XLR Development Diary

[Xarian_Prime]

FIRST ENTRY 6/3/09

Now i have things how i want them.. Its time to start planning again..
So I decided its best to lay out my plans for the next few patches here for you all to see..

First will be some more Mark A.Pullen/DVR/DX tracks. I've converted all im using for XLR but due to filesize decided
to split it all over a few patches.. Oh and DVR is my band.. DX is my old band.. using "songs" in bars for a real "bar" feel..
and considering i own the rights to my music... hehe no worries here..

Now onto the ships... As you know im sitting on a few "asgard" ships.. there all re-coded and ready for sloting ingame.. just waiting the oki from various modelers from the old asgard community.. waiting hehe.. so much fun...
Converted models will be comming in the next few patches to.. Got many a permission in.. just a little slow on this as "housecleaning" has taken a preference last few weeks.. now the mods clean.. i can get into the more fun stuff...

New systems are on way.. New denmark is done, Tau42 and Hosu nari will be extended in next patch.. also anyone wants a system just let me know.. i like building universes.. and some of the "sci-fi" factions will need a few more.. Battlestar comes to mind here.. hmm...

New factions real soon Darleks, Cybermen, Ood, Kreearghs Mylak, also Danish factions (police-civ) and a few more "specials"

New weapons are being designed for new factions.. old weps are all getting a FX upgrade.. once agian any ideas lemme know.. can do wonders with these babys.. "amost" anything is possible!!..

Im also trying my hand at new starsphere's (nebula/star wraps for universes). and npc costumes.. with varying results hehe.. i'll take requests for custom faction cosumes reall soon.. get yer thinking caps on ppl .. hehe..

This is just a basic rundown.. when i have an idea that i feel will be a "go".. I'll post in here.. so you all know whats doin 

-Xar.

[Xarian_Prime]

HP restructure.. Coming soon...

Oki ive finaly decided on a cool way to keep the openness of any wepon /shield.. but restrict
some things to certian classes... and add a few "special" slots with the "spare" params.. here goes..

For weapons..
HP levels 1-5 -->> will contain all "standard" guns/turrets from lvl 1-10
HP level 6 -->> will be standard missiles
HP level 7 -->> will be ECM and E-missiles
Hp level 8 -->> will be GB/HTR/ATR specific ie: missile turrets. and GB weps
HP level 9 -->> will be BIG GUNS.. for battleships and such..
HP level 10 -->> will be for Artifact weps / & special weps..   

For shileds...Light fighter and Elite
HP levels 1-8  -->> left.. all shields moved into 1-6.. 7-8 are rare special slots.. for harder and top level shields ie existing lvl10
HP level 9 -->> deflectors exclusively.. all missiles/mines ect have a WeaponModDB.ini param.. this is why..
Hp level 10 -->> Rare/Artifact/Experimental

and for the Big shileds...
HP level 1-2 -->> Light trader
HP level 2-4 -->> heavy trader
HP level 5  -->> Bomber/small GB
HP level 6 -->> GB/ATR/Big trader..
HP level 7 -->> Cruiser/Liner
HP level 8 -->> Battleship/Destroyer
HP level 9 -->> Deflectors
HP level 10 -->> Rare/Artifact/Experimental

might sound like a big task.. and it is.. but not as huge as some of the other things ive had to do past few weeks hehe... and seing as though i have to recode everyship very soon.. (want clean easy to read code) i'll do it all then..

Although this tread is locked... feel free to pose your questions or problems in the ideas thread on these "plans" of mine 

[Xarian_Prime]

SECOND ENTRY 22/04/09

Oh lordy mordy me.... Umm were do i begin??.. Ah yes.. somewere near the "start" might do... lets see here...

About 3 weeks ago my PC started acting "funny".. restarting programs.. loosing .NET functionality.. and more fun stuff..
This obviously made me very unhappy and i went looking for the magic "answer" to my problems from MS and other sites then,
having found a "fix" of sorts from MS i did as they told me .. clicked restart... and then all Hell broke loose!...
Upon restart.. She wouldn't boot into windows no more.. loaded up till just before the passscreen then hung.. and hung... even after
many restarts still... black!... AHHHHHHH... i screamed!, but then i got a "fantastic" idea... (rotfl) and used the restore (inbuilt into vista) console
and set my OS back to a few backups ago... well.... that made things all the much better...

Now she wouldn't boot Passed the Bios NVRAM test... OMG!.. wha!.. I was stuck in eternal bootloop hell... with a seriously dead PC..
Lucky.. i have a backup PC.. just a little old XP machine i call AZRIEL.. so i got online on it.. found a "quickkey" for my PC's inbuilt (imaged) Vista
disk.. that gave me only 1 good option... and it sucked!!..
Erase my C: drive to factory install...  after some kicking and screaming... i decided to go with it and reinstalled Vista (yes i did try to install XP first! as a dual boot but my PC wont hear of it.. lol) now here's why your reading all this garble...

Due to all the above... I lost XLR!... & ALL THE CONVERTED MODELS!!... I have 2 drives.. but the "LAB" was all on C: lucky i keep all the zips & stuff on D: but had never moved the mod on there as it was always being worked on and constantly altered.. ME BAD... ME REAL BAD!!..
At the same time.. Filefront decided for some reason to delete the MOD & patches 4,5&6 (no..this wasn't me folks!) Leaving me pretty much
modless..  (lol) But.. as always... there be light at the end of the tunnel..

Were this might have foretold doom in other realms.. all is Bright and sunny here.. I just needed to explain to you all why there has been no real work or updates done in the past few weeks.. kinda been busy crouched in the corner crying "make the bad OS stop".. ROTFL...
I'll have the mod all back in a few days  Models are all in a vault.. unconverted and zipped.. but there all there.. (2 fresh OS to use Ms3d on.. hmm) this time i'll spend even more time on the textures before converting.. but am going to seriously RETHINK the number of ships... Id rather have a "believable" universe then a bloated one... still gonna be a fair lot.. just more ranged i think (ie: cut back federation ships and add more rom/kln ect)

This has however pushed the "BETA" release back a few weeks.. I was planning on having it ready now.. for upload to the FTP but .. yeah.. sory..lol
It is coming though folks  trust me.. and the patches will be back up soon.. with a 7th (and final) to come not long after. That will conclude the ALPHA and We'll hang there for a month or 2 .. unless anything "critical" is needed then they'll be a patch 8, Whilst i build the "BETAMAX" version (yes thats what its called hehe).. So thats were it all stands ATM ppl.. Huge thanks to Grey for the help Rebuilding  and a Big Thanks to everyone one else for still being here and part of the team  I'll try and catch up with everyone soon.

-Xar.

[Xarian_Prime]

SUB ENTRY 24/04/09

Ok.. now im officially back in the saddle.. 

I just took out all the engine trails except for the nomads, that "should" fix the ugly engine trail problem that's cropped
up due to the new.ale fx. All ships now just have a simple (but pretty) engine flare and no trails

The next couple of major alterations due in the next patch are as follows.
1. The above weapon scheme
2. Price restructure on everything
3. A slight Weapon re balance
4. Brand spanking new Hook (1.6.3) already integrated!
5. MP Wingmen (basic test)
6. Few more Custom Costumes for [MERC], LLC, FFT, Necro, Xaranian & Seraphim
7. MP Gatekeys (and a small test quest!)
8. Various system tweaks and extensions

and anything else i think up whilst im doing all this.. rotfl.. 
as always Ideas are always welcomed 

[Xarian_Prime]

Ok.... after viewing the "demo" a few times and getting some rather good reviews...
I've decided on a "new" plan....

Some of you may not like this... but i feel it will make XLR so much better..

Im about to kill of ALOT of ships ppl.. and i mean ALOT! basically... with a mod that looks this good... we don't need an Uberverse that caters for "everyone".. which was the whole idea behind having 100's of ships.. there will still be a large amount of ships to play with, Im just taking out alot of the un-needed/non faction ones.. and alot of older ones.. this will also make room for the "new" ships (that have to be re-converted) and keep the BETA's filesize right down.. (we were looking at about 600meg ziped!).. Sci-fi faction ships ie: SW/ST/B5 will be replaced with much better models were i can..
but things like 30 odd Federation ships will disapear.. to be replaced with a real working fleet structure that "feels" right.

I'll still be keeping some extras (like all the enterprises A-G) but ships like the cornith.. can go.. u know... the "ugly" ones lol...
Permissions also have a lot to do with this... Im getting the uber****s chasing up all these long lost freelancers.. and it's starting to get to me...
I've spent way more time the past few months chasing FL model makers than i should have.. and im still unshure as to what i can use... and why i can't use what i can't use... no other community is like this!.. there are the cool exceptions (Griff/Gibbon/Bane) who have kept my faith strong.. but it is wearing VERY thin!  I don't get this crap from guys like Kreeargh and Major (who make fantastic models!)... don't see why i get it from the FL community. And i'm starting to see why Firekiss packed up and left... (sniff) fortunately... that's not my way.. I'm a "bitter end" kinda guy..

That said... I promise you'll like the BETA even better than the ALPHA.. it may come a little "leaner" but it'll be a hell lot "cleaner".. and of course as always.... "Meaner"

Sorry for the negative tone of this post... but its were my heads at with FL (not XLR i love my baby! just FL in general!) and after 2 and a half years of doing it all myself... I'm feeling the "burnout" coming.. and want to avoid "that" at all costs!.. 

[Xarian_Prime]

Whats Coming in Patch 8 ??

New M0tah 1.6.4 flak hook integrated nicley
New M0tah startscreen alternator integrated.
Hoso-Nari, Tau46 & New Denmark Finished.
Battleships re-activated on borders of house systems.
All standard "vanilla" weapons now have exact turret counterparts
All standard "vanilla" weapons tweaked up or down accordingly
All standard "vanilla" weapons Fx looked at.. and tweaked were needed..
** Just the fighter guns for now.. trader/BS turrets fixed next. **
FFT - Major upgrade -> re-textured ships and loaded NPC's
Shopfixes Galore.. icons, reps.. availability & price all tweaked
New Commodity.. around.. New trade routes to end the Alpha tests..
Trails fixed on most engines, some engines-thrusters tweaked slightly faster..
+ many more bugfixes..

This will be the final Alpha Patch  .. then its lockdown time for me untill beta Release..
Patch scheduled for Launch in a few solar rotations... or more.. but within the next 2 weeks for shure
(one can never be sure... I may see something in testing that needs fixing.. and that pushes everything else back..)

-Xar.

[Xarian_Prime]

Hmm.. I find myself at a dillema... 

I had grand plans for the 8th patch.. and still do, time it seems is the factor here..
As my [MERC] clanmates well know I've been busy "re-instating" myself on the WTS, and have been well enjoying myself
probaly a little too much..  as Up untill a few hours ago.. I've just done the odd tweak to XLR then back to WTS (clan reasons mainly)

Sory folks.. I had to go have some fun with my friends and remember what it is i love about FL  hehe..

Ok.. so I've decided im going to split the patch in half.. most of the "cool" stuff is done.. just markets and reps left mainly and
a few weapon name fixes (turret IDS). Battleships are still in drydock ATM.. and i only just reloaded FLE about an hour ago.. so system finishes
will have to wait as well.. but I'll get to work in the next few hours rounding out a patch 8 then there will be a small patch 9 sometime after that.

And that will finally conclude the Alpha tests!.. 

Thank you all for your time, help and input  just knowing 1 other person enjoys XLR makes me a happy modder and makes it all worth it, having you all onboard just elevates that "feeling"  lol..

Chow folks.. back to work for me,, HI HO!

-Xar.

[Xarian_Prime]

Patch 8 has been uploaded for you all, it includes...

FFT.. locked and loaded
All Vanilla weps turreted and updated - codename, Transport,battleship & nomad weps "next"
Trails fixed on most ships.. still some with uglys.. they will be gone next patch. (last one)
Vanilla Eq markets done.. basic shop.. extras come back soon at "special" bases.. just goto DVR for now..
Slight basic thruster tweak

and now the bad news..
Don't buy a nopvp token.. i missed a param in hook.. lolz..
Liberty still crashes every now and then.. gotta be a civilian error.. everything else has been fixed 
yeah, i know the gates in gateway are wrong way round..  I'll fix tonight
Still looking for a way to make cloaks buyable/swapable..
Forsaken & I are still awaiting to hear from the owner of a few ships.. so no "new" ships till this has been dealt with..
well.. maybe a few next patch that Hobbes ok'd.. the new models will have to wait for the beta.. (as they take a ****load of time!!)

So sit back, enjoy the "overhaul" of the vanilla factions.. I'll release 9 very soon.. as its not a huge task like 8 was.. (those guns took me weeks!)
Patch 9 will include the new 1.6.5 hook as well.. bio-regening powercores/ships.. and more fun.. stay tuned... 

[Xarian_Prime]

THIRD "OFFICIAL" ENTRY 26/06/09 - 4:18AM
Seems every cloud has a silver.. if not xarcanium lining.. 

Anyone following the "saga" would know the Alpha is no longer "available" for download at this present time
As much as that pained me.. It has forced my hand to begin the beta as of last night.. just after uploading patch 9

Due to all the preliminary work i've done past few months.. this is moving pretty fast.. so fast in fact i went for a testfly
oh.. about 4 hours ago.. and only just got back!.. I don't think i've done that for at least a year in XLR.. always a problem
to hop out and fix normaly...

Basically.. there was a few big time CTD's when i first loaded the Beta.. so i ran lancers checker over it (as i normaly do)..
and it threw up some new errors i hadn't seen b4.. concerning FX code cleanup mostly and loose references going nowhere..
so i mosey'd on into the mod and fixed that stuff up.. reloaded fresh agian... OMG..  Engine trails fixed!!.. no more ugly NPC
blocks when they hit cruise... everything working as it should be.. (touch wood.. lolz)..

Im not proclaiming she's bug free or anything.. were still a ways from that  and i still have to level alot of non vanilla addons..
But its all working as it "should".. FX wise now.. and that makes me very  .

This Version of XLR will be released via FTP transfer.. I would advise you all to get a FTP file manager (Firefox has an addon!)
i didnt like the idea at first.. but ive been playing with FTP for 2 days now.. and its pretty easy.. also it means patches can be Auto updated
when i get to learning how.. and we can all work on the actual XLR site together (it'll be on the same FTP server).. big thankx to Bas for all that!

Release date will be 11-12th next month. I have a opportunity of a solid connection those 2 days.. and im gonna take it.. hehe
There will also be a few new surprises including BS missions.. solar for now.. proper NPC's if we can work it in time & new ships.
oh and yes.. It'll be 100% FLMM compatible.. lolz 

[Xarian_Prime]

FORTH "OFFICIAL" ENTRY 14/07/09 - 6:06PM

Swine Flu 'eh... 

It's amazing what a dose of pain and sickness can do for a human's mind... seems i actually had
Swine flu running though my system.. thought it all felt a bit "uber" for a flu.. only a sniffle & cough left now.. 
But its given me ALOT of time to think.. as i could barley do much more.. lol..

Over the course of the next 2 weeks im giving the (now seriously working) Beta a slight "overhaul"
Then, as was suggested a while ago by Grey, I'll carefully zip her down then split the zipfile into smaller zipfiles
as so i can upload them to my skydrive or the FTP without timing out. Then they will have to be resown and
uploaded to the webspace Bas has provided us via FTP  for easy and secure download that wont suddenly
"vanish!"... 

In the next 2 weeks though.. here are my plans 
1. Just reloaded the converter.. in no way am i going all out again this time though.. I'm going to focus more on
the ships we "need".. and the awsome stuff all from the list of permissed ships.
2. Ori m8!! if you have any SG stuff still.. now's the time to lemme know 
3. With the Vanilla weapons now nicely sorted.. im moving to the rest.. at least the custom weps won't take
me anywere as long.. as i made "most" of them & i don't have to go finding out all about them.. hehe..
4. 18.. maybe 23 planets have just been released from the Underverse mod.. I got in early  Huge hugs,kudos &
thanks to [RIP]-Riot & Team [RIP] for this release.. now i can do some truly special systems.. Awsome! (feels like a 12yr old!!)
5. A general balancing of just about everything "left" Eq wise.. I've done a fair bit already.. shields and power especially.. it all feels pretty good overall.. but there are still big "jumps" and over/under powered gear that needs a tweak..
6. The final "shipkull" ... mainly Starwars/Trek/BSG.. to make room for (1.)

& somewhere in all that.. I'll take some videos... and grab some WTS / SW:WT Flight time. 

[Xarian_Prime]

XLR RELEASED ON MONDAY!!

Yipers!!  Here's the plan folks 

XLR at moment is clean and quite stable.. most remaining errors are Ship related
(no bay doors error mostly..) and all redundant data has been purged..

Ships / bases will arrive as patches as they are finalised 
So will about 2 large EQ extensions & another music pack..
It wont be like the alpha though.. i dare say about 4 patches would suffice 

Thank you all for you patience..

[Xarian_Prime]

Oki then..

X is being uploaded as i write this to Slingfile.com  we'll see how there filehosting goes 'eh..
at least its moving alot faster that Filefront lolz..

There are some things that did not make this release but will be in the 1st patch.. they are as follows

1. A prequel mission and a mission 14! for the singleplayer (recent release!)
2. The last part of the starlancer ships.. only just got them HP'd for F!R, they will
also appear in WTS as well.. and should be very nice as i loaded them myself!.. oh.. Sabre's mine! (when they
get into WTS..) lol.. im in love with that ship already and i haven't even flown her lolz...
3. Voider ships are in and at voidan.. but the npc's are still flying the "old" ones..
4. custom weps haven't been tweaked yet.. many will still be either too weak or too powerful..
taking on the LLC results in certain death.. you have been warned .. lol
5. oh.. about 50 odd ships... still being HP'd, but converted and surfiled
6. NPC's for the new systems (denmark,hoso & Tau42).. they come in this week sometime
7. new planets are coded in.. but i still have to place them and do all the "pretty" stuff..

& about 60 hours of ship related bugfixes.. and other bugfix fun.. not many superbugs left that cause CTD..
but there may still be a prob or 2 out there.. as always with FL.. just reset the game and try again.. after submitting a
bug report (please!!)

Thanks a zillion 4 ye patience. 

[Xarian_Prime]

Bored.. Thought id write something in here.. just to pass the time lol..

Got some good news yesterday.. FireBase gave permission to rextex the ships
and their overall use.. another sticky point out of the way .. yay!
I have spent the last 24-48 hours just kicking back.. doing a bit of patchfile work
sent some dude all the code and models for the extended Vanilla Flyable ships.. he loves me now lol.. (fool)
and Hardpointing / Surfile'n many ships.. yeah.. it don't stop.. hehe but i consider converting and Hardpointing
"leisure" time lolz...

Also taken an "in depth" look at Lancers SLS Mod.. gonna have to get a hold of Lancer and Ezriel pretty soon....
for one.. we desperately need new Icons.. and two.. that mod has.. omg.. "Ground" models.. and i've been wanting
to make a land based "system" or two since day 1.. we'll see what happens there.. Im just happy Lancer came back!
and is actively modding Freelancer once agian  . SLS also contains alot of weapons code i just have to look at
old m8 n0checks was a busy man it seems,, at least i know were my friends went, i see Lancer recruited my Modteam Masters..
So yeah.. a real indepth look at SLS over the next few days.. I hope to learn a thing or 2...  

Spent some time online with HazzardFN the other night tring to get Biocross to work on Vista... lolz.. that was a funny night..
we got kicked around by my DEP all night.. Bio still wont work for me   but i would suggest anyone running a private X server
to give it a go.. Im curios as to how it would handle such a large mod.. and so is Hazzard.. hehe.. I can gen the codes for anyone needing.

Now.. onto XLR stuff...
Gonna take a look at ALL the ideas we've sprouted here.. and make something of the ones that are still "pending". Nothing has been forgotten
or ignored.. and i wish for more.. Greys Flash mine is a fine example of "yip give me a min.. and its done" and brought much joy to see it
working and o' so bright.. Weps are still needed to round the "gaps" in factions.. i wish for a complete range for all (G/Tur/TP/M/CM) factions..
Just throw whatever idea ye have out there.. and i'll do my upmost best to see it happen.. or show ye how its done??.. dam i wish N0checks was here .. lol

One final note..
Thanks so much for sticking it out ya'all.. I know X isn't the fastest moving mod.. or full of hype and buzz.. in fact only a few actually
know of its existence (compared to the 1000's that play FL) but I've hand picked most of ye.. and a few more that haven't signed up but are aware
and supportive (inluding WTS!! sweeeeeeettttt) most of this year has been spent trying to obtain permissions from elusive folk that have long gone from FL
or since changed email.. ect.. but with 90% of the models now ok'd.. i can move on to more exiting stuff like creating "alternate" textures for the modular kit (borg, Xaranian ect) and generally coding the rest of the new systems.. never was my intention to have "blank" space lol.. unless its in the arena..
will also get started on that freakin maze I've had planned for about a year now.. its all mapped out on graph paper.. just needs a coding..

Hope the Beta is working for you all.. im sure by now you've seen the "update" to house weps.. and turrets.. and missiles.. ect..  for a real treat..
grap some cosair natter's... hehe.. they should work like "nightstalker cannons" from WTS.. but not the same gun or FX at all.. sory about the generic engines.. they will be updated in patch001.. i just had to get them back to "basic" first.. and as previously stated.. custom weps have not had a look yet..
thats my work for the next week and a bit.. and will also be finalised before the 1st patch.. (many with new FX), along with some great new ships that I've converted.. patch will be about 70-100mb I dare say.. but well worth the DLL  . It will also include Bio & ionX data as well as some "cheat sheets" for you all.. + new custom OSP starts.. might need help on the .bat for that though.. like the one found in WTS for the background changer.. (i WILL NOT be .xml coding anything.. as it requires a de-reactivation of the mod to change 1 thing..) I've seen some cool things done with .bat files over the years just need to link some form of GUI into it.. because ppl really hate that dos prompt.. lol..

oki then.. im awake now.. (yawns) back to work for me hehe..
-X.

[Xarian_Prime]

lolz.. my forum.. i can dbl post were i like looooolzzzz... hehe 

quick amendment.. 
Yes all large ships will have their flight stats fixed as well... I am aware of the BS problem with it hitting 750mps as soon
as you launch.. still looking around for the "right" params.. there are varying ethos's surrounding Large ship flight data.
I don't want them to be slow.. but i don't want them to be uber either.. freakin balance 'eh.. lol.. at least ive nailed
the smaller ships params.. im quite happy with the way they slide 'n bank.. expect more of this soon..

also.. going to setup sections of the forum for the different sectors of space.. B5/BSG/SW/ST ect.. if your a fan of any..
please post your wants for the particular sectors in there.. I will outline the basic "story" for them.. then its all up to
you folks to make it your own universe..

[Xarian_Prime]

MODEL CONVERSIONS DONE!!

Folks... I can happily proclaim!, All models are now converted and
awaiting .sur's and Hp's  .. phew.. that was a fun few weeks.. lol..

Startrek fans are in for a ripe treat!, In fact im quite ecstatic about some of the models
I've found over the past weeks on BC.. Needles to say i wont be putting every race in only
the ships for some.. (gorn & other misc races.. ) but i'll find the right "slot" for them as they go in 

Stargate ships have been done.. sorta.. Ive got a good collection converted.. but there was a few that didn't work wich i really
wanted to.. but still enough to justify creating NPC's 

Battlestar ships are getting a mass injection as well.. old vipers removed for the new and new systems built
to house it all.. lol.. Babylon is nuts.. i wont go there.. hehe.. Starwars gets a minor tweak to all but Remnant, Jedi & sith..
they get new fleets.. Sith will have a mighty BS and so will the Jedi.. Remnant Gets a ton of SD's 
A ton of new bases have been done as well, for many different races

And quite a few other ships as well that don't really fit anything "normal".. Oh and Robotech/Macross Ships as well..
My next step is to create some more pieces for the modular stuff.. so as to have even more "space lego" to play with..
the pieces that exist are great.. but limiting to a degree.. some curved pipe like sections wouldn't hurt for example
got a few days left on the milky clock.. will see what i can knock up (i got XSI back yay!!).. 

More on when you can expect to see these puppys soon.. I've done stage1.. and it was a biggin  now i can relax
for a bit and decide what goes were and to whom (stage2 lol).. And start my own modeling carrer.. lmao..