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Author Topic:   Editing [faction.txt] and alpha.txt

Courageous posted 02-17-99 02:18 PM ET

Hi. I'm just wondering if someone has
collected information on editing/
customizing the game yet.
Firaxis: There appears to be some kind
of undocumented limit on how many modifications a faction can support
on their capabilities. Furthermore, the
FUNGNUTRIENT, FUNGENERGY, and FUNGMINERALS
modifications don't seem to work right,
but this may be do to the limit.
Is their a # of character limit to the
modification line, or other restrictions
we need to know about?

Chris Pine FIRAXIS posted 02-18-99 10:08 AM ET
It's a little tricky.
FUNGNUTRIENT, FUNGENERGY, and FUNGMINERALS all only give you 1 addition resource per fungus square, no matter what number you enter after them.
Also, there are two different kinds of bonuses: those that are 'counted' and those that aren't. You only get 8 of the 'counted' ones, which include the FUNG stuff and the SOCIAL stuff.
For example,
SOCIAL, +++MORALE
means the same as
MORALE, 3
However, the first one will count as one of your eight 'counted' bonuses, while the other is 'free'. (The down side is that the latter is an outmoded usage and thus doesn't show up in the Social Engineering screen.)
Other bonuses that count toward your 8 are:
- Your starting tech (though not the number of free techs you get when you start)
- Your bonus facility (like Perimeter Defense for the Hive)
- SOCIAL, ROBUST, IMMUNITY, IMPUNITY, and PENALTY bonuses
- VOTES
- Bonus Vehicle (though I haven't tried this, so I'm not sure if Brian left it in or not)
Much of what was left was not intended to be used, but was left in from earlier versions of the game. They do provide some unofficial ways around the eight-bonus limit (though you really shouldn't need that many...). For example, the morale trick above. You can also use the RESEARCH and TECHCOST bonuses to get around using SOCIAL, RESEARCH (though again, it won't show up in the SE screen). You can use COMMERCE and INTEREST to avoid using SOCIAL, ECONOMY, and so on. (Be careful when using INTEREST! It is way too powerful! NEVER set it above 10!)
Remember, if none of the official factions use it, we give no guarantees that it works!
DAT posted 02-18-99 10:36 AM ET
Thank you, Chris! That's the kind of meaty feedback that makes these forums MOST valuable!
Marian posted 02-18-99 04:45 PM ET
Take a look at the ACZone to find an article about it and some new faction (4 by now)
Ciao
Marian
Editor of the Alpha Centauri Zone
alphazone.cjb.net
UndertakerAPB posted 02-19-99 02:09 AM ET
I tried many times playing around with the alpha.txt.Like the way I use to do with CIV2.But it just seem alot more complex than I thought it would be.
I hope Firaxis could come out with something similiar to the scenario editor Microprose made for CIV2/GOLD.It would then be much easier to change techs and even unit designs.
Fiannaidh posted 02-19-99 09:27 AM ET
You can have a max of 256 characters in your special rules/social rules and effects line, I think it's some sort of play balancing safeguard firaxis put in so we couldn't cheat too much
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Author	Topic: Editing [faction.txt] and alpha.txt
Courageous	posted 02-17-99 02:18 PM ET Hi. I'm just wondering if someone has collected information on editing/ customizing the game yet. Firaxis: There appears to be some kind of undocumented limit on how many modifications a faction can support on their capabilities. Furthermore, the FUNGNUTRIENT, FUNGENERGY, and FUNGMINERALS modifications don't seem to work right, but this may be do to the limit. Is their a # of character limit to the modification line, or other restrictions we need to know about?
Chris Pine FIRAXIS	posted 02-18-99 10:08 AM ET It's a little tricky. FUNGNUTRIENT, FUNGENERGY, and FUNGMINERALS all only give you 1 addition resource per fungus square, no matter what number you enter after them. Also, there are two different kinds of bonuses: those that are 'counted' and those that aren't. You only get 8 of the 'counted' ones, which include the FUNG stuff and the SOCIAL stuff. For example, SOCIAL, +++MORALE means the same as MORALE, 3 However, the first one will count as one of your eight 'counted' bonuses, while the other is 'free'. (The down side is that the latter is an outmoded usage and thus doesn't show up in the Social Engineering screen.) Other bonuses that count toward your 8 are: - Your starting tech (though not the number of free techs you get when you start) - Your bonus facility (like Perimeter Defense for the Hive) - SOCIAL, ROBUST, IMMUNITY, IMPUNITY, and PENALTY bonuses - VOTES - Bonus Vehicle (though I haven't tried this, so I'm not sure if Brian left it in or not) Much of what was left was not intended to be used, but was left in from earlier versions of the game. They do provide some unofficial ways around the eight-bonus limit (though you really shouldn't need that many...). For example, the morale trick above. You can also use the RESEARCH and TECHCOST bonuses to get around using SOCIAL, RESEARCH (though again, it won't show up in the SE screen). You can use COMMERCE and INTEREST to avoid using SOCIAL, ECONOMY, and so on. (Be careful when using INTEREST! It is way too powerful! NEVER set it above 10!) Remember, if none of the official factions use it, we give no guarantees that it works!
DAT	posted 02-18-99 10:36 AM ET Thank you, Chris! That's the kind of meaty feedback that makes these forums MOST valuable!
Marian	posted 02-18-99 04:45 PM ET Take a look at the ACZone to find an article about it and some new faction (4 by now) Ciao Marian Editor of the Alpha Centauri Zone alphazone.cjb.net
UndertakerAPB	posted 02-19-99 02:09 AM ET I tried many times playing around with the alpha.txt.Like the way I use to do with CIV2.But it just seem alot more complex than I thought it would be. I hope Firaxis could come out with something similiar to the scenario editor Microprose made for CIV2/GOLD.It would then be much easier to change techs and even unit designs.
Fiannaidh	posted 02-19-99 09:27 AM ET You can have a max of 256 characters in your special rules/social rules and effects line, I think it's some sort of play balancing safeguard firaxis put in so we couldn't cheat too much