Here's the data files as they currently stand. There have been a few changes in the game that make this not work fully with the current public version, namely Shipyards, Orbital Batteries and Planetary Shields. Shouldn't be too hard to adapt it to the public build though, for testing. I can help with that if needed.

The Dominion is still a bit on hold, we still don't know if they will be able to colonize or not. Ideally, the colonization race would be the Founders and they would only be able to colonize Rogue planets, relying heavily on diplo and subjugation of minors. Their Phased Polaron Beams are still on hold too.

Buildings should pretty much be ready for testing, though their costs might need to be revisited if base industry is reworked - currently it's equal to the system's pop, which is kind of weird given that in large systems you can pretty much redirect pop from industry and still have decent industry outputs.

Ships still need some work. Their costs might also still be revisited, if Shipyard output is made to increase with Construction tech level (a smoother output curve instead of steps). Range and Fuel need to be reviewed too, but their overlapping nature should be fixed first - that is, one of them should be scrapped.

Comments are most welcome! I guess it's the "slow season", but I'll be around to answer any questions.

edit: see below for the files

Hello ICEMAN
There is a error detected when i launch the game, it's about the TECH CURVES!

An error occurred while loading the Civilization Database: The requested value 'TechCurve5' was not found. (it's the same thing with all the other TechCurve)

In your modified CIVILISATIONS.xml file:
<TechCurve>TechCurve1</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>TechCurve2</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>TechCurve3</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>TechCurve4</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>TechCurve5</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>TechCurve6</TechCurve>

In your modified CIVILISATIONS.xsd file:
<xs:enumeration value="TechCurve1"/>
<xs:enumeration value="TechCurve2"/>
<xs:enumeration value="TechCurve3"/>
<xs:enumeration value="TechCurve4"/>
<xs:enumeration value="TechCurve5"/>
<xs:enumeration value="TechCurve6"/>

I would like suggest to keep this as in the original CIVILIZATIONS.xsd file:
<xs:enumeration value="Backward"/>
<xs:enumeration value="Primitive"/>
<xs:enumeration value="Developed"/>
<xs:enumeration value="Sophisticated"/>
<xs:enumeration value="Advanced"/>
<xs:enumeration value="Supreme"/>

& this as in the original CIVILIZATIONS.xml file:
<TechCurve>Backward</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>Primitive</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>Developed</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>Sophisticated</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>Advanced</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>Supreme</TechCurve>

We changed those labels for the sake of translations (and even name changes). The language files will determine what gets displayed.
For now you'll have to change them back to their original values. It's really simple, you'll just have to do the opposite of what I did With Find+Replace, it's a breeze. I recommend using Np++ instead of Np.
LMK if you need any help.

I did with this way, it's more simple:

In your modified CIVILISATIONS.xml file:
<TechCurve>1</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>2</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>3</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>4</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>5</TechCurve>
<TechCurve>6</TechCurve>

In your modified CIVILISATIONS.xsd file:
<xs:enumeration value="1"/>
<xs:enumeration value="2"/>
<xs:enumeration value="3"/>
<xs:enumeration value="4"/>
<xs:enumeration value="5"/>
<xs:enumeration value="6"/>

After this when i choose the empire to play, there is some difficulties to LOAD the game!! It doesn't work!!! In fact the LOADING screen remains active very long and nothing happens!!
********************************************
What are XAML files in the DATA & TEXT folders? They work in the game?
********************************************

It's simpler but apparently doesn't work? Have you tried using the old labels (Backwards, etc)?

Some of the new files have to do with Agents, the new Orbital Batteries, and diplomacy, but they'll not be used by the public version of the game. I just included them so that people that like to scrutinize everything (like me ) could look at them and check them - and have an idea of what to expect.

I'll check it when I get the time. You can use the old files (public version) though, changes to civs should pretty much be quadrants.

The folder structure for tech object images has changed, for a better organization and separation according to type. In order to see the pics, you just have to remove the path.
Notice some tech objects had their names changed.

I don't have the files handy, can you post both Civilizations.xml and .xsd here? The ones from the latest public version.

If you want to post your modified files too, I can take a look.

There is the original & modified CIVILIZATIONS.xml & .xsd files!!

If you tried with the old labels and it didn't work, it's probably something else not related to tech curves. Did you check the logs? They're text files in the game's main folder.

In fact it's about the file TechObjectDatabase there is a bug!!!

I noticed these new structures in the ProductionFacility section (upgrade, obsolete item, prerequisite):

FARMING_CENTRE
MACHINING_PLANT
POWER_PLANT
RESEARCH_LAB
DATA_BROKERAGE

all of Type 1 to 10

I guess it's reserved to the Minor races or you planned to add a new empire?
**********************************************************************************
I think there is an error in this structure:

<Building Key="SHIELD_GENERATOR">
<TechRequirements>
<Energy>4</Energy>
</TechRequirements>
<BuildCost>1000</BuildCost>
<IsUniversallyAvailable>true</IsUniversallyAvailable>
<EnergyCost>100</EnergyCost>
<Restrictions>
<Restriction>OnePer100MaxPopUnits</Restriction>
</Restrictions>
<Bonuses>
<Bonus Type="PlanetaryShielding" Amount="300" />
<Bonus Type="ShieldPerEnergyTech" Amount="50" />
</Bonuses>
</Building>
**********************************************************************************

Yep, those are the PFs for Minors. They're set to be universal, and each empire has its own set.

And nope, there's no error in the Shield Generator. It works differently now. You can build one per 100 max pop in the system (notice it's not OpS), and when built the shield will charge over time (at a rate equal to its power requirement) until it's fully charged (full charge is given by the base value + an amount per Energy tech level). When it takes damage, it will lose part of its charge, and when possible it will again charge to full capacity. It works more like ships' shields now.

I resolved the issue with the SHIELD GENERATOR, in fact it work ONLY with the Percent to Bonus type!!!

<Building Key="SHIELD_GENERATOR">
<TechRequirements>
<Energy>4</Energy>
</TechRequirements>
<BuildCost>1000</BuildCost>
<IsUniversallyAvailable>true</IsUniversallyAvailable>
<EnergyCost>100</EnergyCost>
<Bonuses>
<Bonus Type="PercentPlanetaryShielding" Amount="300" />
<Bonus Type="ShieldPerEnergyTech" Amount="50" />
</Bonuses>
</Building>

I also removed this:
<Restrictions>
<Restriction>OnePer100MaxPopUnits</Restriction>
</Restrictions>

(Possible as bonus but not as Restriction)

The restrictions are:

Home System - Native System - Non-Native System - Conquered System - White Star - Blue Star - Green Star - Yellow Star - Orange Star - Red Star - Arctic Planet - Asteroids - Barren Planet - Crystalline Giant - Demon Planet - Desert Planet - Gas Giant - Jungle Planet - Oceanic Planet - Rogue Planet - Terran Planet - Volcanic Planet - One Per Empire - One Per System - Dilithium - Duranium - Moons
*****************************************************************************************************
I added this in the en.txt file of the STRINGS folder

[SHIPYARD_EFFICIENCY]
Shipyard Efficiency
*****************************************************************************************************
I added Gas Giant about the Deuterium Collector

<Building Key="DEUTERIUM_COLLECTOR">
<TechRequirements>
<Construction>1</Construction>
</TechRequirements>
<BuildCost>500</BuildCost>
<IsUniversallyAvailable>true</IsUniversallyAvailable>
<EnergyCost>30</EnergyCost>
<Restrictions>
<Restriction>OnePerSystem</Restriction>
<Restriction>RoguePlanet</Restriction>
<Restriction>GasGiant</Restriction>
</Restrictions>
<Bonuses>
<Bonus Type="Deuterium" Amount="25" />
</Bonuses>
</Building>

Deuterium is a relatively rare isotope of hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe. The greatest concentrations of deuterium are found in the atmospheres of Gas Giant planets, the waters of Oceanic worlds, and in nebulae; Deuterium Collectors have been specifically designed to collect deuterium from the latter.

Note: The only Rogue planet is in the Omarion Nebula (Dominion)

Not that you're going to use the shield in the game yet, but you might just as well remove the PlanetaryShielding bonus, since you'll get the Energy tech level shielding.


Those aree the displayed values for Restrictions. Notice that the internal name for Duranium (that's an experiment of mine) is still RawMaterials.


Gas Giants provide an automatic Deuterium output, with no need for a structure. Since the Dominion doesn't have a GG in Omarion, and the other homesystems already have the mentioned automatic output from their GGs, I made the Deuterium Collector work only in nebulae; since there's currently no Restriction for nebulae, I used Rogue precisely because Rogue planets are only created in nebulae. It's a workaround, but it works.
Making it work for GGs too makes other empires have more of an advantage in Deuterium collection - the automatic output and the output from the structure. Doesn't make much sense, and could potentially be unbalancing.

1) I think it's always been like that

About the Collect Deuterium order, it should probably be automated/automatic, it's kind of weird that you can only collect deuterium _outside_ your refueling range. Maybe even scrap it.

2) There's already some duplication in the tables files, I think Mike intended to clean them up, and probably rework their format.

3) We discussed an alternate way of dealing with Space Stations and other orbital objects like scanners some time ago. Namely, with dedicated modules you'd build into stations - research modules, scanner modules, medical modules, wepons/defenses modules, etc.

Science Stations do have some defenses, not sure you should be able to build both types in a sector.

I've got a version for the May09 release working. I can post it if there's any interest in it. I'm currently tweaking data and setting images.

I'm trying to fix a couple of issues, and I'll post it asap. One of them is the minors' fleetyards are not showing up in the build list, as upgrades.

Thanks, - will download when I get home.

I just noticed that there are no custom planets in the game. Not even the solar system. I could redo all the system I had in he expanded version we were working on.

These data files do define most of the custom planets but they don't have the textures nor do they connect them with the home systems. I'll solve that and send you the complete file.

I have all the files, it's the build that didn't have them when Mike released it - an image pack would be way too large to attach here I guess. The next versions do have them (they're were mostly image updates), but they're not working correctly as explained in the other thread. With a bit of work, and merging both builds (20110530 and 20110828) it should be fine.

I'm going to try and compile the latest source code (20120225) available. I might even email Mike to see if he can upload the changes he made after that release (XRay Pulsars and other stuff).

It's easy enough to set images in the data files; but the ideal would be to have object names and image names be the same. Also notice that some of the images had typos in their names, hence not showing.
In the May 09 data files I just posted, all the tech objects have an image associated. In the data files for the latest private build too (you can check with the 20111119 build), but this one doesn't have all the images, like mentioned above.

Yeah I know, to associate an image it has to have either the same name of it has to be defined in the data files. I'll send you the complete image update next week.

If anyone is having problems running the private builds, one of them has some images missing: the atmosphere Brown.png, and a couple planet textures Q'onoS and Trill.
The 20110610 build also has 3 DLLs missing (fmodex, ConcurrentHastable and HttpDownloader) which AFAIK is only a problem for XP users. I'll post them monday just in case. It'll also not show the ship models (Federation only) in the Shipbuilding screen, unless you use the latest data files.

sounds like a lot of fun getting it run, I'll try later today, currently installing skype finally
monday however is a bit late as we planned to play/test tomorrow already

and good luck on compiling the source code
when you get it work, don't forget to leave some instructions

Last night I started working on a overall image update, renaming, removing and re-purposing unused ones and overall artistic upgrading of the old images. I'll post them on Monday or Tuesday (when I finish it after my test).

I also made some small modifications to the latest data files with planets and one kling structure modified (because of the images)