Small Problem Lately

well did you call up the builder in your player definition?

Yes, it is there by default.  It should appear shortly after starting the game, call frigate factory, call extractors for the asteroids, call the cap factory, wait... wait...  Haha, it is something. :)  I will figure it out. Just takes time to track down the mistakes i put in when changing things. 

Thank you for the thought though,

-Teal

I had a similar problem with a mod of mine.

Now, just to be sure, DO ANY STRUCTURES SPAWN when you start a map as your new race? If not, the problem is the GalaxyScenarioDef file. The only way around it is that you simply build a factory, the constructors will spawn from it, and do their job.

I haven't had any success (CURSED MINIDUMPS! I wish IC would release a tool to decipher the stupid things!) modding that file, but others have.

It's not a very complex file structure, thankfully. If you're adding a new race and you need to set up its starting units/structures, here's what you need to do:

1) Add the race into the file:

playerTypeCount 4
playerType
    designName "Tech"
    entityDefName "PlayerTech"
playerType
    designName "Psi"
    entityDefName "PlayerPsi"
playerType
    designName "Phase"
    entityDefName "PlayerPhase"
playerType
    designName "Pirate"
    entityDefName "PlayerPirate"

The designName is what you will be using to refer to your race within the GalaxyScenarioDef file ONLY. The entityDefName is the name of your race's entity file. So just add yours and, as always, increase the counter.

2) Add the ships and structures you want it to start with to the list of available ships/structures:

planetItemTypeCount 102
planetItemType
    designName "Phase:Module:Cannon"
    entityDefName "PLANETMODULE_PHASEORBITALCANNON"
planetItemType
    designName "Phase:Module:CapitalShipFactory"
    entityDefName "PLANETMODULE_PHASEORBITALCAPITALSHIPFACTORY"
planetItemType
    designName "Phase:Module:CombatLab"
    entityDefName "PLANETMODULE_PHASEORBITALCOMBATLABORATORY"
planetItemType
    designName "Phase:Module:CrystalExtractor"
    entityDefName "PLANETMODULE_PHASEORBITALCRYSTALEXTRACTOR"

Same thing as before. designName is internal to the file, entityDefName is the name of your ships/building entity files. You only need to add the entities you need as part of the starting conditions, you don't need to add every single one. And of course, increase the counter.

3) Put 1) and 2) together in a home planet template for your race:

planetItemsTemplateCount 25
planetItemsTemplate
    templateName "Empty"
    subTemplates 0
    groups 0       
planetItemsTemplate
    templateName "Template:DefaultHomePlanetSetup"
    subTemplates 0
    groups 6
        group
            condition
                type "PlanetOwnerIsRaceNormalStart"
                param "Tech"
            owner "PlanetOwner"
            colonizeChance 1
            items 3
                item "Tech:Module:FrigateFactory"
                item "Tech:Frigate:Constructor"
                item "Tech:Frigate:Constructor"

Just copy the entire 'group' block to add another group. The param field is your race (use the designName you gave it), and the item fields are your structures and units. Update the counters appropriately. This template is for normal start, you'll need to add one for quick start also:

group
            condition
                type "PlanetOwnerIsRaceQuickStart"
                param "Tech"
            owner "PlanetOwner"
            colonizeChance 1
            items 9
                item "Tech:Module:FrigateFactory"
                item "Tech:Module:CapitalShipFactory"
                item "Tech:Module:MetalExtractor"
                item "Tech:Module:MetalExtractor"
                item "Tech:Module:CrystalExtractor"
                item "Tech:Frigate:Constructor"
                item "Tech:Frigate:Constructor"
                item "Tech:Frigate:Scout"
                item "Tech:Frigate:Scout"

Same idea. So you're adding 2 groups for 1 race and so you should have a total of 8 groups under the "Template:DefaultHomePlanetSetup".

well, I have tried doing so, but it just minidumps on me.

I'll have to try it again then.

Open your user.setting file and at the bottom set showErrors to TRUE. Then if it minidumps it will give you a more descriptive error to help you figure it out. You can post it here if you'd like and we'll go from there.

:)  Thank you very much for the help and information Annatar, i knew a little, the string file and the gameInfo, but didnt know about the galaxydef file and some of the entries you mentioned. Thank you, it makes it much clearer.

-Teal