@Trylobot: Yes, it would be really clunky, but I'm used to clunky stuff. For the most part, pretty much any feature you try to add to the game in its current state is going to be clunky.
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Beta 1 is released! Sorry it took so long, but as I said, I didn't want to release something broken.
Full version: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/71512473/ascendency-beta1-full.zipNo Music: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/71512473/ascendency-beta1-lite.zipB.1 Changes:
-Added the Lyseti Trading Corporation. Includes 6 ships: AC-03 interceptor, Light Shuttle, Kalion Frigate, Shield Defense Platform, Emite Transport, Daratok Destroyer. Also includes 6 weapons: Light Flak, L+H Anion Pulse Cannons, Light Machine Gun, Short Range Missile, Anti-Ship Missile.
-Lyseti doesn't have their own station. Instead, their goods are shipped all across the system--except for Thiiei's station, as the two are enemies.
-Added ship systems to some ships.
-Systems:
-Thiian:
Falshiiker/Ipelak: Light Flares
Vicerus: Fast Missile Systems (Increases missile ROF)
Viktra: Ammunition Belt Overdrive (Increases ballistic ROF)
Seteth: Teriat Escort (A wing of Teriats protects the ship)
Ithia: Maneuvering Jets
-Coalition:
Adjutrus: Engine Burn (Massive forward speed boost until flux levels top off)
Ajliot: Maneuvering Jets
Pialtu: Fast Missile Systems
Velithan: Overcharge (Increased energy ROF + Damage, in exchange for more armor damage taken)
Luxara: Disruptors (Similar to seeker flares)
Kaeomdus: F-01 Escort (A wing of 7 F-01s protects the ship)
-Kraskae Treaty Alliance:
Makalan: Overcharge
Karitka: Fast Missile Systems
Ulnatan: Maneuvering Jets
Kartuaa: Engine Burn
Ceni Six:
-No systems. Technically, shields could be thought of as their primary ship system.
-Okouth:
Savil: Fast Missile Systems
Saldara: VES-1330 Escort (A wing of VES-1330s protects the ship.)
Kresh-44: Engine Burn
-Lyseti:
Light Shuttle: Light Flares
Emite: Engine Burn
Shield Defense Platform: Shield Drones (Projects a weak shield that friendly ships can hide under)
Daratok: Hyperstream Drive (Teleports the ship from one place to another)
-Added Thiiei's Ithia-class battleship + the Heavy Rapid Magnetic Coil Gun.
-Added combat music, + 1 new campaign track.
-Added Warp Node orbiting Ujionla that allows you to warp to any corner of the map.
-Added rare pirate spawns. You are rewarded with credits for defeating them.
-Added the Shield Generator hullmod--Very expensive, but equips a ship with shielding. Do note, this doesn't work well on all ships. Ships with high flux capacities are a good candidate.
-Added new, re-mastered backgrounds.
-Cleaned up the paycheck system. Your paycheck is now now deposited directly into your account, instead of having to cash it.
-New portrait of Tysia.
-New engine flare colors for the Coalition, Okouth, and Ceni Six.
-Ceni Six will now show up as friendly instead of neutral. Additionally, Thiiei or the Coalition will appear is friendly if you are employed by them.
-Went over ship names to make many of them sound less stupid.
-Added relevant tips to the main menu to help new players.
-Increased the strength of fighters. Most have more HP/Armor and slightly larger weapon arcs.
-Vasir Assaultcraft now come in wings of 5.
-New explosion sounds.
-The hyperon beam on the Makalan and Ulnatan is now built-in.
-Adjusted spawn rates/fleet sizes for all factions.
-Weapons, like everything else, are now occasionally removed from stations, though this is rare.
-Misc balancing:
-The Kaeomdus is now considered a captial ship. It is now slightly more powerful, and the Luxara received a buff to help fill the gap.
-Ships now have lower maximum crew and cargo capacities.
-As usual, loads of other small edits I can't remember.
The mod will be updated for as long as it makes sense, but for the moment, it's pretty much feature-complete. At some point this will be dropped, and, time permitting, Dominion will begin development.