21 distinguishable Empires: 7 Races x 3 Flags and Colors

The Galaxy Lives On! Distant Worlds, the critically acclaimed 4X space strategy game is back with a brand new 64-bit engine, 3D graphics and a polished interface to begin an epic new Distant Worlds series with Distant Worlds 2. Distant Worlds 2 is a vast, pausable real-time 4X space strategy game. Experience the full depth and detail of turn-based strategy, but with the simplicity and ease of real-time, and on the scale of a massively-multiplayer online game.

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Thineboot
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21 distinguishable Empires: 7 Races x 3 Flags and Colors

Post by Thineboot »

Since [1.0.4.8] Same icons, different Empires, incl. player Empire and [Suggestion] Game Editor I've wondered, why does this happen in the first place.

Turns out that the answer can be found in data\Races.xml.

You can activate the more or less white Human flag and color by uncommenting line 8.

Code: Select all

    <AlternateFlagFilenames>
      <string>UserInterface/Flags/Human_2</string>
      <string>UserInterface/Flags/Human_3</string>
    </AlternateFlagFilenames>
image_2022-08-04_124627183.png
image_2022-08-04_124627183.png (48.99 KiB) Viewed 486 times

There are up to 7 races times 3 flags or 21 distinguishable empires possible at game start.
To make sure all empires in the game are distinguishable, no matter how many you choose, you have to switch off Auto-Generated Starting [other] Empires. Instead of letting the game make bad choices before you even can know, you have to Add New [other] Empire and choose no more than 3 of the same race, including your own Empire.
image_2022-08-04_123023159.png
image_2022-08-04_123023159.png (51.47 KiB) Viewed 486 times

While there are only two sets of colors, MainColor and SecondaryColor, listed in data\Races.xml, the third one is based on both of them.



@ Elliot:
In order for Auto-Generated Starting [other] Empires to work properly, a cap on races needs to be added based on the available number of flags for each race, not to exceed 3, as there are currently only 3 possible colors per race.
Otherwise we'll end up with same flag/color Empire again and again and again, see links.
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