[MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed (Expanded Mod and and non-EM Version) Released

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salemonz
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed 1.2.0 and DWUR Expansion Mod Version

Post by salemonz »

jayman wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 3:18 pm Some of the check-boxes and fonts on the custom-game set-up thingys are messed up, such as too big a box in some places like in the 'pirates respawn' box or too small a font in other places so it's unreadable even though other fonts on the same screen are the 'normal' size. The hot-keys aren't working either so space-bar no longer pauses the game for example. Just little annoyances really, but they impact on the enjoyment of the game so I went back to an older version until the new bugs are ironed out.

Besides, I'm already many game years into a long campaign with DWUR 1.1.0 and it's not compatible with the new version of EM, which causes it to crash!
Sorry you're having some issues. I know like Alvek said there are some UI quirks resulting with what he's tried to do to support larger resolutions. I also have some weird checkboxes and whatnot. Not sure what might be happening with hotkeys. DWUR just swaps art.

Corrupted downloads do seem to happen a bit. Is GitLab known for this? I've gone through shipset-by-shipset and verified that images are good when I upload them. Not sure how to lower the risk of bad images :/
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CaesarAug
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed 1.2.0 and DWUR Expansion Mod Version

Post by CaesarAug »

salemonz wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 2:19 pm
CaesarAug wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 7:43 am [By the way, though it isn’t crucial, the DWUR Help files aren’t working for some odd reason.]
Hrmm, that's odd. I just re-did all the race ones. They don't show up in-game? (or is it the non-EM version that's not working?)

Screenshot 2026-03-13 091553.png

Unfortunately, DWU help files are .mht format, which are unreadable in almost every tool except Microsoft Word.

I hate working with .mht files--wish the game just used text files. Let me know if they're broken in game and I'll try and find out what's going on.
Well, I'm happy to report that the Help files in the EM v0.9.0 do indeed work in-game! However, when trying to edit them in MS Word, they are blank, strangely enough. Doesn't happen with other Help files I've edited before. Any thoughts?
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CaesarAug
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed 1.2.0 and DWUR Expansion Mod Version

Post by CaesarAug »

BUG REPORT! Alvek: with the latest 2.2.1.3 Alpha version, the Fleet Formation in the Empire Policy Screen, at the bottom, is only partially visible again! You can’t adjust the number of ships for Fleet Formation. Thanks for looking into it... again!
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salemonz
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed 1.2.0 and DWUR Expansion Mod Version

Post by salemonz »

CaesarAug wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 9:18 pm Well, I'm happy to report that the Help files in the EM v0.9.0 do indeed work in-game! However, when trying to edit them in MS Word, they are blank, strangely enough. Doesn't happen with other Help files I've edited before. Any thoughts?
Ugh. I do not have additional thoughts on this, no. I'm not normally a Word user. I downloaded the most recent version of Office365 and did the trial period thing so I could edit these. The "inactive" version of Word I still have does still open the help files. But right at this second I can't save/export or do much until I purchase Office.

Don't know what's up. Maybe you're using an old version of Word?

I'm frustrated that these help files are so problematic, on my end and yours :/
Screenshot 2026-03-14 213906.png
Screenshot 2026-03-14 213906.png (336.93 KiB) Viewed 536 times
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salemonz
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed 1.2.0 and DWUR Expansion Mod Version

Post by salemonz »

So I have finished my initial "balance pass" (design templates, policies, race stats, resource profiles, tech components, even dialog).

Aim is to make all 46 races feel/act different, not to make them all "balanced". I did nerf and boost things per my opinions/rationale. Attaching the zip in case anyone wants to try it out. Also included a changelog below

Liking it so far! Continuing to playtest as I can.

Just tossing it out as a preview for now. Consider this experimental. PROBABLY NOT SAVE GAME COMPATIBLE.

You would copy and paste the attached zip into your customization folder. I'll post it to the original post in a bit.


==========================================================
Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed Race Balance Changelog
==========================================================

Read the full changelog here: https://github.com/salemonz/DWUR-EM/blo ... ngelog.txt
Attachments
DWUR-EMversion-BALANCE-MOD.zip
(3.19 MiB) Downloaded 6 times
Last edited by salemonz on Mon Mar 16, 2026 2:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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CaesarAug
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed 1.2.0 and DWUR Expansion Mod Version

Post by CaesarAug »

Thank you. By the way, I am using an updated full version of MS Word 365...

And another issue: the latest EM v0.9.2 has a "corrupted" file status when trying to unzip with WinWAR.
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CaesarAug
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed 1.2.0 and DWUR Expansion Mod Version

Post by CaesarAug »

CaesarAug wrote: Sun Mar 15, 2026 6:06 am Thank you. By the way, I am using an updated full version of MS Word 365...

And another issue: the latest EM v0.9.2 has a "corrupted" file status when trying to unzip with WinWAR.
OK, so I downloaded your latest v0.9.2 from GitHub and this time it unzips correctly with WinRAR. Thanks! :-)
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salemonz
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed (Expanded Mod and and non-EM Version) Released

Post by salemonz »

Released v0.9.3 with new balance changes incorporated. Details/links in the OP.
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CaesarAug
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed (Expanded Mod and and non-EM Version) Released

Post by CaesarAug »

Excellent, thank you!
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CaesarAug
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed 1.2.0 and DWUR Expansion Mod Version

Post by CaesarAug »

salemonz wrote: Sun Mar 15, 2026 2:41 am
CaesarAug wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 9:18 pm Well, I'm happy to report that the Help files in the EM v0.9.0 do indeed work in-game! However, when trying to edit them in MS Word, they are blank, strangely enough. Doesn't happen with other Help files I've edited before. Any thoughts?
Ugh. I do not have additional thoughts on this, no. I'm not normally a Word user. I downloaded the most recent version of Office365 and did the trial period thing so I could edit these. The "inactive" version of Word I still have does still open the help files. But right at this second I can't save/export or do much until I purchase Office.

Don't know what's up. Maybe you're using an old version of Word?

I'm frustrated that these help files are so problematic, on my end and yours :/

Screenshot 2026-03-14 213906.png
By the way, salemonz, I have tried editing the DWUR Help mht files with MS Word again… and this time it works! Go figure! :-)
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Shogouki
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed (Expanded Mod and and non-EM Version) Released

Post by Shogouki »

Was attempting to try out your mod but I keep getting an error when I attempt to load your mod. This is what the error dump recorded:

System.ApplicationException: Could not read Type at line 120 of file D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Distant Worlds Universe\Customization\DWUR\facilities.txt
at DistantWorlds.Types.PlanetaryFacilityDefinitionList.LoadFromFile(String filePath)
at DistantWorlds.Types.Galaxy.InitializePlanetaryFacilityDefinitions(String applicationStartupPath, String customizationSetName)
at DistantWorlds.Types.Galaxy.InitializeData(String applicationStartupPath, String customizationSetName, ResourceSystem& resourceSystem, PlanetaryFacilityDefinitionList& facilityDefinitions, ComponentDefinition[]& componentDefinitions, FighterSpecificationList& fighterSpecifications, ResearchNodeDefinitionList& researchNodeDefinitions, GovernmentAttributesList& governments, RaceFamilyList& raceFamilies, PlagueList& plagues)
at DistantWorlds.Types.Galaxy.InitializeData(String applicationStartupPath, String customizationSetName, ResourceSystem& resourceSystem)
at DistantWorlds.Start..ctor()
at AdeiSmFbbeZGrsmmeB.Xe3uDLq1SwUX40GKys.SofRtfIJrGO()


Application info follows:

Could not read Type at line 120 of file D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Distant Worlds Universe\Customization\DWUR\facilities.txt


Any idea what the problem might be?
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CaesarAug
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed (Expanded Mod and and non-EM Version) Released

Post by CaesarAug »

Shogouki wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2026 8:59 am Was attempting to try out your mod but I keep getting an error when I attempt to load your mod. This is what the error dump recorded:

System.ApplicationException: Could not read Type at line 120 of file D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Distant Worlds Universe\Customization\DWUR\facilities.txt
at DistantWorlds.Types.PlanetaryFacilityDefinitionList.LoadFromFile(String filePath)
at DistantWorlds.Types.Galaxy.InitializePlanetaryFacilityDefinitions(String applicationStartupPath, String customizationSetName)
at DistantWorlds.Types.Galaxy.InitializeData(String applicationStartupPath, String customizationSetName, ResourceSystem& resourceSystem, PlanetaryFacilityDefinitionList& facilityDefinitions, ComponentDefinition[]& componentDefinitions, FighterSpecificationList& fighterSpecifications, ResearchNodeDefinitionList& researchNodeDefinitions, GovernmentAttributesList& governments, RaceFamilyList& raceFamilies, PlagueList& plagues)
at DistantWorlds.Types.Galaxy.InitializeData(String applicationStartupPath, String customizationSetName, ResourceSystem& resourceSystem)
at DistantWorlds.Start..ctor()
at AdeiSmFbbeZGrsmmeB.Xe3uDLq1SwUX40GKys.SofRtfIJrGO()


Application info follows:

Could not read Type at line 120 of file D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Distant Worlds Universe\Customization\DWUR\facilities.txt


Any idea what the problem might be?
It looks like a facilities.txt error, most likely because it incorporates the new Diplomacy Academy Facility (ID 17). So if you are playing with the Expansion Mod (EM) version of DWUR (latest version is 0.9.3), you must be sure to have the latest version of the Expansion Mod as well, currently 2.2.1.4.
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salemonz
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed (Expanded Mod and and non-EM Version) Released

Post by salemonz »

Shogouki wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2026 8:59 am Application info follows:

Could not read Type at line 120 of file D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Distant Worlds Universe\Customization\DWUR\facilities.txt[/i]

Any idea what the problem might be?
Like CaesarAug mentioned, if you're using DWUR-EM version you'll need EM (Expanded Mod) :D That's the package from Alvek that replaces many files in the game's root directory (and the game's executable). It fixes memory issues, supports larger modern resolutions and adds support for additional race playstyles & facilities.

If you don't want to install Alvek's Expanded Mod. You can download the legacy DWUR (no new facilities, no new races, etc) mod here: https://github.com/salemonz/DWUR/releases/tag/v1.2.1
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CaesarAug
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed (Expanded Mod and and non-EM Version) Released

Post by CaesarAug »

I thought to ask a question in this forum since it seems to be the most active…

It’s not directly DWUR-related but maybe you can give some insight given your modding experience.

I also like modding DWU, and have developed Star Trek and Star Wars mods. But for some unknown reason in the Star Wars mod with 30 playable races, I occasionally and randomly get an in-game message claiming some ship images are “missing” for unexisting family47 and family49, and then the game crashes.

As the Star Wars mod only has 30 races, the family shipsets only go up to family29. I’ve checked the races file and they seem to match adequately with the shipsets and troops. Some races do have multiple shipset png images, i.e., cruiser, cruiser1, cruiser2, cruiser3, cruiser4, etc. but the Bacon and Expansion Mods handle multiple images of the same ship-class.


In fact, I’ve checked everything I can think of, and am really puzzled by this error message that crashes the game.

Any ideas? Thanks!
jayman
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed 1.2.0 and DWUR Expansion Mod Version

Post by jayman »

salemonz wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 5:15 pm
Sorry you're having some issues. I know like Alvek said there are some UI quirks resulting with what he's tried to do to support larger resolutions. I also have some weird checkboxes and whatnot. Not sure what might be happening with hotkeys. DWUR just swaps art.
If I just use the new DWUR 1.2.0* with the older 1.10.0 EM I don't get those issues so I'll stick with that, with a few tweaks of my own. I'm using Star Trek ship pics from old mods for example (Mortalens with Klingon ships against the Humans with the starship Enterprise!) and I also went through the design-templates and changed the ship scaling to make all the ships smaller on screen. A bunch of 0.3 small freighters looks better than a load of base-game big 1.0 ones, which can crowd out a planet :)

I'm still running 1.1.0 DWUR for now until I finish a game I've got going there, but 1.2.0 works ok.

*1.2.1 now!
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Shogouki
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed (Expanded Mod and and non-EM Version) Released

Post by Shogouki »

I could have sworn I installed Expanded Mod but I'll look and see if I did something wrong there. Thanks for the help!
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed (Expanded Mod and and non-EM Version) Released

Post by Alvek »

Shogouki wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2026 7:11 pm I could have sworn I installed Expanded Mod but I'll look and see if I did something wrong there. Thanks for the help!
EM versions prior to 2.2.1.3 do not support 0.9.* DWUR for EM
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Shogouki
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed (Expanded Mod and and non-EM Version) Released

Post by Shogouki »

Alvek wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2026 7:13 pm
Shogouki wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2026 7:11 pm I could have sworn I installed Expanded Mod but I'll look and see if I did something wrong there. Thanks for the help!
EM versions prior to 2.2.1.3 do not support 0.9.* DWUR for EM
I have the newest version but I figured out what I did wrong. Thanks!
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Shogouki
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed (Expanded Mod and and non-EM Version) Released

Post by Shogouki »

Out of curiosity do you have any plans to expand or drastically alter ship weapons?
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salemonz
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Re: [MOD] Distant Worlds Universe Refreshed (Expanded Mod and and non-EM Version) Released

Post by salemonz »

CaesarAug wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2026 4:03 pm I thought to ask a question in this forum since it seems to be the most active…

In fact, I’ve checked everything I can think of, and am really puzzled by this error message that crashes the game.

Any ideas? Thanks!
Screenshot 2026-03-19 104540.png
Screenshot 2026-03-19 104540.png (6.73 KiB) Viewed 24 times
Check all of your race text files for assigned pirate shipset references. In DWUR I assign pirates from every race to use shipsets 47, 48 or 49 (I would just rotate across the three for variety...headcanon to me is these are factions that have survived in space for centuries while the other races are pre-warp...pirates might have cobbled together ships over that time that all look relatively the same).

This is a holdover from when the game used to only support a maximum of 50 shipsets (0-49). With 46 races, I used the final three shipset slots for pirates.

However:
1) Expansion mod removed that limit. I could make 1000 shipsets if I wanted to.
2) You can actually make that reference whichever shipset you would like (could also match the normal ships)

I might someday make pirate "versions" of each shipset...but that's a lot of additional graphics/memory/etc :D
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