Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5

[Yitzi]

Yitzi's Unofficial SMAX patch 3.5

http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=346

This adds more moddable features, and more bugfixes.  Of particular note are increased options for faction abilities, and the ability to mod how many worms are produced by a fungal pop (details for which are provided in a text file labeled PopWorms).

[vonbach]

I cant start a new game if I try to add a new faction with this patch. I get the opening quote from Yang and I have to force quit the game.

[vukodlak]

I seem to get stuck at the Yang quote no matter what when starting a new game.

[Tiddalick]

The issue seems to be from the "Expansion Features" option that Yitzi added a few patches ago.

If 8 is used in the "; Expansion features code {0 to 255}" in alphax.txt then this problem happens.
## (8: The game uses the expanded faction-selection screen from Alien Crossfire, allowing the player to choose any seven  factions in any order desired.)

As a temporary work around until Yitzi fixes this, you can either use 4
##(4: The game uses the expansion factions instead of the original game's factions, while maintaining the simple faction  selection screen from the original.  This has no effect if option 8 is selected as well.)

or use neither option
## Original seven factions are available.

A reminder that you need to add the numbers together to set the flags you want on or off.

[gwillybj]

The only thing I found that stopped the game is the line "TestFac" under #CUSTOMFACTIONS in alphax.txt because there is no testfac.txt in the game folder. Delete that item and the game will start up fine.

btw, I did put 8 in the Expansion Features Code after making that change and the game started normally, with all 14 factions available.

After verifying all this, I put it back to 255, the default.

[Yitzi]

Whoops.  I'll put up a fixed version of the patch to avoid this issue.

[Buster's Uncle]

I've edited the link in the OP to point at the fixed version...

[Ancient35]

Hello,

I'd like to report and ask about two issues I currently have with this patch version.

1) After building a few "Sky Hydroponics Labs", I wanted to check how many I had built. However trying to enter the "Orbital and Space status (shortkey F6)" screen results in "terranx.exe" crashing 100% of the time.

2) The behaviour of Needlejet units regarding refuelling seems to be bugged unless there has been a balance change. Because from time to time, a jet will crash after its first attack although it started the turn from a city. It wasn't refuelled to full and only had enough fuel for one turn.
Has there maybe been a balance change that requires Needlejets to stay on the ground a full turn after attacking the previous turn to be fully refuelled AND rearmed?

As said, this only happens from time to time, but often enough to be noticeable in every new game I've played with this version.


Regards.

[Yitzi]

Hello,

I'd like to report and ask about two issues I currently have with this patch version.

1) After building a few "Sky Hydroponics Labs", I wanted to check how many I had built. However trying to enter the "Orbital and Space status (shortkey F6)" screen results in "terranx.exe" crashing 100% of the time.

I'll look into it.

2) The behaviour of Needlejet units regarding refuelling seems to be bugged unless there has been a balance change. Because from time to time, a jet will crash after its first attack although it started the turn from a city. It wasn't refuelled to full and only had enough fuel for one turn.
Has there maybe been a balance change that requires Needlejets to stay on the ground a full turn after attacking the previous turn to be fully refuelled AND rearmed?

I don't think so (although I did fix a bug that was causing needlejets to inappropriately not lose fuel under certain conditions IIRC, so that may be revealing a previous effect).  If you can provide a savegame from before it moved into the city, I can investigate.

[Yitzi]

Ok, the first bug is fixed in 3.5b.  I investigated the second, and it actually happens with or without my patch, but only if the unit has movement left; if it is in a base with no movement left (either because it used its last movement to move in or because you used spacebar to skip the remainder of its turn), it will refuel.  (Prior to my patch, having an air unit with movement left would cause even worse problems.)

Because it is neither caused by my patch nor particularly difficult to work around, it's not going to get special prioritization, although when I take nominations for bugfixes in future patches feel free to nominate it.

[Ancient35]

Ok, the first bug is fixed in 3.5b.  I investigated the second, and it actually happens with or without my patch, but only if the unit has movement left; if it is in a base with no movement left (either because it used its last movement to move in or because you used spacebar to skip the remainder of its turn), it will refuel.  (Prior to my patch, having an air unit with movement left would cause even worse problems.)

Because it is neither caused by my patch nor particularly difficult to work around, it's not going to get special prioritization, although when I take nominations for bugfixes in future patches feel free to nominate it.

Thank you for replying and for fixing the crash this quickly. It works fine now, thank you very much!

I as well noticed weakly that SPACE seemed to help against the refuelling issue of Needlejet units, and as a work-around this will work should one remember this solution.


Regards.

[MichaelTaB]

Maybe the following is a stupid question but does it work, when anybody uses this patch for mapping and an other dude has still 226 as version? if I keep 451 for ut in mind