[Help] Cant add Custom Ships

[linksword01]

The Help Gudes Here do not help me. I need some kind of visual aid, like a youtube video, or something.

I am not insinuating the tutorials are bad, just that they do not work for me.

[AlDaja]

Originally Posted by linksword01

The Help Gudes Here do not help me. I need some kind of visual aid, like a youtube video, or something.

I am not insinuating the tutorials are bad, just that they do not work for me.

Depends on what you are doing. It takes time and a little patience (depending on your technical understanding.)

A Guide to Customizing Starfleet Command III, Starfleet Command III Downloads, Starfleet Command III Tutorials

The link above is ideal for novices (me, a couple of years ago) who want to do some basic customization (like adding ships). More advanced stuff will take some trial and error on your part and just looking around the Internet. Just be sure to back up everything so if you really goof you don't loose your original game files (will also need them to refer back too). Altering scripts will require programming knowledge...but if you have taken time to look through my mod and played it a bit, you can see how basic knowledge can turn out a simple yet fun alteration to the game.

Review the tutorial give it a try (on a clean install...don't recommend trying things out with other mods as the original files are often already modified and that can be confusing), and if you have any questions members (Iike myself) may be able to help.

[linksword01]

You dont understand Daja, that guide did not help me. I wanted to add this Ship: NSEA Protector, Starfleet Command III Downloads, Starfleet Command III Other Races

But when I followed the instructions, the ship never showed up. No matter what I did, It never appeared.

[AlDaja]

Originally Posted by linksword01

You dont understand Daja, that guide did not help me. I wanted to add this Ship: NSEA Protector, Starfleet Command III Downloads, Starfleet Command III Other Races

But when I followed the instructions, the ship never showed up. No matter what I did, It never appeared.

These are the files you need to modify in your Assets: Model, Strings and Specs

First if you have downloaded the NSEA Protector unzip the folder and check to make sure that the files match (similar) to those found in the model folder (use a cannon ship) Lets pick the Akira, for example. These files must be present for the ship model to work and load in your game: AkiraBS.bpm, AkiraTI.bpm, AkiraVL.bpm, akira.x, Akira.gf, Above8bitTexture.txt, Akira.mod (a break mod may or may not be included...but does not affect if it shows up, only how it dies in the game), and akira.txt (this file allows the description of the vessel to show up in the library)

If everything looks good import it into your model folder in the Assets folder.

Now, open up the Specs folder and open both txt files: DefaultCore.txt and DefaultLoadOut.txt STOP make a copy of both of these files and put them in a backup folder on your computer so you can refer to them or put them back if you make an error.

Next open the DefaultCore.txt file:

Select a ship class you want the NSEA to be placed under, lets use the Akira again. Highlight the entire entry for the Akira class and make a copy just below the file (I'm using the one from my mod...so the stock will look differently):

20 CA 2400 0 2400 6250 2150 3200 18000 1482 Fed-Cruiser2 Akira PrimaryHP:1:240_120:2:0_60:3:300_360 HeavyHP:12:300_360:13:0_60:14:330_30:15:330_30:16: 330_30:17:180_240:18:120_180 HullHP:1:2:3 BridgeHP:1 ship Mines:0:0:0 Marines:20:20:20 Shuttles:2:2:2

20 CA 2400 0 2400 6250 2150 3200 18000 1482 Fed-Cruiser3 NSEA PrimaryHP:1:240_120:2:0_60:3:300_360 HeavyHP:12:300_360:13:0_60:14:330_30:15:330_30:16: 330_30:17:180_240:18:120_180 HullHP:1:2:3 BridgeHP:1 ship Mines:0:0:0 Marines:20:20:20 Shuttles:2:2:2

The two items in red must be changed. You can't have two Fed-Cruiser2. So as you add ships the number behind the class must be listed (1,2, 3 and so on), otherwise the game will randomly pick one of the two variants with the same classification and play them at will. If you wanted both the Akira and NSEA to appear in your library you'd need to distinguish them. You can change power outputs, HP firing arcs, Hull, Bridge, Mines, Marines and Shuttles by changing the values...but you can dinker with that later (as noted in the tutorial) as you get the hang of it. make sure when you make the copies like I noted above that there is no space between them...it would be saved like this:

20 CA 2400 0 2400 6250 2150 3200 18000 1482 Fed-Cruiser2 Akira PrimaryHP:1:240_120:2:0_60:3:300_360 HeavyHP:12:300_360:13:0_60:14:330_30:15:330_30:16: 330_30:17:180_240:18:120_180 HullHP:1:2:3 BridgeHP:1 ship Mines:0:0:0 Marines:20:20:20 Shuttles:2:2:2
20 CA 2400 0 2400 6250 2150 3200 18000 1482 Fed-Cruiser3 NSEA PrimaryHP:1:240_120:2:0_60:3:300_360 HeavyHP:12:300_360:13:0_60:14:330_30:15:330_30:16: 330_30:17:180_240:18:120_180 HullHP:1:2:3 BridgeHP:1 ship Mines:0:0:0 Marines:20:20:20 Shuttles:2:2:2


Spacing by using the tab key is keyed into the script file and program. Too many spaces in the wrong spot, or wrong letter casing, comma, etc., can make the ship not work properly, so watch what you do (hence why keeping a back up of the original files are important). Some people use an Excel spread sheet to work on the file, but it doesn't really matter just as long as it is saved in the text file correctly.

Next, open the DefaultLoadOut.txt

copy and paste as above:

Federation Fed-Cruiser2 Akira Akira F-TRACTOR-III:3 F-TRANSPORTER-II:1 F-ARMOR-III:2 F-COMPUTER-III:1 F-WARP-VII:1 F-IMPULSE-VI:2 F-THRUSTER-IV:3 PHASER XIS:1 PHASER XS:2 PHASER XS:3 QUANTUM TORPEDO:12 QUANTUM TORPEDO:13 PHOTON TORPEDO:14 PHOTON TORPEDO:15 PHOTON TORPEDO:16 PHOTON TORPEDO:17 PHOTON TORPEDO:18 OFFICER:ENGINEER: OFFICER:SECURITY: OFFICER:HELM: OFFICER:OPS: OFFICER:TACTICAL: OFFICER:MEDICAL: F-SHIELD-V:1 F-SHIELD-V:2 F-SHIELD-V:4 F-SHIELD-V:3

Federation Fed-Cruiser3 NSEA NSEA (This "NESA" is the name of your ship as it will appear in the game you can change this to "Protector", but it needs to match the .txt file in your model folder, so it can look like this is you wish: ...Fed-Cruiser3 NSEA Protector F-TRAC...) F-TRACTOR-III:3 F-TRANSPORTER-II:1 F-ARMOR-III:2 F-COMPUTER-III:1 F-WARP-VII:1 F-IMPULSE-VI:2 F-THRUSTER-IV:3 PHASER XIS:1 PHASER XS:2 PHASER XS:3 QUANTUM TORPEDO:12 QUANTUM TORPEDO:13 PHOTON TORPEDO:14 PHOTON TORPEDO:15 PHOTON TORPEDO:16 PHOTON TORPEDO:17 PHOTON TORPEDO:18 OFFICER:ENGINEER: OFFICER:SECURITY: OFFICER:HELM: OFFICER:OPS: OFFICER:TACTICAL: OFFICER:MEDICAL: F-SHIELD-V:1 F-SHIELD-V:2 F-SHIELD-V:4 F-SHIELD-V:3

Change what I colored in red to match the core file. Now...and this is important. If you want to change the hull, bridge and weapons of your new ship you can do so, but...but they must not exceed your ship's power output...this information in the core file (20 CA 2400 0 2400 6250 2150 3200 18000 1482 ). I suggest saving the ship like this to start:

Federation Fed-Cruiser3 NSEA NSEA F-TRACTOR-I:3 F-TRANSPORTER-I:1 F-ARMOR-I:2 F-COMPUTER-I:1 F-WARP-I:1 F-IMPULSE-I:2 F-THRUSTER-I:3 PHASER XIS:1 PHASER XS:2 QUANTUM TORPEDO:12 OFFICER:ENGINEER: OFFICER:SECURITY: OFFICER:HELM: OFFICER:OPS: OFFICER:TACTICAL: OFFICER:MEDICAL: F-SHIELD-V:1 F-SHIELD-V:2 F-SHIELD-V:4 F-SHIELD-V:3

close and save your files and start your game. Go to skirmish and check to see if your ship has loaded. If it has go to the refit screen. You are now ready to modify the ship to your desire.

Say you want tractors, transporters and armor to be set a V, but you notice that you have exceeded the power output (in this case referring back to my settings noted in the core file) of 3200. Say it gives a power requirement of 4500. Write down the 4500. Go through each system you want to add to or take away (always writing down the new value and system changes...). Exit the game. Reopen your core file and change the values to meet your specifications, like so:

20 CA 2400 0 2400 6250 2150 4500 18000 1482

Now open your loadout file and change the roman numerals to the new power outputs you want.

FYI. The laws of physics apply to the SFC III engine. What ever you add to or take away in power consumption affects something else (remember our discussion with my Diablo Class?). This is explained more in the tutorial I linked...is worth looking through, I personally just dinker with different settings until I find a value/trade off I'm happy with.

Next you'll probably want to change weapons and outputs. You'll want to do the same trick I noted above. Go back into the game and start adding the weapon/strengths you want (Write them down exactly) and go back and add them to the loadout file like this:

Federation Fed-Cruiser3 NSEA NSEA F-TRACTOR-I:3 F-TRANSPORTER-I:1 F-ARMOR-I:2 F-COMPUTER-I:1 F-WARP-I:1 F-IMPULSE-I:2 F-THRUSTER-I:3 PULSE PHASER:1 PHASER X:2 PHOTON TORPEDO:12 OFFICER:ENGINEER: OFFICER:SECURITY: OFFICER:HELM: OFFICER:OPS: OFFICER:TACTICAL: OFFICER:MEDICAL: F-SHIELD-V:1 F-SHIELD-V:2 F-SHIELD-V:4 F-SHIELD-V:3

Adjusting the HP (hard points) or adding new ones needs to be done with an HP editor. There are several you can use in conjunction with the available HP arcs for use with SFC III found in the tutorial I linked previously. You can find one or two on the SFC III site or use Google to find one that works for you.

Once you are satisfied with the ship, you can add a description of the ship (or leave it alone) in the NSEA.txt in the NSEA model folder.

Finally, open the Strings folder and then open the shipname.txt file. Scroll down to the Akira. Copy the file and paste a duplicate below it like this:

|Fed-Cruiser2|Akira Class

|Fed-Cruiser2|Akira Class

Then change the second entry to your new ship:

|Fed-Cruiser3|NSEA
||USS Protector

This is a basic example of what the tutorial instructs for adding ships.

EDIT: Forgot to mention...if you think you've done everything right, but the ship won't work or show up, you can check the Invalid Ship.txt in the main SFC III folder under properties.

[linksword01]

See? That is SO Much Easier to Understand. I will give it a try, and let you know if it works.