Getting AI to see changes to stock ships - help please

[AlDaja]

I wanted to make the ships in my game more realistic by filling out the “empty” spaces on the ships HP with weapons, beefing up the shields, etc.

I made the modification for my ship inventory in the “loadout” and “core” folders as if I were adding a new ship. The ships (including stock) show up in the vessel library with my modifications and work great if I play as the ships in conquest mode. Unfortunately, because of the modifications the “Invalid Ships” list as it relates to the AI is off.

Example: I beefed up the shields for my Sabor and gave the weapons a faster firing rate, now it works great in conquest mode, but under “invalid ships” it says “Saber B Overloaded Shield Space and Invalid Hardpoint.”

Question: Which file under preferences do I need to modify so the AI will accept the changes to the stock models and allow the AI “B” to play in missions and show up in conquest when I want one of these ships to play with me. Cause right now the stock AI ships don’t show up in conquest and the game crashes when I play a mission.

I know it can be done...any help is appreciated.

[AlDaja]

Figured it out…

Ok for any new folks or trial and error types like myself here are a few brief tips for beefing up the stock ships without causing havoc with the game.

- First back up the “assets” folder or files you will be modifying.
- Make the stock ships you want to modify into variant(s)* this way you can really “beef up” everything on the stock vessel. Paste the new ship information you have created into the “core” and “out” files, and then update the shipname information under “strings”.
- Copy the stock model folder you modified, rename it and rename the files within your variant to the new ship or variant name (DO NOT RENAME THE TEXTURE FILES) otherwise during game play your variant will just be a milk-skin.
- Note: You can test your design to see if there are any bugs, etc. by going to single player skirmish and launching a quick fight…if there is a problem or you need to refine something this is the best place to do it.

*For variant modification, ship additions, etc. try here: http://starfleetcommand3.filefront.c..._Tutorial;9250

http://starfleetcommand3.filefront.c...mand_III;40632

[AlDaja]

Also...if you modify one of the stock ships to be a destroyer instead of a Dreadnaught for example, make sure you change the AI to match in the outload otherwise it will show up on the invalid ship list for the AI and the modified ship will not show up for the AI to use.