A new way to handle Research in the game.

[Goth Zagog-Thou]

In my quest to enable Research into Campaign 4, there seems to be two different paradigms about how research is implemented in the game.

The first way (Campaign) and the second (Multiplayer) are handled two different ways -- and it ends up being different lists for everything along with different ways they are implemented. VERY confusing, and they aren't interchangeable -- making it difficult for anyone trying to enable one list or the other. Cluster(bleep!), in other words.

The problem is further compounded by the fact that the Campaign lists are split up -- and none are compatible with each other. I'm learning this the hard way -- some technologies will work, others won't, when enabled via RESEARCHSTAT. Things that ARE in the list you're using won't work either -- because of this.

I propose that we simplify how Research is done. I'm not taking a new format -- that would break everything. I'm talking more about condensing all research lists into a single Master Research file that will work with the current framework.

If I understand the Warzone source code correctly, all that would need to be changed are the places that the executable is looking for these files -- the 'search paths', I believe they are called -- and make them more forgiving and accepting at the same time.

So we have the basic Research framework:

prresearch.txt (Prerequisites)
redcomponents.txt (flagged for whatever reason)
redstructure.txt (flagged structures)
research.txt (the main research list)
researchfunctions.txt (enables functions like upgrades and whatnot)
researchstruct.txt (same thing for structures)
resultcomponent.txt (what component is gotten when you research something)
resultstructure.txt (what structure you get when you research it)
names.txt (what the research is called in-game)
resstrings.txt (information about the research).

and it gets enabled in the addon.lev or gamedesc.lev by adding a .wrf entry (which in turn is what enables the above lists).

Call me crazy, but that's a cluster(bleep!). WAY more complicated than it needs to be. And what's more, there's different lists for each Campaign and another entire (different) research tree for Multiplayer.

I propose that we relocate ALL of that (aside from names.txt, and how the lists are enabled) into a single file that the game will look for in the event that the old ones aren't present. The format of this file will contain ALL of the above, but in single-string form (much like weapons.txt) and in such a way that the game is happy with it. This way we keep compatibility with the old stuff (until it can be reworked) but have the new way for new stuff.

Possible?

[Iluvalar]

no. You forget that there is often more then one line for one ID in another file.

In other words, the same ID in research.txt. Might have 3 lines in prresearch.txt, 3 in resultcomponent.txt, 2 in redcomponents.txt, 1 in resultstructure.txt and 1 in researchstruct.txt at the same time time. And another one be totally different.

There couldn't be one master list if the number a parameter vary that much from one line to another. Unless I miss something ?

[Goth Zagog-Thou]

No, you'd definitely be the expert on this.

Looks like I'll have to develop the research side of Cam 4 as a separate mod. Too many bad things are happening (and I've had to revert Cam 4's files TWICE now. ).

[Iluvalar]

I could probably build a tech tree for you. Providing I have the stats files, the pies and some sort of plan of yours.

[Goth Zagog-Thou]

All I need is a tree that does the end-stage Cam 3 Tech as a starting point for Cam 4. The final series of Upgrades and all Cyborgs you'd have if you were late-Cam 3. Once that's in place it'll be a good launching point for Cam 4's stuff.

I should note that Cam 4 Research plans aren't finalized.