Oh...Draak and Ryat since you both went beyond the call of duty for what I asked for I had to follow suit with your RP themes

So here is mine its a bit long winded but its how I write.

Johnathan Trona (-Ue_ Code: Carbon), High Paragon of the 5th 'Carbon' Division, Unified Explorers Corporation

When the Advent first invaded Trader space, their vanguards and first waves destroyed most of Unified Explorers' systems leaving the corporation and partners in a desperate fight for survivial. Most Combat Divisions were recalled from the Vasari frontlines along side a call for aid from fellow members of the Trade Order/TEC. The first Combat Divisions to make it back to Unified Explorers( -Ue_ ) the 2 systems still controled by -Ue_ was Gold, Xenon, and Carbon. The High Paragon of each Divsion were as varied as the elements they are named after. Through the determination of the 3 Divisions they were able to save what remained of -Ue_. Despite the effort it seems the lines would not hold for permently. A drastic plan was needed.

For some time -Ue_ researches have been testing new colonization methods and equipment in the various anomolies found near the edge of Trader space.. One such anomoly was a wormhole classified as: Xccc783, which lead to a vast region of space far from any know planet or stars. It was unsure if the Advent who controled the system Xccc753 was located in knew of the distant stars the wormhole lead to and if they were already tapping into the resouces found in those systems.

It was decided that -Ue_ needed to relocated and take hold of those systems for the survival of the corporation and Traders elsewhere. So began the surge into now Advent controled territory.

Unprepared by the sudden sugical assault the Advent withdrew the bulk of their forces to new defensive lines, leaving Xccc783 open to begin the influx of colony frigates, cargo ships, and Divisions to the new systems.

And now so...the battle for the Distant Stars has begun...

The strategies used by the Carbon Division involve a heavy hand in support ships. Akkan, Dunvo, and Hoshikos make up 55% of the Division ships. With other Divisons requesting most of the hard hitting ship that usually make up the bulk any TEC fleet, High Paragon Carbon has forged his makeshift Division into slow yet steady tide of war. While many commanders perfer the bring as much firepower and Capital Ships they can get into every conflict. High Paragon Carbon pefers hordes of frigates and support cruisers to do the heavy lifting. Usually only fielding 2-3 Caps at any given time. Usually the sheer numbers of ships is more than most fleets can handle.

Huzzah, the -Ue_ gets its proper treatment! C'mon, people, and give the man more story to work with. Who knows what he can put together (with the proper input and editing, of course).

Ok one final question... If I throw all the files into the mod directory without putting them into a folder IE Distant Stars(I get the question to move and replace or keep both files, which should I choose?) the mod will not show up in the options menu to activate. Howeever if I put them into a folder it shows up... I activate it... (have even restarted the game to try it) and nothing seems to happen. Is distant stars just that similar to the original game? Things I should look for if so? REserch trees, capital ships HP and Shields etc etc. I played a random medium nothing seemed different.  

The first and most noticeable difference for Distant Stars is upon activation the music changes on the main menu(s) before loading in to a game, it should be entirely noticeable the moment you activate the mod. Also the main menu and some of the sub menus have "Distant Stars" written at the top of them.

The mod upon extraction should extract as 2 folders and 1 readme.txt file. If it doesnt then theres already something wrong. You can then take both of the folders extracted the actual mod folder from the full 0.95 download will be called:

DS Entrenchment Beta 0.95

If you place that folder in to the Mods directory:
On XP:
C:\Documents and settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods-Entrenchment v1.041

On Windows 7/Vista:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods-Entrenchment v1.041

In the mods menu ingame you'll then be able to activate the mod, dont forget to hit "Enable Mods" the checksum you get should be: 36295747

Distant Stars adds new planet types so on Larger Random galaxies you'll notice some new planet types you've probably never seen before, the tech tree is practically doubled in length with some new technologies thrown in for good measure and some of the original technologies Ice & Volcanic colonisation have been renamed to Tropic and Hostile colonisation along with many other changes that should be quite hard to miss.

Ok then, well I am off to work. I will be sure to try this out tho, I have downloaded the same file I think (or at least named the same) but maybe I got a bad link, it was like 5007 files and none in folder when I extraced it into the path but I'll be sure to try it at work tonight and let you know how it goes thanks a ton!

Let us know if your still having problems and we will try to explain it more.

Ok here goes, I have the zip file on my computer, When i have unzipped it before I get the question for a bunch of files if I want to move and replace, skip, or keep both files. Which should I choose? Sorry to keep bugging you guys but you have been WAAAAY helpful... Also the whole roleplayer thing would be something I am interested in as well (I work 24 hour shifts as charge of quarters in the Army... Basically I sit around and play computer and video games, watch anime and do barracks checks every few hours to be sure no one is dead or dying or that the building is on fire lol) so i have some time to burn lol. Like longer games too but enjoy co-oping more then vs I'd have to say

-Thanks Ue!

-SPC Rayner

Move and Replace all the files mate for patching (the small 5MB download or so), if you're using the full download you can quite simply just completelly delete the old version and use the new one entirely. We're glad to help mate.

Ok I am a artard... I used the Extract button instead of just selecting all and dragging the files into the mod folder... I can install a 3D card and power supply just fine but basic files tasks still evade me lol

Totally different beast, these mods. As for the RP, I have no idea exactly what Carbon is planning, so if you want to throw up a little origin story of your own it would be appreciated. At the very least the rest of us get a little good reading from it.

Ok, so ive decided to downloaded the DS, unfortunately Ive never even played a mod let alone downloaded one. So can someone give me a play by play on how to do it the right way?

Nacey said it best here

Make sure you have WinRar or 7zip to open the download. On the AppData folder is hidden by default. If you got other problem or questions let us know, If need be I be happy to talk to step by step over MSN.

Oh, hope you get it loaded up in less than an hour b/c.....

1 HOUR LEFT TILL DISTANT STAR ICO TAKEOVER MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!  I better see everyone stop in and at least say hi in our channel: Distant Stars

alright, lets hope i just did that right. if not, im probably going to have to reinstall Entrenchment.

why, did you modify the original files?

the mods dont mess up the original files

Ok all we've released a quick fix for the Anima Tempest minidump issue with the Gunships. If playing in multiplayer everyone participating in a game will either have to have it or not have it those who do have it can't play with those that dont due to checksum/sync issues.

http://distantstars.mmobase.com/entrenchment/DS_Entrenchment_Beta_0.95_Anima_Tempest_Fix.7z

As ever just drop the files on to the mod and overwrite the file it asks you to. The checksum you're now aiming for is: 36295781

LOL, you shouldnt of messed witht the orginal files for Entrechment...let us know if you got it working!

lol i wouldnt know ive never done this before. (computer illiterate) but thanks for the help. It works. And thanks for giving us something to play other then the original.

give the powerful pirates a try when you can, just make sure that mod is put above the DS mod

Come join us on ICO in about 20 mins! We can play against the AI if you want! Just be sure even if you dont 2 download the hotfix that just came out otherwise Advent will crash on you.

i would be interested in getting in on some comp stomp tonight

EDIT: doh looks like i missed yall

They're all still on there just had a nice little game

yall starting another?

yes, me nad nacey had to quit so join in now if you can

 channel Distant Stars

logging in now

EDIT: shortest game ever, told yall i sucked in versus, perhaps next week if there is a comp stomp