Reuploaded at 8 downloads, t+00:10:00

Found a duplicate UNID that would prevent ammo for the Interceptor missile launcher from spawning. The updated .xml can be used to replace the previous .xml on the same save file with no problems or conflicts.

Looks nice TVR!

:D :D :D

Awesome stuff!

This screenshot doesn't do having 3 ICX+'s while surrounded by 10 Hurin Destroyers justice. I'll replace it with an animated .gif sometime.

I'm very interested in this targeting algorithm....AutoDefenseDevices are a serious weak spot in the vanilla code.

I'll upload some technical documentation soon, but the gist of it is:

1) AutoDefenceDevice triggers the algorithm when something nearby is detected.

2) The algorithm creates a list of nearby spaceObjects according to criteria.

3) The algorithm finds the first object that can be hit according to the relative vector. (via (ab)use of SysCalcFireSolution)

4) A shot is fired at that object.

Reuploaded at at 56 downloads, t+15d

* Added "Escort mode" functionality to more devices.

* Fixed a rarely encountered power consumption bug.

* Aegis auton now activates "Escort mode" by default, meaning no more friendly fire.

* Added 2 more ICX-type devices, LaLuminere Advanced Defence System & Turbo-ICX Station Defence System.

One more thing I forgot to mention:

* Extensive technical documentation now available in the form of inline comments on the ICX+ system & turret.

does this work well with autons built with the assembly hangar (if I build them with an ICX device)?

The ICX-type devices will function correctly on any spaceObject, but currently, AI ships other than the Aegis auton won't activate escort mode, so friendly fire is a possibility.

That's what Prophet's FFAS (Friendly Fire Avoidance System) device is for... right? :)

Not quite - FFAS protects the auton, "Escort" mode protects the player ship.

The limitations of FFAS were one of the things that inspired the targeting algorithm; whereas FFAS uses an overlay to absorb damage and make shots disappear, this simply doesn't fire the shot in the first place.

Wow! I love this! :D Nice work, and +1!

Reuploaded at 158 downloads, t+65d

beta3/MotM Edition (2012/09/23):

* Major gameplay change: "Escort" mode is now accessible through invokable (usable) ROMs installed with every ICX device, other modes available too.

* Fixed a couple menu image errors.

* Created a sample ICX itemtype to make it easier to create new ICXs with these algorithms, just swap the weapon UNID and go.

* Removed the ability to mount ICX turrets as weapons, because they appeared far, far too frequently in weapon shops, even given the "veryrare" tag.

* Added the Longreach Duo and ARK-15 Patriot... heh, that Longreach Duo took forever to debug.

* A lot of miscellaneous polish.

* Created this readme for the first time.

* Included 3 versions of the mod, "beta1" has the most features and polish, but requires 1.08b, while "106" runs on 1.06, and "basic" only includes changes to targeting algorithm, meaning it should be acceptable to reasonable vanilla purists.

Reuploaded at 162 downloads, t+66d

Beta 3.1 (2012/09/24)

* There was a bug involving the script to check for installed ROMs not functioning, and installing multiple version of the same ROM - fixed now. The other one involved a sample weapon appearing with the attribute 'common', instead of the intended 'notrandom'. - fixed too. The 106 version still has these bugs, I recommend not using the 106 version for the time being... apologies to those who downloaded between 158 and 162 downloads.

Reuploaded at 351 downloads, t+146d

Release Candidate for 1.1RC1 (2012/12/17)

* Many, many changes and bug-fixes.

* Finalized the weaponEffects for the Interceptor ADS and SmartCannon-AM PDS

* Introduced many improvements and new modes to the various ICX-type devices, for example, the Anti-Beam Attenuator now has a total of 6 operation modes, configurable with usable ROMs.

* Fixed a bug relating to the appearance of the sample ICX appearing for order at a Trading Post.

* In order to fix a bug related to power use, removed mode 3 ("Attack mode") functionality from all ICX-type devices.

* With pm912's instruction, made the mod more compatible with Auton Assembly. ICX-type devices will automatically activate mode 1 ("Escort mode") when installed on any auton.

* This release technically remains a drop-in replacement for all previous versions, however, all "ICX" missile defence systems have been converted to "Turbo-ICX", and vice-versa. This means any traces of the "ICX", installed or in inventory, have been replaced with the "Turbo-ICX".

* Removed the last of the debug code.

* Probably a lot of other things that I forgot.

Hmm. I think the attack mode is just a little bit overpowered- having two basic ICX turrets blows away smaller ships before you even notice they're there.

Maybe it isn't though- at that point, my main gun would have done the same thing.

Maybe make it so that you can only have one ICX in attack mode at a time.

I agree that mode 3 ("Attack mode") is overpowered, having a stackable, omni-directional laser turret with regular fire rate.

The difficulty comes from trying to address that, as arbitrarily limiting mode 3 to one turret at a time is impossible to justify and fairly pointless, as stray shots from PD will continue to strike the enemy ships regardless.

Nerfing the weapon stats is equally futile, as the PDmod "ICX" already does far less damage than the stock "ICX" (1d4 @ 6/sec vs. 1d8+4 @ 3.8/sec), while sharing all other stats, such as slot use and power consumption, except range, with the stock "ICX".

As of now, the only disadvantages to installing PD are that lasers and mass drivers become obsolete as anti-ship weapons at higher tech levels, and that they do not benefit from enhancers. Anti-missile turrets that are installed as weapon devices, that can make full use of attack mode, and can be enhanced are available for special order at Trading Posts though, for ships with linked fire slots or limited non-weapon device slots. Nonetheless, "Attack mode" for PD system was changed to "Counterattack mode", because the conditions required made the PD systems less effective at detecting incoming missiles.

Sure, but stray shots striking enemies is seriously different than perfect-aim stacking lasers of doom.

Maybe enabling Mode 3 can be a "hack", forcing the turret to do something it isn't designed to, and therefore risking damage to the turret.

That way, instead of a guaranteed free extra laser beam, it's instead a risky gamble, to be used only in emergencies. That makes it both more fun and less unbalanced.

Codewise, every time Mode 3 is enabled on each turret, there would be a 50% chance it makes the turret damaged (I assume damaged ICX devices already can't fire). Simple, elegant, and effective.

Great mod, but I have a couple of requests:

-Can the ICX not shoot stations?

-If that's too hard, can it be automatically turned off if you're within ~20 light seconds of a station?

-Can ICX weapons not shoot shots that won't hit you? It seems like they try to destroy everything within a ~7-10 lightsecond radius, even projectiles that will completely miss.

-lock onto missiles from 'friendlies'. Basically I accidentally destroyed a corp station and wanted my ICX weapon to destroy the gothas. 5 minutes later, the Corp Cruiser is trying to hack at my ship and my ICX isn't responding. D:

@schilcote

One of the reasons I'm so reluctant to impose restrictions is because of future plans for a full automatic mode where the ICX freely engages the greatest threat in the area, from incoming missiles to enemy ships. This can't happen if there is risk associated with targeting a ship.

@RPC

I currently have a prototype algorithm that is guaranteed not to fire at friendly stations. Unfortunately, it's a prototype because it has O(n^2) efficiency. I should have a O(n) system up during this weekend. For now, there's a quick shortcut to disable ICX, "u" + "9", to re-enable, use "u" + "0".

If you need to defend a station or ship from enemy fire, and need the ICX to be careful with friendly fire, use "Escort" mode, "u" + "1".

There are many reasons why the ICX shoots at incoming missiles that will miss, one of them is that even if the ICX holds fire, it doesn't save any power - power is consumed every time an autoDefenceDevice detects a target (this is a bug). Another is because there is an hard-coded 'cooldown' time imposed by autoDefenceDevice, meaning it cannot fire again for a certain number of ticks after a target is detected, even if no shots were fired at it. So if it's an enemy missile, might as well make the best use of DPS and attempt to destroy it, but if the powerUse bug is fixed, I can implement a 'conserve power/ammo' mode.

Heh, in base Transcendence, the two hostile friendly ships, the Molotok and the Corporate Cruiser, use a lot of missiles... it's almost as if they were designed to exploit a backdoor in ICX. "For liability reasons, ICX devices are unable to track targets broadcasting a friendly IFF." But in all seriousness, yes, I'll implement that, but the side effect is that friendly missiles will interfere with the detection of enemy missiles.