FTL Drive system

I got them to work, however it only closes one per turn. I thought I looped the instructions to close ALL the warp points. Anyone familiar with script code to see where I might have gone wrong?

//------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Main
//------------------------------------------------------------------------
function Main returns boolean
begin
// Close Warp Points
call sobjWP_list.clear()
call Sys_Get_List_Of_Space_Objects_Of_Type(SPACE_OBJECT_TYPE_WARP_POINT, sobjWP_list, FALSE, FALSE, 0)
set listWP_count := sobjWP_list.count()
set loopWP_count := 1
set Index_WP := 1
if (listWP_count > 0) then
set objWP_id := sobjWP_list.Get(Index_WP)
call Sys_Close_Warp_Point(objWP_id)
call sobjWP_list.clear()
call Sys_Get_List_Of_Space_Objects_Of_Type(SPACE_OBJECT_TYPE_WARP_POINT, sobjWP_list, FALSE, FALSE, 0)
set listWP_count := sobjWP_list.count()
endif

This is about the seven re-write to try different ways of closing the warp points so if the script logic looks redundant and over kill its because of that.

Here is another attempt, same result: only one warp point each turn:

//------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Main
//------------------------------------------------------------------------
function Main returns boolean
begin
set lng_Datafile_Event_Text_ID := Sys_Load_Datafile(0, AI_MAIN_EVENT_EVENTTEXT_TXT)
call Sys_Get_List_Of_Space_Objects_Of_Type(SPACE_OBJECT_TYPE_WARP_POINT, sobjWP_list, FALSE, FALSE, 0)

set listWP_count := sobjWP_list.count()
set loopWP_count := 0
if (loopWP_count

I found a work around that gets one warp point per empire (neutral or otherwise) each turn so it keeps up with potential warp point creation. So by the end of each turn all the warp points are closed.

Some functions for stellar objects are currently not functional either (turbulent ability). This would all be solved if the turbulent type warp point ability was active where it closes as soon as a ship goes through it.

Fyron and Captain Kwok have given me the solution to the warp point closing problem and I just verified that it works as intended (until the auto close warp point feature is fixed) so the FTL drive is a major go!

Now just need to code the AI to use FTL drives and the official non-beta version of the BSG Mod will be out.

I haven't tested it yet but, according to the mod docs and scripting docs, if the stop warp point ability is activated then the system is locked out until its dropped.

I have some scripting code I'm working on that will allow a percentage chance to open an FTL jump (comparing technology levels and distance and such) to a system that has stop warp point opening.

In essence the closer you are to the system using the stop WP open feature the higher the chance of slipping through.

I currently have it opening only in the outer system hexes. Would like to make this selectable so you could jump right into a system or right next to a planet bypassing some defenses (of course I have a programed chance for error in jump calculations causing damage and such).

I plan to just remove the stop close/open WP ability just because the concept of navigational hazards will be incorporated into the jump trajectories.

I have all WP opening in the outer ring anyway so right now there is no navigational error. The closer you get to the sun and in combination with how far you are jumping will set the navigational error value.

I might code in the stop close/open ability to just increase the navigational error factor calculation.

I just like the option of jumping into a system without being constrained to a warp point.

Essentially all it does it force one to change tactics in guarding against FTL drive equiped ships (like perimeter mining, patrol ships and such).

Obviously some more issues to work through, not sure how to approach that one yet, may have to force contact each turn once initial contact is made. Have to look at the scripting commands for establishing empire communication and such, see what options there are.

I currently have the jump spots only opening in the outer most ring (entry side) so one can't jump right on top a planet (unless that planet is in the outermost ring, then its just a bad stratgic location, or a good one if you turn it into a military base). Opening a WP or FTL jump spot can be done anywhere in the system but an error calculation is made to determine damage or catastrophe level.

Once MM activates more of the WP ability functions, I can get a little more fancy with the FTL jump error calculations.

I currently have the jump spots only opening in the outer most ring (entry side) so one can't jump right on top a planet (unless that planet is in the outermost ring, then its just a bad strategic location, or a good one if you turn it into a military base). Opening a WP or FTL jump spot can be done anywhere in the system but an error calculation is made to determine damage or catastrophe level.

Once MM activates more of the WP ability functions, I can get a little more fancy with the FTL jump error calculations.

I would have to alter the actual Open Warp Point command and have it execute several other lines of code (to check where it will open in, how far and what other hazards to add to the over all calculation) so you could have a menu such as: Select Jump Destination and select jump destination inside of system.

I do know that the game does execute functions within the script code during the players turn (example is the auto finish command in the ship construction window) so I do think you can set up some conditions similar to the requirements stated above, just not sure how to do that yet.

The problem I ran into was this: External Events executes at end after every player has gone, before each player begins there turn, the empire main script executes, so I there is no real spot to put the code to execute once the WP is open.

I think there may be a way to trigger an event function based on WP opening, similar to what happens when you hit auto complete in the ship construction screen (it executes the portion of the script governing the best available components per design type).
I'm going to ask the community at large if anyone has attempted that. My guess is that I'll be the guinea pig for this type of scripting.

That was the first thing that went when I was testing the script code

The AI is a work in progress, I'm having to script several orders for it to cope with the No Warp Point scenario. So far it will colonize and explore using FTL. I just have to incorporate the sub commands into the rest of the ship orders.

That way a fleet can jump into any system and wreck havoc

This and a couple other ideas associated with Battlestar Galactica mod are my babies right now, really enjoy how SEV lets one mod almost everything to fit your wants.

BSG Mod next release will be a whopper of a mod, almost getting SEV in its entirety changed. From GUI to messages to shipsets to mechanics.

I'll give those ideas some effort and see what happens. I know cloaking won't work, can't cloak any stellar object

As for initial contact at the beginning, I think I can get a script control to maintain status of when one first meets an empire and the contact is lost. I think I have that licked.

I found during my experimentation of creating WP using script code that its a generic WP, no abilities will be associated with it. The size function never worked for me, I tried that for a limiting factor, but pretty much gave up on any WP ability since the on created by stellar manip will only generate the generic one.

MM has to implement and change the WP creation code so the ones defined in the data file is the one created, not a basic generic one you can't modify.

Latest update on the FTL drive system: The AI won't be able to use it until a function for scripting is implemented that can determine light year distance. Its already in Aaron's hands and he says it will be out in a future patch.

Once this function is in, I can get the AI to use FTL drives.

With Aaron's latest patch the BSG mod AI will be able to use the FTL drives! I'll start scripting this weekend!

I have the basic frame work scripted already, I literally only needed a script function that gave the distance in light years so the AI could categorize what systems where in range of the empire's FTL drive. I just have to plug it in and start debugging the AI's choices.

The combat decisions will have to be overhauled with FTL drives since some different tactics will be available. I have allot of the script functions already written but again it all was based on that script function for determining light year distance.

Just the fact that Aaron and his crew actually listen and take action based on player/fan feedback made me a loyal fan.

I finally got the FTL based game working with AI supported, just download the latest Battlestar Galactica Mod (4.0 at filefront or over at SE Net). You'll be presently surprised to see the AI moving from system to system...

AI is stock version 1.74 however with some minor tweaks, will be updating the AI's combat and creation styles later to match each empire.

No I haven't tried to distinguish WPs yet, I might do something like that for my upcoming SG-1 mod where WP will be dialing addresses.

Who's doing the B5 Mod? Would gladly add the event scripts for FTL like use.

Now that I streamed lined my script and functionality, yes, it could easily be put into a mod. It would alter the empire scripts of each race (add a function call to each) so it would take a little time to create the mod.

Give me a little while and I'll create a stand alone FTL no warp point game mod.

I have a base no warp point hyperdrive mod avaiable at http://files.filefront.com/No+Warp+Point+HyperDrive+drar/;10852157;/fileinfo.html

It uses stock 1.74 SEV, AI is functional in using the drive as well.

What kind of scheme do you need? might be able to help out.
I've gotten pretty good with the scripting bit

I can do that now with the script code I have. Do you want end of everyones turn or each empire's turn? Both are doable and is basically what I did in the BSG mod.

I take it you also want an existing WP net to stay in existence on top of the component that opens WPs?

I would have to add a little script to check for new WPs every turn and close just the new ones.