Sinperium Sinperium

Modder's "Get-an-Answer" Thread

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Modder's "Get-an-Answer" Thread

Answers from Modders, for Modders who "Ask a Question"

from Sins Forums

This is the place to ask and recieve specific modding (mod making) questions and answers. If you have a mod making question, post it here.

If your question involves long snippets of entity files and the like, please don't paste the entire file contents here but put them at the incredibly easy to use http://pastebin.com and then provide the link to your paste in your question posted here.

Please do limit  "just comments" here to brief posts please.  If you don't know the answer or can't point to help--don't post.  Please note that a random, uninformed guess isn't an actual answer.  

You can refer people to another source--IF it actually helps answer their question.  This could be in the form of links, outside sites, specific modding-useful programs, direction towards another post or poster, etc., etc.

Remember--specific questions, specific answers.  Only respond to the ones you can help solve.  Also, feel free to amplify, clarify, suggest alternatives to or correct answers seen here if such actions are merited and help provide a real solution. No flaming, insults or put downs here in the answers or other posts please.

Thanks in advance for your help and cooperation.  The reason for the rigid rules here is those this thread becomes a usable resource in the future to new people looking for answers.

NOTE: If an answer resolves your issue, please share it here.  These answers will help others coming along later too.  Karma is a great way to respond to people providing help without clogging the thread or bombing their forum mailbox here. Thanks!

 

OTHER SINS HELPFUL MODDING LINKS*

*Links are updated when requested.





The Soase Idiot's Guide

Confused?  No idea where to even start?

Determined to work at it?

This is the place!

 


 

  
   

Sins Modding Wiki

ZombieRus's Eclipse Wizardry

 
     

Tutorials

MyFist0's full modding site.

Emphasis on modeling  and

texturing.                            

 

 

 
                    

REBELLION MODDING TOPICS

Rebellion Modding Q & A

Mesh Editing

Changing Diplomacy Files to Rebellion

IT REALLY HURTS MY BRAIN--HOW TO START

An Idiot's Guide To Getting Started

MyFist0's Modding Megasite!

MOD DOWNLOADS

ZombieRus5's Mod Yard

Directory of Planet Mods

STEAM

STEAM Sins Forums

DEVELOPERS

Sins Developer Journals Forum 2007 to Present

REFERENCE FILES

Research Modifier List

MyFist0's Exported Models & Files

Modifier List

Harpo's Converted Sins Reference Files 2011

THIRD PARTY TOOLS

3dS Texturing Toool & Tips

Ship Fleet Calculator

SoaSE Eclipse Plugin Project

Mesh Resizing Tool--courtesy of the Reqiuem team.

Harpo's Sins Utility Package -- Dropbox

The Sins Optimization Project (TSOP)

Artificial Unintelligence (Mod and AI info)

Sins Data Converter by BCXtreme

EXPLANATIONS & DISCUSSIONS

Rebellion Updates by Blair Frazier

How to Add a Fourth Race

User-updatable Ship Reference Chart

Sins Modding Dictionary

Adding phase Effects to other weapon types

Culture, Explanation/Discussion

Weapons, Explanation/Discusion

Shield Mitigation & Armor, Explanation/Discussion-1

Shield Mitigation & Armor, Explanation/Discussion -2

Graphic Chart of Sin's Counters

Annotated Guide to the Developer.exe

In-Game Map Creator

Weapons Banks & DPS

Combat Mechanics

Rebellion Shield Mitigation & Focus Fire testing

PARTICLE FORGE

Particle Forge Help Thread

GALAXY FORGE

Adding Artifacts

Working Template Examples

SemazRalan's Template Guide

Pirates Base Start Template

SOUND RESOURCES

[SFX] Black Sun SFX/Music Resource for Modders

MODELING & TEXTURING--SOFTIMAGE XSI, 3DS MAX

XSI Texturing, Tutorial

3dS Model Exporter

3DS Max Rigging, Texturing & Exporting, Guide

Modding/Modelling/Texturing/Converting, Tutorials

WIKI'S

Sins of a Solar Empire Official Wiki

 

modding
7,606,757 views 2,761 replies
Reply #1251 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Seleuceia, reply 1251

Quoting ZombiesRus5, reply 1246I feel no need to promote what is obvious. People who feel they are better served by continuing with Notepad++ just like driving mopeds while everyone else has the Ferrari.

Some of us still use the original notepad...

 

:-"

Reply #1252 from Sins Forums Top

If it makes you feel better, I use C++ programs to edit files in mass...the only advantage I found with notepad++ was that it indicated line numbers, but honestly I've never had a problem finding the line giving me trouble....

TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #1253 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Seleuceia, reply 1252
If it makes you feel better, I use C++ programs to edit files in mass...the only advantage I found with notepad++ was that it indicated line numbers, but honestly I've never had a problem finding the line giving me trouble....

 

I use Notepad

Reply #1254 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting CoronalFire, reply 1253
I use Notepad

We should form a club...call it the MANLY MODDERS OF MADNESS....

Reply #1255 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Seleuceia, reply 1255

Quoting CoronalFire, reply 1253I use Notepad

We should form a club...call it the MANLY MODDERS OF MADNESS....

 

Such a club mods madness? Or mods men with madness?

Reply #1256 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting CoronalFire, reply 1256

Quoting Seleuceia, reply 1255
Quoting CoronalFire, reply 1253I use Notepad

We should form a club...call it the MANLY MODDERS OF MADNESS....

 

Such a club mods madness? Or mods men with madness?

Manly Modders on Mopeds

Reply #1257 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting ZombiesRus5, reply 1257

Quoting CoronalFire, reply 1256
Quoting Seleuceia, reply 1255
Quoting CoronalFire, reply 1253I use Notepad

We should form a club...call it the MANLY MODDERS OF MADNESS....

 

Such a club mods madness? Or mods men with madness?

Manly Modders on Mopeds

 

Someone had better have a good question quick to keep this great topic from degenerating.

Reply #1258 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting CoronalFire, reply 1258
Someone had better have a good question quick to keep this great topic from degenerating.

How do I convert entity files from BIN to TXT?

Reply #1259 from Sins Forums Top

Does DS mod still have that swamp planet ability that toggles when the planet can be colonized?  I'd rather find out first before downloading it, mod is so big and takes me hours and hours to DL...just want to use the ability as a template in case I run into problems...

Also, I'm looking to have a planet ability that "randomly" kills population and/or damages the planet health...I say randomly because, to my knowledge, you can't do any "With Chance" stuff unless it's related to weapons...I'd like to simulate "random", so to speak, and was thinking of maybe having 3 simultatenous periodic actions with different interval times to give the "appearance" of random...that's my plan, anyway, but just wondering if anyone had a better or more efficient idea...thanks...

 

Reply #1260 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Seleuceia, reply 1259
How do I convert entity files from BIN to TXT?
you have several choices

1 download the reference files (assuming you are modding the game files)

2 download and use my text bin gui (the beta version near the end of the thread should be fully operational for rebellion, but still wants a report back from one or more non-english windows users as to it finding the rebellion mods area)

3 there is another convertdata interface program created by bcextreme (currently does not directly support rebellion according to the last reply)

4 visit the sins weebly (http://soase.x90x.net/#) to find out how to use the convertdata_EXPANSION.exe in a batch file

hope this helps

harpo

 

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Reply #1261 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Seleuceia, reply 1260
Also, I'm looking to have a planet ability that "randomly" kills population and/or damages the planet health...I say randomly because, to my knowledge, you can't do any "With Chance" stuff unless it's related to weapons...I'd like to simulate "random", so to speak, and was thinking of maybe having 3 simultatenous periodic actions with different interval times to give the "appearance" of random...that's my plan, anyway, but just wondering if anyone had a better or more efficient idea...thanks...

Yes you can. Any periodic action can be done on chance. Check out the Maelstrom mod, some of its planets already do that.

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Reply #1262 from Sins Forums Top

Lol harpo, I feel really bad now, that actually is a really nice post...this is what happens when we don't have a legit troll list...

That reminds me though of something I thought of earlier...Sinperium, I think the section in regards to BIN/TXT in your Idiots Guide should be higher up, maybe just below the section about where to place mods...I'd even go so far as to include all 4 options Harpo listed in your OP...just my thoughts...

2nd post of mine (about planets) actually was legit, FYI...

Reply #1263 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Seleuceia, reply 1263
Lol harpo, I feel really bad now, that actually is a really nice post...this is what happens when we don't have a legit troll list...

That reminds me though of something I thought of earlier...Sinperium, I think the section in regards to BIN/TXT in your Idiots Guide should be higher up, maybe just below the section about where to place mods...I'd even go so far as to include all 4 options Harpo listed in your OP...just my thoughts...
I did suspect that it might have been a troll, BUT the info DOES need to be repeated, so I treated it as a legit post and gave a non-troll reply (which is the nasiest form of trolling btw).

harpo

 

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Reply #1264 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting harpo99999, reply 1264
gave a non-troll reply (which is the nasiest form of trolling btw).

I concur...

Ironically, I may actually have to use your converter to view the Maelstrom files because I no longer have Diplomacy installed (and thus don't have the ConvertData for Diplomacy)...

Nevermind, they aren't in BIN format...sometimes I feel like a complete moronic tool...

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Reply #1265 from Sins Forums Top

Thanks Goa, found some buff file in there that used a periodic action with the OnChance...I had an inkling I saw that used somewhere but it isn't on the modifier list OP so I assumed it was a figment of my imagination....

Reply #1266 from Sins Forums Top

Hey got a similar question to Sel, except instead of chance, I have an ability that kills population only, and would like to interrupt it if the planet runs out of pop. Best way to do this?

Reply #1267 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting CoronalFire, reply 1267
Hey got a similar question to Sel, except instead of chance, I have an ability that kills population only, and would like to interrupt it if the planet runs out of pop. Best way to do this?

I remember someone seemed to have this issue. You'd need a finishing condition for that, and I don't believe that's possible. You could use the percentage killed instant action used by the Revelation instead of an absolute number (so you'd know the how many buffs would be necessary to kill the entire planet), but that's all I can come up with.

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Reply #1268 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting harpo99999, reply 1264

Quoting Seleuceia, reply 1263Lol harpo, I feel really bad now, that actually is a really nice post...this is what happens when we don't have a legit troll list...

That reminds me though of something I thought of earlier...Sinperium, I think the section in regards to BIN/TXT in your Idiots Guide should be higher up, maybe just below the section about where to place mods...I'd even go so far as to include all 4 options Harpo listed in your OP...just my thoughts...I did suspect that it might have been a troll, BUT the info DOES need to be repeated, so I treated it as a legit post and gave a non-troll reply (which is the nasiest form of trolling btw).

harpo

 

Man you guys are confusing me the troll-non troll. :P

The Idiot's Guide is updated and changed as requested.

Reply #1269 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Sinperium, reply 1269
Man you guys are confusing me tiht the troll-non troll.

Not everyone can "separate" their troll personas as well as you do. ;) I'm surprised no one mentioned him in your "I love Sinperium" thread.

Reply #1270 from Sins Forums Top

It's a skill.

Reply #1271 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting GoaFan77, reply 1268

Quoting CoronalFire, reply 1267Hey got a similar question to Sel, except instead of chance, I have an ability that kills population only, and would like to interrupt it if the planet runs out of pop. Best way to do this?

I remember someone seemed to have this issue. You'd need a finishing condition for that, and I don't believe that's possible. You could use the percentage killed instant action used by the Revelation instead of an absolute number (so you'd know the how many buffs would be necessary to kill the entire planet), but that's all I can come up with.

 

Was afraid of that. Any way to use a periodic buff with the pop constraint?

Reply #1272 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting CoronalFire, reply 1272
Was afraid of that. Any way to use a periodic buff with the pop constraint?

That might work. The periodic action would need to apply a buff with an onDelay instant action buff that only stacks once and prioritizes new buffs that would remove the periodic action buff. The delay must be greater than the time between periodic buffs. This way if the on delay ever executes it will be due to the constraint preventing the periodic action from applying the buff.

Reply #1273 from Sins Forums Top

REFERENCE FILES

Research Modifier List

Modifier List

I think I saw someone trying to use these links, but really those old posts are outdated or don't reflect the current expansions.

 

Here's an updated set of quick reference links

Quick Reference Links

Ability (Vanilla, Entrenchment, Diplomacy, Rebellion)
Buff (Vanilla, Entrenchment, Diplomacy, Rebellion) 

Constraint (Vanilla, Entrenchment, Diplomacy, Rebellion)
aiUseTime (Vanilla, Entrenchment, Diplomacy, Rebellion)
aiUseTargetCondition (Vanilla, Entrenchment, Diplomacy, Rebellion)
EntityBoolModifierEntityModifier (Vanilla, Entrenchment, Diplomacy, Rebellion)
buffInstantActionType (Vanilla, Entrenchment, Diplomacy, Rebellion)
buffOverTimeActionType (Vanilla, Entrenchment, Diplomacy, Rebellion)
buffPeriodActionType use buffInstantActionType.
instantActionTriggerType (Vanilla, Entrenchment, Diplomacy, Rebellion)
finishConditiontypes (Vanilla, Entrenchment, Diplomacy, Rebellion)

ResearchSubject (Vanilla, Entrenchment, Diplomacy, Rebellion)

researchBoolModifiers (Vanilla, Entrenchment, Diplomacy, Rebellion)
researchFloatModifiers (Vanilla, Entrenchment, Diplomacy, Rebellion)

 

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Reply #1274 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting GoaFan77, reply 1270
Not everyone can "separate" their troll personas as well as you do. I'm surprised no one mentioned him in your "I love Sinperium" thread.

I may need an intervention....

Reply #1275 from Sins Forums Top

There is an "I Love Sinperium" thread?  That is...disturbing.

That wasn't supposed to happen until I had infiltrated governments with my secret followers and then taken control as global leader.