asteroid_fields
This page is a work in progress!
There may be missing, incomplete or incorrect information on this page as it's still being built! Take information here with a pinch of salt, and feel free to contribute and correct things!
Overview
These files govern the properties of asteroid field zones as defined in system files.
Vanilla Examples
DATA\SOLAR\ASTEROIDS\br01_cornwall_rock_asteroid_field.iniDATA\SOLAR\ASTEROIDS\ku03_ohka_dust_field.iniDATA\SOLAR\ASTEROIDS\li01_badlands_asteroids.ini
Syntax
Not all blocks are required.
TexturePanels
This is only required when a band or billboard is used within this file.
[TexturePanels]
file = PATH
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| file | This path points to a set of 2d textures used for the band and billboard elements of the field. |
Field
Asteroid fields are made out of repeating cubes in which static asteroids are set. This block can be omitted to spawn no static asteroids.
[Field]
cube_size = INT
fill_dist = INT
diffuse_color = INT, INT, INT
ambient_color = INT, INT, INT0
ambient_increase = INT, INT, INT
tint_field = INT, INT, INT
empty_cube_frequency = FLOAT
max_alpha = FLOAT
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| cube_size | The size of a cube of asteroids in meters. |
| fill_dist | The distance from which asteroids are being drawn in the game. |
| diffuse_color | |
| ambient_color | |
| ambient_increase | RBG light value added to the existing ambient light when a player is in the field. |
| tint_field | |
| empty_cube_frequency | A chance percentage between 0 and 1 by which cubes are spawned without asteroids inside. 1 meaning 100% of the cubes are empty. |
| max_alpha | A value between 0 and 1. Seemingly used only for gas "asteroids". |
Exclusion Zones
Please note that defining an exclusion here without a corresponding zone in a system file will cause crashes.
Exclusion zones can be used to modify spawning of cubes, dynamic asteroids, and billboards within. Note that cubes are spawned along a globally defined grid, and exclusion zones must be big enough to touch a cube enough to affect it. Only entire cubes of an asteroid field can be modified – no individual asteroids.
[Exclusion Zones]
exclusion = STRING
exclude_billboards = INT
exclude_dynamic_asteroids = INT
empty_cube_frequency = FLOAT
billboard_count = INT
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| exclusion | References the nickname of a zone defined in a system file. This zone will have no randomly generated asteroids spawned within it. Multiple exclusion parameters are allowed. |
| exclude_billboards | 1 for true. Relates directly to the previous exclusion defined. Determines whether or not the exclusion zone uses 'billboards', 2d asteroids that fade as the player approaches them. |
| exclude_dynamic_asteroids | 1 for true. Relates directly to the previous exclusion defined. Disables spawning dynamic asteroids within this exclusion. |
| empty_cube_frequency | Overwrites the fields’ empty_cube_frequency. For normal exclusion zones this value is 1. |
| billboard_count | Overwrites the fields’ [AsteroidBillboards] count. |
Properties
[properties]
flag = STRING
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| flag | This can be determined multiple times. Appears to apply a tag to the field, uncertain what this is used for. Possibly related to NPC pilots field_targeting |
Cube
The cube defines asteroids which are being spawned as static objects within this field in repeating patterns. This block can be omitted.
The grid along which cubes are spawned is related to the global coordinate system. Cubes have an offset of half their cube size from the center point (meaning the inner corners of the central cubes touch each other at exactly 0 0 0).
The game asks for [Cube] to always exist and with at least one asteroid defined even if the zone is just meant to spawn [DynamicAsteroids]. Otherwise it will report WARNING: no material found for asteroids in field to the client log – although it does load textures just correctly.
[Cube]
xaxis_rotation = INT, INT, INT, INT
yaxis_rotation = INT, INT, INT, INT
zaxis_rotation = INT, INT, INT, INT
asteroid = STRING, FLOAT, FLOAT, FLOAT, INT, INT, INT, mine
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| xaxis_rotation | Overrides default rotations of a cube along the x-axis (default 0, 90, 180, 270). Accepts 1 to 4 values. This rotates the entire cube and its contents pseudo-randomly around these values. Combines with every other value of the other axis. |
| yaxis_rotation | Overrides default rotations of a cube along the y-axis (default 0, 90, 180, 270). Accepts 1 to 4 values. This rotates the entire cube and its contents pseudo-randomly around these values. Combines with every other value of the other axis. |
| zaxis_rotation | Overrides default rotations of a cube along the z-axis (default 0, 90, 180, 270). Accepts 1 to 4 values. This rotates the entire cube and its contents pseudo-randomly around these values. Combines with every other value of the other axis. |
| asteroid | The STRING refers to an [Asteroid] or [AsteroidMine] entry. The following 3 FLOATS are the relative positioning within the cube. The range for a single cube is -1 to 1. Anything outside those values causes intersection with neighboring cubes. The last 3 INTs are the rotation of the asteroids in degrees. The ending mine is only required for [AsteroidMine], possibly marking them as explosive. |
Band
The band displays a visual polygon band around the zone from afar to give the impression of a big closed field. Can be omitted.
[Band]
render_parts = INT
shape = STRING
height = INT
offset_dist = INT
fade = FLOAT, FLOAT, FLOAT, FLOAT
texture_aspect = INT
color_shift = INT, INT, INT
ambient_intensity = INT
vert_increase = INT
cull_mode = INT
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| render_parts | Seems unused. |
| shape | The texture used to render on the band. |
| height | The height of the band. The texture scales up with it — effectively reducing the count of faces of the band the higher it is depending on the texture_aspect and vert_increase. |
| offset_dist | An offset from the edge of the zone by which the band is moved inside the zone – or if negative value being moved outside. |
| fade | Values relative to height defining the range between the band is visible. 1 equals height. The first two values define the range between which the band is faded out when coming close to it (fade-out end, fade out start). The last two values define the range between which the band fades out on distance (fade-out start, fade-out end). |
| texture_aspect | Default 1. Also determines the width of a single face of the band related to height. Higher values stretch the band-faces with the texture along the horizontal axis — effectively stretching the texture will reduce the count of faces the band is rendered with. |
| color_shift | |
| ambient_intensity | |
| vert_increase | Splits a single textured face of the band into multiple pieces. This effectively increases the smoothness of the band especially for higher texture_aspect or height. |
| cull_mode | Defines which sides of the band are rendered. 0: Inside and outside of the band are rendered. 1: Only the outside of the band is rendered. 2: Only the inside of the band is rendered. |
ExclusionBand
The exclusion band works as normal bands, but specific for exclusion zones. These bands are visible always, not only from within the exclusion zone. Can be omitted. Note: The game has problems applying lighting on the correct side of the band if the light source comes from within the exclusion zone – in that case the outside has the light and the inside remains dark.
[Band]
zone = STRING
render_parts = INT
shape = STRING
height = INT
offset_dist = INT
fade = INT, FLOAT, INT, INT
texture_aspect = INT
color_shift = INT, INT, INT
ambient_intensity = INT
vert_increase = INT
cull_mode = INT
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| zone | The zone name this band is rendered around. |
| render_parts | Seems unused. |
| shape | The texture used to render on the band. |
| height | The height of the band. The texture scales up with it — effectively reducing the count of faces of the band the higher it is depending on the texture_aspect and vert_increase. |
| offset_dist | An offset from the edge of the zone by which the band is moved inside the zone – or if negative value being moved outside. |
| fade | Values relative to height defining the range between the band is visible. 1 equals height. The first two values define the range between which the band is faded out when coming close to it (fade-out end, fade out start). The last two values define the range between which the band fades out on distance (fade-out start, fade-out end). |
| texture_aspect | Default 1. Also determines the width of a single face of the band related to height. Higher values stretch the band-faces with the texture along the horizontal axis — effectively stretching the texture will reduce the count of faces the band is rendered with. |
| color_shift | |
| ambient_intensity | |
| vert_increase | Splits a single textured face of the band into multiple pieces. This effectively increases the smoothness of the band especially for higher texture_aspect or height. |
| cull_mode | Defines which sides of the band are rendered. 0: Inside and outside of the band are rendered. 1: Only the outside of the band is rendered. 2: Only the inside of the band is rendered. |
AsteroidBillboards
Within a zone, cheap sprites with textures are shown to render asteroids further away. Can be omitted.
[AsteroidBillboards]
count = INT
start_dist = INT
fade_dist_percent = FLOAT
shape = mine_rock_tri
color_shift = FLOAT, FLOAT, FLOAT
ambient_intensity = INT
size = INT, INT
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| count | |
| start_dist | |
| fade_dist_percent | |
| shape | |
| color_shift | |
| ambient_intensity | |
| size | A range between two values which define the size billboards are rendered with. |
DynamicAsteroids
Dynamic asteroids fly randomly across the inside of a zone. They are client-side and always spawn around the camera position. They can be used to create lootable areas. Can be omitted. Can be defined multiple times?
[DynamicAsteroids]
asteroid = STRING
count = INT
placement_radius = INT
placement_offset = INT
max_velocity = INT
max_angular_velocity = INT
color_shift = INT, INT, INT
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| asteroid | |
| count | |
| placement_radius | |
| placement_offset | |
| max_velocity | |
| max_angular_velocity | |
| color_shift |
LootableZone
Within lootable zones, any dynamic asteroid can drop commodities on destruction. This block can be defined multiple times for multiple lootable zones. Can also be entirely omitted.
[LootableZone]
zone = zone_bw03_img_cobalt_mining_area ; optional
asteroid_loot_container = STRING
asteroid_loot_commodity = STRING
dynamic_loot_container = STRING
dynamic_loot_commodity = STRING
asteroid_loot_count = INT, INT
dynamic_loot_count = INT, INT
asteroid_loot_difficulty = INT
dynamic_loot_difficulty = INT
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| zone | Name of a zone within the asteroid field to which this lootable zone is limited. If omitted, the lootable zone applies to the entire asteroid field. |
| asteroid_loot_container | Name of a [LootCrate] created when something dropped from an asteroid. Seems unused. |
| asteroid_loot_commodity | Name of a [Commodity] dropped within the asteroid_loot_container. Seems unused. |
| asteroid_loot_count | Random commodity unit count from INT to INT units within the dropped loot container. Seems unused. |
| asteroid_loot_difficulty | Difficulty required to drop loot from an asteroid? Seems unused. |
| dynamic_loot_container | Name of a [LootCrate] created when something dropped from a dynamic asteroid. Seems unused. |
| dynamic_loot_commodity | Name of a [Commodity] dropped within the asteroid_loot_container. Seems unused. |
| dynamic_loot_count | Random commodity unit count from INT to INT units within the dropped loot container. Seems unused. |
| dynamic_loot_difficulty | Difficulty required to drop loot from a dynamic asteroid? Seems unused. |