[Phaserbank]

I finished the first chapter of the mod I'm working on. This is a preliminary upload. I don't claim to have found and fixed all the bugs, but any comments, suggestions, or bug reporting is welcome. I've uploaded it as vp and folder format. http://www.mediafire.com/?jyyhtmi4tyu for the vp file. http://www.mediafire.com/?llmznwmztot for the folder. http://www.mediafire.com/?itmmmtnrmwe#1 for those who like diferrent music.

[The E]

Random Feedback from me while browsing through the mod
Modpack design:

• You are duplicating a lot of retail assets. This isn't necessary, and will interfere with the mediavps
• Lots of .pcx textures and effects. These should be converted to .dds
• You should use -tbms instead of all-up tbls wherever possible, again for mediavps compatibility
• The AF Kato model is defective: ERROR: Ship Kato.pof has a bogus shield mesh.
  Consider replacing it with the new model found in ASW or BP:AoA.
  
• WARNING: "For 'GSbspcRiftExp', 3 of 4 LODs are missing!" at weapons.cpp:206
  This should be corrected in your weapons.tbl or tbm.
• WARNING: "Not all subsystems in model "Attis.pof" have a record in ships.tbl. This can cause game to crash.  List of subsystems
   not found from table is in log file." at modelread.cpp:633
  Subsystem turret01a in model was not found in ships.tbl!
  Subsystem comunication in model was not found in ships.tbl!
  Turret object not found for turret firing point in model
  This can be fixed in PCS2, or by using the new model from ASW or BP:AoA
• Model Segomo.pof has a null moment of inertia!  (This is only a problem if the model is a ship.)
  Potential problem found: Unrecognized subsystem type 'fighterbay', believed to be in ship Segomo.pof
  WARNING: "Subsystem "communications" in model "Segomo.pof" is represented as "communication" in ships.tbl.  Although FS2_OPEN 3
  .6 and later will catch and correct this error, earlier versions (as well as retail FS2) will not.  You are advised to fix this
   if you plan to support earlier versions of FreeSpace." at modelread.cpp:604
  as the warning says, this can be corrected in the tbl
• Loading model 'Angel.pof'
  IBX: Found a good IBX to read for 'Angel.pof'.
  Subsystem communication in model was not found in ships.tbl!
  Subsystem engine in model was not found in ships.tbl!
  Subsystem navigation in model was not found in ships.tbl!
  Subsystem sensors in model was not found in ships.tbl!
  Subsystem weapons in model was not found in ships.tbl!
  WARNING: "Couldn't load thruster glow animation 'thruster02-01' Primary glow type effect does not accept .EFF or .ANI effects"
  at ship.cpp:6767
  Again, needs tbl correction
• thruster02-01 nees to be either imported into the mod, or loaded via mediavps
• The Kvasir is missing a few textures (whi9ch are found in the mediavps, IIRC)
  WARNING: "Couldn't open texture 'glass' referenced by model 'Kvasir.pof'" at modelread.cpp:2271
  WARNING: "Couldn't open texture 'tercoc01' referenced by model 'Kvasir.pof'" at modelread.cpp:2271
  WARNING: "Couldn't open texture 'tckpt' referenced by model 'Kvasir.pof'" at modelread.cpp:2271
• WARNING: "Couldn't open texture 'runwayoff' referenced by model 'JumpGateT.pof'" at modelread.cpp:2271

[Phaserbank]

Thank's I'll start fixing this stuff. Somehow after I work on a mod for a while I get a 'who cares, it runs' attitude. 

[TopAce]

Can you give us an outline of your mod? What's the story, what mods, etc.

[Phaserbank]

I don't want to go into detail just because the mod will continues to change. But generally its 20ish years after capella, sol gate has been built. The tide rebelion is in full swing. The shivans show up with their slightly upgraded armada, 115 ships, in betelgeuze. Armada is defeated with heavy casualties. This is how far I've gotten. Then a return to fighting the tide ending with the removal of the GTVA security counsel. I hate to say it but were %^%^%$^ in FS2 and well they need to go. Then an anakim fleet, 20 ish ships, shows up in Altair. The anakim have advanced shielding, nanobot tech and beam weapons supassing the shivans. Vasuda prime gets reduced to space dust. and the final battle occurs above earth or meby at the sol node. This is the section that i want to have a lot of creativity and herorism. Then the shivans return through capella with several hundred superjuggernauts. Likewise the anakim enter through ross128 with their own juggernauts. They clash, the GTVA attacks the anakim, which have the best weapons, which are defeated and earns the friendship of the shivans.  Remember the FS1 cutsceen about how the ancients controlled galxies before they encountered the shivans? I think that this scale isn't to far out.   

About debugging. I get this error in the subspacenode.pof, "36 normals capped to zero"

[General Battuta]

Wut is an anakim?

[Phaserbank]

I don't know if i included this in the data.rar but you will need the asteriod file. http://www.mediafire.com/?wmkmjjtynoy

Anakim, a species not previously encountered.

[Droid803]

Wut is an anakim?

I'm assuming another alien race...

[General Battuta]

Wut is an anakim?

I'm assuming another alien race...

Obviously.

I crave details.

[The E]

About debugging. I get this error in the subspacenode.pof, "36 normals capped to zero"

That's something we'll have to fix in the mediavps.

[Phaserbank]

I've got a debugging problem. Sure there were other .pof-table entries with subsystems mismatch, but I cant figure out the error for Aclyone, Boraes, and neptune .pofs. Normally I get 'Not all subsystems in model "Alcyone.pof" have a record in ships.tbl.' I've checked number, spelling, capitalization, and paths everything lines up but the error remains. It's like there's another place that the subsystems are recorded. Also the error message says that the list of missing subsystems is in 'log file' but the only thing i've found thats close is the fred2_open.txt and that only restates what I already know.

[Phaserbank]

anakim characteristics

humanoid, but 7ft tall and big
quite physical but also translucent energy beings
require an atmosphere with oxygen-carbon content for breath and pressure, but can handle a far wider range of O2 concentration than humans
drink water for body functions
draw energy from surrounding mater for energy instead of eating. This is why they prefere the temperature to be about 32-37 C
their energy produciton comes from breathing air into their 'lungs' which break a very small percentage of the atoms into low energy photons which are absorbed for energy by their amazing 'lungs' that can handel this radiation without ionizing its cells.  
they multiply quickly
anakim live about 150 years, but are considered adults at 15
their language is spoken and written but involves many sounds that are higher pitch than most humans can hear

Society

                     King
    counsel                    military
   Demestic issues         foreign issues

their home world is in the Andromeda galexy
they live on 40 some systems near their homeworld, but send their forces out on scouting/plundering raids
the anakim explore new areas or phonomina they discover and take what ever they think valuable regaurdless of who stands in their way.
the king usually personaly leads his forces into battle
They typically keep all their forces together and out manuver their enemies.
the anakim are not nessacarily evil beings but due to thousands of years of being secure in their incrediable strenght they are not interested in allies. And will take or kill whatever or whoever as they see fit

History

They discovered subsapce about 2500 years ago and intragalexy jumps about 800 years ago.
They encountered the Shivans some 60 years ago, and the battle has continued to this day.
the Anakim defeated the shivans on many occasions but were repulsed with heavy loses when they tried to attack the shivan home instalations in subspace.  
due to their loses the anakim were on the defensive but have rallied for a counter offensive.
the anakim usually defeat the shivans out of subspace, but inside the shivans know tricks about their home and clean house.  

Technology

Most notable is their beam technology and power plants which are based on their body's energy producion method
They also have advanced shielding. all their warships are heavily shielded and their shields recharge quickly
nanobot technology, they can slowly repair their hulls in combat
lots of lightweight but very durable armor
thaleron generation  
emp-railgun technology


I hope this what your looking for.

[Droid803]

I have trouble believing that the Shivans fight better in subspace because as the end of FS1 showed they're pretty damned helpless there with their fighters having pissweak armor and their uber shields not working.

Just a my 0.02.

[Dilmah G]

Wow Phaserbank, that sounds pretty cool to me. (but I'm a science n00b)

Their reliance on water is a little peculiar though, I'd always thought that another species would rely on something different to h20.

[The E]

I've got a debugging problem. Sure there were other .pof-table entries with subsystems mismatch, but I cant figure out the error for Aclyone, Boraes, and neptune .pofs. Normally I get 'Not all subsystems in model "Alcyone.pof" have a record in ships.tbl.' I've checked number, spelling, capitalization, and paths everything lines up but the error remains. It's like there's another place that the subsystems are recorded. Also the error message says that the list of missing subsystems is in 'log file' but the only thing i've found thats close is the fred2_open.txt and that only restates what I already know.

Subsystems are also defined in the model file itself. Double-check against that.

[Phaserbank]

Ok got the bugs worked out. I've removed the other files referenced at the top of the page. But uploaded the debuged file. http://www.mediafire.com/?oytdwomczno  If you got the mediavps and this you should be good to go. Note yes there are still tbls in there, but for the final release I'll convert them to tbms. If there is no comments on gameplay I'll move on to the next section.

Thanks for the feedback very important and much appreciated.

Oh as for the Shivans defeating the anakim in subspace. In FS1 you saw one destroyer that was not expecting attack. But if you attack their home. well prepare for things like subspace collaping inside your ship. subspace tears open in front of you and sending your ship rocketing across the galexy or disterbinces that block your weapons like a baintball vs tree.

Yeah the water thing is kind weird, but that's just how they work.

[Dilmah G]

Good enough explanation for me. 

[Snail]

I have trouble believing that the Shivans fight better in subspace because as the end of FS1 showed they're pretty damned helpless there with their fighters having pissweak armor and their uber shields not working.

Just a my 0.02.

Given how the Lucifer fleet was clearly under-equipped, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't fighting to their full potential on that occasion.

anakim characteristics

<snip>

I was skeptical at first, but actually that sounds pretty damn cool. Good luck for the mod.

[Droid803]

Oh as for the Shivans defeating the anakim in subspace. In FS1 you saw one destroyer that was not expecting attack. But if you attack their home. well prepare for things like subspace collaping inside your ship. subspace tears open in front of you and sending your ship rocketing across the galexy or disterbinces that block your weapons like a baintball vs tree.

Works for me.

[FelixJim]

Their reliance on water is a little peculiar though, I'd always thought that another species would rely on something different to h20.

Water is super-awesome stuff though.