Ok, here's the issue-
The system type definitions for the random systems, and possibly for the unique systems as well make use of <Tables> that are in the <SystemTypes> element in transcendence.xml - this is where the actual planet stations are chosen and the moon orbitals, and also the labels that are used for the placement of random stations.
For some odd reason, we can override the systems but not these tables.
The option I have to make this mod work in an extension is to override all the systems with new embedded planet tables such as are used in many of the unique systems to choose stations. I was hoping to just override the specific tables in the <SystemTypes> tag in an extension, which would have kept this mod nice and small and the work light.
Otherwise changing the tables means releasing an unpacked version only type of mod. Which is something I get a little frustrated about doing because it cuts the interest down to those who can handle unpacking (or want to bother with it) or hosting another full version to download (not very good solutions, either way).
The reason I need to change the tables is to upgrade the way moons are handled and alter some other structural aspects to make more interesting planet arrangements with a larger variety of planet images.
This is something that I have tested and have really liked the results- getting a bunch of new moons to replace the over-used &stCrateredPlanet is worth the trouble almost on its own.
However, it makes for bulky and repetitive systems- every system will need to carry it's own set of tables for the planets. Asteroids are not going to need to be altered, so they can stay as they are and don't need to be included. I have yet to test whether the <label> attributes are going to function the same, presumably they will- but then, I presumed that if we could override one part of the <SystemTypes> we could override all of it.
I am hoping we can turn this handicap into a bonus- this gives us the chance to really change the planets in the systems and make the differences between the structures much more significant and possibly much more random- larger selections of planet images and planet types could easily be arranged and system environmental differences could be emphasized in the new planet structures.
I am thinking, for instance, that Gas Giants could have larger numbers of smaller moons and generally a larger mini-system effect much like our own (but not always!).
Moons are going to be a major improvement- all the moons in transcendence are either the cratered planet or an asteroid. I have at least a dozen new moon types in varying sizes to include in this (which is why I need to alter those pesky tables!)
Any ideas about this?
11 new varieties of cratered worlds in 9 sizes installed. I got some textures from the solar system already, but thanks anyways Wolfy.
