Zyxpsilon

Reply to Does anyone read the GalCiv2 Wiki? in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

Excellent primer on many aspects but, i agree, somehow "outdated". This kind of information(s) isn't [I]really[/I] available anywhere else (in a sense that well organized data may be easier to read!). Some [B]Tips & Tricks[/B] should really get a dedicated section where anybody would find "rare" bits about hidden/complex/undocumented/etc features. Just the "modding tool" by CariElf found here is a very useful resource and also must get updated to much more recent values (th

Reply to Cannot choose number of races in Scenario mode? in Dark Avatar GalCiv2 Forums

Well, that IS the point with [U]scenario[/U] settings, wouldn't you agree? It hands over [U]pre-defined[/U] & fixed set of conditions for the player to enjoy. There is always some indirect solution for anyone; editing the files and re-saving with new preferences under a different tag-scenario-name. - Zyxpsilon.

Reply to Alternative to SmartException? in Bug Reports GalCiv2 Forums

Supplemental solution... [link="http://www.resplendence.com/multimon"]MultiMon 2.0 Link[/link] A bit more "complex", but much more recent alternative to perform similar monitoring. But again, you'd need thorough knowledge (or understanding) of the debug infos as provided. -Zyxpsilon.

Reply to Alternative to SmartException? in Bug Reports GalCiv2 Forums

You may find the following (to get a sort "primer" on such issues), even if it IS a fairly old but steadily reliable tool with a high number of features. [U]API-Monitor[/U] [link="http://www.rohitab.com/apimonitor/#Features"]WWW Link[/link]... which isn't, per-say, exactly like SmartException, but should give enough (possibly WHAT you truly need or not, btw!) info on any running processes. I know of a few more utilities, and tried/tested most of them during the yea

Reply to (Negative) abilities. in Game Ideas GalCiv2 Forums

Well, after exploring the library (AFTER this post was initially made)... i found a whole group of "modding tiny stuff" which do exploit the exact same theory about [B]negative [/B] abilities. Which proved to me one important thing, some [I]ideas[/I] are (and really [U]have been[/U] long before i took GC2-DA for a ride all by myself!) pretty common around here. - Zyxpsilon.

Reply to Terraformation/planet conversion in Beta Reports GalCiv2 Forums

More macman doesn't really enhance gameplay, true. Since "0" planets are kind of decorating the map, they might as well be used for something else, though without being [B]too[/B] intrusive towards the actual features. This is where, i guess, what i suggested in the post "Optimal hexagon tiles" found here; [link="https://forums.galciv2.com/?forumid=247&aid=167700#1377696"]WWW Link[/link] - may come in handy. Complex, but [U]there is[/U] a new layer for orbital-like ti

Reply to Updating process rewrites default GFX back in... in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

Kay, understood! I guess i must rely more on multiple "special MOD folders" to provide meself some gameplay variety at the expense of maintaining a steady & valid default installation kindly monitored by SDC. Which is, btw, a much better approach at updating than anything i could wish for. I simply was surprised to witness such an event in my folders, that's all. :) - Zyxpsilon.

Reply to embarrassing logo question in Modding GalCiv2 Forums

[quote]Putting it anywhere else is just bad file management.[/quote] Yep, but some [U]new[/U] Minors Logos intended to be used from within a [I]**MOD folder**[/I] aren't exactly for general use like any customized Major defined there either, wouldn't you agree? - Zyxpsilon.

Reply to final question of the day in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

Economic Capital on Howeworld is a great asset since the maxed out population in the early turns will spoon-fed the entire pool of planets with fresh income, clear & tax-free! If you can, try not to glue yourself with (LEASES)... these drain a whole pane of "active BCs" for too long to be considered any efficient even short/term. It is always better to have a core region where highly populated planets gives a steady output of money (even if only with markets or influence/touris

Updating process rewrites default GFX back in... in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

While i updated to 1.80g.100 this morning, i noticed a few "changes" afterwards. Some Races/GFX were reset to their default images. What i had previously altered (With some Gauntlet's pics to replace a few Minors) was simply gone! Mind you, this time, i could remember what i had done exactly and subsequently created a new backup folder with my GFX changes ready to be copied back again when any of the next updates are installed later. So my "question/comment" about

Reply to Full 3d Maps in Game Ideas GalCiv2 Forums

Then, lemme use a bit of sarcasm to dilute the issue at hand. -- The tactical advantages of true 3D are beyond whatever TBS can achieve on a single plane for a simple reason; REALITY. -- The strategic implications gap is enormous between 2D and 3D from another even more complex logical standpoint; ACTIVITY. Now, these two "arguments" may sound extremes but i'd also prefer challenging conditions rather than visual gimmicks (as you put it)... then again, sure it is a [I]visua

Reply to Ingame text in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

Aaaah, then i might have a fair guess to submit. With Vista there has been a number of misheaps for/from/at multiple GDI transitions with many 32bits "programs". Even if you'd find and fix the guilty font (if that's exactly what is wrong), Vista might reset it just by itself since the OS is well known as being pretty harsh with some [I]Anti-MS[/I] modifications. There's also another possibility; using an extra Virtual-PC window! Dunno if Vista handles it well, but a huge am

Reply to embarrassing logo question in Modding GalCiv2 Forums

True, but supplemental comment... If you create a [U]new[/U] custom race WITH any [U]new[/U] Logo, it will callup the pre-defined GFX from within its [U]new[/U] customracexml file. But the same Logo image will also & always be into the pool of available graphics since it is located inside the folder mentioned above by LogicSequence. - Zyxpsilon.

Reply to About the custom planets... in Modding GalCiv2 Forums

Nope, From Quebec - in the "great" white North... which doesn't make me any less interested in Chattanooga trains, Kalamazoo dungeons or even Abracadabra caverns! ;) - Zyxpsilon.

Reply to XML in Modding GalCiv2 Forums

Yep, but a quick typo can make a mess and render the game "flawed" without you ever knowing it! Example; While i was creating the new planets for X-Worlds, i accidently deleted a simple left-side-bracket from a trailing */rings*. (These symbols can't be posted here in this message since they would indirectly screw the text formatting) As a result, all the planets which were defined AFTERWARDS never made it into the final interface. I yelled BUG, ERROR. And started to pump red-blood.

Reply to Notice: Pending mods now under review! in Modding GalCiv2 Forums

I know that the "Holidays period" has just started and that most people at SD are most probably taking a well deserved break from work... but i haven't stopped developping X-Worlds and just uploaded a [U]**MUCH**[/U] more complete version (05-C). Please approve it asap! ;) - Zyxpsilon.

Reply to About the custom planets... in Modding GalCiv2 Forums

Kay, that explains a lot of things to me. Automatic segmentation (proper terminology, in my case indeed) wouldn't be possible in the [U]actual[/U] interface. That i understand completely. If ever, the coders could figure a sort of function for the "setup" phase which would allow variable listing(s) of active races, i'd then be the very first person to exploit such a feature. In the meantime i will certainly follow your excellent advice above and proceed with the three-way MOD folder

Reply to GalCiv Christmas Updates! in GalCiv II News GalCiv2 Forums

Returning the well wishes of the season, also! Thanks for the new quicky update 1.80G too, i would just have to set aside MOD(s) development for awhile to go d/l on SDC asap. - Zyxpsilon.

Reply to About the custom planets... in Modding GalCiv2 Forums

Oh, and one more thing please? Bare with me on this as i try to explain a [I]complex[/I] situation for the X-Worlds triplet of themes. Creation of all the races must start somewhere and their individual files (*.customracexml) have to be placed and called from a specific folder. So it seem. I know for a fact that the main caller picks its values while using the properly located assets (Logos, etc) with a few path-relative calls. That's alright, it makes sense. But, wha

Reply to question for those playing on huge or larger maps in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

Normal tech, and astalavista baby. But, i almost never go for a tech victory since i VERY much prefer to win as (in strict order of events); 1) Conquest (75% of the time, all my games conclude with that) 2) Influence (often the shortcut boredom hits my mind even if i KNOW i can conquer anything that remains!) 3) Diplomacy (another type of shortcut which needs careful monitoring of opponents' Alliance status.) 4) Techno (Too costly, too loooooooong and almost too easy since on

Reply to Ingame text in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

First, two preliminary comments to clarify the status; 1) This seem to come from the GNN quarterly report which pulls its "text values" from a concatenated file and distributes data from here on end. Thus, the dxpack file may have been "altered" or corrupted. 2) The actual "characters" missing or borked up are mostly spread evenly. BUT, they are constantly the same; a, e, etc. This indicates to me that... -a) The corresponding Font may have been crushed at the glyphs layer

Reply to Odd request, GalCiv2 as a simulation in Galactic Civilizations II GalCiv2 Forums

Gosh, i certainly could use such an option also. Just designing both X-Worlds & CoSH mods has me going on multiple "try-outs" gaming session(s). A sort of fake temporary (and, limited in scope) interface where small bits of features would use some processing check-marks to activate and/or keep away. Examples; - I'm creating a whole bunch of planets for each races' systems. And at times, i'd like to preview some the Rings parameters ONLY. Mind you, after awhile one gets

Reply to Strategy for AI with uninhabitable planets in Dark Avatar GalCiv2 Forums

Grab everything you can, as fast as possible... but maintain the bare asset with minimal improvements (slowly updating any later on). I find that once "Extreme colonization" becomes widely known, soon after the race begins for an extra-set of bonus planets which in fact can be VERY useful as sort of [U]territorial spy-like outposts[/U] - if you already own some rather than the strongest of opponents. It may even be a good idea to park a few defensive ships in these orbits just

Reply to Gauntlet's Race Mod - Full Version Released (PICS) in Modding GalCiv2 Forums

Darn, if only my current GCard could display the textures on ANY ships... i'd pick up this terrific MOD soon after purchasing a better one! Which may actually happen sometimes in February all the while putting the TA amount aside - of course. ;) Btw, ya know that nice woman with a sort of [I]Peacock/like[/I] hair-dressing... well, she fitted right in to replace the Carinoids' default in my own setup. With a few more minors from that pack. Did i just say Thank you?! - Zyxpsilon.

Reply to Does anybody know how to make good custom capmaigns? in Modding GalCiv2 Forums

I've been having some "difficulties" with GalCiv2IDE and gave up using it pretty fast once i realized it was somehow and probably [I]buggy[/I]. Dunno exactly what's wrong with it, but i suspect it's caused by the Net-Framework setup on XP. Or it may even be the GC2 installation structure i opted to have; the game itself in on a second drive within a partition (F:\) that receives some of the games i keep active. FAT32, and XP/NTFS is on a dedicated (C:\) un-partitioned with the usual "MyD