RRF 1.8 beta (Test Version) 7.9.08

[LV]

OK ladies this is an ALPHA, let me explain what this means.......

It means if you only want to use stable and bug-free scripts you should not download it, this is a test version for any of you brave enough to stick your head above the parapet and say "Hey I'm Darkside man"

LV slaps himself for babbling and picks up the worlds biggest spoon.

I've put about 20 hrs testing into 1.8 and it looks ok to me peeps but as i have added some serious lines of code and changes to RRF it needs putting through it's paces for a few days before i offer it to the idiots of this village.


My testing shows 100% functionality, feel free to show me why my glass should be half empty and not full by breaking it, I challenge y'all



Step 1.
Before you load X3 remove the current RRF Install you have with Cycrows Plugin Manager. If you do not have RRF installed ignore!!

Next install RRF 1.8b with Cycrows Plugin Manager


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Download 1.8 Final Test

Run X3 & Load your save (use a fresh save when saving after install, this is an ALPHA)


Ingame Install

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Install & Update guide for existing RRF users and also removal and uninstall for any existing RRF user

1. Go into your AL menu
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2. Set the 3 RRF option to NO to turn it off
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You need to wait (SETA) for the following messages

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Wait until you get this message (SETA is your friend)

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****NOTE****
It's currently set fast uninstall so if you can give it time after 2nd message before switching back on

Once you have pressed "Understood" go back into your AL options (1) and turn the 3 RRF option back to On [YES]
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Wait until you get this message
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RRF 1.8 is now running.
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Fixes for 1.8

Rapid Response Raiders Disabled (Still fixing)
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M6 AI now will no longer jump into sector if more than 4 M6's (of that race) exist.


Bottleneck Fixed
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Ships heading to Kingdom End (elephants graveyard) or in sectors where 100's of fighters were stuck will now be imperialised.
(I believe this is due to another script as i have never suffered)


Getsu Fune
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Sector change slowed down


1.8 Updates


Intelligent AI Aggression

If you enable IAIA all the 5 main races as well as the Xenon, Pirates and Terran will attack their enemy's sectors and if they manage to eliminate their foe's; colonization ships will repopulate the sectors under the victors flag!

Huge rewards and conflicts can be gained or taken on from stopping colonization of sectors if a pilot can act before the sector falls.
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Diplomatic Relations

[ external image ]E.G. Creates Argon MP's & rep boost for Argon & small Paranid boost to Argon when slaves re-trained


When you buy slaves, some will then become MP's that can fly Drones
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Stay docked or you will be punished, slave traders are not welcome
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Each race will have 1 station where rescued slaves can be re-trained or released. For a hefty sum any slave you buy from the station will be converted to either a member of the military or a citizen.

If enough slaves are re-trained the benefactor race will use them to add support craft to their invasion fleets. Centres that have no MP's available will not produce strike craft!

As well as the increased military support the benefactor will add a small notoriety increase for you and also the race of the sector the station is situated in.

Sith masters can not only alter the other races relations to each other but also use this feature to control relations globally with the right purchase in the right place and also a few missiles into a station in the wrong location



Wealthy and cunning pilots could affect relations between the major races by simply re-training rescued slaves at Donation Centres in the suitable race sector.



New Hotkeys
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Once you have bound this hotkey if you can find the Donation Centre for the race of the sector your in. Only the main races have centre's and you will also be offered the option of data on current race invasions and sector leadership.

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There are many more fixes and features in 1.8 that currently elude me mainly due to manflu and a mixture of Stella/Headache tablets that i will expand on soon as i remember them.


1.8 will change all race notoriety's once setup but as i'm such a great guy if you turn RRF off it will revert back to it's original settings
(Anybody who wishes to ask me how long this took can join the "please kick me in the nads line")


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1.8 final update
I've worked on the sector choice logic for invasions meaning most of the time it should be the sector closest to the attacking races borders, I have however added some randomness to it.

Also the races should pretty much get a turn a piece to assault a sector but i've also added a wildcard here just so it not always obvious which race will be attacking next.


On the incoming questions options screen when re-intialising RRF in the AL options menu you will be asked to either start AI Logic or start AI Logic with the option to start an invasion every time you re-init script caches.

READ what your clicking!!

i think any wandering fighters on their way to kingdom end (XTM related) are now imperialised and I have also put some easter eggs into the game

2 tips

1. Take capital class ships to the pirate headquarters
2. Be in the invasion sector and choose to aid or not.

(disclosure of script code will bring much pain and suffering to anyone thinking about it )


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I've also now written full NPC race interaction into the donation centres so if a Split trader lands on a Boron Donation Centre in Argon Prime the Split get a boost with both the Boron (large) and the Argon (small) iirc the Goner may also add a tad of notoriety to the Split.

Please test donation centres out by landing TS ships on them and buying slaves, try to cheat please peeps and kill the centres so they come back in differnet race sectors (does the not drop for killing affect your notoriety with the race too much?)


Todo before release, some of my rewards need tweaking especially in relation to tip 2


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some of the plugin is still set to fast in relation to timings and colonization, i'm aware of it.

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Install instructions


first remove any RRF install you have via Cycrows Plugin Manager (Installer) then double click the rrf1.8fa spk file

Load your game and turn the 3 RRF options in th Arificial Life plugin menu to off.Wait for the message to uninstall RRF then turn them back On.


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[joelR]

This is great LV. I'll let you know what I find out.




Thanks!

[Lancefighter]

Id love to be able to post tons of feedback at this point, but the dreaded 'other stuff' came up >.< damn RL.

[enenra]

You might want to rename this... script, as it takes on a much bigger dimension than the original script had.

[Sandalpocalypse]

Awesome. I'll have a go. Death to bugs!

[s9ilent]

Hrm... I'm very tempted to test this script, but considering I havn't actually used the first RRF, nor played x3 in a while.... I might try it later
(I've been only modding/testing my mod continuously)



Btw, great script as always, and I find it hilarious how you used IAIA

[Zoed Vega]

Moderator erased post

[LV]

there are a couple of things i could also do with some help with,

Someone to proof read the thread desc and 8804 t file for speeling and grammer. It's really not my strong point

I make things work, i'm not good at naming them, this version needs a beeter description than intelligent AI and donation centres but my mind only works with code, not words

20 hrs testing is on top of the other 30 writing

My Alpha's are usually pretty nailed down on the bug front but as this update alters sector owners, race relations and also stations deployed throughout the universe, if i have missed a show stopper it's a reload and no less

I think this plugin may sound better unsing "diplomatic" but as i said i have writers block

[Thraxwhirl]

This looks interesting, LV...

...but I have a question, regarding compatibility with mods like XTM, if I may ask...

As I understand it from previous versions, the RRF AI finds ships that already exist in the Universe and then assigns them their RRF commands and renames them accordingly.

So for example, it might pick a random Argon Titan, or even a custom ship like a Split Tiger(from XTM) and use it for Race Response purposes.

Now, that's all very well and good in MOST cases, but of course it could potentially play havoc with XTM's "other companies", such as Industritech, Family Tkr and Company Yohanis. For instance, an Industritech Cerberus might suddenly find that it gets assigned to Argon RRF, and thus no longer performs the functions that XTM had intended...

...So, my question is simply this:

Are there any safeguards against this?

I've had one or two ideas in this regard - suggestions that might work.

When the AI is picking a random ship in order to assign it to RRF duties:

1) Check to see if the ship has a Homebase. If it does, the ship is almost certainly performing a function that the modder/scripter intended it to keep on perfoming, and thus it should be left alone. Thus, pick randomly again.

2) Check its name. If it's NOT a simple case of $Race+$Waretype - eg. "Argon Titan" - but is instead something different like, say, "Federal Supply Mammoth"(XTM), "Sword of Achilles"(also XTM), or "Mercenaries Guild Buster"(Cycrow's Guild Scripts)... or even for that matter, "Argon Customs Patrol Nova"(vanilla jobs)... then once again, this ship is already performing a task which it ought to keep on doing. Thus, RRF should search again.

Does that make sense?

Forgive me, perhaps you already have implemented safeguards along such lines(or similar) to ensure that non-essential vessels are assigned to RRF duties, but if so, can you elaborate on them?

Thanks.

[LV]

...So, my question is simply this:

Are there any safeguards against this?

many many moons ago i wrote into the basecode a simple variable that if any script or mod checks for RRF will ignore the object

The XTM team know the local variable lv.jtp.block = 1

If no check is made for this it's simply not my problem, without sounding like i'm trying to bash XTM i've spent way too many hours already recoding RRF to work with it and hunting for bugs that mod causes to RRF.

Look at that shiny helmet to your left, as i said in off topic a while ago, I'm a sociopath, XTM need to make their mod work with RRF not the other way round.

[Thraxwhirl]

I see. So the responsibility lies with everyone else.

Fair enough.

For the benefit of those of us mortals considering using this scriptset then, and who don't want all our other ALs to be broken by it, can you elaborate upon how we might modify it ourselves(for purely personal use of course), along the lines I was suggesting, so that it won't break all our other scriptsets?

Namely, which bit of code in your scriptset requisitions the existant ships? And therein can WE get it to check Homebase and Name ourselves?

Thanks for your time.

[Malakie]

(Anybody who wishes to ask me how long this took can join the "please kick me in the nads line")


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So how long did this take?










Malakie

[JackSlaughter]

Mind if I make some Suggestions:

1. After you have been informed where the attack is taking place, there is no way to recall that info. If you forget... your screwed. So could you make sure it leaves a notice in the log. Also, you have the one command that gives you info and how many attacks are taking place... can you list where the attacks are taking place.

2. How long does it take for the attack to commence? I went to one of the sectors that was supposed to be under attack and I found nothing.

3. The way you made it sound, it seems like you only get benefits for stopping an attack... or saving a sector from takeover. Are there benefits for helping a race attack another sector?

4. Is this script going to really screw up NPC Universe Traders, because I was in a paranid sector and the paranid were massacring every Boron trader that came through the gate.

[LV]

For the benefit of those of us mortals considering using this scriptset then, and who don't want all our other ALs to be broken by it, can you elaborate upon how we might modify it ourselves(for purely personal use of course), along the lines I was suggesting, so that it won't break all our other scriptsets?

In whatever plugin you want to alter whenever a ship is created via script for one of those plugins or are given a command set to be assigned to it you just need to set the ships/station the local variable of

$ship -> set local variable: name='lv.jtp.block' value=1

Mind if I make some Suggestions:

1. After you have been informed where the attack is taking place, there is no way to recall that info. If you forget... your screwed. So could you make sure it leaves a notice in the log. Also, you have the one command that gives you info and how many attacks are taking place... can you list where the attacks are taking place.

This is intentional as if i had added it to log someone would have complained their log was being spammed, it is easy to change

2. How long does it take for the attack to commence? I went to one of the sectors that was supposed to be under attack and I found nothing.

The ships will wait for a short time in the sector specifed until your ship arrives although there is a failsafe added in, on testing the ships should jump in within a few mins on seta x10 if i did not enter the muster sector

3. The way you made it sound, it seems like you only get benefits for stopping an attack... or saving a sector from takeover. Are there benefits for helping a race attack another sector?

Not at the moment, coding it takes alot more time than the idea

4. Is this script going to really screw up NPC Universe Traders, because I was in a paranid sector and the paranid were massacring every Boron trader that came through the gate.

And your problem is?? Why wouldn't this happen if the races were in conflict, you don't see american or english postmen happily whistling their way around the suburbs of Iraq and Afghanistan do you

[A5PECT]

Could you create some unique text for Kha'ak and Xenon invasions? They aren't known to negotiate with the other races before invading their space, and you usually don't need to tell people Xenon Sector 101 isn't a safe place for traders.

Those are my only gripes so far, everything else sounds great.

Edit: Also, I'm not quite familiar with the context in which you're using the term "Huckleberry".

Spoiler

Show

I've agreed to help the Argon fight against some Paranid forces in Ore Belt: a destroyer and several fighters. I took down the fighter escorts but I couldn't get through the destroyer's shields. Argon reinforcements arrived and the Paranid were wiped out. It was good fun, but I can't tell if I've completed the mission. Am I not to receive confirmation (via the message log), or is there something else to this task?

[JackSlaughter]

Like KloHunt3r said, there isn't any way to tell when the attack is over. I helped out the Boron defend from the split and I waited and waited and I didn't know if the battle was over, still going, If i actually killed anything... or what.

Was this your intention, or just another I didn't get there yet?

[Scoob]

Hi,

A good addition to the RRF script - I like it.

I am however experiencing problems...though I do use XTM which I suspect is the culprit however I wanted to share my experience in case anyone running this on vanilla X3 also has issues.

Initially I just let the scripts do their thing while I did mine, I basicially ignored any Race A are pissed at Race B stuff and are off to kick their butts.

After a couple of hours play I decided to jump to the sector in question and watch the fireworks. I've done this twice now, first a Split invasion of the Argon sector Midnight Star and second a Teladi invasion of Cloudbase SW. In both cases soon after a defending RRF Cerberus jumped out of the system having taken a beating the game froze. I used to get this every now and again when Pirate Galleons jumped (a known bug) but I've never had it when RRF defenders have attempted to retreat before.

I reloaded my prior save (I'd been saving every two minutes) and in both cases the crash always occurs at the same point. I had a save about 30 seconds before the first crash so I jumped out of the sector, waited a minute & jumped back in - the Cerberus had still jumped out but there was no crash while I was OOS.

Like I said, probabaly XTM but never seen this particular behaviour when a RRF controlled ship has to jump away. Note: a Centaur had previously jumped away without issue.

**Update** Ok, game just crashed again when a Collossus jumped out of the fight - it's not just Cerberus's (i.e. XTM ships) but Vanilla ones too. Mean anything?

Cheers,

Scoob.

[A5PECT]

I would like to be able to change the rate at which invasions are launched. Conquest is going by a little too quickly for my taste.

Could you add an AL option to toggle the frequency of sector invasions? And until then, is there any way I can change it myself at the script's current stage?

[LV]

Could you create some unique text for Kha'ak and Xenon invasions?
Edit: Also, I'm not quite familiar with the context in which you're using the term "Huckleberry".


I've agreed to help the Argon fight against some Paranid forces in Ore Belt: a destroyer and several fighters. I took down the fighter escorts but I couldn't get through the destroyer's shields. Argon reinforcements arrived and the Paranid were wiped out. It was good fun, but I can't tell if I've completed the mission. Am I not to receive confirmation (via the message log), or is there something else to this task

It was already on my todo list, as far as the help out "x"race mission i'll take a look at it, huckleberry is just a quote from doc holliday in the film tombstone (it means i accept)

After a couple of hours play I decided to jump to the sector in question and watch the fireworks. I've done this twice now, first a Split invasion of the Argon sector Midnight Star and second a Teladi invasion of Cloudbase SW. In both cases soon after a defending RRF Cerberus jumped out of the system having taken a beating the game froze. I used to get this every now and again when Pirate Galleons jumped (a known bug) but I've never had it when RRF defenders have attempted to retreat before.

I reloaded my prior save (I'd been saving every two minutes) and in both cases the crash always occurs at the same point. I had a save about 30 seconds before the first crash so I jumped out of the sector, waited a minute & jumped back in - the Cerberus had still jumped out but there was no crash while I was OOS.

Like I said, probabaly XTM but never seen this particular behaviour when a RRF controlled ship has to jump away. Note: a Centaur had previously jumped away without issue.

**Update** Ok, game just crashed again when a Collossus jumped out of the fight - it's not just Cerberus's (i.e. XTM ships) but Vanilla ones too. Mean anything?

It's a feature i added in 1.7, they don't always get away but i did have some RRF ships jump out testing the invasions without any lockups, all i can suggest is if you have my cheats installed destroy the rrf ships before they jump to see if it locks again. If not had this issue but i'll test it again by forcing them to jump out

I would like to be able to change the rate at which invasions are launched. ?

in the script al.lv.jtp.skirmish.main

Code: Select all

023    $interval = 30 * 80
024    al engine: set plugin $plugin.ID timer interval to $interval s

simply change the 30 or the 80 to a higher value, it's currently times to 2400s

you then simply have to save, reload and the new timer settings will kick in

[Scoob]

Hi LV,

I tried a couple of things on ships I knew would cause a crash as soon as they jumped.

First I just boosted the shields on the Colossus so he didn't need to jump...a little unfair on the invaders.

Second I killed the Cerberus and created a new one, which soon got taken over by RRF but when it finally did jump it didn't cause a lock-up.

So far it's only Argon ships, I've now been in several other invasions where ships have jumped out & within the sector without issue.

So, at the moment this error occurs reasonably often, but only to Argon ships, is not restricted purely to XTM added ships and doesn't happen every time they jump out.

One question, where could these ships be jumping to? Reason I ask is that the Crash happens a couple of seconds after the ship has left my sector, not instantly upon the jump flash effect. I was wondering if, due to the XTM mod, these ships might be going somewhere they shouldn't...just a thought.

Cheers,

Scoob.