CLASSIC BATTLETECH CATALYST game labs

Very nice   

In the mean time I solved the printing issue.

It would be cool if the Mech image form the fluff page would be printed on the sheet too.

Keep the good work, your program is the best free mech designer I have seen for years.

Newest version is 0.5.11, just uploaded today.  Mainly a GUI tweak (drag items from location to location) and fixes for allocation.  I also added in a few more weapons.

I'm not going to post every new version here, only those that I feel confident in or that may need more extensive testing than I and the folks over at Solaris 7 can provide (like the previous test print).  The main reason being that I release one every four or five days, sometimes every two days, depending.  If you're interested in the program, I suggest you check for a new version every week or so.  At this time, it's in serious flux, but complete and stable enough to use.    From now on it's mainly GUI tweaks, extra functionality, and extra equipment.

You don't have to give up your previously saved options with a new version.  Simply extract the package over the previous one.  I don't send a default options file with the program, it creates it or loads it as needed.

Lastly, the save file format is pretty much solidified at this point.  Anything else will be optional XML tags, and if I do change the format I'll write a converter for the older save files.

Hope it's working for you guys.  Enjoy!

NIce looking program.  I like how omnis are handled.

I was just playing around with the allocation screen in 0.5.11 and noticed that if I drag multi crit weapons from unallocated to the criticals, the correct number of crits are filled, but if I drag construction materials (inner structure or armor) to a locaiton they only fill one crit.

Cheers,
LCC

The single placement is a bug, I'll get that fixed.  Thanks for bringing that up.

Early on, once OmniMechs were up and running, it was decided that allocating items like FF and ES to the bottom of the location was a better idea since, once an OmniMech is locked, you cannot move them anymore.  This allowed for a larger contiguous block of empty spaces once the chassis was locked.  If you have a single crit of ES in an arm, is it better to put it right under where the lower arm and hand actuators go (giving you a two space and a seven space block), or is it better to put it at the bottom (giving you a nine space block)?

Dmon, it will probably never handle HMP files, and you're right about the kind of trouble I can get into.  However, I do plan to have it able to load from MTF files at some point.

That's been asked before, and my reply last time was that it would take a lot of code in the loadout (and probably break stuff like I did with the "easy" drag and drop from locations).

Definitely possible.  Do I want to do it right now?  No, but I'll add it to the To-Do List for later on since it will obviously be a more user-friendly approach.  Thanks for the suggestion.

Easily changed, thank you.

Not clear enough for ya?    Yeah, I'll look into doing that, great idea.  Just have to make sure the positions line up correctly.

Yes, I do plan to add a vehicle editor next and maybe an aerospace editor along with it, but probably not much more than that.  Probably do a combined package since I envision them using a lot of the same code, if possible.

The 'Mech part is taking a long time to get all the equipment and stuff in, and I'll have to revise some of it for aerospace usage (since I didn't include those stats), but once the 'Mech editor is finished it should be fairly easy to do a vehicle editor in a short amount of time.

One of the problems with the equipment is that I am trying to follow MegaMek so that the MTF export will work correctly.  They don't have all the new equipment in right now (AFAIK, from a perusal of the source code) so I'm just adding bits and pieces as I go along, instead concentrating on making the program more friendly and getting the core stuff done (printing, charts, etc...)

I think that's a great idea, actually, and I'd do it if I weren't so busy already.  Maybe next year when I'm finished with my bike:  National Scooter Buildoff

Enough about my personal life.    In the meantime, don't get me wrong, I wasn't "placing blame" on you guys.  I just want to make sure my program can line up with MM well since so many of the users over on Solaris 7 use it to test their designs.

BTW, thank you guys for all your hard work so far!

Man you work fast! 
I just bumped into the non-contiguous bug and the loading string error this morning.  When I went online to post the bugs, I find out there's already a fix.

Is there any chance of you putting together a BA editor too, or is the fast that all of their equipment is defferent a big impediment?

Keep up the great work.

Cheers,
LCC

Aye, keep up the good work LostInSpace. 

hmm... is each piece of equipment an object? is the code for the object to squirly to post a template?

I could post a template.  It's not too hard to fill out, just time intensive what with checking three different book locations to get the information.  It's not like MegaMek where each individual item is it's own class (and I can see why they took that approach), but each class of weapons (energy, ballistic, etc...) gets their own Java class.

For weapons with ammo you also have to create each individual ammunition type for that weapon (although there is only one ammo class), which can be a big PITA.

I'll post up the templates on the SSW site on Monday for any who want to help, along with a list of what needs to be added.


Any suggestions?     If you've got a text printout, it should include all pertinent information including the Tech Rating, Availability Code, Introduction Date, Prototype Date, Rules Level, Factions, etc...  Searching around for that information takes a LOT of time.


Indeed.

I admit, I didn't put up the templates.  Waaaaay too busy this week.  However, I have a new release up which includes the missing Artillery, a few errata fixes, and a bug fix.  0.5.15, use the link under my sig if you're interested.

Question: Can someone please tell me how the Ammo Mutators in MM work?  I have a hell of a time figuring out what to name those special ammo types.  Thanks.

LOL, I don't know how well that would work, but I appreciate the enthusiasm!  I'll go ahead and add in what I can and I will definitely try to join their development group next year in April because I really enjoy and appreciate MegaMek..


I suppose IndustrialMechs should be next on my list.  I'm planning on some changes to the 'Mech class to handle Hardened armor and Modular armor (and anything else that reduces or modifies movement), and I could add in that capability as well.


Thanks!  It's always surprising to find that SSW's user-base is larger than expected.