Hi Quiet_Man,

I've been busy with Particle Forge trying to understand its quirks. My intention is to upgrade the explosions and weapons for the 3 new races i.e looking at (1.) Syneptus's "TotalEffects" mod and (.2) "Bailknight's Graphic" Mod. Also reworking the audio for the said explosions and weapons. Any comments?

With regards your comments about the research tree 'completion time' for the Norlamins and Trade Alliance, I'm not sure if I understand the points you are trying to make. Do you find them too long compared to the original races are if so what are the disadvantages?

NB: Reply #777, now that's a magic number!

Maybe an ability?

Whats your checksum when you enable the mod?

how did you know o.0 I love you

where is the galaxyscenario file?

i keep having to ask this lol

Hi davidt0504,

The file "GalaxyScenarioDef.galaxyScenarioDef" is in the Maelstrom "GameInfo" directory, as harpo stated.

Busy with R4 (Original v1.191 | Entrenchment v1.051 | Diplomacy v1.011), which should be ready in a week or two.

Then I'll look at Diplomacy 1.2, should take another week. I'll release as R4 for Diplomacy v1.2.

Hi Malanthor,

These are a few of my favorite things ...

1. Upgraded Explosions and Weapon effects for new races

   - i.e integrated "Bailknight's Graphic Mod"

2. Upgraded Pirates

   - Pirates now build structures and go on intermittent but small raids (as well as normal raids)

   - Structures include - Capitalship factories, Frigate factories, Research labs, Culture Centers, Gauss Defense.

   - New class of raider ship which go out and harass all factions.

3. Optimised Planets and additional stellar objects

    - Original planets optimised i.e half the texture size (i.e 50MB instead off 100MB), which means I can add 10 more planets and keep the same memory footprint.

    - Pole pinch effects eliminated from R3 planets. Effects tweaked.

    - Approximately 15 new planets and stars with new effects and bonuses

    - moons ( i.e binary planet moons ) for more of the new planets

 Also, current change log includes ...

Effect added
- Orbital Cannons muzzle and charge effects unique for new races
- Replicators 'Planet Production' ability for Cybernetics factory
- Norlamins Frigate and Capitalship factories build effects

Gameplay
- TA Anitmodule uses autocannon not plasma
- Norlamins Anitmodule uses laser not plasma

Balance
- AntiMatterRestoreRate for Norlamin Carrier increased x5 (0.375)
- Tec Dreadnought can no longer restores Hull points to itself via 'Resupply' ability, also extended range but longer expiry times

Research

Bugfix
- Extractor on dyson sphere no longer 0 rate
- TargetCountPerBank settings match weapon points for all capitalships for all races
- Norlamins 'Cosmicray Collector' module abiltiy is stackable
- Replicators Cybernetics factory improvmenents

Models
- added a number of 'mangled' body types to ship explosions (see Bailknights mod)

Optimization
- New particle effects textures are all .dds (as per TSOP)
- New particle files correctly reference mesh and textures files (as per TSOP)

Other
- Replicators 'Antimatter Charge' module has sound on select
- Orbital Cannon rotate and muzzle sounds unqiue for races
- new audio for explosions and weapon effects

Thanks for the feedback.

" the replicator star base and dreadnaught are very similiar, its just the same model but with a few things removed me thinks?"

True in R5 I will be re-working the fleets, including Dreads and Starbases.

"Saw a writing error in the description for the deadly tractor upgrade description, was spelled tracor or something like that."

Thanks. Will fix the typo.

"Also compared to the two other factions the replicators starbase and dread seem to have alot of colour, maybe too much? if i go with dark purple when playing them it lights up like a christmas tree, hehe. Makes me feel more like a neon-barbie than a robotic menace."

Yes, I thinks its the team colors. I'll fix it in R5. In the interim just turn off team colors.

"i did notice that the tec dread had a strange abbility though: enhanced preservation sounds like something that should make the dread tougher based on its description but it seems like it only gives a little more armor to another friendly ship. Also for 4 armor an abbility that forces you to face the ship your going to help is hmm pretty weak?"

I'll look into it.

"In any case i guess this is mostly moot seeing the new pack coming out with titans, my guess is your just going to use them?"

Hep. I'll feedback the models and abilities back down into Diplomacy, Entrenchment and Original Maelstrom.

"Also the enhancesd pirate faction could maybe use a tweak, i love a challenge and mostly its pretty easy facing the pirates if you know how to handle em, but now and then they bring 70 ships after 5 mins and its pretty uhm, impossibly no matter how much youve managed to build in that short time."

Yes, they are not completely balanced. I'll look at it when I have time.

When did that become possible? I'd love to take a look at an example of it and try to implement it into something I'm working on.

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 hmm, Norms vs Traders head on....I lost 1 Skylark

Pictures are nothing special but I thought it would be nice to show you how beast you can be if you scuttle your dreadnaught factory early game

One more thing: Awesome job on the mod, keep up the good work