Mod Idea : Modular ships
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I’ve had this idea for a long time now, but have only just got the guts to actually try it out.
Modular ships.
I want to see how far I can push FL with this.
Basic idea is to make ships that you can “pimp”.Want a larger engine? buy one and put it in.
Want an Eagle with a spoiler? Get rid of your old tail and buy a new one.
Want a Rhino with a front gun at the cost of cargo (due to larger energy core requirements)? Mount one on your rhino “Roof Rack”The concept is simple, but I’m assuming I’ll come across some difficulties.
I’m designing this for primarily Multiplayer, with the long term goal of having something like this idea implemented in Discovery. Or at the very least sharing my findings with the FL community at large.
Has any mod done this sort of thing yet? Is it a good idea, or am I wasting my time because it’s already been done quite well?
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Yep old idea.
I have been noticed that there is “attached_” object in vanilla…I think we may increase stations too (heavy lifter moves “attached_” object on his hpcargo01 to the station hardpoint hpspecial01 for example
But this is other topic. -
Well, don’t be put off, it’s good to have a go.
You will be making equipment that can be mounted and visible - not necessarily engines, but you will see what can and cannot be seen when you start.
I like the idea of a spoiler!
WIng Commander Privateer was great because you could mount engine coolers and so on.
You will have to design the models and see how they can be mounted.
Visible equipment are Countermeasure doppers, mine launchers and of course weapons (and I think shield generators?). Scanners? Never noticed.
It will be good to see your first crop.
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Powerplants are easy… just add a good’s reference and that about it, Engines can be swapped out via Adoxa’s engclass.dll (some extra coding needed) both can be “quasi” mounted as a new HP if desired, i use Hpxx’s for the task in XLR.
Other modular bits are normally a shield recoded to work as a power booster, ect… they normally use the generic attachment “hp_fighter_shield_generator” (there is also elite & freighter)
but can also use existing shield levels, but you’ll have to re-level the shields or you’ll have shields mountable on power addon mounts.Extra bits like spoilers… hmm FoxUnit has done that in Flak quite well… he’d know about what is needed there
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Extra parts (spoilers, wings, fins, …) are possible, but you won’t be able to mount something on them.
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Well I’ve been thinking about this, my first reaction was that it wouldn’t happen but, then i started thinking about animations, With a model you could hide parts of it within the actual model, then with an animation move the part to where it’s suppose to be. And the beauty of it is, is that there are already commands within freelancer for you to mount something and an animation will be played when you launch. You will need do a lot of careful model building to work but i think it just might work. Thats how i would do it, bit left wing but i think this approach will get what you are looking for.
Ozed
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The thing is, I no longer accept that it can’t be done, or wouldn’t happen.
The above posts mention some ways and there are cargo pods in Discovery that are different shapes and colours. So I know that things can be changed ingame. Recently Cannon came up with a light swapping idea (using the light hardpoints and attached light objects - or something), so I know FLHook can also do some amazing things too.
I know this modular idea is possible, I just need to discover how. I might have a look at some of what the others have done.
The animations idea is a good one, I may explore that later. I don’t think many people have used the animations for things, however, these also seems limited to one animation (as far as I know). So it wouldn’t do to only have one ship modification available.
It’s branching some other thoughts though so, thanks for the idea.
