Just modify the system where you want more ships to be. all you have to do is add zones that have encounters attached to them, at the location where you want them. If you want it to be system wide, just make a huge zone that covers the entire system, and put encounters in it. I don't have an example at the moment, but I'm sure someone would be willing to give you one.

What's your favorite letter?
Mine is the squiggly! (erm, tilde)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You don't have to make a new zone at all unless it is for a new system and just making one zone that covers the whole system is just plain lazy and lacks detail.

[Zone
nickname = Zone_BR13_pop_ambient_01
pos = 757, 0, 1262
rotate = 0, 0, 0
shape = SPHERE
size = 61096
comment = Ambient Pop
sort = 51
toughness = 19
density = 20 <----------- Just edit this number
repop_time = 25
max_battle_size = 20
pop_type = Background
relief_time = 35
population_additive = false
faction_weight = fc_or_grp, 20
faction_weight = fc_n_grp, 20
encounter = area_assault, 19, 1.000000
faction = fc_or_grp, 0.800000
encounter = area_nomads, 19, 1.000000
faction = fc_n_grp, 0.800000

The Density is the amount of NPC that show up in that zone. You can have up to 50 NPC at one time with min. lag, if you go to high you have a chance of crashing the game. This will work on any zone in the game.

QuEsTiOn AsKeR
Last Hope MOD



Edited by - Question Asker2044 on 4/2/2006 11:32:47 PM

density = 20 <---------------------Just edit this number
repop_time = 25
max_battle_size = 20<-----------A bit large, if you ask me, 2-8 is easier to survive.
pop_type = Background
relief_time = 35
population_additive = false<----change this to true, also.


Watch your 6!

Sweet. Thanks guys. Dot and I are working on a Mod of our own and have found this site very useful and helpful Thanks.

With the maximum of 50 ecnounters which was reccomended, is this system wide, ot something a player would see at anyone given time in a zone?

Edited by - fadius on 4/3/2006 7:08:27 AM

So increasing the density will increase the # of ships flying around in space? Will these be randomly selected ships as well?

We're essentially trying to have more traffic in space in general, which will help with the storyline element & dynamic universe.

From what I understand, increasing this will increase the number of ships seen in space. This is why a max of 50 was mentioned. More than this from what I understand can cause lag and possibily the server to crash.

I just need to know if this is a max of 50 per zone, or in the entire system at once.

I think it is per zone... 'cause stuff doesn't really "exist" outside the immediate vicinity as far as I know. i.e. if you go through a trade lane and then go right back, different ships will be there.

Note: this is just from personal experience, not sure if it is correct.

What's your favorite letter?
Mine is the squiggly! (erm, tilde)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The density is "Per Zone."

As to the types of ships that appear, that depends on what encounters/factions are in that zone.

Freelancer uses, on average, in Manhattan:
3-4 for patrol paths
9-11 for jumpgates/holes
6-9 for bases
6-11 for planets
0-6 for tradelanes
0-5 for debris fields
6-12 for dual-base locations

The size of the zone should be taken into consideration, also.
A "Background" zone, which covers an entire system, should have a very high density, or you'll seldom see anything.
(I like using 30+ for background zones, using the freighter/transport/smuggler encounters.)
Be sure to include "Exclusion" zones around bases/gates/planets/stars, or the traffic will spawn inside of them, or try flying through them.
(Quite funny, watching a ship trying to fly through a base, or planet!)

Zones that overlap will have increased traffic in the area where they overlap.
And traffic will flow into/out of the overlapping area.


Watch your 6!