Expanded shipyard ?

Bagheaded · Post by **Bagheaded** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:50 pm

First of all ,this game is awsome !!!!!!! i havent even touched glffe
since buying renegades

, is there any plans to expand the shipyard ? ie, more wide veriety of ship hulls ,and more bits to add on , PIMP MY SPACESHIP , i would create my own custom models , but im a bit lacking on the technical knowhow : )

Post by **Vice** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:08 pm

Hello and welcome, glad you're enjoying the game. Expanding the shipyard probably won't happen in the near future, the mod options are the best way to change the components and textures. May change down the road though. You can come up with some pretty unique designs currently with the positioning and scaling of every component, including this Firefly look-a-like I did a while back:

Majorhazzard · Post by **Majorhazzard** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:12 pm

So with the modkit we can create our own frame just with no greater setup than the most expensive frame being the leviathen ?

Post by **Vice** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:14 pm

Correct, or whatever you want to rename it.

Majorhazzard · Post by **Majorhazzard** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:16 pm

so does this require some sort of moddeling software ?

If so any suggestions for a newby

Post by **Vice** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:22 pm

If you want to change textures, a good image editing tool (I use NeoPaint and Paintshot Pro). For model work, a good 3D modelling program (I use Metasequoia). A good list of (primarily free) various programs is available here: http://www.starwraith.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1429

Bagheaded · Post by **Bagheaded** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:28 pm

Nice one on the firefly

Bagheaded · Post by **Bagheaded** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:30 pm

Thats fantastic ,

its was only the 3d modelling i was having probs with , as modding the game universe is quite simple

thanks again

SpellJammer · Post by **SpellJammer** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:13 pm

Im happy with the shipyard as it is... the only thing I would like to see is selectable colors for each of the ship parts. Any chance that can be done down the road?

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:01 pm

How about Racing Stripes? LOL

Post by **Vice** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:54 pm

Likely not in the game directly (there have been some performance hindering obstacles with adding even a small amount of additional data to multiplayer packets to accomodate visibility to other players for something like this), but through mods, yes.

Mechanical · Post by **Mechanical** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:54 pm

I'm pretty satisfied with the aesthetic customization options, you really can come up with some interesting stuff.

It would be nice one day to see it having an effect on the stats, like the size of your cargo bay scaling the number of units of materials you can have in each bay at the cost of higher mass and greater atmospheric drag.

I would like to build a dedicated cargo hauler, for instance.

Wings could be interesting as well, with narrower wings allowing higher speeds in atmospheric flight while wider wings creating more lift (less fuel usage).

Engines could be done so that big, fat ones give more acceleration while smaller ones give a higher top speed.

I'm sure there's all kinds of other interesting things you could come up with.

Anyways, that's a big change to the fundamental gameplay, so it's just something to keep in mind for the more distant future.

ed: Okay, I just realized the engine thing doesn't actually make physical sense out there in space, but you get my drift.

Then again, I suppose the ships do have to have limits on their top-speed for gameplay reasons, so you could actually work that in there.

[Edited on 3-12-2008 by Mechanical]

madmax · Post by **madmax** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:19 pm

Isn't that what assembly points do now?
Also the faster your speed in space the more power you need to go even faster. I think E=MCsquared as something to do with this.

Exeneva · Post by **Exeneva** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:24 pm

Does the size of your ship have anything to do with the physics and model edges in the game?

I mean, would a ship with all parts shrunk down as small as possible be harder to hit than a ship that is expanded as large as possible, or are there definite boundary boxes regarding ship sizes that are used as collision boxes?

[Edited on 3-12-2008 by Exeneva]

SpellJammer · Post by **SpellJammer** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:37 pm

Originally posted by Vice
Likely not in the game directly (there have been some performance hindering obstacles with adding even a small amount of additional data to multiplayer packets to accomodate visibility to other players for something like this), but through mods, yes.

I'm not at all concerned about custom colors showing up in multiplayer. Its more for personal satisfaction in single player and screenshots. Is it currently available through mods? Would it be done through re-texturing?

Post by **Vice** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:46 pm

No Exceneva, you are basically adjusting the size of the outer 'skin'/hull of whatever component you are editing.

Yes, currently available through mods using the retexturing options.

Exeneva · Post by **Exeneva** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:16 pm

Ah, I see.

Mechanical · Post by **Mechanical** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:45 am

Originally posted by madmax
Isn't that what assembly points do now?

Also the faster your speed in space the more power you need to go even faster. I think E=MCsquared as something to do with this.

Yes that's true. I think it would be nice to have the customization have a more concrete effect though. You're certainly right though in that I can't really think of a good way to implement it without interfering with the assembly points approach and it really is a sort of bonus feature over and above that. I was thinking about it in terms of it scaling aspects of the way you've chosen to use your assembly points even further.

Really, it would be pretty redundant though. I think a part of me just wants to fly a big old space freighter.

I think E=MCsquared only really applies when you're dealing with velocities approaching the speed of light.

madmax · Post by **madmax** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:23 am

Righ, well i'm not a physicist or mathe-ma-tician

tha_rami · Post by **tha_rami** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:31 am

I'd rather keep looks and stats apart. I don't want to be forced to put on a certain look to my ship. Although it would be more realistic and possibly even more fun. Just, I dunno. Okay, it is a nice idea after all.

Berdyon · Post by **Berdyon** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:02 pm

So.. what are we talking about here?

The proportions of your ship should have a direct realistic effect?
Bigger ships will:
Be easier to hit (bigger target), fly slower, and move (turn) slower, have more cargo space and have more assemply points, weapon spaces bla bla bla?

Well.... it would add some interesting things, but it would also be a very big change, not sure how I stand in this.
I do however think that when it is done, it should ALL be done. For me it would be an all or nothing story...

Biggest argument for that is that it would be weird and unbalanced if for example a bigger ship does have more cargo space but is not easier to hit than a smaller one...

Exeneva · Post by **Exeneva** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:08 pm

The ship frames have established collison boundaries so even if you bought a Striker and shrunk it down to the smallest component sizes possible, you would still be as easy to hit as a Striker with all components maxed out on size. It all varies with your ship frame and what components you choose to add.

Mechanical · Post by **Mechanical** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:56 pm

I hadn't thought of it limiting your design possibilities from a aesthetic design perspective. That would be a big downside because it would screw up the whole point of being able to customize your ship's appearance.

I retract my statements.

[size=-2]...I still want my space freighter though.[/size]

Pariah · Post by **Pariah** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:28 pm

Biggest argument for that is that it would be weird and unbalanced if for example a bigger ship does have more cargo space but is not easier to hit than a smaller one...

...I still want my space freighter though.

I've always wanted a freighter too. A ship that sacrifices speed, maneuverability, and the high end weapons for greater cargo space and high power shields. I like to head out in a fighter from time to time and get into a mess with a swarm of reds but mostly I'm interested in economy, mining, and trade.

Say there was a new cargo component available that was say 15 holds (for the sake of discussion). As soon as you purchase this hold the top speed and maneuverability of your frame drop and you can no longer mount weapons (but you can still purchase them and sell them). Would anyone else be interested? You could still have a profile with a fighter and even meet other players in MP to assist with credit/cargo transfers- or even just sell the cargo holds and outfit a fighter once you're sick of trading. Comments?

Mechanical · Post by **Mechanical** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:46 am

Perhaps instead of more cargo bays it could hold more units per bay. That way it would all fit onto the equipment screen. 75 units per bay would probably be more than enough.

It would make a good mining ship too, though perhaps a little too good. Maybe it wouldn't be able to fit a mining beam.

There would certainly be a lot of angles to work out so it didn't screw up the whole game balance. I'm probably not really familiar enough yet with the big picture to understand all of the ins and outs of what this might effect.

I do like the general idea though.

[Edited on 3-14-2008 by Mechanical]