[MOD] Better Race Start Spacing

from GalCiv3 Forums

For quite a while there have been complaints about the starting locations for races being too close together.  I  have experienced this many times myself.  In version 3.03 changes were made that were supposed to keep the starting locations from being too close together.  I don't think they work as well as they should.  There are still complaints about the spacing with the new values.  I recently had a start with 2 races only separated from me by one star.

I have been trying many new values for the parameters that control the spacing and have finally found what I think are values that keep the starting locations as far apart as possible.  They are not equally spaced, but they are not very close together.  This depends on the number of races in the galaxy, but it works well for the recommended number.  I have tested many, but not all, combinations of galaxy size and type.

The new values I am using are:
    <PlayerStartSpacingWideMod>0.35</PlayerStartSpacingWideMod>
    <PlayerStartSpacingNarrowMod>0.175</PlayerStartSpacingNarrowMod>

This mod will not work with mods that change the GalCiv3MapDefs.xml file, since that is the one this mod changes.  The only mod that I know changes this file is Horemvore's UCP mod. 

Note to Horemvore: If you think these values do a good job of keep the starts apart, feel free to use them in your mod.

Note to Stardock: If you think these values do a good job of keep the starts apart, I hope you will put them into the game so there will be no need for this mod.

The mod is available here.

19,793 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Downloaded!  If this works you are my hero!

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I've been testing this myself, but I have been going up not down...

Well runa few test games after work today, if all goes well I will include your changes.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Horemvore, reply 2

I've been testing this myself, but I have been going up not down...

Well runa few test games after work today, if all goes well I will include your changes.

 

Oddly enough, I have found better spacing by going down instead of up.

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

FWIW I'm also one of those who think starting positions could be less close. So thanks/kudos for providing this mod.

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

My first game with this mod in a large galaxy seems to have much better spacing than what I was used to (and annoyed by).  So thanks again!

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

:thumbsup:

Works like a charm, tested with 5 games, 2 spiral, 2 scatterd and 1 lose clusters. No  clumping of Races, nice even spread, good job!!!

5*

Reply #7 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Thanks for you comments.  I was wondering if maybe it wouldn't work for anyone else.  It's good to know it works for all of you.  Maybe Stardock will use these in the next update, unless someone can find some better values.

I should note that if the number of races is increased too much, they do not spread as evenly.  Some will be closer to another race than the others are.  This means that if 10 are spaced well, 20 may have some spaced well and others close together.