add "Major Races" or is that hard coded? (I want to ask before I get to far into trying)

11. Is the entire AI in the EXE?

12. Are we allowed to modify the exe or DLL file to support a mod? I imagine that the answer to this will be NO, and I understand and dont blame you (I wouldnt allow it either), but you never know for sure until you ask, consider this a "stupid" question. (consider myself smacked for asking lol)

13. Is the number of governments "hard coded" (I really hope not, cause I could do allot here)

Anyway, any ideas or help with any of these questions would be appresiated, and thanks for any helpful responses in advance

(Oh and I apologize in advance for the exe/dll question)

ST
modding
6,941 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Bumping this for sure because I was trying to come up with a list of questions myself....don't know if adding them here will do any good or not but...what the hey here is a couple...BTW have you read Cari's guide to modding, I found it a BIG help and answered many questions I had here is the link incase not

Link

SHADOWTEK.NET ANSWERS TO WHAT I KNOW/THINK:

1. What do you mean? The file? A list? The coding for the current one, with just the defense and weapons?

5. I believe this is from the program not going to grab the right information, I have been able to increase the range of ships through starbase modules, but it reads it as "String Not Found: +5%" , but it did increase it. - But this is definately a question for someone else

6) Yes you can add more TECHS atleast, I believe you can add additional anamolies, minor races (though how the program decides which to use is beyond me)...I haven't experimented with Resources, but will be today..Someone said they are waiting for a mod that would allow upto 12 major races (dread lords and custom), but haven't seen it yet, and from what I read that should be impossible without programming.


QUESTIONS:

14. How are the Yellow/Orange/Red tiles for a planet decided and placed? I see that its a enhancement level (1 - 3), but is the number decided strictly by planet quality? Can planet quality be increased by number and not just by precent?

15. Will some or all (please list which) of the reamining parts of modable abilities be added? I can not seem to get the "Range" part for starbase modules "TYPE" to work, but if I set "TYPE" to defense, and ability to RangeXXX, it appears to work.

16. Can someone help me understand what I need to do to set up multiple mods folders to select from, I can't get any to show besides Default and Example, possibly a release version ability?
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
1. nope, I replaced the laser and railgun lines in my mod and will continue with shielding, so if you can wait a few days

2. I would say not at all. The AI value just says how the AI handles the tech when it comes to trading

3. the player is free

4. in the kryos hull mod thread (the one where someone asks to make the mod a valid patch) a dev posted the poly counts, look there

5. anything that starts with s_ is a string as stated by stardock somewhere, I would say this s_tag is misplaced/not correctly defined, returning an error

6. I know of no limits in such things, minor races could be added as far as your fantasy goes. Only the selection is limited by the UI (you cant see more then 10 major races), but you can make your own UI, opening slots for more races to select. there is a mod around that opens the limit a bit (normaly you can play max with 9 races, with this mod you can play with all 12). As far as I understood the changes, it seems quite possible to add more lines.

7. no

8. homeworld has a starport, civ starts with survey and colony ship (except you make your own custom map). requirities are limited to one (you cant make a tech or improvement or ship component that needs 2 techs). Thats all I know about.

9. sorry no idea what widgets are :/

10. you can replace current races. The files look like as if you could add more, but you are limited to the UI (only 10 races are visible) you would have to modify it

11. no idea, most likely

12. this one is for the devs

13. you mean the political parties ? no they are not. and the stuff like galactic republic / democracy?... open the english.str. Line 1212 starts the government ids, line 1593 the governments are defined, at the end of this section you can see what bonuses a given government gives. is this hardcoded? no idea, but it looks like you can edit it, if it crashes... you have to try out.


Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hi, thanks for the help, I made the 12 race mod, it IS possible but I had to modify one of the screen files with DesktopX free version (I actually bought it, but my subscription ran out along time ago so Im useing the free version JIK)

A widget it a object with a specific function, like a MP3 player, A clock etc.. Its a feature of Desktopx.

On the weapon and Shield trees, I just want a tech tree layout, as I dont agree with the current shield costs, and wanna do a overhaul of it.

I asked about the strings not found error, cause I have that error on the FR stat page with my 12 race mod, it doesnt effect the game at all, but some people may be annoyed with it.

So no more government types Dame, I wanted to add Communisim, feudal, Monarcy, Virtual Democ.., etc...

Yes I can modify the GUI I already have and included it as part of a mod, still awaiting approval...

Ok so I can replace minor races, but not add them, not a problem thanks for that Saves me time.

Theres a BIK player? What about a MPEG>BIK program

Thanks for the help

ShadowTek
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
if you just want to alter the cots, edit the techtree for research cost, or the gc2types for ship module costs

I used to play with the german version, when I wanted to retire, I got the "string not found" error, in the english version I get the "are you sure you want to retire" (or something like that) question. so the internal ID for the retire-question defines the window, and the question itself is the string. you speak about string not found in FR stat page... so most likely you got a problem there.

no more? never said it.... try the english.str file as I said, just adding one more government as tryout is not that much

you can replace the major races, you could add major races, you can add minor races too as they are not selected, but spread randomly in a game, so why not adding a couple more? I see no limit to the xml file.

Im not working with movies, so I have no idea about converters and such. Hit google and search

btw im on irc right now in the galciv channel if you want to speak a bit
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Whats the channel? Sorry never use IRC?

ST
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
irc.stardock.com 6667

#stardock and #galciv