Disappearing base - how to fix?

Could you post the system ini entries for the base and nebula and the solararch entry as well, it should look like the text below

[Solar]
nickname = miningbase_small_ice
ids_name = 1
ids_info = 1
type = STATION
DA_archetype = solar\dockable\miningbase_small_ice.cmp
material_library = solar\asteroid_dock.mat
material_library = solar\ast_ice.mat
LODranges = 0, 7000
mass = 100000000
open_sound = depot_open_sound
close_sound = depot_close_sound
docking_sphere = moor_medium, HpDockMountD, 50.000000
docking_sphere = berth, HpDockMountA, 2.500000, Sc_open dockA
docking_sphere = berth, HpDockMountB, 2.500000, Sc_open dockB
docking_sphere = moor_medium, HpDockMountC, 50.000000
docking_camera = 0
solar_radius = 500
shape_name = NNM_SM_DEPOT
hit_pts = 999999961690316250000000000000000000.000000
fuse = miningbase_small_ice_burning_fuse, 0, 0

For a small asteroid base the LOD should be set to the level shown that is visible from 7000 m on in to 0.

The station code looks ok (standard vanilla entry) do you have the exclusion zone entry in the system ini?
All exclusion zones need a system.ini entry and an entry in the required asteroid field or nebula.

If you’re doing some system mods I’d recommend using FL Mod Studio as the latest version displays the base models in it’s 3D viewer,

http://the-starport.net/freelancer/news/article.php?storyid=250

http://code.google.com/p/freelancermodstudio/downloads/list

The distance figure the scanner displays is to the base root Hp so essentially the ship is practically touching the base, unless you have an exclusion zone system entry the nebula won’t have a cloud free pocket.

Something like this, I’ve added your base name and location so play around with the size to get the effect you want.

[zone]
nickname = zone_Li02_Station_Li02_07_exclusion
pos = 36600, 100, -57600
shape = SPHERE
size = 3000
property_flags = 196608
property_fog_color = 10, 7, 30
edge_fraction = 0.500000
visit = 128
sort = 99

Could you add a zip of your Li02 system ini on your next post? I’ll have a look at in FL mod studio, the exclusion zones should be visible inside the nebula or asteroid field.

Did you rename the new nebula correctly (I’m guessing you might have copied the Li02_Tahoe_ice_crystal_cloud in Li02, additional nebulae can use the same definition in SOLAR/NEBULA/…… but they need a new name in the system ini.

However, it’s only visible below 36m. After that it changes to “silhouette” mode.
What do I need to change so it’s visible from 2k at least? And the fog distance at 12k seems like I’m finding the wrong way around the problem??
Cheers in advance, B

I’d say that the fog distance is indeed not the cause of your problem. I’ve been trying to have a planet rendered beyond 36K (or so) in a Nebula with a very high setting for distance (240000) and it just doesn’t work. It resembles the vanilla blocking of planet beyond a certain distance in open space (what was it? 130 K?). But at least it’s not in Silhout mode, and about 1000 times more visible thn your base (about 36K to your 36m).

Like the other poster suggest, I’d assume there is some issue with your exclusion zone. Do you actually see the exlusion, like a sort of spherical hole in the nebula?

Maybe it could help to not place the excl.zone at the exact same place as the base, but slightly off? And what about changing the vertical coordinate to 0?

I just throw in this parameter for the system file:

space_farclip = 60000

-> belongs to [SystemInfo] on top of the file.

I have a system covered entirely with nebula. In there I added a very big exclusion zone. I had the problem of disappearing objects inside the nebula. However, this command overwrites the disappear distance in there.

I can’t tell you if this is what you need, but maybe I helps someone.

I’ll have a look in game tomorrow but some silly questions first.

In the SOLAR/NEBULA folder did you make a copy of the
Li02_Tahoe_ice_crystal_cloud.ini and rename it Li02_Daniel_cloud.ini? and is this the one containing the new exclusion zone?

I think FL mod studio will display the system from an isolated system ini file (well it did for me!) so although the zones are visible in the 3D viewer they may not work in game unless all the referenced files are correct.

Got your file up and running in game and I’m getting the same results (BTW this is in a mod I worked on a while back so for it to be repeatable it must be a fairly basic issue or even a bug).

I tried another base archetype with the same results and removing the nebula made the base visible so this would suggest the issue is the nebula, I’ll try a few more things and get back to you.