Mercenaries? Space Creatures? Possible in game?

from Sins Forums
Sins is such a great game... I have been playing it endlessly since I got it and I was just wondering if it would be possible to add randomized sort of "events" to the game such as being able to hire on mercenaries offering their services or a Space Kraken hatching from an asteroid and attacking a colony or fleet?  I know the engine is capable or handling this but could it be done with the mod tools?  I imagine the Kraken would work like a randomized "Planatary  Orbital Weapon" that would attack a colony, perhaps moving from one to another until destroyed... maybe even gaining health from ships that it destroys, wheras mercenaries would be controllable Ships that players would bid on much like the Pirates...

Sorry if this has been asked before, Just thought it would be nice to be able to add a little bit of different "color" to the game with some changes like this!

And thanks for making such an excellent game!
modding
5,224 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
Well right now, No not possible due to the fact that there is no script engine. We keep bugging them maybe we will get one but until then no.

You could do the space monster as a new ship, and put it to randomly be added when the map is generated. Such as the militia Fleets are. But you can not have them appear after the game starts.

Hope this answers some of your questions.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
The space monster, since no animations.. would have to be an organic textured looking ship of some sort, that maybe, Has the ability to phase in and out whenever it pleases, kinda of like on that one episode of ENTERPRISE where the big ball of plazma randomly pops out and sucks things in it. Just a REALLY strong ship *MONSTER* w/e, that phazeing in and out randomly attacking things breifly.

that would be cool
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Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Hmmm, I never thought of just having it appear at the beginning of the game like the planet militia. That would be easy enough to do, yeah?

It would work very much like the hydra, dragon, eel, slug, and amoeba from the classic MOO2. It stakes out a planet that can't be taken in the initial colony rush because of its strength and durability. But after you build up a sizable force you can brush it aside and take the planet for yourself.

Interesting...
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
I believe they intend to add random events (they already mentioned that for future patch releases) which I assume will entail things like what is suggested here.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
OMG Space Kraken would be awesome! (like a living ship!)
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
So I was thinking alot about the Kraken... and if it is just going to spawn at the beginning of the game and guard a specific planet, that planet should be more important than just a regular terran colonizeable planet to give more incentive to really push for it so I was thinking, why not a factory world?

At first I was thinking it should have an artifact on it, but even that is just not quite enough value for the risk, a factory world would basically be a Terran planet with a high amount of fortification available as well as defense capabilities, but, it should have a built in "remnants of the dark fleet" type of capability that would randomly spawn small groups of ships, perhaps to make it interesting they could be from any race type although you would still be able to control them, no cap ships though that might be too overpowered, To keep those who are minding their ship cap happy it would have to be from a building, perhaps an indestructible one. I would probably use a custom model

So im seriously thinking about downloading the mod tools and trying this, although im working 2 jobs and time to work on it is sparse, I figure I have some experience making mods so this is doable, getting a model (unanimated) for the space kraken would be first, maybe give it less of a "tentacle" style attack and more of a futuristic mecha kraken beam weapon, If I have to build one from scratch that could be time consuming, but texturing shouldnt be a problem.

The next would be creating the world and the building... judging from that mod of Uzil's (sp?) out I dont think this would be too much of a problem

Does anyone predict a problem with this, having a random planet in the maps that is guarded by a unique ship with a unique indestructible building in orbit around it? Any feedback you want to give to me before I sit down and really try to map this out? Anyone else who wants to take this idea and run with it where they may is more than welcome, or welcome to group with me for idea's or support.

Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
Speaking of idea's, how hard would it be to create a ship that could manufacture frigates on its own? Sort of like the Mothership from homeworld except not that powerful, maybe give it a max cap of like... 10 frigates or something, or just make the cost much higher when producing from the ship...?
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Speaking of idea's, how hard would it be to create a ship that could manufacture frigates on its own? Sort of like the Mothership from homeworld except not that powerful, maybe give it a max cap of like... 10 frigates or something, or just make the cost much higher when producing from the ship...?
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The Vasari Skirantra Carrier can do this with it's Level 6 Replicate Forces ability. Maybe modding a super-version of this ability into the monster-ship could work?
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
I was thinking about adding in artifacts for individual cap ships, if they are in the gravity well of a planet you colonize with one of these artifacts on them they will pick it up... Increased weapon damage/rate, Increased maneuverability or thrust.. etc.. I got this from the OLD star control skirmish mode if anyone remembers that... is that even feasibile for a single ship or would it have to work for all ships of that type?

Off to work I go ;-)