Components.bmp

Thank you.

I have begun working on a full fledged Babylon 5 Wars mod. I think ship construction/modeling is a little above my head right now but the actual game modding appears to be pretty straight forward. Ship models are really not that important to me right now...the game play that B5W had is what I am looking to recreate. If I make a good mod I figure the community will help to produce the actual Babylon 5 Models at some point. Like all good computer projects I have begun by collecting all data I want in the mod and am now assembling it in hard copy format prior to building it electronically. So far I am building one heck of a good tech tree design based on racial technologies to include hybrid technologies.

I have been toying with making the components for the ships look retro "pen and paper" style instead of the picture images. So if you remember the B5W game I would basically recreate the weapon and system shapes used on the ship forms. That way people familiar with the B5W game should immediately recognize the item when they look at it. Thus, my bmp question. I figure I will start by collecting all the images I need...so they are available when I jump into the actual modding.

Loyalty above all else except honor.

My intent is to get a workable Multiplayer version initially. Then, if I feel up to it, I will attempt to write the AI scripts. But script writting is much more difficult than simply modding existing .txt files to change game rules. All the real work is done in the existing game code...I only changed the "data input" with the mod. So if the mod is good maybe other more "professional" programmers can build the AI components at a later date.

Time is really my biggest enemy. Learning to mod game rules and game play is my first task. Then I may move onto scripting. Then, if I have not lost interest, I may move on to modeling. I stay on track when I set my mind to a project, so the game mod will get done, but it may not include all the bells and whistles (like AI). If I tried to do it all myself I am afraid that SEVII will be out before I ever got it all completed. Professional programmers are always faster and better than us amateurs. The last real computer language I learned was PASCAL and that language is dead...but the logic in programming stays the same. You just have to have the time to learn the new language. Other than PASCAL the only other programming I have done recently is HTML and .ASP for website purposes. So this is a fun challenge.

I work in Corrections as a job...and program as a hobby. So I will do my best.

Loyalty above all else except honor.

I did a lot of basic programming too and was the president of my High School computer programmer's club. But that was back when all computers only had green screens. So I can pick up on computer languages pretty easily if I have time to learn them...when I started to learn .ASP it took a LONG time because I had to read a book about 3000 pages long and find time to apply what I was learning. Not easy to do between balancing a life, job, kids, etc.

If the SEV language is similar to Pascal then it may be easier than I thought to pick up. It is nice to see folks still programming in ancient computer languages. Back when I was in high school Pascal was all the latest rage and was going to change the world. At least I didn't need to use punch cards to program it.

Loyalty above all else except honor.

Well, my Babylon 5 Wars mod is progessing along nicely. I have finished all text list files...if you can find a text list anywhere in the game I have completely redone it to be Babylon 5 cannon specific. I have completed the racial traits file. The tech areas file is done...although this will be adjusted as new components are added. And I have begun compiling all the components. So far I have completed all the technology components for the Abbai and Alacan races. I am keeping the game as close to the B5W game rules as possible. When completed this mod should be as close to playing B5W using SEV as a game engine as you can get.

The learning curve getting in REALLY slowed me down but once you figure out how each file interacts with the game it is actually pretty easy to do. It is that initial learning hump that really kills valuable time. I started using the SEV Editer but found it is actually easier just to use the notepad to code the text. I have created formulas to allow for component translations into mineral amounts that reflect their actual value on the B5W ship stat sheets.

A lot of work, but it should be worth it when finished.

Loyalty above all else except honor.