[Mod] Info Broker (alpha - update 26.12.13)

[UniTrader]

Prewords: I allow anyone to change and customize this mod, or to integrate it in other Mods (complete or in parts). The only condition is that i am informed before and i am mentoined in the Credits! Should i not actively post in the Forum for more than four Weeks anyone can continue development without further questions or use it in its his own Projects. Solely the Credit Entry is mandatory!

Description:This Extension adds a new NPC Class, which sends the Player current Info about the Station where you Leave him. (Alpha: no seperate NPC currently; you can use almost any NPC for this Job which you can hire)


Manual - Extension under Development, read with every new Version

Installation:
- drop content of the Downloaded Archive into the "Extensions"-Folder in the Rebirth-Directory (create it if necesary)

How to use:
1. dock at platform of the Station you want to reveal and hire some random NPC (e.g. a Pilot or a Manager; does not work with any type, but most of them)
-> will enter Skunk
2. Call hired NPC while still on Station and tell him to "Work here"
-> will go out of the Skunk again
3. wait and/or forget
-> The Info Broker will now wander around on the Station and collect Information to send it to the Player.
practically he will reveal one Building Step each InGame Hour and a Sell and Buy Offer unknown to the Player (if there are any)
-> this time is under evaluation, i want to leave something to scan for the player
(for Player Information the NPC-Ship is placed nearby/into the current Dock - this is purely informative and will be removed when Beta starts)

How to Update - Quick & Dirty (previous Version only):
- Drop new files over the old ones (in theory; Info Broker needs a complete restart, but that should be achived with overwriting in most cases)

How to Update - Clean (for all old Versions):
-> copy the aiscript/infobroker.ai.xml from the update-Verzeichnis into the old Extension Folder (overwrite this File)
-> Load Game
-> Wait until all Info Brokers are in "reinit"-state (Wait for Info in Info Window; should take about 15 Minutes)
-> Save Game
-> Drop new files over the old ones
-> done.

How to Uninstall:
-> kill the player Owned XS Ships nearby the Station where you have put the Info Broker
-> this will remove them when they completed their current cycle (wait for Message in Info Screen)
when no more Info Brokers are in the Game it is loadable without the Extension again.

Known Bugs:
- Player Ship Scanner will flicker up every time the Info Broker scans a Station Stage (Beep has been removed)
-> will be resolved eventually, this is temporary because i have not found out yet how to add scanners to another Ship
- a senseles XS Player Ship is spawned nearby the Station where i assigned the NPC
-> it has two purposes currently (removing NPC and keeping Trading Offers)
and will be used for other things later in development.
-> This Ship wont appear in the property Menu and in the Sector map only when the assigned Station is expanded.

Feedback wanted to:
- Speed of Station Scanning - i am aiming for 80 to 90% revealed
- > tell me which station the Info Broker keeps at which %age

Download: [ external image ]

Planned Feature List; 1st Version Features in Italics:
-> Keeps Station Info up-to-date on a Station or (if expierienced) in a Zone (Info Amount depends on Skills)
-> Makes all Trades of the Station Available (and perhaps gets Special Offers for the Player, gradually getting better if the Player keeps delivering those)
-> Warns the Player of Dangers inside the assigned Zone (needs trust of Station Owners for Access to Radar Dish)
-> May help the Player when fighting in Range of a Station (either Support Fire from the Station or deactivation of Defense)
-> May Recruit People on the Station when he knows who you are looking for
-> And of course he wants to be paid for his Work ^^ (it isnt cheap to hang around in the Station Bar the whole day and gathering Intelligence there )
-> since the whole thing has the Players Board Computer as central Info collection Point only 5 of this NPCs are possible without Trading Computer Extension, 30 with Trading Computer and if you have a Headquarter there will be no more Limits on the Information Amount which can be processed.
-> Add a Personal Info Broker who collects Infos in the current Zone (only expierienced ones can do that)

EDIT: Rewrote OP post into a proper Mod Presentation Post

[Frumph]

.. Use the Police Chief who isn't doing crapzola?

There's one for each sector already (generally)

..use the custom conversation flag as you did his personal quest so that he likes you enough to do these things for you? game needs more sidequests ;/

[UniTrader]

for now it is just any Staff NPC on board the Skunk - you tell him "Work here" at a Faction Station and he/she will send you all available Info i want to add a specific NPC later or use a specific type of them (someone who seems logical for this Job like Managers), but i need some feedback how fast the NPC should work, too (aim is to keep the Station Info at 80 to 90% for an average Station) so i make the first Versions less restrictive on that

[Frumph]

How about an information broker that "stays" on the skunk, and you talk to him and it brings up the sector/zone chart when you ask for information concerning those areas? (to refresh them) and the purchase window at that time?

You could of course fire them and rehire one at your need ya

[Akeela]

Really awesome idea. Will keep an eye out for this one when I start playing the game again in a month or so.

[Observe]

How about "Liaison"?

[MegaJohnny]

Those names all look good, I can't put a finger on any of them.

But I just want to say I've not heard of this project before, and that it sounds absolutely fantastic. Gives a similar function to X3's adv. sats, in a format that fits in perfectly with Rebirth's "NPCs, not AIs" ethos.

If he was purely there on an informational/trading basis, I'd probably go for representative - but since he can aid/hinder station defenses (the latter of which is a bit more shady) I'm leaning on agent or proxy.

[DogNine]

I really like this idea.

How about simply Trade Agent? Or even the modern term currently in use - sales rep.

[UniTrader]

nice additional ideas for a Name but looking at the current Results i think none of them can beat the Info Broker

@Frumph maybe later, there is enough to do for now. may think about that when i have everything except the headquarters and Combat Assistance included. (and besides: i dont think you want to spend over an hour in the same Zone, which would be the minimal intended time to scan a station to 100% by these guys)


PS made a small edit to the OP post ^^

[ICO_hr]

Why not The Shadow Broker.

[Vim Razz]

So have you managed to create a new custom NPC type in game, then? After your hybrid Rahanas project, I am filled with great hope.

[UniTrader]

So have you managed to create a new custom NPC type in game, then? After your hybrid Rahanas project, I am filled with great hope.

not yet, abusing other onnes currently. but its on the todo list.

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

Why not The Shadow Broker.

And they can be a fat mutant Teladi-Split hybrid too

There is one small extension to the idea: Agents in mostly hostile sectors/zones and Info Brokers in mostly friendly/neutral sectors/zones. Agents could occasionally lead you into ambushes perhaps (c/f double Agents)?

[BinarySlave]

Reality shows that Embassies are used by the US and other nations as headquarters to spy worldwide on "their friends". So, I am for calling the ones for Rebirth Ambassadors.

Oh, and I love the idea of this mod.

[jeroll3d]

Unitrader

Sorry about my question, is dificult understand large tex in english. Exist date to release?

Thanks

[UniTrader]

today although it is an alpha Version with a known bug - just a bit polishing and creating the package (i have renamed the associated files to fit with the selected Name and removed all development code which will not be used.. mostly unsuccesful tries to get the Info i want)

[UniTrader]

Now the Alpha is released

anyone who found/noticed the pre-alpha Version i sneaked in last night should do a uninstall before since the file Names changed to fit with the voted Title (and yes, i removed the Poll since its no longer relevant ^^)

[hannahb]

Nice work

[Vim Razz]

Very cool stuff. I've tried looking into a more limited version of the same idea (attaching an employee to a station to gain trade data), but your approach is very different and looks a lot more versatile than mine. It's fun to see.


It does look the current syntax in your alpha might possibly conflict with assigning managers and defense officers to your own stations, though? I actually can't test it until I get home, but the two command options appear to be occupying the same menu slot when on a station belonging to you. I'm not sure which would over-write which, under the circumstances.

"$isstation and not player.platform.container.isplayerowned" might work as a value filter if the one you've got commented out is giving you trouble.

[UniTrader]

It does look the current syntax in your alpha might possibly conflict with assigning managers and defense officers to your own stations, though? I actually can't test it until I get home, but the two command options appear to be occupying the same menu slot when on a station belonging to you. I'm not sure which would over-write which, under the circumstances.

"$isstation and not player.platform.container.isplayerowned" might work as a value filter if the one you've got commented out is giving you trouble.

damn, forgot to re-add that.. i had some problems making the work here-command appear and removed this for test purposes.. -.- will upload a corrected Version tomorrow when i am at home