New BBS msg suggestion

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NetHawk

NetHawk avatar
Level badge Eagleguey (11)
Posted 13 years ago.

Ok, most here by now know, my universe is getting a bit overun by xenon forces. So I was thinking "why don't the goverments actually try and do something...send some raid party's or try to overtake a sector or something", so I'm going to try and make a mission where YOU attack the xenon/khaak/pirates/yaki in their home sectors. Maybe even races between themselves. A tad more war is what we need!
So, what do you folks think?
any suggestion/ideas?

Burn rubber, not your soul!
NetHawk

NetHawk avatar
Level badge Eagleguey (11)
Posted 13 years ago.

this thread might be considered dead already, but I'm not giving up. C'mon folks post what you'd like to see!
For now I'm thinking of making a mission or two for the TL's. Since I feel those are WAY underated by default. I just have to figure out what exactly Big grin

Another thing that crossed my mind would be to make Khaak Invasion missions!
We have Xenon Invasions, which are o.k., but the khaak launch an Invasion only in the plot, kinda feels sad.

Any ideas/suggestions/criticism is welcome!

Burn rubber, not your soul!
Roguey

Roguey avatar
Level badge Trueguey (22)
Posted 13 years ago.

Sorry I missed this post in the past.

The khaak invasion cant be based on the Xenon invasion because the code is hidden inside X3. I did a smaller version of this with incoming ship - where 1 ship is tagged.

However what makes the invasion more complex is that each ship would need to be tagged, counted (ie end of mission), player kills and rewards. So this script turns into something much bigger and complex. You can take a look at plugin.roguey.bbs.incoming.ship on how 1 ship is tagged and rewarded.

I gather since there is a Xenon attack that a khaak isnt so needed. They do have a chance to spawn via the random attack generator.

I agree about the TL's - they do seem rather useless than just station building.. however what would make people want to use them? the limited docking doent offer a lot of choices with missions. Jump-drives make them jump too easily. I guess the TL class would be more useful if capital ships were the only ships to be able to use jump-drives.

NetHawk

NetHawk avatar
Level badge Eagleguey (11)
Posted 13 years ago.

The khaak invasion cant be based on the Xenon invasion because the code is hidden inside X3. I did a smaller version of this with incoming ship - where 1 ship is tagged.
- Roguey

I know, had 2 of these already Big grin
I guess it isn't very easy to do, BUT my idea was more to make it a bit more interesting e.g. having Khaak invasions running, and getting credits if you manage to clear the sector. More like the M2 mission I thought. Also, when you see the BBS it should have already begun, rather then beginning only if you accept. I'd do the same for xenon and pirates/yaki, e.g. depending on whom is a foe too you.

About the TL missions, well you already made a bbs that checks for overflow of stock in a sector, I'd take it and make it show (for a price of course) which sectors could use which factories.
And for specific TL missions I'd use that script and offer you money for building stations somewhere (not telling, that those sectors really need it...or maybe they don't, you'll never know Big grin ).

Another thing I was thinking, is to make some kind of mission that would pay seriously good, but get your rankings with a race down...

And then there is the wars I'm trying to think how to do. All in all I'm thinking ~6 new bbs missions so far, some being in multiple parts even.

gotta draw up what I got this far....but I guess this stuff is better discussed on IRC Big grin

Burn rubber, not your soul!
Roguey

Roguey avatar
Level badge Trueguey (22)
Posted 13 years ago.

I guess it isnt very easy to do, BUT my idea was more to make it a bit more interesting
- NetHawk

Oh I was thinking making it into a BBS mission however making it randomly happen would be easier. There already is a random attack generator in-place, however it only goes up-to M7 class. Would you like to see M2/1/0 on there as well?

About the TL missions, well you already made a bbs that checks for overflow of stock in a sector, Id take it and make it show (for a price of course) which sectors could use which factories.
- NetHawk

Would this be harder to work out? It might simply that the stations trade ship are getting kill or something? UT's can 'messy' up the trading lines by using jump-drives.

And for specific TL missions Id use that script and offer you money for building stations somewhere (not telling, that those sectors really need it...or maybe they dont, youll never know Big grin ).
- NetHawk

Its possible to do, although I wonder on the money side of things. Stations arent cheap, so what kind-of profit would people be wanting? if you only make a little amount of profit, then why go through the hassle of building stations? if too much, then it will be a new way of making mega money.

Another thing I was thinking, is to make some kind of mission that would pay seriously good, but get your rankings with a race down...
- NetHawk

I feel its called my rear laser Cry I find good money by capturing their M3's Smile

gotta draw up what I got this far....but I guess this stuff is better discussed on IRC Big grin
- NetHawk

sounds good.

NetHawk

NetHawk avatar
Level badge Eagleguey (11)
Posted 13 years ago.

Heyo!
Ok, I've worked out a couple details. Especially about the Invasion Mission. So here goes:

Invasion Mission: You dock at a station in the universe, doesn't matter which. One of the BBS's reads: "The sector XYZ (0-3 sectors away), is under heavy enemy attacks!
Please do not travel to this sector as it it very dangerous! All fighter pilots assistance is declined, but we do offer 2/3/4/5 x bounty for every enemy ship that is destroyed in that sector"
You don't see any Accept button or anything, just the message, like any other news story.
So, you just mind your own business, and somehow end up in the mentioned sector, your gravidar beeps, and the screen shows 10/20/30/40/50 enemy ships. It's your choice now.


Ok, how this would work I am not 100% sure yet. I was thinking it all gets controlled by the bbs message, if that message appears, it uses the random attack generator to spawn the enemy in there. it can be anything that is hostile to THAT race (Teladi don't get pirates). The ships depend on the force, it can be a TL with some escorts (~10 ships), s small attack group of 3 M6/M6+, and their support (~10 ships), or anything bigger. The important thing is, that it's varied, so you don't really know what to expect (using random Big grin ).
So far so good, now tagging 50 ships would be a bit of a waste, so I thought about the following, there is an enhanced bounty mod around the ego forums (http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=181024), using the code from that, I'd just enhance the bounty for that particular sector.
This way it wouldn't be hard on the CPU (as the game counts the kills anyway), and would give you some nice bonuses worth the fight.
Now the priority with which the message appears would be depended on the players Fight Rank, and ship type he is flying. e.g. TS/TP have a small (tiny...itsy...bitsy...but it's there), M5/M4 would have a chance of it spawning (~7 priority), with M3/M3+ it'd be a chance (10 prio), and so on. The fight rank would increase the priority and possibility of more enemies spawning in 0-5 = 0, 5-10: 1 possibility, and 10% on higher chance, 10-15: 2 possibility, 15% higher chance, 15-18: 3 possibility, 18% chance, 18-21: 3 possibility, 20% chance, 21-24: 4 possibility, 20% chance, 24-26: 5 possibility, 20% chance, 26-28: 5 possibility, 25% chance, 28-~: 6 possibility, 25% chance.

The math for this I'd thinking of implementing in the following way: the priority has a set default of 5, the ship classes add to it, and the fight rank adds to it, e.g. something like:
return prio = 5 + shipClass($Player.GetShipType) + getFightRankValue($Player.GetFightRank)
and the ship classes and fight ranks would just be if/else's Big grin

for the attack size the same kinda math would be used.

Whatcha think?

PS: To know when the invasion is over I'd just check that particular sector after 1 minute, then after 5, then after 10, and then afte another 10, until 60. if you didn't manage to destroy the force in 60 minutes....well...your problem. Also, I'd check for the Specific ships rather then just enemies. e.g. Looking for Xenon attackers, I don't care is some lousy pirates just came in....and the other way around Big grin

Burn rubber, not your soul!
Roguey

Roguey avatar
Level badge Trueguey (22)
Posted 13 years ago.

hmm.. sounds interesting.

The general idea isnt too hard to do, rather than using a bbs script it would be much better to do via the random even generator - a AL script that runs every so often. At the moment the generator has 5 things, from reactors blowing up to a pirate asking for your cargo.

So adding on a new event would be too hard - it could have a higher chance based on combat rating, which again could effect the number of spawned ships. The generator can trigger the news system to post news about this event then.

The bit which causes a lot of problems is the rewards. To give higher bounty I would need to modify another of egosoft files. I am not keen on editing those files because lower the compatibility with other scripts. I mainly try to add code and not adjust existing. I did have to modify one of egosoft scripts - to upgrade the shields on laser-towers, but I had no other choice.

I dont know if you think that will be good enough.

NetHawk

NetHawk avatar
Level badge Eagleguey (11)
Posted 13 years ago.

The bit which causes a lot of problems is the rewards. To give higher bounty I would need to modify another of egosoft files. I am not keen on editing those files because lower the compatibility with other scripts. I mainly try to add code and not adjust existing. I did have to modify one of egosoft scripts - to upgrade the shields on laser-towers, but I had no other choice.
- Roguey

Well I think tying to keep as much compatibility as possible is important too, but I'm confident there is a way around this. Gotta check the script, maybe there is a trick. I'm guessing it's something like "tapping" into the bounty-recieving script and adding the amount wanted or something. Anyway I'm quite sure it's possible. If not, I still plan to make it, and release it stand-alone, then people can decide if they think it's worth it.

Now that this has a plan it's time to figure out what to do with the TL's. The problems you pointed out with those are very well real, so I scratched those for the moment, and have a thought around....


But now to re-installing the game, and getting the yaki start a shot Big grin

Burn rubber, not your soul!
Roguey

Roguey avatar
Level badge Trueguey (22)
Posted 13 years ago.

Ive been thinking about the Khaak invasion idea and wonder if it was a good idea. I know that X3 has a variable that increases over time, as the variable increases then more khaak ships are spawned. You can often find a capital khaak ship in a sector because of this. Ive seen it even add two capital khaak ships. However the variable needs time to increase.

Now I wonder if X3 is already doing this, would adding a invasion event cause the universe to be too hostile? I think it would be crazy if there is too many fights going on, ie. A khaak M2 in every 3-5 sectors. The mod already:

- Generates random ships (up-to M7),
- Makes Xenon come from their home-sectors,
- Adds random patrol groups,
- Adds a few patrolling M2's,
- Fights in certain sectors (Presidents End, Battlefield etc.),

NetHawk

NetHawk avatar
Level badge Eagleguey (11)
Posted 13 years ago.

Heh, yesterday I had 3 Khaak Destroyers and a full compliment (around 50) fighters spawn in Tri-Star. I wonder what the game was thinking it's doing. I tried taking out a couple, but really don't have a chance. and there is noone to help. I reloaded an earlier save, since I can't have that happening at the moment. But this got me thinking. When the generator spawns anything bigger, it could add the BBS message and raise the bounty on those ships?

Burn rubber, not your soul!
Roguey

Roguey avatar
Level badge Trueguey (22)
Posted 13 years ago.

That's what I mean - the game already throws ships into the game - to put more pressure could destroy people games too easily. The mod does have racial reinforcements - when 2 or more capitals ships are found in a sector, a M2 is sent to help. When so, news maybe posted on the BBS, so you can help out.

Its a bit like your suggestion, but built around X3 hard-code. However its already in the mod Smile

NetHawk

NetHawk avatar
Level badge Eagleguey (11)
Posted 13 years ago.

well true that probably. I'm still not giving up on new missions, so here goes:
1) What is it with terracorp? are they a part of argon race or are they a separate race?
|- > missions available at terracorp owned stations. Helping them with their research. Testing out overtuned ships, making special deliveries with lot's of enemies trying to get you. Hell even delivering a capped L/LX/M or anything like that. Planting advanced satelites deep in enemy territory etc.
If terracorp is it's own race, then the higher the ranking with them, the higher the prices, but the more dangerous the missions, if not...well we gotta figure "something" out.

2) Patrol missions, why in gods name I get only 1 patrol mission for a whole game?
|-> Races offer you patroling missions with upto 10 sectors to travel. Closed loop of course. check the sectors for enemies, if none are found don't bother, if the are found, tag them. once you enter the sector, they have to be destroyed, if you exit the sector before that, you loose the prize, AND you loose race relations.

|->Deep space patrol missions: Send the player deep into a sector on random. Spawn some enemies there, AND a very small chance of a nice surprise (ship/ware, if it's ship, it HAS to be damaged! Big grin ). Tag the enemies, and again, if you leave the sector before they are destroyed...well same as patrol missions.

|-> Impending pirate/yaki/khaak attacks. again bbs mission, 4-6 sectors to check, in one of them the enemies will spawn. tag them, and destroy them.

|-> Merceneries: I have to figure this out a bit more, but it's incoming.

|||||||-> I know you won't like this one, but I'd like to drop the assasination missions from in-game and create a new set. Allways those TL's to take out without shielding is BORING. Same principle through, just harder and better paid.

|-> high value transport missions. same as the Terracorp ones just for other races.

|-> ship delivery missions. You get a ship you need to deliver somewhere. It's a prototype or something else important...well you have to deliver it there, but people might want to take it from you. NOTE: the ship DOES NOT habe a jumpdrive. if you pay the 100K...well it's your thing.

|-> Sector invasions. This one might be a bit of a longshot. but let's suppose the Split finally had enough of those pesky Teladi standing inbetween them and the Boron....well...let's take a sector from 'em with force (NOTE, ranking > 6, for sectors that are enemy to you, and above 7/8 for friendly ones). You gain HEAPS of recognition...well you loose it on the other side....and a chance of getting some gratitude from the attacking race.

| -> Sector defense..same thing, other way around.

|-> PayBack: a race decides to go to a khaak/xenon sector, and take it (pirate/yaki too? ).
You have to JUMP IN the sector first, set up an advanced satelite there. then the races fleet joins you. from this moment on, if you leave the sector you forfeit all your credits (...just have to check if you exited or jumped to the same sector in another gate), and you LOOSE lot's of recognition with that race. Now to not tag every single enemy ship there and check if they are destroyed, I'd just check every 5 min if there is an enemy ship in the sector. once they are all gone, you have to set up another adv. sat. at point 0,0,0. when this is done the races TL jumps in, and sets up a trading station of that race, claiming the sector. then you get your reward.

2) Terran...oh those Terran....do they have their own TL? ...sure they do...I know they do right?! :P
Anyway, I feel they lack missions...again research, enemy penetration all from above goes.
3) Goner: those elusive little.
|->delivery missions, research missions, ship-delivery all check.
|-> taxi mission for quite a few sectors, the speciallity? You are not allowed to kill ANYTHING! hahahaha



And more is swirling through my mind. Gotta get those TL's to work.

Btw. I was wondering, is there a way to limit the Jumpdrive to M6's and above? I'd really like to see that...I know it breaks compatibility probably, but it can be external.


NOTE: I have given up on compatibility stuff, don't know how you hold it together. I kinda decided to just do it, and if it breaks compatibility strictness it can go in a separate mini-mod or something.

ANOTHER NOTE: How about a couple mini plots?
that could be fun....and potentially rewarding.

Burn rubber, not your soul!
Roguey

Roguey avatar
Level badge Trueguey (22)
Posted 13 years ago.

you have so many great ideas m8, I think it might be best for me to make a tutorial how to write BBS missions so you can make them yourself - you said you like coding?

Once you get the hang of it, its not too hard to write them yourself. If you did write some, id would gladly make a section on the X3 site so you can post them for people to find.

1) What is it with terracorp? are they a part of argon race or are they a separate race?
- NetHawk

They are Argon's - just with different ships.

2) Patrol missions, why in gods name I get only 1 patrol mission for a whole game?
- NetHawk

Egosoft couldnt be brothered :P

|-> Merceneries: I have to figure this out a bit more, but its incoming.
- NetHawk

I thought they were in Terran Conflict only?

2) Terran...oh those Terran....do they have their own TL? ...sure they do...I know they do right?! :P
- NetHawk

I dont think have have their own - model didnt get made.

NetHawk

NetHawk avatar
Level badge Eagleguey (11)
Posted 13 years ago.

They are Argons - just with different ships.
- Roguey

why? I mean, could you make them their own race, got a spare one lying around? This way it'd be a bit harder to get their ships. Also the Goners are their own race right?

you have so many great ideas m8, I think it might be best for me to make a tutorial how to write BBS missions so you can make them yourself - you said you like coding?
- Roguey

I'm a CS student, guess what, I LOVE CODING :P

Once you get the hang of it, its not too hard to write them yourself. If you did write some, id would gladly make a section on the X3 site so you can post them for people to find.
- Roguey

ahm, well once I got a few done we can talk about this. But a couple thing to note...when balancing issues arise for the missions, I will work for Classic Rules....anything else is someone elses problem :P
But I got more incoming, some are game changes, that I'd like to implement, or atleast make a script that works them.

Egosoft couldnt be brothered :P
- Roguey

figures..... Well it's on us to make it happen.


I thought they were in Terran Conflict only?
- Roguey

well......dunno...and honestly don't care Big grin
They are not in X3R, and the only implementation I found is quite a bit diff. then what I had in mind. So this WILL be written, if it takes me ages!

I dont think have have their own - model didnt get made.
- Roguey

what a shame...now the Terrans can't join my newly formed TL club :P
Seriously through, I didn't try one single ship from them yet....gotta give it a shot.

What do you think about the Assasination missions? And the Jumpdrive thing?
This are very peculiar points, but I think most people will agree.

Burn rubber, not your soul!
Roguey

Roguey avatar
Level badge Trueguey (22)
Posted 13 years ago.

why? I mean, could you make them their own race, got a spare one lying around?
- NetHawk

I wasnt sure the other 'empty' races had avatars set - and anyway, using those empty races may cause problems if they are used for other things in X3.

Im a CS student, guess what, I LOVE CODING :P
- NetHawk

Probably get shot for this.... what's a CS student? Custard standards?

What do you think about the Assasination missions? And the Jumpdrive thing?
- NetHawk

The only way I know to limit the jumpdrive is to make it L, XL or ST size. This will make it not fit on ships without the right cargo type.

and btw, any mission coded by egosoft can not be removed or changed, unless someone knows a way.

NetHawk

NetHawk avatar
Level badge Eagleguey (11)
Posted 13 years ago.

Probably get shot for this.... whats a CS student? Custard standards?
- Roguey

CS - Computer Science, once finished (a couple months more), I'm a Diplomated Computer Science Engineer.
That's pretty much as deep in Computers as you can be in the software part of the world Big grin

I wasnt sure the other empty races had avatars set - and anyway, using those empty races may cause problems if they are used for other things in X3.
- Roguey

*sigh* ....I don't like that....we might have a talk about compatibility one day, y'know :P

The only way I know to limit the jumpdrive is to make it L, XL or ST size. This will make it not fit on ships without the right cargo type.
- Roguey

That's what I had in mind, making it 100XL cargo will make you think 5 times before installing it on an M3. Also increasing the price, to something like 500K would be interesting. it's not much money for an M6, but it would make you think about installing it on anything smaller.

and btw, any mission coded by egosoft can not be removed or changed, unless someone knows a way.
- Roguey

I think this might not the case. I tried using a script for XI missions, and it said (and I've fount it to be true), that it disables the normal XI missions. I guess there is a way, just gotta check that script. if you have an external editor, you can check it here:
http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=203803

Burn rubber, not your soul!
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