Stargate Invasion Progress Report August (Week 3) news

Stargate Invasion Progress Report August (Week 3)

Intro

Continuing our updates, below is a change-log covering our progress since we last posted. Most of the changes are already on the public GD, or will be arriving in the next few hours. Audio files have been uploaded but will be linked tomorrow (LINKED ON AUGUST 19).

Spotlight Videos

For anyone that wishes to post spotlight videos featuring SGI:
- please mention that this is an early access build and that not everything is as we intend it to be
- since this is an incomplete mod, don't treat the spotlight video as a review. Presenting the work is fine but comments about what should have been included are obviously not since we may already have plans that we haven't stated. Once we are ready, we will let you all know that reviewing is in order.
- before making the video, download and install the mod again from google drive so that you are featuring the latest version.
- check that the file count is correct. Current numbers are: With Google Drive Sync: 7100 files, 11 folders
Without Sync: 7088 files, 11 folders. (CHECKED ON AUGUST 24)
Thanks for sticking to the above! Now for our change-log:

Abilities & Research

We have decided to implement a system of exploration and research through Artifacts. Each faction will have its own Research Section specifically unlocked by finding Artifacts (currently located in the Defense tab). These are the changes that have been made so far:

- the Project Arcturus Artifact has been replaced by ZPM Artifact (5% research boost and relevant Research Unlock)
- for the Humans, the ZPM Artifact is required in order to have ZPM Research (in Combat Research) available.
- a new research was added for the Humans that is the same as the Project Arcturus Artefact and is dependent on having first gone through ZPM Research.
- all abilities (ZPM, ZPM Cloaking) for the Human faction that require a ZPM will now also require a ZPM Artifact and the ZPM Research to be enabled.

The idea is to have this ZPM Artifact also affect other factions by providing access to specific research and structures if discovered.

- Abilities for Destiny Class Colony Ship added:

• Observation
• Heavy Turret
• Onboard Stargate

Here are some ideas we have discussed for Artifacts:

- Project Arcturus becomes an Artifact again and unlocks a Starbase version of the Arcturus cannon for every Faction. Cannot be controlled directly. Once dropped into a gravity well, it'll begin firing at any ships nearby effectively making the gravity well into a death trap for all. Every Faction could have a slightly different looking support structure around the weapon itself for the model. Additional related research could include increased energy weapon damage, rate of fire.

- Wraith can unlock a Superweapon or possibly Starbase (temporary name: Orbital Hive Gestation) by finding the ZPM Artifact. This factory grows hives (and possibly other capitals) periodically without the need for any intervention, greatly increasing the capital count without expending resources.

- Asgard Hyperdrives Artifact – unlocks a Wraith passive ability where Hives become phase stabilizers allowing the faction to freely travel between stars where ships are present, also provides research for improving hyperspace speed considerably thereby reducing damage taken during jumps (the Wraith would have the unique disadvantage of slow hyperspace speeds and damage per second taken while in hyperspace, for all ships. However, their ships will not have the per ship upkeep common to all other factions, only a general vanilla infrastructure upkeep but with lower percentages).

The above is not final and they may change as we move forward.

We welcome suggestions for possible Artifacts or research based on Artifacts both for currently available and potential new ones. Post your ideas in the comments section of this progress report and we will see if they can be incorporated into the new Exploration research sections.

Strings

- missing string for Asuran AbilityFrigate Cloak Deactivate was fixed
- Asuran TODO strings were replaced with proper names and descriptions
- fixed the Human Maneuvering Thrusters research strings as they were using the wrong set for Name and Description.
- fixed Name and Description string spillover for the Asgard Hyperdrives Artifact.

AI

- increased the AI queue weight of research and research structures
- the AI has been modified to reduce the likelihood of retreat

Balancing

- Asuran Lagrangian Satellite:

• turning rate increased from 0.75 to 1
• tactical slot cost reduced to 4, credit cost reduced to 2000
• now needs one less combat lab to be researched
• a new ability (Lagrangian Sat. ZPM) was created and added. It requires both the base satellite research and its own research in order to be activated. Enables the use of a ZPM, giving an almost instant charge to the capacitor and increasing the firing rate substantially.
• base anti matter recharge rate was lowered from 0.5 to 0.3
• entity type is now a WeaponDefense instead of ModuleStandard which should help the AI with recognition

- Asuran Hangar Defense was buffed (see Various Fixes further down)

Various Fixes

Can no longer select disabled races!

- Asuran Orbital Hangar Defense:

• now fires the same drone weapon as the Orbital Drone Platform instead of a vanilla missile weapon
• weapon points added (3 drone weapons in 360 coverage), 1 target in each direction
• hangar point added so that fighter/bomber squads will no longer appear out of the system that they are meant to be in.
• created and connected a new shield mesh.

-Fixed use fighter attack set to TRUE for 15 frigates, cruisers, and capitals. Most of these were Asuran, also some Human ships like BC304 (which may be changed back if there's no alternative way to add combat movement). It is now set to FALSE and these ships will no longer move back and forth during a fight
- All Lagrangian Beam abilities will now fire as soon as a target is in range, previously it was necessary to take some damage before it would activate. This change should make the weapon do what it was supposed to, target large ships at range.
- replaced Asuran Typhon cruiser gravity mine ability with Hyperdimensional Explosive Mines that use our model instead of the previous vanilla version.

- Asurans now have a working starbase however it isn't the Asuran model it is the Phase model as a place holder until the Asurans model is finished however they at least have a starbase now. (UPLOADED ON AUGUST 19)

UI Skin

- New Tau'ri Military research Icons
- Tau'ri Defense Tab new Research Tree background (Exploration) added ready for research tree implementation
- Asuran Defense tab new Research Tree background (Discovery) added ready for new research tree

Shieldimpact FX

We have been given permission to use the ShieldFX file that RC-1290 created. It will be replacing our current setup and will be used as a base for adjustments going forward. Many thanks to RC for sharing the FX file! (UPLOADED ON AUGUST 19)

Texturing

Further work on the Traveler Greebles was done. A total of 51 were made so far with an estimated final count of about 150.

Sound

For Asurans

Sound Files that are linked:

• Destiny Colony Ship
• Ceres Light Frigate
• Atropos Heavy Cruiser
• Atlantis Class Titan
• Epheus Class Titan
• Mercury Class Envoy
• Kreios Class Cruiser
• Ogen Antifighter Frigate
• Erinyes Long Range Frigate
• Colony Seed Ship
• Gate Satellite
• Romulus Capital Ship

We have created a discord channel for all Stargate Fans! Come and chat with not only the Stargate Invasions developers, but also Stargate Pegasus Chronicles, Stargate-DOF, Stargate Utopia, Stargate Traits and Stargate Ships developers. Just click on the image below to join.