Gameplay Redux Mod

the1sean · Post by **the1sean** » Fri May 06, 2011 3:35 am

GAMEPLAY REDUX MOD (compatible with ROTS)

Description

The objective of this mod is to enhance the gameplay of Distant Worlds by tightening up AI Empire settings, and making some improvements on the artwork side to make things work how you would expect them to.

This is a complete overhaul of my earlier artwork mod, with the addition of gameplay improvements.

Population growth rates have been moderately increased across the board, as many players (including me) feel that population growth is pretty stunted for a 4x, and can lead to game stagnation. The formula is ((G x 1.5) + 10) with "G" being population growth %
AI settings have been tweaked. AI's are set to build more powerful ships (by focusing them on construction tech and shifting a few of them towards some sort of weapons tech emphasis, and realigning their construction priorities)
I have tweaked each race to capitalize on it's racial tech or other innate advantages (again by tweaking their ship and research strategies).

Aggression isn't modded, as this can lead to unstable game play. (So I would still suggest changing aggression settings during game setup to suit your gaming style)

Race specific art has been completely reworked.

Empire flag and ship artwork now match each race's color scheme.
Troops now have their appearance changed from that little tank to their race's default artwork. The tank art now works for robotic troops.
Races from the same family (humanoids, insects, etc) now share similar ship artwork styles. So if you look at a ship you can tell what race type they are.
Previously unused ship artwork has been used to diversify shipsets (all that ship art that was never seen in the game but sitting in the shipset folders!) This gives most races their own unique warship and exploration ship art.

Let me know what ya'll think!

Download Link

http://www.gamefront.com/files/20305630 ... ux+Mod.rar

Installation

1. Unzip the 'Gameplay Redux Mod' to Matrix Games/Distant Worlds/Customization/
2. Start DW:ROTS. On the main menu select 'Change Theme', then select Gameplay Redux Mod and press "Switch Theme"

To disable all AI tweaks, replace "races" file in the mod folder with the one marked "artwork only mod".

Props

I have been inspired by alexalexuk's "Super AI Mod" efforts, and WoodMan's "Diverse Worlds" mod. Also, I have to thank Eliott and Matrix for making such an awesome game and letting me Beta test ROTS!

the1sean · Post by **the1sean** » Fri May 06, 2011 3:37 am

Preview of race art integrated into troop art.

Data · Post by **Data** » Fri May 06, 2011 7:05 am

Great work, man

Igard · Post by **Igard** » Fri May 06, 2011 10:54 am

Terrific work, Sean.

Are there race flags to go with this? I notice you've changed them in your screenshot to match up with the ship colours.

the1sean · Post by **the1sean** » Fri May 06, 2011 12:33 pm

ORIGINAL: Data
Great work, man

Thanks Data [:)]

ORIGINAL: Igard

Terrific work, Sean.

Are there race flags to go with this? I notice you've changed them in your screenshot to match up with the ship colours.

Igard, I didn't change the race flags. I left them the same as the vanilla ones since they seem to match each race pretty well. However the flags have all definitely been recolored to match the race art, and the ships have been recolored with the same color scheme. To me this mod isn't about creating something new, but just fine-tuning the vanilla Distant Worlds ingredients to create a better experience overall. (I have another secret project that will be a different theme [:'(])

Igard · Post by **Igard** » Fri May 06, 2011 12:41 pm

Ah I see now. Great work.[;)]

ehsumrell1 · Post by **ehsumrell1** » Fri May 06, 2011 7:40 pm

F A N T A S T I C!

Good job fellow tester! [&o]

Data · Post by **Data** » Sat May 07, 2011 4:20 am

(I have another secret project that will be a different theme )

Cliffhanger....and seeing it at the start of a weekend [:-]

the1sean · Post by **the1sean** » Sat May 07, 2011 5:41 pm

ORIGINAL: ehsumrell1

F A N T A S T I C!

Good job fellow tester! [&o]

Thanks, the recent updates have kept me working on this mod. In fact, it was 95% done two months ago, I just finally put the finishing touches on it [:D]

ORIGINAL: Data

(I have another secret project that will be a different theme )

Cliffhanger....and seeing it at the start of a weekend [:-]

well enjoy playing THIS mod, cuz the other one is ending up being more time intensive than I originally thought it would be [8|]

Data · Post by **Data** » Sat May 07, 2011 6:00 pm

Don't worry, we're all behind you....faaaar away behind you [:D]

Tirane · Post by **Tirane** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 1:55 am

I had an exception error:

Code: Select all

See the end of this message for details on invoking 
 just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.
 
 ************** Exception Text **************
 System.ArgumentException: Parameter is not valid.
    at System.Drawing.Bitmap..ctor(Int32 width, Int32 height, PixelFormat format)
    at DistantWorlds.Main.PrepareEngineExhaust(BuiltObject ship, Bitmap shipImage)
    at DistantWorlds.Controls.MainView.4uVZivp6iY(Graphics )
    at DistantWorlds.Controls.MainView.OnPaint(PaintEventArgs e)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.PaintWithErrorHandling(PaintEventArgs e, Int16 layer, Boolean disposeEventArgs)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmPaint(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)
 
 
 ************** Loaded Assemblies **************
 mscorlib
     Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 DistantWorlds
     Assembly Version: 1.5.0.8
     Win32 Version: 1.5.0.8
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Matrix%20Games/Distant%20Worlds/DistantWorlds.exe
 ----------------------------------------
 System
     Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 System.Drawing
     Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 System.Windows.Forms
     Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 DistantWorlds.Controls
     Assembly Version: 1.5.0.8
     Win32 Version: 1.5.0.8
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Matrix%20Games/Distant%20Worlds/DistantWorlds.exe
 ----------------------------------------
 DistantWorlds.Types
     Assembly Version: 1.5.0.8
     Win32 Version: 1.5.0.8
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Matrix%20Games/Distant%20Worlds/DistantWorlds.exe
 ----------------------------------------
 Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound
     Assembly Version: 1.0.2902.0
     Win32 Version: 5.04.00.2904
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC/Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound/1.0.2902.0__31bf3856ad364e35/Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 AxInterop.WMPLib
     Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Matrix%20Games/Distant%20Worlds/AxInterop.WMPLib.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 Interop.WMPLib
     Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Matrix%20Games/Distant%20Worlds/Interop.WMPLib.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 System.Deployment
     Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Deployment/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Deployment.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 Microsoft.VisualBasic
     Assembly Version: 8.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 8.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Microsoft.VisualBasic/8.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 PresentationCore
     Assembly Version: 3.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 3.0.6920.5011 built by: Win7SP1
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_32/PresentationCore/3.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35/PresentationCore.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 WindowsBase
     Assembly Version: 3.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 3.0.6920.5011 built by: Win7SP1
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/WindowsBase/3.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35/WindowsBase.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 Microsoft.DirectX
     Assembly Version: 1.0.2902.0
     Win32 Version: 5.04.00.2904
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC/Microsoft.DirectX/1.0.2902.0__31bf3856ad364e35/Microsoft.DirectX.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 Ionic.Zip
     Assembly Version: 1.9.1.5
     Win32 Version: 1.9.1.5
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Matrix%20Games/Distant%20Worlds/Ionic.Zip.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 System.Runtime.Serialization
     Assembly Version: 3.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 3.0.4506.5420 (Win7SP1.030729-5400)
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Runtime.Serialization/3.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Runtime.Serialization.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 System.Xml
     Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 SMDiagnostics
     Assembly Version: 3.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 3.0.4506.5420 (Win7SP1.030729-5400)
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/SMDiagnostics/3.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/SMDiagnostics.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 System.Configuration
     Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 
 ************** JIT Debugging **************
 To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
 application or computer (machine.config) must have the
 jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
 The application must also be compiled with debugging
 enabled.
 
 For example:
 
 <configuration>
     <system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
 </configuration>
 
 When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
 will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
 rather than be handled by this dialog box.

Sorry Not savy on how to compress.....

the1sean · Post by **the1sean** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 12:32 am

What were you doing when you got the error???

Tirane · Post by **Tirane** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 9:29 pm

I think I had a message box up and tried to click a planet to build a colony ship before closing the box. This might be a problem with the vanilla.

Also can you tell me how to compress messages as I am worried about taking up too much space on forums.

the1sean · Post by **the1sean** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 11:32 pm

Hmm, the mod is mostly an artwork mod, I doubt it would cause the issues you are experiencing...

tjhkkr · Post by **tjhkkr** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 12:01 am

Man you have a lot of races and you have raised a large number of troops.
That is cool; I never get that number of empires NOR do I get that number of troops.

JosEPhII · Post by **JosEPhII** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:25 am

Can someone fix Tirane's post? It runs over the next 5 make them Very hard to read.

Tirane, maybe you should edit your post. Just zip the JIT report and post/upload it.

JosEPh [;)]

the1sean · Post by **the1sean** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:43 am

Joseph, I submitted an error report. I should probably update this mod for Legends...

Nedrear · Post by **Nedrear** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:14 am

People loving your mod will despise mine if they don't like WW II in space. I got more realistic growth rates... sometimes changing through events. This will make the choice of colonies more important and they need to be defended much longer before standing on their own.

jp0249107 · Post by **jp0249107** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:43 pm

I'm running into extreme slowdown when I'm somewhere between planet and solar system view. It happened when I was just beginning a map. It shouldn't be my comp I'm running 8 gb's of RAM and a 2.9 gHz quad-core. I did add one of the ship designs listed elsewhere on the forum but it was simply added as another "family" in the folder.

the1sean · Post by **the1sean** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 12:57 am

ORIGINAL: Nedrear

People loving your mod will despise mine if they don't like WW II in space. I got more realistic growth rates... sometimes changing through events. This will make the choice of colonies more important and they need to be defended much longer before standing on their own.

Yeah, I didn't go for "realistic" growth rates I went for faster expansion tempo more akin to my old favorites like Master of Orion, etc. Funny thing is that this mod was for early ROTS, by the time Legends released vanilla growth rates are much more similar to the ones here in my mod...

I am really excited to see your finished mod, Nedrear. I think each mod can bring something unique to DW gameplay and yours looks like the first truly revolutionary mod that will be changing a lot more than cosmetics and one or two races. I don't mean that as a slight to the other great mods already out there, it's just that they aren't nearly as radical as yours looks like it will be...

Gameplay Redux Mod

Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod

RE: Gameplay Redux Mod