Help on pet project. (Item classifications)

[mkruer]

Ok guys, Gals.

I need some help with this one. I needs as many items related to ships as possible. NOT specific items but general items, such as Guns, Missiles, Radars, etc… all have one to many relationships. I am trying to come up with a general classification for all items that a ship could be equipped with.

What I have so far..

Chassis
* Armor
* Shields
Weapons
* Guns
* Missiles
* Turrets
Defense
* Radar
* ECM
* Chaff/Decoy
Engines
* Jump Drive
* Engine
* Thrust Enhancement
Cargo
* Items
* Other Ships
Power
* Power Plants
* Extended Full Cells

[chuck_starchaser]

Maneuvering jets and enhancement.
Cockpit.
HUD image (the way it looks on other ships' HUD's)
Targeting computer.
Ship computer (the one that controls the jets for ya so the ship flies like an airplane rather than like a spaceship Sad)
Weapon mounts
Autotracking mounts
Tractor beam mounts
Tractor beams
Repulsor beams
Turret mounts
Turrets
Insignias
Damage
Transponder
Landing gear (visible in the movies, might one day add it ingame)
Flames (behind the engines)
Cloak?
Shields
Shields generator
Missile launchers
Ejection seat

[mkruer]

Thanks Chuck,

I should have clarified “Directly related to an upgrade of equipment.â€

[Zeog]

Well, what about possible software/computer hardware upgrades? Such things could be implemented to provide better automount tracking, smarter auto-pilot, etc. I would categorize them as "software" or "ship computer".
What item are the "map upgrades"?

[mkruer]

Well, what about possible software/computer hardware upgrades? Such things could be implemented to provide better automount tracking, smarter auto-pilot, etc. I would categorize them as "software" or "ship computer".
What item are the "map upgrades"?

I am coming from the original Privateer concept.

“auto mount trackingâ€

[z30]

The Cloaking device probably goes under Defense, it's similar to ECM but interferes with light waves instead of radar.

[klauss]

Afterburners
Cargo space

[mkruer]

Yep those should be included, but they are still engine enhancements.

I hope you are seeing what I am trying to do.

Think of it this way. You are allotted a certain amount of space, and in this space only this type of item can go. You cannot place an engine inside the same space that the radar goes. Right?

When upgrading instead of saying this ship can be equipped with this item, I want to say this ship has this allotted amount of space. Any you can place any type of that item as long as it fits the space.

So what I am trying to do it come up with general item categories. You can buy this radar, because it fits in this space. Or you can buy this gun because this space. You can add an afterburner to the engine because you have the space in the engine compartment.


Chassis
* Armor
* Shields
Weapons
* Guns
* Missiles
* Turrets
Defense
* Radar
* ECM
* Chaff/Decoy
* Cloaking Device
Engines
* Jump Drive
* Engine
* Thrust Enhancement
* Afterburners
Cargo
* Items
* Other Ships
* Cargo Space Upgrade
Power
* Power Plants
* Extended Full Cells
* Power Redistributor

[klauss]

I hope I don't introduce an overly troublesome issue...

...what stops you from converting, say, reactor space into cargo space? That is, use a smaller reactor, and rearrange things so that you can put cargo in this newly found space.

[chuck_starchaser]

Chassis
* Armor
* Hull

Defense
* Shields
* ...

Radar isn't exactly "Defense", BTW; can be used for "offense", and navigation. I think computers, communications and radar need a separate category, like "Electronics".

[mkruer]

I hope I don't introduce an overly troublesome issue...

...what stops you from converting, say, reactor space into cargo space? That is, use a smaller reactor, and rearrange things so that you can put cargo in this newly found space.

Ironically that is the only major issue I am having. I was going to approach it like if you increase your cargo space, you loose some engine space or something to that affect.

[mkruer]

Chassis
* Armor
* Hull

Defense
* Shields
* ...

Radar isn't exactly "Defense", BTW; can be used for "offense", and navigation. I think computers, communications and radar need a separate category, like "Electronics".

Good points. I would still place Shields under Chassis because I would consider anything under the Chassis to be related to structural integrity, which a shield system would be related too.

Updated

Chassis
* Armor (increase the armor of the ship allowing you to take more damage)
* Hull (increase the structural stability of the ship allowing you to take more damage)
* Shields (increase the armor of the ship allowing you to take more damage)

Weapons
* Guns/Tractor Beam
* Missiles
* Turrets

Defense
* ECM (increases the duration of missile lock and scanning of the ship)
* Chaff/Decoy (increases the chance that a missile will miss)
* Cloaking Device (hide your ship)

Engines
* Jump Drive (allows you to just to another system)
* Engine (increase the maximum speed of your ship)
* Thrust Enhancement (increases the maneuverability of the ship)
* Afterburners (allows you to have short bursts of thrust at the expense of energy)

Cargo
* Other Ships
* Cargo Space Upgrade

Electronic
* Radar (Changes the radar display)
* Computer Upgrades (Decreases the duration of missile lock time and scanning ship time)

Power
* Power Plants (Increase the speed at which your ship recharges)
* Extended Full/Power Cells (Increase the number of jumps you can make during a single flight / increase the amount of power reserve your ships has)
* Power Redistributors (Allows you to change the power flow between your engines, shields and guns)

[chuck_starchaser]

That's looking good. For Cargo, instead of "other ships" I'd say "ship bay", as I think spirit was working on a ship bay upgrade, which makes total sense to me...

[mkruer]

No Problem, good catch. if you can think of a better work then "cargo" for the general category, that would help.

If you must know I am working on a new GUI for all the menu screens and I am trying to be as universal as possible, but at the same time be as graphical as possible. This basically means the traditional flat list of the past is out; instead ships will be allocated unit space where they can mount those item inside the ship. The trick is that there should be a general category for all items. If you know what I mean?

[spiritplumber]

good catch indeed the latest version of wcu SHOULD have a cargo space upgrade, right now it's under Miscellaneous.