Help: Modding the Balance Mod

Hi Captain,

I have solved 1/4 of the issue myself. The fact that even as a player i could not choose the "Bug Traits" seems to be due to the position of the entry in RacialTratits.txt. Originally I had it somewhere in the middle of the file text. When I shift it to the end of the text, it becomes available as a player choice during update.

However,

1.) the AI still does not take it although I specify this in the AI setup
2.) the XiChung AI still constructs absurd ships

Concerning 1.) Here is the text for the "Bug Traits":
**************************************************************************************************
Name := Bug Traits
Picture Number := 0
Racial Cost := 0
Number Of Abilities := 10
Ability 1 Type := Race - No Mood Change
Ability 1 Description := Emotionless - Race does not grow angry or happy.
Ability 1 Scope := Galaxy - This Player
Ability 1 Range Formula := 0
Ability 1 Amount 1 Formula := 0
Ability 1 Amount 2 Formula := 0
Ability 2 Type := Space Yard Rate Modifier
Ability 2 Description := Planetary Space Yards produce at [%Amount1%]% of their normal rate.
Ability 2 Scope := Galaxy - This Player
Ability 2 Range Formula := 0
Ability 2 Amount 1 Formula := 10
Ability 2 Amount 2 Formula := 0
Ability 3 Type := Storage Cargo Space Percent
Ability 3 Description := Planets and cargo components can store 200% more than normal capacity.
Ability 3 Scope := Galaxy - This Player
Ability 3 Range Formula := 0
Ability 3 Amount 1 Formula := 200
Ability 3 Amount 2 Formula := 0
Ability 4 Type := Race - Reproduction
Ability 4 Description := Reproduction increased by [%Amount1%]% from Racial trait.
Ability 4 Scope := Galaxy - This Player
Ability 4 Range Formula := 0
Ability 4 Amount 1 Formula := 5
Ability 4 Amount 2 Formula := 0
Ability 5 Type := Race - Environmental Tolerance
Ability 5 Description := Environmental resistance increased by [%Amount1%]% from Racial trait.
Ability 5 Scope := Galaxy - This Player
Ability 5 Range Formula := 0
Ability 5 Amount 1 Formula := 5
Ability 5 Amount 2 Formula := 0
Ability 6 Type := Ground Combat Damage Modifier
Ability 6 Description := Ground combat damage increased by [%Amount1%]% from Racial trait.
Ability 6 Scope := Galaxy - This Player
Ability 6 Range Formula := 0
Ability 6 Amount 1 Formula := 8
Ability 6 Amount 2 Formula := 0
Ability 7 Type := Boarding Defense Modifier Percent
Ability 7 Description := Ship crews have a combat strength of +[%Amount1%] for fighting off ship capture.
Ability 7 Scope := Galaxy - This Player
Ability 7 Range Formula := 0
Ability 7 Amount 1 Formula := 8
Ability 7 Amount 2 Formula := 0
Ability 8 Type := Point Generation Modifier - Intelligence
Ability 8 Description := Intelligence generation throughout the empire decreased by [%Amount1%]% from Racial trait.
Ability 8 Scope := Galaxy - This Player
Ability 8 Range Formula := 0
Ability 8 Amount 1 Formula := -50
Ability 8 Amount 2 Formula := 0
Ability 9 Type := Point Generation Modifier - Research
Ability 9 Description := Research generation throughout the empire decreased by [%Amount1%]% from Racial trait.
Ability 9 Scope := Galaxy - This Player
Ability 9 Range Formula := 0
Ability 9 Amount 1 Formula := -50
Ability 9 Amount 2 Formula := 0
Ability 10 Type := Storage Facility Space Percent
Ability 10 Description := Bugs are able to tolerate much higher crowding and polution. Planets can store 100% more facilities than normal.
Ability 10 Scope := Galaxy - This Player
Ability 10 Range Formula := 0
Ability 10 Amount 1 Formula := 100
Ability 10 Amount 2 Formula := 0
Number Of Requirements := 0
******************************************************************************************************

And here is the text for the setup script. When I compile it, it is in the same folder as all your UNCOMPILED scripts, Kwok. Could that be the issue? Do I need to compile ALL scripts again in order for the two that I need to work?

Afterwards, I copy the compiled file over to the Balamce Mod. You see, all I change is the call for the racial trait and the change of two vehicle preferences:

****************************************************************************************************
function Main returns boolean
vars
begin

// Set Xi'Chung vehicle usage preferencs
set bool_Race_Uses_Mines := TRUE
set bool_Race_Uses_Fighters := FALSE
set bool_Race_Uses_Satellites := TRUE
set bool_Race_Uses_Troops := TRUE
set bool_Race_Uses_Weapon_Platforms := TRUE
set bool_Race_Uses_Drones := FALSE
set bool_Race_Uses_Kamikaze_Ships := TRUE
set bool_Race_Uses_Boarding_Ships := TRUE
set bool_Race_Uses_Bombardment_Ships := FALSE
set bool_Race_Uses_Normal_Armor := FALSE
set bool_Race_Uses_Cloaking_Devices := TRUE
set bool_Race_Uses_Master_Computers := FALSE

// Pick Xi'Chung Racial Traits

// 2000 Pts
call Add_Racial_Trait("Organic Manipulation")
call Add_Racial_Trait("Bug Traits")

// 3000 Pts
call Add_Racial_Trait("Farming Aptitude")
call Add_Racial_Trait("High Reproduction")

// 5000 Pts
call Add_Racial_Trait("Advanced Storage Techniques")
call Add_Racial_Trait("Propulsion Experts")

// Pick Xi'Chung starting technology
call AI_Set_Age_Research(1)
call AI_Set_Age_Research(2)
call AI_Set_Age_Research(3)
call AI_Set_Age_Research(4)
call AI_Set_Age_Research(5)
call AI_Set_Age_Research(6)

return TRUE
end
*******************************************************************************************************

Concerning 2.): In XiChung_Main_Script, I also only do minor changes. It is rather long, so I am not going to post it here.

So, what am I doing wrong? Is it that i need to recomple ALL scripts again, even if i only need the two I mention?

Thanks for the time being. I will change the setup script to call the Bug Traits before the Organic Manipulation.

I did not touch the design creation script at all. All I changed in xichung_main_script.csf was:

- I set the use of fighters to "FALSE" and the use of boarding ships to "TRUE"
- Later in the script, I set the amount of fighters (I think this is to determine relative proportions) to zero and the amoount of boarding ships to a positive figure