Yeahhhhh I forgot how much fun modding components was! Especially since it justifies new ship designs! NOM-NOM-NOM

• Nomad Module (Credit Bonus) (Req: Nomad)
• Colonial Mining Module (Mining Bonus) (Req: Resourceful)
• Astronomic Research Module (Research Bonus) (Req: Intuitive)
• Salvage Survey Module (+50 Credits on Surveying Anomaly) (Req: Traders or Scavengers)

Thinking of adding a battle salvage and repair component for Engineers... fun-fun!

To answer your question... Yes... but...

1) New abilities and the base changes to abilities (adding a few leaders to them) will be a necessary part of GRM as my races will utilize these things.

2) Ability Components, will be included, but as its own separate mod folder (so far, its only a single file), and thus, can easily be removed from GRM if desired. The AI will not be taught to use the components, so really uninstallation of this is hardly necessary. If you feel the components are undesirable or game-breaking... just don't ever use them... but since self control may be lacking, it'll be its own folder to make uninstallation of this feature super easy.

I thought so. Or at least, I feel it is an accurate way to put it... I certainly have my own self control issues

Regarding the mod and various content, it's funny how GRM has evolved... I originally had no intent on modding any game mechanics, only content... I really just wanted to give people complete ship sets and races... but since the game shipped with no real fleet editor (and today the Fleet Editor is STILL inadequate), I had to mod to do that.

One thing led to another, and in order to create races that actually had character, (the standard abilities, and only choosing 2 of them, hardly differentiates the races, certainly true in pre-crusade) I had to mod the abilities.

Originally, I did this by keep to 2 picks, but taking the abilities and merging them, refining them, and making them more capable. However, at that time, other people were modding abilities and there were conflicts. It also meant all the original races or other races suddenly didn't function properly at all. This evolved into allowing 4 race picks, but removing any modded abilities... downloaded or core races would work, they just were not as powerful as GRM races.

Now of course, there are MANY abilities, many of which are simply worthless (Angry), and some of them tie to technologies. While "balance" is kind of impossible and also kind of pointless in GCIII, its a nice idea I just can't shake!

So... this has led me to two options: 1) Do as I'm doing, add a few tweaks to the existing abilities, nothing too dramatic, and make some fun stuff on the side people can use or not.

OR 2) Re-do ALL the abilities into three overall categories... 

• A) Tech Abilities
• Startup Advantages
• C) Gameplay/Mechanic Abilities

While nothing would stop a player from taking 3-4 picks of A... I would design each of my races to have a A choice, a B choice, and two C choices. That would create some consistency and some balance.

But sadly, that would bring back the original problem I had with GRM-A where abilities didn't match, downloaded and core races became malfunctioning... etc.

So I'm sticking to Option 1 I guess... but it saddens me lol.

Anywho! I'm revamping the VGR set, and finishing the "Arkborne Redeemers" (submarine ship set) and then there will be a release!

GRM's Next Release will:

• New shipset and race "Arkborne Redeemers"
• Revamped Zrentak Set (New turrets, some ships, refinement)
• Revamped Veygar Set (New turrets, some ships, refinement)
• Every logo will have a minimum of three variants. Logo count has gone from about 50 to 100+
• One or two new foregrounds/portraits
• Two or three new Race Abilities
• Adjusted the weaker Race Abilities to add leaders of certain types here and there
• 3-5 Unique Ship Components specific to the weaker Race Abilities

Sorry I know I've said all this... these little posts are like my notes and they keep me working.

Thanks!

Here is a look at the new Veygar components/ship variants.

New Battleship

New Missile Turret

New Beam Turret

Got a little question: if I create a new race through .XML files (FactionDefs, etc.), can I edit it with the Civilization Builder or it may create problems (like the game can't load the files anymore, etc.)?

Nothing, just curiosity, right now I'm totally busy with ships' creation.

Within the Terran Sovereignty, it is often the case that when a new weapon system is developed, that the system will be first deployed unto a preexisting hull class for field testing, as opposed to immediately developing an entirely new ship. This allows the Sovereignty to field its newest weaponry as quickly as possible, as already under construction ships can be retrofitted with the new weapon. As the ship leaves berth and engages in trials, the data is collected, lessons learned, and ultimately a new hull with refinements will be constructed to house the weapon optimally.

This explains the Manticore Class Destroyer, which was the first vessel to field the "Bertha" grade SLRB (Super Long Range Beam) cannon from Krupp Armaments (Often irreverently referred to as "Karma"). The Manticore class differs from most experimental ships of the Sovereignty by utilizing the ageing Prometheus grade hull, instead of the more stalwart Aegis grade. The reason for this, is the power consumption of the twin Bertha cannons... whilst the Aegis grade has the armor desired for a Destroyer, it is a much less modular hull with a reduced power profile compared to the Prometheus.

The Prometheus grade hull has of course, been used for nearly thirty years, as the basis for many exploration and command vessels, specifically for its modularity and increased power capacity... which made it a natural choice for the Bertha SLRB. The lack in armor, is deemed acceptable, given the ship's main weapons are intended to out-range enemy vessels. Simply put, the Manticore is intended to be a sniper, not a front line combatant like its siblings the Hades and Cyclops.

As mentioned, the Manticore possesses two Bertha SLRB, whilst the Prometheus hull can generate sufficient power to fire these cannons, the time for recharge between shots is significant and during this "lull" this ship's other systems are inefficient. As such, a large battery system has been installed on the starboard side, opposite the standard comm array. Though exposed, the battery system has been given some ablative armor struts to limit the risk of damage and destruction. This is a key component of the Manticore, as it allows the ship to operate properly in between power lulls, or, fire twice in quick succession (a high risk maneuver that would deplete the battery).

In addition to the Bertha SLRB, enhanced charging capacitors and battery system, the Manticore possesses two point defense turrets and it's forward observation center has been up-armored and replaced with an enhanced targeting suite so that the Manticore can accurately fire its weapons at even the most extreme operational ranges. Ultimately the Manticore is cost effective and high powered sniper rifle on the battlefield, and can be counted on to take down several enemy vessels with ease, if it is cautiously commanded and kept at range of the enemy.

Great!!!  

That is a huge area.

If IRC you already extended the range of military starbases by 2.  So a Vigilant MS with  this module would have a range of 19 for a diameter of 38 hexes!?!

Wow!

Is the Orion Star Republic supposed to have zero allocated points? They have nothing for Traits and Abilities.

Fun mod.

Question though. Why a starting pop of 10 when the starting colonies can only support 5? I can see it for Synthetics.. just not for Organic and Silicon.