Bridge Commander Central
BC Forums => BC Scripting => Topic started by: Villain on June 14, 2008, 02:49:48 PM
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So, upon reading the new stuff we're going to get, and seeing the Graviton slingshot thingo, I thought to myself: "Would the Soliton Wave ( http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Soliton_wave ) be possible?" I assume so, as it seems to be basically the same idea, use something else to propel you across space.
Just an idea, and possibly a suggestion, as it doesn't seem to have ever been mentioned before...
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If GC supports alternative transport methods, then you are best to ask the creator on how to do this (I didn't know it was possible to use plugins for that).
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It will as of 1.1, apparently.
"- Implemented the Custom Traveling Method Plugin System.
- Added a line in Stellar Cartography showing the selected traveling method."
It wasn't so much a "How can it be done" as much as a "Maybe this would be fun".
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Well, if it hasn't been released yet, then how could anyone but the original author know how to do it?
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Sorry, but I never meant it to be a "How can it be done" or "Can someone make this", I just felt that upon release, it may be a fun extra to the custom travelling system. Sorry again for not explaining properly, trying to pursue my interests while at work is tricky. :P
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Ah, I assumed you were interested in making it.
I'm really unsure if anyone else has even got the time for it.
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Yes Prime, it is possible.
The 'Custom Travelling Method Plugin' system in GC's patch is the way to easily add alternative transport methods to the game implemented in GC. Even AI ships will use it, and choose other possible travelling methods to chase their target. Pratically the only thing the custom travelling methods don't support are intercepting objs at high travelling speeds, so the "warp intercept" will still be just warp intercept.
The custom travelling methods can basically be of 2 types: ship-based (like warp or slipstream) and non-ship-based (like the caretaker array and the graviton catapult). And the normal travelling type you had with GC (warp) is implemented now as one of these plugins.
GC will come in with 2 travelling methods: warp and enhanced warp (which is a faster but more dangerous/unstable warp drive), both are ship-based.
The graviton-catapult is actually not from GC, it is from the Delta Quadrant Pack. However i'm scripting it for Jb and Limey, both to help them since they kindly asked :P, and to show an example of implementation of a non-ship-based travelling method. But still it will be included in the DQP, and not with GC.
With this you can add any kind of travelling method to the game, really. Only thing that will change about adding any kind of travelling method is the difficulty of making the plugin for the travelling method, since to make the plugins you will still need some python + BC scripting knowledgement.
For example making the warp and enhanced warp were incredibily easily since the code for warp was already done, it was basicly a question of "porting" it to the plugin system.
However the graviton catapult plugin was more difficult since I wrote a pratically new "travelling out" GFX sequence, which included the use of some models (which Jb and Limey made).
The most difficult part to do is the GFX sequences (for before, during and or after travelling). Other attributes as max/cruise speeds, speed scale of the travelling method to real Cs (speed of light), if a ship can drop out or change course while travelling, are pretty easily changed.
Plus the plugins included in GC are very well commented to tell what is what. Plus before releasing, along with the new readme (obviously) i'll also make an tutorial about it.
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Lucky I intend on getting the DQP then too, eh? :lol: Thanks for the heads up, mate. Just one more thing, more related to the wave itself... Do you think it'd be possible to script in a random error in the initiation that would either force you off the wave and/or damage you in the process? It's been the only thing I've missed in BC, the random failures of technologies. Either way, thank you for your speedy reply, and all the information you bring with you! Keep up the great work! :D
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Yep.
You could make that the cruise speed is random.
So sometime the ship will travel faster than the cruise speed. Because of this the travel degradation system will kick in, damaging whichever system(s) of the ship that you want damaged.
Besides that, you can script the method that checks if a ship can continue travelling to, if the ship is travelling faster than the cruise speed, don't allow her to continue travelling. And because of this, the ship will drop out of travel.
Thus you can get your random damage ship & drop out :D
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It's all scripts, so, in theory, you can do anything BC could possibly allow (even things no-one would have ever thought of).