Subset Games Forum

I have a feeling that my problem is stupidly easy to fix, but I can't figure it out.

I am creating a new sector for my mod (see the signature), but FTL Error Checker sees that it's full of errors. Most of the errors are either because the referenced event/eventList does not exist or because the referenced textList does not exist. However, this doesn't make sense. Here is an example of my code:
FTL Error Checker shows this error:
Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix it? (Note: This is not in a .xml.append file because it is an entirely new sector. Instead, it is a normal .xml file.)

Generally it's better to use different names for events, text lists, etc. Though I think the ErrorChecker shouldn't be confused by this.

Edit: Ah, found the problem. ErrorChecker only scans a predetermined list of files for events and related tags. In order to fix this, you'll have to go to database/scripts/data, open the file named event_cache.bsh with a text editor, and in that file find the following: ...and add the file in which your events are located, like so: Since this is actual script code, make sure that you don't mistype anything (dots, commas, parentheses, etc), or it won't work.

I'll try to fix this for some new version of the ErrorChecker.

Everything works fine now. Thank you, karto!

@Chrono Vortex: I've got a suggestion for making the shading. I don't know if you're already using this method or not, but i think it's worth explaining it anyway.

My ships' base images are usually organised like this:
(the topmost layer is the first in this list, the ones that follow are all below each other)

• ─ effects layer (if applicable)
• ─ lines layer
• ┬ shades group (mode: Hard Light or Overlay)
  ├─ self-cast shadows (mode: Multiply or anything that works!)
  └─ shades
• ┬ fill group
  ├─ color layer 1
  ├─ color layer 2
  └─ etc...
• ─ background (hidden when exporting)

The lines layer contains only black lines, and is supposed to be on top of everything. If you want something to go over the black lines, put it in the effects layer. (i.e.: the glow from a light source)

The fill group is at the bottom, and contains all the layers that define the ship's colours. (i.e.: a layer for the hull, one for the windows, one for the metallic parts, etc.)
This is particularly useful for doing alternative layouts, and also to help you pick the right hues if they don't look right after applying the shades.

The shades group, which has to go between the lines and the fill, is where the magic happens. This group is set to apply its contents in a special way, basically adding lights or shadows to what's below.
To do this, you have to set its method (in photoshop, or mode in GIMP) to "Hard Light". This can be done from the Layers panel, by selecting the [group|layer] and picking the desired m[ode|ethod] from the menu at the top of the panel. (There are many different ones, i suggest to mess around with them to see what they all do.)

The actual shadows are just shades of grey. The main shades layer should cover the whole hull image, and its base colour should be a 50% grey, because it becomes invisible when applied with Hard Light.
On this layer you must apply the shades. Do it by making the desired areas darker or lighter depending on their inclination and position.
I find it easier to make a separate layer for the self-cast shadows, and keep on the main layer only the shadows that would be generated from the ambient light. This layer must have its m[ode|ethod] set to Hard Light too, so that it gets applied on the shades layer first before being applied to the hull as a group.

Let me make all of this easier to understand (hopefully) with this 18-seconds gif.

• 

In this particular case, some lines use a blending mode like the shades group. (for science!) ...And it looks like some shadows are part of the fill, but don't mind these things..! XD
I also forgot to show the fill group's different layers. Basically, most layers in this group only contain one colour. So if i ever choose to change that red paint on the thrusters to blue i can simply modify that layer's hue! It's pretty handy!


These are some examples of what this method allows you to do. Since the shadows are applied over the fill, I only had to modify the layers inside the fill group to make these hulls, and it took like 2 minutes for each!

• 
  

So, yeah. I hope these infos can help. I don't think this method is too hard to perform. Feel free to ask for more info if needed.

can you add a new room type, such as a 'Stasis Pod Chamber' with stasis pods, where if a crew member is on one, they do not need oxygen and heal (ideally during jumps).

another possible type might be 'Bioweapons Lab' that increases the effectiveness of Bio Beams vs certain species, or how about a 'Hydroponics Bay' that makes Cargo that can be sold in shops?

The point of my question is not can ido all these things, it is simply "can one create new room types similar to the medical/drone/weapon rooms?'

@Storyteller: Yes, you can make new systems (look in blueprints.xml near the top). However, you cannot make those systems do anything.

Wait... I thought you couldn't create new systems, period.

Does this mean someone could create dummy systems that are designed to reduce damage from hull lasers and act as decoys for hacking attempts (since they do nothing, hacking does nothing if it lands on them).

TaxiService wrote:@Chrono Vortex: I've got a suggestion for making the shading. I don't know if you're already using this method or not, but i think it's worth explaining it anyway.

Wow. I'm not even a third of the way into a process like this by any means, I've just been trying to get the general idea of the hull and then add some details. I knew it would be pretty involved, but not on the scale. I've never tried making hull art from scratch, or even GIMP for that matter, so this may take awhile for me to implement. Do you have any suggestions as to how to add more variation with the lines? Something that can keep the ship from looking boring while not interfering with it looking like the original?

stylesrj wrote:Wait... I thought you couldn't create new systems, period.

Well, I'm pretty sure that you can make new systems...
Let me get back to you on that.

LehGogh wrote:

stylesrj wrote:Wait... I thought you couldn't create new systems, period.

Well, I'm pretty sure that you can make new systems...
Let me get back to you on that.

Nope. They don't work at all. Both creating systemBlueprints with a custom type, as well as adding custom system tags to shipBlueprint systemLists, have no effect.