News for Maelstrom Mod, May 2011

The Maelstrom mod is available in two series, the Standard Series and the Expansion Series

Expansion Series

The Expansion Mod includes a new Capitalship known as a Dreadnought. A Dreadnought is a very large and powerful Capitalship that once at level six or beyond can be upgraded into a Super-Dreadnought. All six races have Dreadnought Capitalships. Dreadnought's are automatically and repeatedly built by a special Dreadnought factory ... only one unique factory is made available for each player at the start of the game.

Also included are more aggressive Pirates with Capitalships, capable of colonizing, and a pirate carrier cruiser.

Finally beware of dangerous asteroids which fill the gravity well of various planets, they can severely damage fleets through collisions.

Standard Series (Non-Expansion) Series

The Standard series is identical with the Expansion series but does not include Dreadnoughts, expanded pirates and dangerous asteroids.

Release 4 of Maelstrom

The new release sees further optimization in both memory footprint and speed. Attention was focused in three areas

1. Particle effects for explosions and weapons (new races)
2. Expanded Pirates
3. Reworking planets and adding new planets and stars

For contributions in testing and concepts I would like to thank ...
ICEman, Quiet_Man, Malanthor, Univeraakh-HG7 and many others

The major changes in Release 4 are as follows ...

Graphics and Particle Effects
- Orbital Cannons muzzle and charge effects unique for new races
- Replicators 'Planet Production' ability for Cybernetics factory
- Norlamins Frigate and Capitalship factories build effects
- Bailknights explosions and weapons effects integrated for new races

Gameplay
- TA Anitmodule uses autocannon not plasma
- Norlamins Anitmodule uses laser not plasma

Balance
- AntiMatterRestoreRate for Norlamins Carrier increased x5 (0.375)
- AntiMatterRestoreRate for Replicator Carrier changed from 0 to 0.025000
- Tec Dreadnought no longer restores Hull points to itself via 'Resupply' ability, also extended range but longer expiry times

Research
- Mass reduction for Norlamins now correctly reduces mass of ship not increased mass.
- Replicators Cybernetics factory improvements now works

Bugfix
- Extractor on Dyson sphere no longer 0 rate
- TargetCountPerBank settings match weapon points for all capitalships for all races
- Norlamins 'Cosmicray Collector' module ability is stackable

Models
- added a number of 'mangled' body types to ship explosions (see Bailknights mod)
- reworked Ancient Planet mesh and textures
- reworked Legendary Planet mesh and textures
- reworked Fortified Planet mesh (see Hyperion planet)
- added Planet Mining mesh
- added Ring World mesh
- added a large number of moon meshes
- added 'mangled body' meshes to various explosions

Optimization
- New particle effects textures are all .dds (as per TSOP)
- New particle files correctly reference mesh and textures files (as per TSOP)
- Planet textures

Planets
- reworked 'old' planet textures, removed pole pinch distortions
- new planets with unique bonuses, textures, abilities, effects, etc
- added 1-3 moons to most planets
- added Planet Aurora, Chthonian, Diasporian, Dyson Sphere, Enigma, Frigian, Hyperion, Mining Planet
- added Planet Neo Luna, Terra Nova, Paradise, Ring World, Tempest, Toxic, Utopian
- added Planet Ice Giant, Rock Giant, Terran Giant
- added over 30 moons to various planets

Stars
- reworked Dark star and White Star effects
- new stars added with unique abilities and particle effects.
- added star Magnetar, Neutron, Pulsar, Volatile

Pirates
- 'Colonize and build' structures
- send out small scouting/raiding party's

Other
- Replicators 'Antimatter Charge' module has sound on select
- Orbital Cannon rotate and muzzle sounds unique for races
- new audio for explosions and weapon effects