Ardborne

Join Date 12/2009

New squad type unit

How to make new squad units using existing abilities

Hello, i am modding just for my own fun, understand quite good, how to change entity parameters, and what files relations are between them.

Now i am thinking of modding squad units. My target is to make new squad units with new abilities, which should be useful and bring new fun into the play.

F.e. i want to make two new squads:
1. Siege squad with only possibility of planet bombarding.
2. Kamikaze squad with only possibility destroying itself and doing some physical damage to enemy.

I tried to make the first one, but i was not succesful.

Can anyone help me with this, what should i do to reach it? (what files need to be changed, what params, and so on)
(I already tried to find someting here in forum, but there are many topics with general blabla titles, which i did not see...)

I plan to use existing 3D models of squads, not to make new one. I only would like to make new icons (and i find out, how to do it - this is the easier part of the problem, i think

Useful link is also welcome!

modding

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Start by making a copy of the fighter and/or bomber entity that you want, then do the same for the squad entity. Rename these new entities to fit your description. Add the new entities to the entity manifest for ENT and DIP. There is no manifests for vanilla which is why you need to include all the files in your the mod. Link the new fighter or bomber entity to the new squad entity.

GameInfo folder copies

FighterTechCombat.entity --> FighterTechSuicide.entity

SquadTechCombat.entity --> SquadTechSuicide.entity

FighterTechBomber.entity --> FighterTechHeavyBomber.entity

SquadTechBomber.entity --> SquadTechHeavyBomber.entity

entity.manifest

TXT
entityNameCount 1186 <--- add to count
entityName "FighterTechSuicide.entity"
entityName "SquadTechSuicide.entity"
entityName "FighterTechHeavyBomber.entity"
entityName "SquadTechHeavyBomber.entity"

Add the new squads to the ships, hangars and star bases you want. Here is the TEC hangars.

CAPITALSHIP_TECHBATTLESHIP.entity
CAPITALSHIP_TECHCARRIER.entity
CAPITALSHIP_TECHCOLONY.entity
CAPITALSHIP_TECHSIEGE.entity
CAPITALSHIP_TECHSUPPORT.entity
FrigateTechCarrier.entity
PLANETMODULE_TECHORBITALHANGARDEFENSE.entity
StarBaseTech.entity

squadTypeEntityDef:0 "SquadTechCombat"
squadAntiMatterCost:0 0.000000
squadTypeEntityDef:1 "SquadTechBomber"
squadAntiMatterCost:1 0.000000
squadTypeEntityDef:2 "SquadTechSuicide"
squadAntiMatterCost:2 0.000000
squadTypeEntityDef:3 "SquadTechHeavyBomber"
squadAntiMatterCost:3 0.000000

SquadTechSuicide.entity

fighterEntityDef "FighterTechSuicide"

SquadTechHeavyBomber.entity

fighterEntityDef "FighterTechHeavyBomber"

Once the copies are showing in game and tested wit the DEV.exes then start to modify the abilities, cost, hitpoints etc..

See http://soase.weebly.com/add-edit-ships.html by ZombiesRus

and http://soase.weebly.com/research-button.html which will also work for your icons, also by ZombiesRus.

The icons and string descriptions are all linked from the entity. Entity --> Brush ---> Icon and Entity--> String\English.str

I will look at the files again myself and post back a few details but that should get you started. What version is this for?

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It is for Entrenchment 1.051.

I looked at http://soase.weebly.com/add-edit-ships.html this morning, but not sure, if there are all necessary informations...
I know how to manage squad in caps and hangars or other entities, but not able to make working copy of bomber nor fighter entity with required abilities.

To be more specific, there are two files, which need to be modified by my opinion (i want to modify BOMBERS to planetary bombers without ability of attacking ships):

SquadTechBomber.entity (which defines type of Squad enity - fighterEntityDef "FighterTechBomber")

I gues that lines to be modified are:

hudIcon "HUDICON_SQUADTECHBOMBER" (this parameter is clear)
smallHudIcon "HUDICONSMALL_SQUADTECHBOMBER"   (this parameter is clear)
infoCardIcon "INFOCARDICON_SQUADTECHBOMBER"   (this parameter is clear)
fighterEntityDef "FighterTechBomber" (i need to clear this parameter, what is possible and what is not. How it affects the game.)
role "Bomber"   (i need to clear this parameter, what is possible and what is not. How it affects the game.)
statCountType "SquadBomber" (i need to clear this parameter, what is possible and what is not. How it affects the game.)
mainViewIcon "MAINVIEWICON_SQUADTECHBOMBER"   (this parameter is clear)
picture "PICTURE_SQUADTECHBOMBER"   (this parameter is clear)
launchIcon "HUDICONLAUNCH_SQUADTECHBOMBER"   (this parameter is clear)
dockIcon "HUDICONDOCK_SQUADTECHBOMBER"   (this parameter is clear)
nameStringID "IDS_SQUADTECHBOMBER_NAME" (this parameter is clear - it links to English.str)
descriptionStringID "IDS_SQUADTECHBOMBER_DESC"    (this parameter is clear - it links to English.str)

There are also other parameters, which i can modify too, but their function is clear, f.e.:
scuttleTime 12.500000
fighterConstructionTime 27.500000
decayWithoutOwnerRate 0.010000
baseMaxNumFighters 5

Next file to be modified by me is FighterTechBomber.entity, next lines:

hudIcon "HUDICON_SQUADTECHBOMBER"   (this parameter is clear)
smallHudIcon "HUDICONSMALL_SQUADTECHBOMBER"   (this parameter is clear)
infoCardIcon "INFOCARDICON_SQUADTECHBOMBER"   (this parameter is clear)
nameStringID "IDS_FIGHTERTECHBOMBER_NAME"   (this parameter is clear)
counterDescriptionStringID "IDS_COUNTERDESC_FIGHTER_BOMBER"   (this parameter is clear)
statCountType "FighterBomber"   (i need to clear this parameter, what is possible and what is not. How it affects the game.)

In case i need to make planet bombers, can i simply add whole "canBomb TRUE" passage to this entity file and erase Weapon part (including NumWeapons line)?

Is there anything else to be modified, or are these two files everything i have to modify at least?

Thank you!

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Unfortunately,

i guess now that suicide squad is not possible to be made without more changes - there is no selfdestruct ability for ship at this moment (or is it there?).

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I am not very good with abilities, I though once you had your extra squads someone else could jump in.

statCountType "FighterBomber" (i need to clear this parameter, what is possible and what is not. How it affects the game.)

use notepad++ and search in files for statCountType to see all availible. Its the count for ships (fleet upgrades)

Each ship has a role type and the entities have to follow those rules. You might be able to change the roletype from bomber to frigate and give it the siege capability but not sure.

There was a thread on suicide bombers somewhere in here.

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fighterEntityDef "FighterTechBomber" (i need to clear this parameter, what is possible and what is not. How it affects the game.)

This is the entity of what units make up the squad, GameInfo\FighterTechBomber.entity

Modified 1st post to show how to create the different squads

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Oooh! I think i forgot to modify entity.manifest! That's the important thing i have not done.

Thank you very much!
Every other useful replies are welcome too!

(I thought about suicide squad little and decided to make workaround, because there is one another more elegant way - use powerful, but slow and slowly recharged missile with changed particles and fuselage, give it to your carrier as new weapon and you get the same effect.)

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