Basic Mod crap

[Sandtrooper guest]

What tools u need to hack into a .dat file to make yer own mod? Cause I hear it's absolutly hard just to make a simple modification..and I wanna try one day.

[darthan guest]

notpad or word pad my friend

[sandtrooper]

And I'm guessing the 36 frames is gunna be a hell of a thing to do if I add individual ships for each race if I plan to mod one day??

[Tovec]

Depending on what you want to do a mod can take from a minute and a half to a week and a half.

If you just want to add ships then the first thing you have to do is make the pic themselves then get them in 360 using the ship rotator. I can help you with the coding to have multiple designs for each race but ships are relatively one of the easier things. Its modules and planets that cause a lot of problems.

[sandtrooper]

That would be nice.

I just gotta grab those TGAs from Bridge Commander...

[Tovec]

Well like I said. Get a pic in almost any position as long as it is a top shot. Then I'll go and find the ship rotator and we'll spin it and then we can work on the code to putting it into the game. Only problem remains after that that it'll have the same guns as SF until you change them.

[sandtrooper]

To save you teh time for finding the Rotator, I have it. I got a few ships for all races except Pirate/Borg..

[sandtrooper]

Well, I'm guessing you want a zip with all the ships, right?

I just need a few more ships and I'm done. (I might add more if I'm lazy enough to make more ships)

[Tovec]

Well when you are done let me know. Sorry Sandtrooper to be honest I had completely forgotten about this with everything else that has gone on.

Anyway when you finish getting the ship pics let me know.

I suggest before you start modding you create a new file to put your changes into. If you don't then the file you use stops working for regular mods.

What you then need to do is put them into the sf_bmp_ships.dat (I think that is the file name but I'm not entirely sure) this can be a little tricky.

Anyway the worst part of this is the size. Try to guess the size of your ship compared to the other standard ship classes. IE Galaxy class is same size as Dread or whatever.

Then if you want to make them race specific let me know. I mean you won't have the normal command line. I'll have to look it up and I'll get back to you. I'll have internet this weekend for a brief time and I can help you more then.

[sandtrooper]

Shields## helps out (32, 38, 40, 48, 56, 64, 80). The only BIG ships are on 128, and 256, and that's only 3 big ships (The Cube being on 256).

EDIT: I think I'm done. Do I:

1) Make rotation files?
2) Send them to you for rotation files?
3) Dunno...

EDIT 2: Made rotation files/wireframes. Now I need code to put the ships ingame as seperate entrys.

EDIT 3: How do ya change race colors and lasers?

[Staker]

The ships have to be 256 BMP format. If it is not, it will not work.

2. the ships are simple.. if the borg are green... then the bmp ship will be sf-p-cb
So when you put it in the data for bmp files... it will just be sf-r-cb :borg:

Race colors depends on the number of the race... 1 is default as yellow... anything below 4 is default as another color... lasers is a different category... I will have to check my dats... to make it more clear for you.

[Staker]

www.stellarfrontier.com/down/tools.asp

Ship Rotator.

[Staker]

**************************** bitmap sections *******************************
*
* class : Bitmap class
* name : Bitmap name. Used as a default in case object has no name
* file : Bitmap filename without the .bmp and without the path
* nF : Number of frames in bitmap. Frame 0 starts at bottom of bmp
* and frame nF-1 is at the top.
* Sz : Size of the bitmap. Used for collision detection in the game.
* Saturn is a good example of why you would want to specify this
* parameter at all.
* seqT : Sequence type: time - Continuous cycle from frame 0 to frame nF-1
* and starting back at frame 0 again.
* spin - use frame that corresponds to ship heading.
* tc : Transparent color. 0 for black. Use something like 10 to set
* all pixels darker than RGB 10:10:10 transparent.
* alpha : Alpha factor. 100 sets all pixels to their full brightness. 50
* is 50% brightness. 0 is completely black.
****************************************************************************
* class race name file nF Sz seqT tc alpha
* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
#IF [race] != Pirate
ship [race] Scout[nr] sf-[r]-sc 36 32 spin 0 100
ship [race] Destroyer[nr] sf-[r]-ds 36 40 spin 0 100
ship [race] Cruiser[nr] sf-[r]-cr 36 48 spin 0 100
ship [race] Battleship[nr] sf-[r]-bs 36 56 spin 0 100
ship [race] Dreadnought[nr] sf-[r]-dn 36 64 spin 0 100
ship [race] Starbase[nr] sf-[r]-sb 36 80 time 0 100
ship [race] Freighter[nr] sf-[r]-fr 36 56 spin 0 100
ship [race] Marauder[nr] sf-[r]-ma 36 40 spin 0 100
#ENDIF
#IF [race] == Pirate
ship [race] Destroyer[nr] sf-[r]-rd 36 40 spin 0 100
#ENDIF

* #IF [race] == Terran
* ship [race] Frigate[nr] sf-[r]-f 36 50 spin 0 100
* ship [race] HCruiser[nr] sf-[r]-hc 36 40 spin 0 100
* ship [race] Juggernaut[nr] sf-[r]-jn 36 80 spin 0 100
* #ENDIF
* #IF [race] == Drengin
* ship [race] Observer[nr] sf-[r]-ob 36 64 spin 0 100
* #ENDIF
* #IF [race] == Arcean
* ship [race] Observer[nr] sf-[r]-ob 36 64 spin 0 100


Notice above we see a bunch of numbers and name we all don't know what it is...

If you want to have seperate ships... it will be a bit difficult to explain. As you see in the Pirate area... since the Pirate will be rename to Borg you will have to change that in every .dat there is for the system you will be fixing up.

#IF [race] == BORG
ship [race] Starbase[nr] sf-[r]-cb 36 40 spin 0 100
#ENDIF

As you see above the Destroyer is still named the same but if you went into another .dat. You will have to do something like so.

#IF [race] != BORG
#ECHO ** adding standard starbase definition to race [race]
[race] Starbase 0 2 .23 Starbase[mr] 2 sexplode [nr]002 [nr] 2500 12 ([mr]1002,[mr]5002,[mr]2002,[mr]3002,[mr]7001,[mr]9201,[mr]9101,[mr]9301*18*0*18,[mr]4004,[mr]4501*0*0*0*-12*12,[mr]4001*4*0*0*-9*9,[mr]4001*-4*0*0*-9*9)
#ELSE
#ECHO ** adding borg starbase definition to race [race]
* NOTE: the bitmap name should contain [nr] not [mr] to pick up the borg starbase graphic
[race] Cube 0 2 .27 Starbase[nr] 2 sexplode [nr]002 [nr] 2500 12 ([mr]1002,[mr]5002,[mr]2002,[mr]3002,[mr]7001,[mr]9201,[mr]9101,[mr]9301*18*0*18,[mr]4004,[mr]4501*0*0*0*-12*12,[mr]4001*4*0*0*-9*9,[mr]4001*-4*0*0*-9*9)
#ENDIF

Something like that... i know its confusing and I am confused myself... shit you might just be the 4th person I teach to get an error...

[sandtrooper]

Well, here's what TrekMod_BMP_ships.sec says:

**************************** bitmap sections *******************************
*
* class : Bitmap class
* name : Bitmap name. Used as a default in case object has no name
* file : Bitmap filename without the .bmp and without the path
* nF : Number of frames in bitmap. Frame 0 starts at bottom of bmp
* and frame nF-1 is at the top.
* Sz : Size of the bitmap. Used for collision detection in the game.
* Saturn is a good example of why you would want to specify this
* parameter at all.
* seqT : Sequence type: time - Continuous cycle from frame 0 to frame nF-1
* and starting back at frame 0 again.
* spin - use frame that corresponds to ship heading.
* tc : Transparent color. 0 for black. Use something like 10 to set
* all pixels darker than RGB 10:10:10 transparent.
* alpha : Alpha factor. 100 sets all pixels to their full brightness. 50
* is 50% brightness. 0 is completely black.
****************************************************************************
* class race name file nF Sz seqT tc alpha
* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
#IF [race] != Romulan
ship [race] TalonI[nr] st-r-t1 36 32 spin 0 100
ship [race] TalonII[nr] st-r-t2 36 32 spin 0 100
ship [race] RomSci[nr] st-r-rs 36 36 spin 0 100
ship [race] Melak[nr] st-r-mw 36 56 spin 0 100
ship [race] Norexan[nr] st-r-nx 36 64 spin 0 100
ship [race] D'deridex[nr] st-r-wb 72 128 spin 0 100
ship [race] Starbase[nr] st-[r]-sb 36 128 time 0 100
ship [race] Scimitar[nr] st-r-rw 36 64 spin 0 100
#ENDIF
#IF [race] != Terran
ship [race] Miranda[nr] st-f-mi 36 40 spin 0 100
ship [race] Defiant[nr] st-f-de 36 36 spin 0 100
ship [race] Constellation[nr] st-f-cs 36 40 spin 0 100
ship [race] ExcelsiorI[nr] st-f-E1 36 56 spin 0 100
ship [race] ExcelsiorII[nr] st-f-E2 36 56 spin 0 100
ship [race] Ambassador[nr] st-f-am 36 56 spin 0 100
ship [race] Galaxy[nr] st-f-G1 36 64 spin 0 100
ship [race] Sovereign[nr] st-f-sv 36 64 spin 0 100
ship [race] Starbase[nr] st-[r]-sb 36 128 time 0 100
ship [race] GalaxyII[nr] st-f-G2 36 64 spin 0 100
ship [race] Akira[nr] st-f-ak 36 48 spin 0 100
#ENDIF
#IF [race] != Klingon
ship [race] Brel[nr] st-k-bp 36 32 spin 0 100
ship [race] K4[nr] st-k-kp 36 36 spin 0 100
ship [race] Kvort[nr] st-k-kv 36 56 spin 0 100
ship [race] K'tinga[nr] st-k-kt 36 56 spin 0 100
ship [race] SuQ'Jagh[nr] st-k-sj 36 48 spin 0 100
ship [race] Vor'Cha[nr] st-k-vc 36 56 spin 0 100
ship [race] Negh'Var[nr] st-k-nv 36 64 spin 0 100
ship [race] Starbase[nr] st-[r]-sb 36 128 time 0 100
ship [race] BirdOfHavok[nr] st-k-bh 36 64 spin 0 100
#ENDIF
#IF [race] != Borg
ship [race] Detector[nr] st-b-dt 36 32 spin 0 100
ship [race] Assimilator[nr] st-b-as 36 64 spin 0 100
ship [race] Sphere[nr] st-b-sp 36 60 spin 0 100
ship [race] Diamond[nr] st-b-dm 36 64 spin 0 100
ship [race] Nexus[nr] st-[r]-sb 36 128 time 0 100
ship [race] Cube[nr] st-b-ce 36 256 spin 0 100
#ENDIF

Cube, Akira, Galaxy II, Scimitar and Bird of Havok is the SA ships. I'm not sure how to make the Cube avalible at Vice Admiral (so we don't have lotsa Cubes running around.

Trekmod.DAT

game data {
#INCLUDE sf_data_game.sec
* name value
* ------------------
players 35
robots 22
name "Trek Sol System"
desc "The Trek Solar System is a basic setup with 4 races (Terran, Klingon, Romulan, Borg). ****."
}


ship bitmaps {
#INCLUDE TrekMod_bmp_ships.sec([race]=Romulan, [nr]=0, [r]=r)
#INCLUDE TrekMod_bmp_ships.sec([race]=Terran, [nr]=1, [r]=f)
#INCLUDE TrekMod_bmp_ships.sec([race]=Klingon, [nr]=2, [r]=k)
#INCLUDE TrekMod_bmp_ships.sec([race]=Borg, [nr]=3, [r]=b)
}

missile bitmaps {
#INCLUDE sf_bmp_missiles.sec
}

explosion bitmaps {
#INCLUDE sf_bmp_explosions.sec
}

planet bitmaps {
#INCLUDE sf_bmp_planets.sec
}

colony bitmaps {
#INCLUDE TrekMod_bmp_colonies.sec( [race]=Romulan, [nr]=0, [r]=a )
#INCLUDE TrekMod_bmp_colonies.sec( [race]=Terran, [nr]=1, [r]=t )
#INCLUDE TrekMod_bmp_colonies.sec( [race]=Klingon, [nr]=2, [r]=d )
}

transition bitmaps {
#INCLUDE sf_bmp_trans.sec
}

miscellaneous bitmaps {
#INCLUDE sf_bmp_misc.sec
}

debris bitmaps {
#INCLUDE sf_bmp_debris.sec( [race]=Arcean, [r]=a )
#INCLUDE sf_bmp_debris.sec( [race]=Terran, [r]=t )
#INCLUDE sf_bmp_debris.sec( [race]=Drengin, [r]=d )
}

sound data {
#INCLUDE sf_data_sounds.sec
}

sound events {
#INCLUDE sf_event_sounds.sec
}

planet data {
#INCLUDE sf_data_planets.sec
}

robot data {
#INCLUDE sf_data_robots.sec
}

rank data {
#INCLUDE sf_data_ranks.sec
}

race data {
#INCLUDE sf_data_races.sec
}

colony designs {
#INCLUDE sf_design_colonies.sec( [race]=Arcean, [nr]=0, [mr]=0 )
#INCLUDE sf_design_colonies.sec( [race]=Terran, [nr]=1, [mr]=1 )
#INCLUDE sf_design_colonies.sec( [race]=Drengin, [nr]=2, [mr]=2 )
#INCLUDE sf_design_colonies.sec( [race]=Pirate, [nr]=3, [mr]=1 )
}

ship designs {
#INCLUDE TrekMod_design_ships.sec( [race]=Romulan, [nr]=0, [mr]=0 )
#INCLUDE TrekMod_design_ships.sec( [race]=Terran, [nr]=1, [mr]=1 )
#INCLUDE TrekMod_design_ships.sec( [race]=Klingon, [nr]=2, [mr]=2 )
#INCLUDE TrekMod_design_ships.sec( [race]=Borg, [nr]=3, [mr]=1 )
}

missile designs {
#INCLUDE sf_design_debris.sec
#INCLUDE sf_design_missiles.sec([race]=Arcean, [nr]=0, [name1]=Blaster, [name2]=Stinger, bomb, ram, flame, cannon, ImplodeMine, DOCUMENT, SHOW)
#INCLUDE sf_design_missiles.sec([race]=Terran, [nr]=1, [name1]=MassDriver, [name2]=PlasmaTorp, bomb, ram, flame, cannon, ImplodeMine, SHOW)
#INCLUDE sf_design_missiles.sec([race]=Drengin, [nr]=2, [name1]=PhotonGun, [name2]=Disruptor, bomb, ram, flame, cannon, ImplodeMine, SHOW)
}

module data {
#INCLUDE sf_data_modules.sec( [race]=Arcean, [nr]=0, bomb, ram, flame, cannon, ImplodeMine, DOCUMENT, SHOW )
#INCLUDE sf_data_modules.sec( [race]=Terran, [nr]=1, bomb, ram, flame, cannon, ImplodeMine, SHOW )
#INCLUDE sf_data_modules.sec( [race]=Drengin, [nr]=2, bomb, ram, flame, cannon, ImplodeMine, SHOW )
}


colony data {
* race population design location
*--------------------------------------------------------------
Romulan 3000000 Minor Mercury
Klingon 3000000000 Major Venus
Terran 3000000000 Major Earth
Terran 250000000 Major Luna
Klingon 1200000000 Major Mars
Klingon 100000000 Outpost Phobos
Klingon 100000000 Outpost Deimos
Borg 100000000 Major Ceres
Borg 100000000 Outpost Juno
Borg 100000000 Minor Vesta
Romulan 700000000 Major Callisto
Romulan 250000000 Outpost Europa
Romulan 700000000 Major Ganymede
Romulan 375000000 Outpost Io
Romulan 700000000 Major Titan
Romulan 90000000 Outpost Rhea
Romulan 90000000 Major Triton
}

ship data {
*
* add ship initialization data here. The column specifications are the same
* as the colony data section, except for the player column, which can specify
* either a name or index.
*
* player race population design location
*--------------------------------------------------------------------
}

[Staker]

Wow... Skillet did a rip off from SF... he could not just rewrite it... no he copied and paste

[sandtrooper]

Ermmm, I named the files TrekMod myself, I have nothing from Skillet's end..I'm gunna rename them anyways.

[sandtrooper]

Tovec, help dammit

[Tovec]

Help with what? You wanted to introduce new ships correct?
Well the bmp file looks about right. What you need to do now is make a ship design file. The orginal is something like: sf_design_ships.dat
In this you'll need to specify each ship for each race all over again. Keep the SB (copy it from the orginal) and add in new ship classes per race. This is the part that I find a little tricky but its not too hard.
Just set the race to ==Klingon or whatever.

As for your main dat file, this is where I always got messed up. I think that you need to make all the names uniform. You need to change all Arceans to Romulan, etc.
Also I didn't see if you made a new races.dat but you need one of those too. It sets the victory and loading conditions. Its the only way to successfully run a game regardless what the ships are doing.

[sandtrooper]

Am I doing the design_ships right?

(damm forum won't let it extend to teh sides, might be hard for u to read)

EDIT: I think it's solved now. I put a ENDIF when list of ships for 1 race ends, and put a IF [race] = <insert race here>.

EDIT 2: How do ya make it appear on teh list? I ain't using this online...unless I just want to be out in the open when Skillet is around...

#ECHO *** SF ship design section (v.01.30.00.17.06) **********
#IF DOCUMENT
#ECHO * this section accepts the following parameters        *
#ECHO * \[race\] to specify the design class                   *
#ECHO * \[mr\] to specify the design race id                   *
#ECHO * \[nr\] to specify the race id of the user              *
#ECHO *   (e.g., pirates using Terran design would have      *
#ECHO *          \[mr\] = Pirate id and \[nr\] = Terran id       *
#ECHO ********************************************************
#ENDIF
#IF SHOW
#ECHO * the value for \[race\] was [race]
#ECHO * the value for \[mr\] was [mr]
#ECHO * the value for \[nr\] was [nr]
#ENDIF
*                                                          expl expl                           num
*                              rank     max   bmp           bmp sound    ship     race      module
*  class    name          ro needed   speed   index       index index    id       id    vol  slots  modules
*  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [Romulan]   TalonI        0       0    .25    TalonI[mr]       2 sexplode [nr]001  [nr] 2200     12 ([mr]1001,[mr]5003,[mr]2002,[mr]3003,[mr]7003,[mr]9201,[mr]9101,[mr]9301*18*0*18,[mr]4004,[mr]4501*0*0*0*-12*12,[mr]4001*0*0*0*-5*5)
  [Romulan]   TalonII       0       2    .23    TalonII[mr]   2 sexplode [nr]002  [nr] 2500     12 ([mr]1002,[mr]5002,[mr]2002,[mr]3002,[mr]7001,[mr]9201,[mr]9101,[mr]9301*18*0*18,[mr]4004,[mr]4501*0*0*0*-12*12,[mr]4001*4*0*0*-9*9,[mr]4001*-4*0*0*-9*9)
  [Romulan]   RomSci        0       2    .25    RomSci[mr]       2 sexplode [nr]003  [nr] 2200     12 ([mr]1001,[mr]5003,[mr]2002,[mr]3003,[mr]7003,[mr]9201,[mr]9101,[mr]9301*18*0*18,[mr]4004,[mr]4501*0*0*0*-12*12,[mr]4001*0*0*0*-5*5)
  [Romulan]   Shrike     0       4    .21    Shrike[mr]     2 sexplode [nr]004  [nr] 2800     12 ([mr]1003,[mr]5002,[mr]2003,[mr]3001,[mr]7002,[mr]9201,[mr]9301*18*0*18,[mr]4004,[mr]4501*0*0*0*-12*12,[mr]4001*0*0*0*-5*5,[mr]4001*5*18*0*-3*15,[mr]4001*-5*18*0*-15*3)
  [Romulan]   Raptor        0       9    .19    Raptor[mr]  3 sexplode [nr]005  [nr] 3900     12 ([mr]1003,[mr]5003,[mr]2003,[mr]3001,[mr]7002,[mr]9201,[mr]9301*18*0*18,[mr]4004,[mr]4501*0*0*0*-12*12,[mr]4003*0*0*0*-3*3,[mr]4001*4*0*0*-3*3,[mr]4001*-4*0*0*-3*3)
  [Romulan]   Melak         0      10    .17    Melak[mr] 3 sexplode [nr]006  [nr] 5500     12 ([mr]1004,[mr]5004,[mr]2003,[mr]3002,[mr]7003,[mr]9201,[mr]9301*18*0*18,[mr]4004,[mr]4501*0*0*0*-12*12,[mr]4003*5*18*0*-3*15,[mr]4003*-5*18*0*-15*3,[mr]4001*0*0*0*0*35)
  [Romulan]   Griffin       0       9    .17    Griffin[mr] 3 sexplode [nr]007  [nr] 5500     12 ([mr]1004,[mr]5004,[mr]2003,[mr]3002,[mr]7003,[mr]9201,[mr]9301*18*0*18,[mr]4004,[mr]4501*0*0*0*-12*12,[mr]4003*5*18*0*-3*15,[mr]4003*-5*18*0*-15*3,[mr]4001*0*0*0*0*35)
  [Romulan]   Norexan       0      12    .17    Norexan[mr] 3 sexplode [nr]008  [nr] 5500     12 ([mr]1004,[mr]5004,[mr]2003,[mr]3002,[mr]7003,[mr]9201,[mr]9301*18*0*18,[mr]4004,[mr]4501*0*0*0*-12*12,[mr]4003*5*18*0*-3*15,[mr]4003*-5*18*0*-15*3,[mr]4001*0*0*0*0*35)  
  [Romulan]   Starbase      0      14    .10    Starbase[mr]    3 sexplode [nr]009  [nr] 25000    12 ([mr]1006,[mr]5007,[mr]2004,[mr]7002,[mr]9301*6*0*24,[mr]9301*18*0*0,[mr]9301*30*0*12,[mr]4003*0*0*0*-18*18,[mr]4003*12*0*12*18*36,[mr]4011*24*0*24*0*35,[mr]4503*0*1*0*0*35,[mr]0001)
  [Romulan]   Shadow        0       0    .25    Shadow[mr]    2 sexplode [nr]010  [nr] 2600     12 ([mr]1005,[mr]5004,[mr]2003,[mr]3003,[mr]7003,[mr]9203,[mr]9101,[mr]9301*18*0*18,[mr]4018,[mr]4501*0*0*0*-12*12,[mr]4003*4*0*0*-9*9,[mr]4003*-4*0*0*-9*9)
  [Romulan]   D'deridex     0      12    .22    D'deridex[mr]  3 sexplode [nr]011  [nr] 3400     12 ([mr]1005,[mr]5005,[mr]2004,[mr]3003,[mr]7003,[mr]9203,[mr]9301*18*0*18,[mr]4004,[mr]4501*0*0*0*-12*12,[mr]4010*0*0*0*-5*5,[mr]4003*5*18*0*-3*15,[mr]4003*-5*18*0*-15*3)
  [Romulan]   Scimitar      0      14    .17    Scimitar[mr] 3 sexplode [nr]012  [nr] 5500     12 ([mr]1004,[mr]5004,[mr]2003,[mr]3002,[mr]7003,[mr]9201,[mr]9301*18*0*18,[mr]4004,[mr]4501*0*0*0*-12*12,[mr]4003*5*18*0*-3*15,[mr]4003*-5*18*0*-15*3,[mr]4001*0*0*0*0*35)


[Tovec]

Make what apprear on "the list" ? What list?
If you mean the offline - play against the computer - list then you have to copy the data inside the file of the Trek.dat file (the main one) and into a Trek.SCN file.

Again this is where My knowledge fades. I can check it over but I wouldn't nessessarily be able to find the problem.