Progress update 2019-12-12:
The following UI elements are now functional (in Create New Game and F9 > SM New Empire):
- Trans-Newtonian start
- Assign Starting tech points automatically
- Create ship systems and ship designs
Just three items, but a
lot goes into these!
Trans-Newtonian Start does the same thing Aurora does, which assigns the TN tech and a few other key techs such as Jump Point Theory to the new race.
Assign starting tech points automatically behaves the same as Aurora; Specifically, it first assigns available points to a few techs appropriate for the first tier of engines; The next points go to "tier 1" missile techs, the next to tier 1 beam techs, and so on in a fixed order of priority. After the basics are covered, it starts choosing tech groups at random from the StartingTechGroups table based on the weighting assigned in that table. Each tech group has a few fixed tech categories (from the TechTypes table) and a few optional ones that are either picked or not picked at random. Tech selection will focus on only one beam type, with Lasers being the most likely.
Creating ship systems randomly generates a design philosophy based on the techs available and the preferred beam type, in the same manner as Aurora. Specifically, it chooses: an active resolution from about 60 to 100, weighted toward 100; a baseline number of commercial engines; a baseline size for engines; a baseline size for anti-ship launchers; a baseline size for mines; a target military hull size; a relative level of emphasis on spare parts and maintenance; a baseline number of engines for military ships; point defense preference; and a baseline target armor.
Ship components are then designed based on the above design philosophy and the tech available, picking the best techs where appropriate and randomly generating tech choices when there is no clear choice. The same components are generated that Aurora generates, specifically: Missile engine; turret; Anti-missile active sensors; anti-FAC active sensors; anti-fighter active sensors; anti large ship active sensors; anti very large ship active sensors; anti small ship active sensors; anti tiny ship active sensors; anti missile MFC; FAC MFC; anti fighter MFC; battle cruiser jump drive; beam fc prioritizing range; beam fc prioritizing speed; cruiser jump drive; mines and their second stages; plasma carronades; ciws weapons; cloaks; commercial engines; destroyer jump drives; four sizes of EM sensors; military engine; FAC engine; FAC missile launcher; FAC missiles; fighter engine; gauss weapon; default jump drive; large laser; large missile launcher; large MFC; magazine; missile launcher; long range missile; meson weapon; mine launcher; point defense laser; point defense launcher; point defense meson weapon; point defense missile; scout engine; shields; standard mfc; standard missile; four sizes of thermal sensors; and a particle cannon.
Ships designs are then generated based on the components and design philosophy generated. As in Aurora, the AutomatedClassDesign table is used as a guideline for ship designs generated, which are: Small colony ship; anti missile jump destroyer escort; large colony ship; jump destroyer (beam); Anti FAC destroyer; heavy cruiser; anti-fighter destroyer (missiles); anti-missile escort cruiser; anti-fighter jump destroyer; destroyer escort; jump cruiser; fighter; cruiser (missiles); scout; strike cruiser; jump escort cruiser; missile defense base; destroyer (missiles); anti-missile jump escort cruiser; fuel harvester; destroyer; anti-missile destroyer escort; geosurvey ship; jump battlecruiser (beam); jump cruiser (beam); carrier; beam defense base; terraformer; jump battlecruiser; jump destroyer escort; fast attack craft; battlecruiser; small freighter; escort cruiser; grav survey ship; freighter; jump destroyer; anti-FAC jump destroyer; troop dropship; jump gate constructor; fuel harvester; salvager
Here's an example comparison of missile-based cruisers generated six times. The first three listed were generated by Aurora. The last three were generated by Quasar. 1000000 starting tech points are chosen for each, and the programs do the rest.
Off-Topic: design comparisons show
Aurora 7.1:
Edward VII class Missile Cruiser 15,400 tons 351 Crew 3462.4 BP TCS 308 TH 1152 EM 0
3740 km/s Armour 9-55 Shields 0-0 Sensors 33/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 6 PPV 48
Maint Life 1.59 Years MSP 843 AFR 316% IFR 4.4% 1YR 387 5YR 5804 Max Repair 540 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months Spare Berths 1
Magazine 762
115.2 EP Magneto-plasma Drive (10) Power 115.2 Fuel Use 103.79% Signature 115.2 Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 1,950,000 Litres Range 22.0 billion km (67 days at full power)
CIWS-320 (3x8) Range 1000 km TS: 32000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Size 3 Missile Launcher (16) Missile Size 3 Rate of Fire 20
Missile Fire Control FC401-R103 (2) Range 401.9m km Resolution 103
Hotspur Anti-ship Missile (254) Speed: 23,500 km/s End: 204.7m Range: 288.6m km WH: 6 Size: 3 TH: 78/47/23
Active Search Sensor MR177-R20 (1) GPS 7200 Range 177.1m km Resolution 20
Active Search Sensor MR602-R103 (1) GPS 55620 Range 602.8m km Resolution 103
Thermal Sensor TH3-33 (1) Sensitivity 33 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 33m km
Edward VII class Missile Cruiser 17,800 tons 503 Crew 3277 BP TCS 356 TH 792 EM 0
2224 km/s Armour 7-60 Shields 0-0 Sensors 33/22/0/0 Damage Control Rating 4 PPV 96
Maint Life 0.42 Years MSP 460 AFR 633% IFR 8.8% 1YR 1103 5YR 16551 Max Repair 480 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months Spare Berths 0
Magazine 1218
132 EP Ion Drive (6) Power 132 Fuel Use 91.38% Signature 132 Exp 11%
Fuel Capacity 1,050,000 Litres Range 11.6 billion km (60 days at full power)
CIWS-200 (2x6) Range 1000 km TS: 20000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Size 3 Missile Launcher (32) Missile Size 3 Rate of Fire 25
Missile Fire Control FC308-R95 (2) Range 308.8m km Resolution 95
Sottef Anti-ship Missile (406) Speed: 13,700 km/s End: 294.7m Range: 242.2m km WH: 7 Size: 3 TH: 45/27/13
Active Search Sensor MR514-R95 (1) GPS 45600 Range 514.6m km Resolution 95
Active Search Sensor MR141-R20 (1) GPS 5760 Range 141.7m km Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH3-33 (1) Sensitivity 33 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 33m km
EM Detection Sensor EM2-22 (1) Sensitivity 22 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22m km
ECCM-2 (1) ECM 20
Hood class Missile Cruiser 16,400 tons 375 Crew 2797.98 BP TCS 328 TH 720 EM 0
2195 km/s Armour 7-57 Shields 0-0 Sensors 16/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 4 PPV 60
Maint Life 0.8 Years MSP 427 AFR 537% IFR 7.5% 1YR 535 5YR 8028 Max Repair 396 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months Spare Berths 1
Magazine 1311
60 EP Ion Drive (12) Power 60 Fuel Use 76% Signature 60 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 800,000 Litres Range 11.6 billion km (60 days at full power)
CIWS-500 (2x8) Range 1000 km TS: 50000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Size 4 Missile Launcher (15) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 30
Missile Fire Control FC141-R67 (2) Range 141.4m km Resolution 67
Gehenna Anti-ship Missile (327) Speed: 12,600 km/s End: 280.1m Range: 211.8m km WH: 11 Size: 4 TH: 42/25/12
Active Search Sensor MR77-R20 (1) GPS 4320 Range 77.3m km Resolution 20
Active Search Sensor MR259-R67 (1) GPS 26532 Range 259.3m km Resolution 67
Thermal Sensor TH2-16 (1) Sensitivity 16 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 16m km
Q4X:
Hood class Missile Cruiser 17 900 tons 404 Crew 3103.44 BP TCS 358 TH 1108 EM 0
3094 km/s Armor 6-60 Shields 0-0 Sensors 24/16/0/0 Damage Control Rating 2 PPV 68
Maint Life 0.21 Years MSP 217 AFR 1280% IFR 17.7% 1YR 1041 5YR 15608 Max Repair 432 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months Spare Berths 0
Magazine 1236
92.4 EP Ion Drive (12) Power 92.4 Fuel Use 94.42% Signature 92.4 Exp 11%
Fuel Capacity 1 900 000 Liters Range 20.2 billion km (75 days at full power)
CIWS-160 (1x8) Range 1000 km TS: 16000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Size 4 Missile Launcher (17) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 30
Missile Fire Control FC170-R97 (2) Range 170.2m km Resolution 97
Sendai Anti-ship Missile (309) Speed: 15 100 km/s End: 2.01h Range: 109.5m km WH: 12 Size: 4 TH: 50/30/15
Active Search Sensor MR340-R97 (1) GPS 41904 Range 340.4m km Resolution 97
Active Search Sensor MR77-R20 (1) GPS 4320 Range 77.3m km MCR 21.0k km Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH3-24 (1) Sensitivity 24 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 24m km
EM Detection Sensor EM2-16 (1) Sensitivity 16 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 16m km
Hood class Missile Cruiser 19 600 tons 504 Crew 4143.1 BP TCS 392 TH 1200 EM 0
3061 km/s Armor 4-64 Shields 0-0 Sensors 11/11/0/0 Damage Control Rating 3 PPV 90
Maint Life 0.19 Years MSP 397 AFR 1023% IFR 14.2% 1YR 2144 5YR 32166 Max Repair 800 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months Spare Berths 2
Magazine 1378
60 EP Ion Drive (20) Power 60 Fuel Use 76% Signature 60 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 1 400 000 Liters Range 16.9 billion km (63 days at full power)
CIWS-200 (1x6) Range 1000 km TS: 20000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Size 5 Missile Launcher (18) Missile Size 5 Rate of Fire 25
Missile Fire Control FC503-R91 (2) Range 503.7m km Resolution 91
Saga Anti-ship Missile (275) Speed: 10 400 km/s End: 16.08h Range: 602.1m km WH: 11 Size: 4.998 TH: 35/21/10
Active Search Sensor MR839-R91 (1) GPS 72800 Range 839.5m km MCR 11.0k km Resolution 91
Active Search Sensor MR236-R20 (1) GPS 9600 Range 236.1m km MCR 64.3k km Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH1-11 (1) Sensitivity 11 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 11m km
EM Detection Sensor EM1-11 (1) Sensitivity 11 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 11m km
ECCM-1 (1) ECM 10
Hood class Missile Cruiser 16 100 tons 365 Crew 3476.6 BP TCS 322 TH 1800 EM 0
5590 km/s Armor 7-56 Shields 0-0 Sensors 42/28/0/0 Damage Control Rating 4 PPV 55
Maint Life 0.65 Years MSP 541 AFR 516% IFR 7.1% 1YR 831 5YR 12461 Max Repair 480 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 6 months Spare Berths 0
Magazine 1134
150 EP Magnetic Fusion Drive (12) Power 150 Fuel Use 47% Signature 150 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 1 350 000 Liters Range 32.1 billion km (66 days at full power)
CIWS-120 (2x8) Range 1000 km TS: 12000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Size 5 Missile Launcher (11) Missile Size 5 Rate of Fire 50
Missile Fire Control FC405-R101 (2) Range 405.2m km Resolution 101
Inhauma Anti-ship Missile (226) Speed: 22 799 km/s End: 5.94h Range: 487.3m km WH: 5 Size: 5 TH: 76/46/23
Active Search Sensor MR675-R101 (1) GPS 48480 Range 675.4m km Resolution 101
Active Search Sensor MR180-R20 (1) GPS 5760 Range 180.3m km MCR 49.1k km Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH3-42 (1) Sensitivity 42 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 42m km
EM Detection Sensor EM2-28 (1) Sensitivity 28 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 28m km
I put similar comparisons of all other categories up on
pastebin. The latest build has been pushed to itch as well in case you want to experiment with this. I should point out that I follow Aurora's design methodology very closely, for better or worse. I don't check whether the designs are good on their own, I only check to see that they come close to Aurora. Now that the architecture is in place it can be easily improved upon later. A fair amount can already be adjusted (armor, for example) by tweaking the database -- the same is possible in Aurora in fact.
This completes another huge hurdle that until recently I wasn't sure I'd be able to do. And the real benefit of getting this done is that it was required before any work on Civilians and AI would be possible, so we're that much closer to those! Hooray! Next up will be some more items I mentioned in previous posts; I haven't decided on which to do first yet. Onward!