gigabyte
December 22nd, 2009, 17:24
OK here goes...
X3 Mods,
To begin I want to point out the differences between Scripts, Basic Mods, and total conversion Mods. There are several way to modify your X3 Game this applies to both Reunion and Terran Conflict, there are scripts which are simply single purpose commands or functions that are added to change or add a function to the game, things like adding credits to your account or improving your reputation with a race. Scripts can be added with a plug in Manager (an add-on that is VERY useful and should be installed before trying to add anything else), and many are often included with the various Mods.
Scripts are basically small programs that are run to activate them from the Script Editor (which you have to activate to be able to use scripts – more on that in a minute). Mods on the other hand are more involved and do things like add new sectors, ships and some add a new story line or change the balance of the game play. There will always be a debate over the “Cheat Factor” changing the game play to make things easier is considered (by persists) as cheating and lessening the skill level or accomplishments, I leave that up to each player – IMHO we purchase computer games for entertainment and if you enjoy playing the game completely unmoded and the way the programmer wrote it great, if you enjoy things more by changing the balance (to make it easier or harder) go for it, it is your $$$ and time so get the game set up the way you will enjoy it the most! OK off the soap box, I will add to this in coming days and weeks so keep watching this may be a long topic if I keep experimenting.
First of all I need to start by recommending the most essential tool I have found for X3 – Cycrows Plug-in Manager, it is fairly straight forward, the built in help system and included Documentation make it easy to use so I will not go into much detail here. Just download this little gem and install it, even if you only want to add some new ships it is the first add on you should grab.
There are several locations to get the Plug in Manager her is the one I used, and take note there are separate versions for Reunion and Terran Conflict so get the one you need.
Plug In manager Download - http://cycrow.thexuniverse.us/ (http://cycrow.thexuniverse.us/) Good documentation is also available on the same site, so look it over.
There is an alternate download available on the Apricot Slice page at this link - http://apricotmappingservice.com/X3TCdownloads/ (http://apricotmappingservice.com/X3TCdownloads/) (look about half way down the page).
OK before I get into the full details on Mods you will need to enable the Script editor to activate the scripts that are available in these mods. Once you select and install a Mod start your game and activate the Script Manager right away before you go blowing things up. Activating the Script editor is fairly simple. Start you game and get into space, park somewhere nice and safe (it takes a minute if you are new to the game). For Terran Conflict On the main menu at the top left select Personal Menu (the very top icon) then select Advanced, select Change Pilot Name, The current Name will be in the top section and the edit field below will have the same name, simply backspace out the name, and type the following “Thereshallbewings” (no quotes and be careful of the double L, for some reason the game does not pick up the 2 key presses if you type them fast) , if you do this correctly there will be a pause and when the game resumes you will see the name has not actually changed , but now on the General Commands (and a few other places) you will see a new menu item labelled “Script Editor”. Now get back to a station and save your game so you can reload the first time you “Pay the Price”.
The process is almost the same for X3 Reunion, the Personal menu is just placed differently, again get into space and find a safe spot, look to the lower right corner and click on the small Up arrow, when the full menu opens go to the top “Pilot Information” and click that, on the main menu that opens in the lower center of the screen select “Rename” on the right side and the rest is the same.
OK enough to start, next post will be “Mods I have known... The list (part 2)” coming to a message board near you.
X3 Mods,
To begin I want to point out the differences between Scripts, Basic Mods, and total conversion Mods. There are several way to modify your X3 Game this applies to both Reunion and Terran Conflict, there are scripts which are simply single purpose commands or functions that are added to change or add a function to the game, things like adding credits to your account or improving your reputation with a race. Scripts can be added with a plug in Manager (an add-on that is VERY useful and should be installed before trying to add anything else), and many are often included with the various Mods.
Scripts are basically small programs that are run to activate them from the Script Editor (which you have to activate to be able to use scripts – more on that in a minute). Mods on the other hand are more involved and do things like add new sectors, ships and some add a new story line or change the balance of the game play. There will always be a debate over the “Cheat Factor” changing the game play to make things easier is considered (by persists) as cheating and lessening the skill level or accomplishments, I leave that up to each player – IMHO we purchase computer games for entertainment and if you enjoy playing the game completely unmoded and the way the programmer wrote it great, if you enjoy things more by changing the balance (to make it easier or harder) go for it, it is your $$$ and time so get the game set up the way you will enjoy it the most! OK off the soap box, I will add to this in coming days and weeks so keep watching this may be a long topic if I keep experimenting.
First of all I need to start by recommending the most essential tool I have found for X3 – Cycrows Plug-in Manager, it is fairly straight forward, the built in help system and included Documentation make it easy to use so I will not go into much detail here. Just download this little gem and install it, even if you only want to add some new ships it is the first add on you should grab.
There are several locations to get the Plug in Manager her is the one I used, and take note there are separate versions for Reunion and Terran Conflict so get the one you need.
Plug In manager Download - http://cycrow.thexuniverse.us/ (http://cycrow.thexuniverse.us/) Good documentation is also available on the same site, so look it over.
There is an alternate download available on the Apricot Slice page at this link - http://apricotmappingservice.com/X3TCdownloads/ (http://apricotmappingservice.com/X3TCdownloads/) (look about half way down the page).
OK before I get into the full details on Mods you will need to enable the Script editor to activate the scripts that are available in these mods. Once you select and install a Mod start your game and activate the Script Manager right away before you go blowing things up. Activating the Script editor is fairly simple. Start you game and get into space, park somewhere nice and safe (it takes a minute if you are new to the game). For Terran Conflict On the main menu at the top left select Personal Menu (the very top icon) then select Advanced, select Change Pilot Name, The current Name will be in the top section and the edit field below will have the same name, simply backspace out the name, and type the following “Thereshallbewings” (no quotes and be careful of the double L, for some reason the game does not pick up the 2 key presses if you type them fast) , if you do this correctly there will be a pause and when the game resumes you will see the name has not actually changed , but now on the General Commands (and a few other places) you will see a new menu item labelled “Script Editor”. Now get back to a station and save your game so you can reload the first time you “Pay the Price”.
The process is almost the same for X3 Reunion, the Personal menu is just placed differently, again get into space and find a safe spot, look to the lower right corner and click on the small Up arrow, when the full menu opens go to the top “Pilot Information” and click that, on the main menu that opens in the lower center of the screen select “Rename” on the right side and the rest is the same.
OK enough to start, next post will be “Mods I have known... The list (part 2)” coming to a message board near you.