Tachyon

Tachyon v2.0 for VGA Planets 3.5

Overview

Tachyon is an add-on utility for VGA Planets 3.5 that takes advantage of the AUXHOST features found in HOST 3.20. This add-on provides the capability for players to build and incorporate Tachyon Pulse Generators into 2 of their ships. This device will allow the player to burn fuel and fire a pulse of Tachyon energy into space. This pulse will uncloak any ships that are cloaked with in its pulse radius.

Two new friendly codes are introduced with this program. They ARE case sensitive, the (n) represents the distance of the pulse in 10's of Light Years, they are as follows:

TPn - Tachyon Pulse at (n) time ten light years (0=10)

ITD - Incorporate Tachyon Device (planet friendly code)

With the added ability to thwart cloaked vessels come some extreme costs. This is the large base fuel cost needed to fire a Tachyon Pulse.

Contents

Tachyon contains two programs:

TACHYON.EXE

TACONFIG.EXE

Place these programs in the same directory that the HOST normally runs from. Tachyon requires access to the VGA Planets database (HULLSPEC.DAT, BEAMSPEC.DAT, ect) as well as the Host database (SHIP.HST, XYPLAN.HST, ect.).

New Game Setup

Before Tachyon can be used the configuration program TACONFIG.EXE, must be run. TACONFIG accepts one command line parameter, the DOS path to the host directory. For example; to configure a new game in E:\PLANETS\NEWGAME type:

TACONFIG E:\PLANETS\NEWGAME

When TACONFIG starts, a configuration dialog will be displayed. Notice that the DOS path provided on the command line is displayed in the Path to Game Directory edit box.

TACONFIG E:\PLANETS\NEWGAME

Default values are automatically provided. Change them to suit the requirements of the game. Each value has valid ranges and all changes must be within the valid ranges.

Select the OK button when all changes have been made. The following file will be written to the Game Directory:

TACONFIG.HST

After the configuration file has been saved a confirmation dialog will be shown at which time, if YES is selected the Tachyon database will be initialized. These files are written to during initialization:

TACHYON.HST

The configuration program will create and update all necessary files needed to run this program.

Tachyon Device Construction Requirements

To construct a Tachyon device and incorporate it into a hull, you need to have a ship in orbit around a starbase and the starbase needs to have tech 10 beam technology. The following resources present on the surface of the planet:

80 Tritanium

110 Duranium

210 Molybdenum

200 Supplies

2000 megacredits

If these requirements are met you have the capability of constructing a Tachyon device. If you are lacking any of these resources or requirements you will be unable to build a Tachyon device.

Installing a Tachyon Device

To install the device on to a ship you need to select the FIX mission from the main starbase and a planet friendly code of ITD . When you set these conditions the Tachyon device (which can only be constructed on the same turn it is installed) will be placed on to the ship that was the target of the FIX mission on the starbase.

You will receive a message for a few turns reminding you which ship is equipped with a Tachyon device, so take note, this message will stop eventually.

Tachyon Device Limitations

Tachyon devices can only be constructed in the same turn they are installed. Each race can only build two (2) devices per game. That means over the entire course of the game only two (2) devices can be made and installed on your vessels. Even if the ship is captured or destroyed, you CAN NOT build another device and install it on one of your ships.

If you capture a Tachyon equipped vessel and already have two (2) of your ships equipped with Tachyon devices, this is OK. The rule and code state that you can only BUILD two (2), there is no limit to the number of devices you can control and operate.

Using a Tachyon Device

To use a Tachyon device, you need to have a ship equipped with this device. If a vessel is equipped with a Tachyon device you need to make sure it has fuel and then you decide on how many light years of space you want to effect with the Tachyon device.

Once this is determine the range you set your ships friendly code to TP(n), where (n) is a number between 0-9. This number times 10 (0=10) will be the radius of the Tachyon pulse circle. (i.e., TP0 = a pulse of 100 light year radius.)

Cost of Using The Tachyon Device

The Tachyon device has a base fuel (Neutronium) cost of 200 KT per Tachyon firing. The amount of fuel actually used is based on the radius of the pulse fired. The radius of the pulse is equal to the percentage of the 200 KT base fuel cost.

(i.e., TP5 = 50 Light Year Pulse -- 50 light years = 50% of the 200 KT base fuel cost, thus a 50 LY pulse costs 100 KT of fuel = 200 (base) *.5 (50%).

Effects of a Tachyon Pulse

When a Tachyon pulse is fired it will decloak all vessels in the pulse radius area. The uncloaking will cause their mission to be reset to Exploration. This is caused by the electrical disruption cased by the Tachyon pulse. This decloak will last until the other player resets their mission. So yes, an enemy vessel will be uncloaked for the whole processing of the host (turn).

Warning: The pulse will uncloak your own ships too. And any vessel struck by a Tachyon pulse will receive a message telling them the x,y of the origination point of the pulse and the ID# of the ship that fired it.

HOST Sequence

Tachyon

AUXHOST 1

Load Tachyon

Verify Tachyon

Gather Ship Friendly Codes

Gather Planet Friendly Codes

Tachyon Ping

Build New Tachyon Device

Send Tachyon Status Messages

Tachyon

for VGA Planets 3.5

Design:

Dave Killingsworth & Dan Gale

Special Consulting:

Tim Wisseman

Programming:

Dan Gale

Documentation:

Dan Gale & Dave Killingsworth

BMP Artwork:

Mark Stewart

No part of the program or documentation may be copied, in part, or in whole, without the written permission of the copyright holder

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HOSTS---- You need to give a copy of this DOC file to your players !!!

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You also need to give them copies of all BMP files you find in the ZIP file you got this program from. Tell them that they need to place the BMP files in the sub directory (labeled BMP) under their WINPLAN dirctory. This will give them the BMP's they need to see the bmps that are linked to the messaging system.

Thank you for your interest.

Dave Killingsworth

Sysops of Dan & Dave's BBS 916-345-6447

Co-sysop of Warp Speed & Tim Continuum

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Tachyon