Question about adding extra star backgrounds

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Spleens
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2021 9:29 am

Question about adding extra star backgrounds

Postby Spleens » Tue Nov 09, 2021 9:31 am

If I want to add extra star backgrounds how do I go about naming the files so that they get picked up and used by the game? If that's how it works what are all the categories? Like is it bg_blue* , bg_lonely* , or is it just bg_*. Do the planets just get put in randomly? Any advice is appreciated https://showbox.bio/ https://tutuapp.uno/.
Last edited by Spleens on Thu Nov 11, 2021 2:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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mr_easy_money
Posts: 625
Joined: Fri May 29, 2015 9:05 pm

Re: Question about adding extra star backgrounds

Postby mr_easy_money » Tue Nov 09, 2021 12:41 pm

Spleens wrote:If I want to add extra star backgrounds how do I go about naming the files so that they get picked up and used by the game? If that's how it works what are all the categories? Like is it bg_blue* , bg_lonely* , or is it just bg_*. Do the planets just get put in randomly? Any advice is appreciated.

Hi, have a look at the vanilla events_imageList.xml. Here is the relevant bit.

Code: Select all

<!-- NOTE: width/height are the size you WANT not necessarily the size of the file.
   Though in most cases we want that to match of course. I'm just sayin it's possible
   to scale the image if you want. -->

<!-- The following lists are your DEFAULT lists, if the event or text isn't tagged
      with anything, then it will randomly choose from here. -->
<imageList name="PLANET">
   <img w="460" h="460">stars/planet_bigblue.png</img>
   <img w="460" h="460">stars/planet_brown.png</img>
   <img w="264" h="264">stars/planet_peach.png</img>
   <img w="200" h="200">stars/planet_red.png</img>
   <img w="380" h="380">stars/planet_gas_blue.png</img>
   <img w="380" h="380">stars/planet_gas_yellow.png</img>

   <img w="230" h="230">stars/planet_bigblue.png</img>
   <img w="230" h="230">stars/planet_brown.png</img>
   <img w="132" h="132">stars/planet_peach.png</img>
   <img w="100" h="100">stars/planet_red.png</img>
   <img w="190" h="190">stars/planet_gas_blue.png</img>
   <img w="190" h="190">stars/planet_gas_yellow.png</img>
<!--   <img w="480" h="460">stars/planet_populated_brown.png</img>
   <img w="480" h="460">stars/planet_populated_dark.png</img>
   <img w="480" h="460">stars/planet_populated_orange.png</img> -->
</imageList>

<imageList name="BACKGROUND">
   <img w="1280" h="720">stars/bg_darknebula.png</img>
   <!-- <img w="1280" h="720">stars/bg_blueStarcluster.png</img> -->
   <img w="1280" h="720">stars/bg_dullstars2.png</img>
   <img w="1280" h="720">stars/bg_lonelyRedStar.png</img>
   <img w="1280" h="720">stars/bg_lonelystar.png</img>
</imageList>

so these are the default lists. you know how to make a mod file? I think for your case just make a file called events_imageList.xml.append and put the BACKGROUND imageList in, then add a bunch more <img> entries inside with your custom backgrounds. they are all prefixed with stars/ because they are in img/stars. it's probably best to do it like this, but you can also forgo the stars/ if you put them in img folder directly.

also there are some other "categories" as in, there are certain lists that the game uses for certain events. the default lists are there if nothing is specified, but for example in civilian areas and for example pirate attacking civilians that tries to bribe you, pretty sure the list PLANET_POPULATED is used there instead. if you want I can elaborate further about those lists and making custom backgrounds/planets for specific events or event types like that.