(ONLY PHOST!)

VGA Planets - Vagabunds Enhanced Shiplist And Combat (Configuration)

We call it: VESAC(C)

Table of Contents

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Results
• Discussion
• How could I install VESAC(C)
• Links
  

Abstract:

In order to solve one of the most discussed problems of standard VGA-Planet a new and well-balanced battle setting for the pconfig was developed. VESAC(C) also include an improved standard shiplist the VESAC(C) ship list.
At last we decided to revise these list, the so called TLIST. The TLIST can be used for THost, standard PHost and the VESAC(C) battle setting.

Introduction:

Using the standard configurations, the following problems will occur:

1. Standard pconfig.src:

• In combat fighter-races are superior to torpedo-races. Consequently, it was not necessary for fighter races to invest in good beam weapons and engines. This is only conditional reasonable, because the ship hulls of torpedo races are expensive on minerals, too.
  
• There is nearly no difference in combat between very heavy battleships, like Golem, Gorbie, Biocide and heavy battleships, like Rush and Virgo. This problem is due to a wrong damage calculation. Using the standard pconfig.src for instance a Virgo wins by 80% against a Golem. This is neither realistic nor desirable!
  

2. Alternative ship-combat:

• The damage calculation for fighter strikes in this mode is insofar correct, as the mass of all ships is considered. However a problem arises, torpedo ships are superior in strength to fighter races. With the old standard pconfig.src it is no problem for a Nova equipped with Mark8 torps in destroying three Golems. And even if you are using the alternative pconfig2.src (which is some respects seem to be quite good), torpedo ships equipped with Mark8 tubes are still too strong (the chance for an Annihilation to destroy a well equipped Gorbie is about 50%) and there is quite a discrepancy between Low- and High-Tech torp tubes. Furthermore high quality beam weapons and engines are not needed to make your ship powerful. Of course, one could say, that there is no problem because you can set an engine shield bonus. Unfortunately this leads us to another disadvantage for fighter races; a lot of  fighter ships require more engines, than torpedo ships do.
  There are less ships equipped for special missions available for fighter races. In our opinion this slight disadvantage should be compensated by more combat power of fighter ships.

3. Upgraded shiplist

There are some ship-types which are useless for any race. Some of these are upgraded by the add-on utility race+. But even then you will still wonder, who ever is going to build one of these ships.
Additionally, in our opinion, there are three races, Fascist, EE, CoM (only in this mode), which are weaker than the other eight ones are.

Our last coup is a total improved shiplist, which can be used for THost, PHost standard and the VESAC(C) setting. => TLIST (beta-Version)

Results:

A new battle configuration and hullspec.dat, called VESAC(C), has been developed and was tested by bsim-simulations.

Simulationtables for a ONE to ONE Ship Combat and DOWNLOAD

Simulations of the ship against planet-scenario, starbase- and multi-ship-scenario combats will follow.

Differences of the VESAC(C) Versions:

Because at the org. VESAC(C) setting some ships run out of ammo (e.g. Diamond Flame vs Madonnzila) the consumption on fighters and torpedos to destroy the same aim is reduced on 75% (v1.1) and 50% (v1.2) in comparison to the org. VESAC(C) v1.0 configuration. Or to put it another way, fighters and torpedos will do more damage now. The balance of the ship strength has not changed. We think this improvement was necessary.
The difference between the VESAC(C) v1.2A and v1.2B is that the worth of hightech beams are improved. That setting OPTIONAL! I prefer the A-version.

Discussion:

Fighter races are still stronger than torpedo races are (compare combat 4 vs 5 on the VESAC(C)-simtable). In contrast to the old pconfig, it is now advantageous to equip ships with good engines and beam weapons. It is favorable for fighter races to invest in expensive engines (combat => 6 vs 9; 13 vs 14) like transwarp drives. Further, high tech beam weapons rise the numbers of strikes against fighters (combat => 15 vs 16) or could be decisive on direct gunfire (combat => 1 vs 2; 10 vs 11).

In contradiction to reports by other VGAP-players, the race-number (which decides if your stands left or right in combat) is of no influence on the result of the battle (compare => 4 vs 5).

In dependence on the beam weapon tech, an average amount of twice as many torpedoes than fighters is needed.

bsim2.2 bug: FED has no additional fighterbays.

PHost configuration of VESAC(C):

# COMBAT OPTIONS

AllowEngineShieldBonus = Yes
EngineShieldBonusRate = 33
AllowESBonusAgainstPlanets = Yes

# COMBAT PARAMETERS VESAC(C) v1.2A

in brackets v1.2B

BayRechargeRate = 42
BayRechargeBonus = 1
BeamRechargeRate = 4       (5)
BeamRechargeBonus = 4      (5)
TubeRechargeRate = 28
BeamHitFighterCharge = 280    (300)
BeamHitShipCharge = 600
TorpFiringRange = 35000
BeamFiringRange = 25000
TorpHitOdds = 66
BeamHitOdds = 70
BeamHitBonus = 12
StrikesPerFighter = 6
FighterKillOdds = 10
FighterBeamExplosive = 6
FighterBeamKill = 6
ShipMovementSpeed = 100
FighterMovementSpeed = 300
BayLaunchInterval = 2
MaxFightersLaunched = 20
AllowAlternativeCombat = Yes
StandoffDistance = 10000
PlanetsHaveTubes = No
FireOnAttackFighters = Yes
TorpHitBonus = 7
TubeRechargeBonus = 7
ShieldDamageScaling = 70
HullDamageScaling = 40
CrewKillScaling = 60

Links to the shiplists:

=> VESAC(C) shiplist

=> TLIST (beta-Version)

How could I install VESAC(C)

Our configuration is really easy to install:

Copy your PLAN directory and rename it. Now you got a NEW PLAN-directory and you can overwrite ALL the old *.dat-files with the files of our "VESAC(C) shiplist". A NEW PLAN is favourable to prevent loosing your standard ship list.
Another possibility is to copy ALL new VESAC(C) *.dat-files in the VPWORKx-directory (x meaning the number of the gameslot, e. g. VPWORK1 means gameslot 1); in which you want to play. All new ship features are now available in your VESAC(C) game. It's the same way like installing PList.
If you copy additional the ship.exe (rename it to ship1.exe) and the bmp subdirectory in this directory, you can watch the new shiplist by starting ship1.exe.

The running Host uses the enhanced combat parameters + engine shield bonus at pconfig. All remaining settings are free of choice.

The new Phost 3 and other add-ons, like race+, starbase+, pwrap, explore map, tachyon a.s.o., don't make any problems.

For remarks and discussions concerning the remaining pconfig-parameters have a look on our site: Hints for Hosts

Links:

For any questions concerning

Mail to: the_vagabund@gmx.de