Retro-Encabulator

You know it makes sense!

An early version of the Turbo-Encabulator (1962)

Technical specifications ("Click" to enlarge)

Here’s what the “Retro-Encabulator OXP” actually does:

Summary

The Retro-Encabulator OXP is a purely cosmetic ship-interface add-on that installs a new “Encabulator” report and research-journal system into Oolite. Whenever you dock (or once per in-game day), it randomly “mutates” between three whimsical themes—**retro**, **turbo** and **aristo** —and generates a silly pseudo-technical description of the starship’s fictional “encabulator.” It keeps a rolling log of these mutations (up to 20 entries), lets you browse that log via F4 → “Research Journal,” and even plays themed background art and music. All state is saved in `missionVariables`, so your journal survives reloads.

Key Features

Three Mutation Themes

• **retro-encabulator**: Quantum-flavoured, sci-fi buzzwords (e.g. “tachyon field emitters”, “zero-point energy regulators”).
• **turbo-encabulator**: High-speed modern-tech jargon (“hexadecimal camshaft”, “stochastic flux capacitor”).
• **aristo-encabulator**: Steampunk-Victorian style (“brass differential gears”, “steam-powered logic engines”).

A new theme is chosen at random when you dock at a *different* station (or once per day), and the code records a “mutation” entry whenever the prefix changes.

Encabulator Report Interface (F4)

• When docked, an “Encabulator Report” option appears in your station’s interface menu.
• Selecting it runs a mission-screen showing:

 * A title like “Retro-Encabulator Report” (or “Turbo-Encabulator”, etc.)
 * A randomly assembled paragraph of themed components, phrases and specs
 * Theme-specific background image and (for the retro theme) a special music cue.

Research Journal Interface (F4)

• After you’ve seen at least three mutations, a second menu entry “Research Journal” appears under Logs.
• Opens a journal screen titled “Encabulator Research Journal” (styled as Dr Aris Thorne’s log)
• Lists your most recent prefix-mutation entries (date and reaction note), up to 20.
• Occasionally plays a “Fascinating” jingle for flavour.

Persistent State

All mutation history and timing are stored in `missionVariables` whenever you save the game, so you can continue building your journal across sessions.

Purpose of the Add-On

• Purely aesthetic/fun: It adds a tongue-in-cheek “gadget” that spouts random technobabble in three distinct styles.
• Interface enhancement: Gives you new F4 menu options when docked, complete with artwork and music.
• Light role-play flavour: Casts you as an “encabulator researcher,” watching the device spontaneously reinvent itself and keeping a log.

In short, Retro-Encabulator OXP exists solely to amuse and enrich your Oolite experience with playful screens, background art, music and a mutation-tracking log of absurd pseudo-scientific descriptions.

Download

• File:Retro-Encabulator.oxz

License is "Public Domain"

Instigators

• Wildeblood
• Phkb (responsible for the jump from v0.6.3 to v.0.6.4)
• GLM 4.5 (China's Flagship Open-Source AI Model - August 2025 - responsible for v.0.1 - 0.6)