Empty facilities and secret projects, more technologies

[Mart]

In this case, with no extension of memory allocated for technology array, we get:
89*44/24 = 163.17
163 technologies.

...but changing all the references still means it's not trivial.

You mean references to the array data only?
With extension of memory for the array, reference change would be needed for everything "after" the array. Meaning even much more work?

[Yitzi]

In this case, with no extension of memory allocated for technology array, we get:
89*44/24 = 163.17
163 technologies.

...but changing all the references still means it's not trivial.

You mean references to the array data only?
With extension of memory for the array, reference change would be needed for everything "after" the array. Meaning even much more work?

To actually extend the memory and shift everything subsequent over would indeed mean that, which is why there's absolutely no way it's happening (at least not without decompiled code to modify).  If the total array size is to be extended, it will be moved completely, almost certainly to dynamically allocated memory.

[gwillybj]

163 technologies.

edit: Instead of a small Pine, Deirdre would have a Sequoia!

[Mart]

SMACX can be enhanced in so many ways, but in order to have something significant, like expanding gamepley experience, these would be on the top of the list, I think:
- more technologies
- more facilities, with more effects, also optionally more than 64 of them (though now, there seem to 69 slots).
- more SP, like facilities, new effects, optionally more than 64. (now 64 slots), but needs to be checked.
- more chassis types
- more move domains: combined/selective like: "ocean shelf and flat terrain only" for true hooverboats, etc.
- play with more than 7 factions.

First 3 would be already a lot. Having expended tech tree with new facilities and SPs, that would be like SMACX 1.5. Having more chassis is like close to SMACX 2.0
Just added more than 7 factions, ... forgot this one.

[Yitzi]

SMACX can be enhanced in so many ways, but in order to have something significant, like expanding gamepley experience, these would be on the top of the list, I think:
- more technologies
- more facilities, with more effects, also optionally more than 64 of them (though now, there seem to 69 slots).

More than 64 would probably mean moving to heap memory, especially if you want a reasonable degree of effect customizability (as that increases the space taken), and those last 5 slots are for satellites and stockpile energy.

- more SP, like facilities, new effects, optionally more than 64. (now 64 slots), but needs to be checked.
- more chassis types

These would mean moving to heap memory.

- more move domains: combined/selective like: "ocean shelf and flat terrain only" for true hooverboats, etc.

That should be more doable, though somewhat tricky.

- play with more than 7 factions.

That would be extremely difficult.

[Mart]

- play with more than 7 factions.

That would be extremely difficult.

It looks like something for AC2 (that Firaxis or other company may want to make someday) or simply a clone game, like in public domain, or game with mod of SMACX (for the rights issue).
It was done, for example in the case of Birth of the Empires game - free available online game, that has a mod made by fans of Birth of the Federation game to that Star Trek franchise. BotE is completely new code. But this is topic for another thread.

[Mart]

Trying some new things in an old mod.
So, in short, I somehow made AI to start a SP, that is empty.
I enabled it, by giving it "None" as tech requirement and setting "SP count as scenario objective" option.
The only benefit is +25 victory points in the score, but apparently, that was sufficient
However, I had to wait hitting end turn till 2196 for Lal to do it... And this SP is made to cost only 4 rows.

Anyway, this is something new.