Planetary Modding Woes

I just purchased this game yesterday... I am quite new to the Space Empires game, looks quite good, despite being nearly turned off to the X4 Genre by the horror that was MOO3. Naturally, I always had this idea that I have been throwing around.

I start out by modifying the Planetsize.txt file, and I add a new planetsize entry at the bottom. I do not bother changing the top part, since I assumed that was just there for reference. Copy-pasting all the important bits from it.

Name := Dimensional
Physical Type := Planet
Stellar Size := Tiny
Constructed := False
Special Ability ID := 0

Initially, I used Constructed = True and Special ability ID of 2 (Sphereworld, basically), but I switched to normal planet during my initial troubleshooting.

Next, I modified the StellarObjectTypes.txt file. I added my own entry here.

Stellar Object Name := Weatherlight
Physical Type := Planet
XFile Class Name := Weatherlight
Maximum Model Size := 8.0
Hex Size := 1
Picture Index := 689
Portrait Filename := Weatherlight.bmp
Large Portrait Filename := Weatherlight_lp.jpg
Description := Transdimensional Warship built by an ancient civilization.
Planet Size := Dimensional
Planet Physical Type := Rock
Planet Atmosphere := Oxygen
Planet Gravity := 1
Planet Temperature := 28
Planet Radiation := 100
Planet Surface Empty := PlanetSurface_ConstructedWorld.bmp
Planet Surface Colonized := PlanetSurface_ConstructedWorld.bmp

I prepared the Portrait and Large Portrait pictures, but I did not impliment them yet (I wasnt too concerned about graphics, I just wanted to get the thing working in-game).

My next trip was the XFileClasses_Stellar.txt File. Here is the entry. It does seem small for a planet, but I assumed worst case scenerio it shows up as a little dot on the campaign map, no biggie, I could tweak it from there.

Name := Weatherlight
XFile := Weatherlight.x
Override Texture Filename :=
Base Model Radius := 1.0
Starting Rotate X := 0
Starting Rotate Y := 0
Starting Rotate Z := 0
Starting Scale X := 1
Starting Scale Y := 1
Starting Scale Z := 1
Starting Position Offset X := 0
Starting Position Offset Y := 0
Starting Position Offset Z := -0.5
Continual Rotation Vector X := 0
Continual Rotation Vector Y := 0
Continual Rotation Vector Z := 0
Continual Rotation Speed := 0

My next trip was to the Pictures/Models folder. I decided, for now, to use a model for a ship. I am unsure weither the model requires modificatioons in order to be planet-worthy or not. I assumed that ship models would be compatable with planet models and that the ship-specific bits would be ignored.

I pretty much had my completed ship-planet. My objective was to get it in-game and see how it displayed. I made my own customized starsystem in the Systemtypes.txt File. It is a custom-made system, with large nebulae, asteroid fields, and at the very center, a small, M-class star.

Name := Eridani
Description := This system is composed of a a star, a large nebulae, and an asteroid belt.
System Physical Type := Normal
Portrait Bitmap := System_Nebulae5.bmp
Portrait Picture Index := 15
Empires Can Start In := FALSE
Number of Abilities := 1
Ability 1 Type := Sight Obscuration
Ability 1 Description := The [%ScopeSystemName%] system is opaque to most scanners.
Ability 1 Scope := System - All
Ability 1 Range Formula := 0
Ability 1 Amount 1 Formula := 5
Ability 1 Amount 2 Formula := 0
WP Stellar Abil Type := Normal Warp Point
WP Min Radius := 360
WP Max Radius := 400
Chance Type Used := Standard
Number of System Objs := 39
Obj 1 Physical Type := Star
Obj 1 Position := Ring 1
Obj 1 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Star
Obj 1 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Star Red Small
Obj 1 Size := Small
Obj 1 Age := Ancient
Obj 1 Color := Red
Obj 1 Luminosity := Average
Obj 2 Physical Type := Planet
Obj 2 Position := Ring 3
Obj 2 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Planet
Obj 2 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 2 Size := Dimensional
Obj 2 Atmosphere := Oxygen
Obj 2 Composition := Rock
Obj 3 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 3 Position := Ring 3
Obj 3 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 3 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 3 Size := Any
Obj 4 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 4 Position := Ring 4
Obj 4 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 4 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 4 Size := Any
Obj 5 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 5 Position := Ring 5
Obj 5 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 5 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 5 Size := Any
Obj 6 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 6 Position := Ring 6
Obj 6 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 6 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 6 Size := Any
Obj 7 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 7 Position := Ring 7
Obj 7 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 7 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 7 Size := Any
Obj 8 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 8 Position := Ring 8
Obj 8 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 8 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 8 Size := Any
Obj 9 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 9 Position := Ring 9
Obj 9 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 9 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 9 Size := Any
Obj 10 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 10 Position := Ring 10
Obj 10 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 10 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 10 Size := Any
Obj 11 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 11 Position := Ring 11
Obj 11 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 11 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 11 Size := Any
Obj 12 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 12 Position := Ring 3
Obj 12 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 12 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 12 Size := Any
Obj 13 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 13 Position := Ring 4
Obj 13 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 13 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 13 Size := Any
Obj 14 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 14 Position := Ring 5
Obj 14 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 14 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 14 Size := Any
Obj 15 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 15 Position := Ring 6
Obj 15 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 15 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 15 Size := Any
Obj 16 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 16 Position := Ring 7
Obj 16 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 16 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 16 Size := Any
Obj 17 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 17 Position := Ring 8
Obj 17 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 17 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 17 Size := Any
Obj 18 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 18 Position := Ring 9
Obj 18 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 18 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 18 Size := Any
Obj 19 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 19 Position := Ring 10
Obj 19 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 19 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 19 Size := Any
Obj 20 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 20 Position := Ring 11
Obj 20 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 20 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 20 Size := Any
Obj 21 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 21 Position := Ring 10
Obj 21 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 21 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 21 Size := Any
Obj 22 Physical Type := Storm
Obj 22 Position := Ring 11
Obj 22 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Storm
Obj 22 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 22 Size := Any
Obj 23 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 23 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 23 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 23 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 23 Size := Any
Obj 23 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 23 Composition := Any
Obj 24 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 24 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 24 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 24 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 24 Size := Any
Obj 24 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 24 Composition := Any
Obj 25 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 25 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 25 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 25 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 25 Size := Any
Obj 25 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 25 Composition := Any
Obj 26 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 26 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 26 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 26 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 26 Size := Any
Obj 26 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 26 Composition := Any
Obj 27 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 27 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 27 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 27 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 27 Size := Any
Obj 27 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 27 Composition := Any
Obj 28 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 28 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 28 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 28 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 28 Size := Any
Obj 28 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 28 Composition := Any
Obj 29 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 29 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 29 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 29 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 29 Size := Any
Obj 29 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 29 Composition := Any
Obj 30 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 30 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 30 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 30 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 30 Size := Any
Obj 30 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 30 Composition := Any
Obj 31 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 31 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 31 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 31 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 31 Size := Any
Obj 31 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 31 Composition := Any
Obj 32 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 32 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 32 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 32 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 32 Size := Any
Obj 32 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 32 Composition := Any
Obj 33 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 33 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 33 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 33 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 33 Size := Any
Obj 33 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 33 Composition := Any
Obj 34 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 34 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 34 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 34 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 34 Size := Any
Obj 34 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 34 Composition := Any
Obj 35 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 35 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 35 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 35 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 35 Size := Any
Obj 35 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 35 Composition := Any
Obj 36 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 36 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 36 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 36 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 36 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 36 Size := Any
Obj 36 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 36 Composition := Any
Obj 37 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 37 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 37 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 37 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 37 Size := Any
Obj 37 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 37 Composition := Any
Obj 38 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 38 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 38 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 38 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 38 Size := Any
Obj 38 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 38 Composition := Any
Obj 39 Physical Type := Asteroids
Obj 39 Position := Circle Radius 200, 240
Obj 39 Stellar Abil Type := Normal Asteroids
Obj 39 Specific Stellar Obj Name := Any
Obj 39 Size := Any
Obj 39 Atmosphere := Any
Obj 39 Composition := Any

Just a very simple mix of the asteroid field system, the Nebula system, with a custom-made Star and Planet. I planned on tweaking it further down the road. However, I needed to get it in-game.

I created my own quadrant map, with the template of the Ancient Quadrant type. More or less, it was a clone of the previous with the exception of the addition of a single instance of my customized system. It is placed at the very center of the galaxy.

Number of Locations := 1
Location 1 System Type := Eridani
Location 1 Position X := 34
Location 1 Position Y := 25

That looked like everything. I set up the game, use the custom quadrant file. Game loads, and the new system appears. Checking the new system, it looks like all the asteroids and nebulae are here. The placement of some of the nebulae are somewhat screwed up, though, no big deal.

However, my custom planet is nowhere to be found. At first, I may have thought it was just invisible due to model/graphical error, however, checking the planetary lists I found nothing. My planet was not even entered into the game.

I tried numerous modifications to get it to work. At first, I looked at the systemtypes.txt code. Despite setting the planet's parameters to 'any' on everything except Dimensional, it refused to work. 'Any' on everything except Specific Stellar Obj Name also did not work. Any on everything works, though. Any on everything except Stellarsize, and setting it to Sphereworld or Ringworld, did not work. It does not work when I specify a specific planet, but it works when I specify generic, but very normal, parameters, such as Rock, Oxygen, and Tiny with 'Any' as Specific Stellar Obj.

I was wondering if there is maybe something I am doing incorrectly. I am new to Space Empires V, but not to modding.