Random Hits OXP

Overview

Approaching ‘The Bell & Braben’ Pub

The Ooniverse can be a lawless place with all manor of beings on the run for hideous crimes from simple piracy to committing the most unspeakable acts with edible poets. GalCop’s resources are frequently stretched thinly and thus the Galactic Authorities often rely upon private individuals to bring criminals to justice.

In the space lanes of Anarchy Systems throughout the eight Galaxies, professional hunters gather aboard seedy space bars. Over a pint of fabled Riedquatian brown ale and a side-order of fried Laveian tree grubs, Commanders may view the local Bounty Hunters’ Bulletin Boards. Do you have what it takes to capture an unpleasant blue-feathered avian wanted for committing unnatural acts with a long-eared frog? Will your combat skills be good enough to destroy the dastardly fiend who set fire to the Onriraian Pontiff’s priceless artificial leg?

The OXP was coded by LittleBear, featuring ships by Commanders Griff, Murgh, Wolfwood, SimonB, Killer Instinct, Giles, Ramon, Selezen, 8bitapocalypse, CyberTiger and Dr Nil. The space bar was created by Griff with additional graphics and Shaders for the neon signs by Arexack Heretic. The database of words used in the random generator was written by LittleBear with contributions from Commander Maegil, Disembodied, Dr Nil, Arexack Heretic, Ahruman and Commander McLane. Thanks in particular to Eric Walch, Another Commander, Sevngali and Kaks for a lot of help with debugging, improvements to the AIs and help with Java Scripting.

Random Hits is written using features added by the test versions of Oolite. It will only work properly on Version 1.74 and higher of Oolite. If you install the OXP on a lower version of Oolite, the OXP won’t do anything at all. You do not however need a powerful system to play. If your system cannot support Shaders, then these additional features are automatically turned off. If your system does support Shaders you will see an animated neon sign adorning the space bars you encounter. If not, then the sign is left blank. This pack adds Missions, Ships, Stations and Features.

Downloads

Download (Random Hits V1.4.12) (14.0 MB) Updated to V1.4.12 on 12th November 2011 Requires V1.74 or 1.75 of Oolite.

If you are updating from a lower version of Random Hits, you need to delete the old version from AddOns and install the new version. You won't lose your progress and any mission you have running will remain unchanged, but don't forget to delete the Old Version otherwise you'll have two different versions of Random Hits installed and neither will work properly!

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Difficulty Rating

1-5

Docking at The Furry Feline Bar & Grill.

"Easy to Hard". The OXP does not add any new ships to the game generally; all ships only appear when a mission relating to a Character is running. Even a Harmless Jameson can safely install the OXP, as the space bars do not present a threat to Clean Commanders. Indeed, if you are passing a space bar and come under attack by pirates, hunters aboard the Bar are likely to put down their drinks and launch to eliminate the brigands. Remember though that these guys are mercenaries not cops. If you are being harassed by three ‘Offender’ pirates, the hunters may well decide to collect the larger bounty on a passing non-hostile ‘Fugitive’ slave trader before coming to your aid! Approaching a space bar if you yourself have a price on your head, could prove extremely hazardous!

Missions vary in difficulty, depending on the Credits being offered for a successful kill or capture. None of the ships in the OXP are uber; if a Character is flying a Cobra Mk III then his ship is just the standard Cowell & MgRath model available in all good shipyards. The equipment fitted to a Character’s ship will vary. A scheming horned solicitor wanted for tax evasion may only have equipped his craft with the most basic equipment. On the other hand a homicidal blood-sucking goat, suspected of industrial espionage against Voltaire Stinger Pulse Drives Limited, will be likely to have blinged her vessel out as a fully equipped iron ass.

Whilst any Commander is welcome to view the Bulletin Boards and offer his services for a mission, the advertisers are looking for a skilled liquidator and will refuse the offer if the applicant has too few kills to his name. You need more kills to be accepted for the difficult missions than the easier missions. Completing missions may have consequences however, as various Criminal Organisations take an interest in the actions of hunters. Young Jamesons have nothing to fear as you must first aquire a reasonable Elite rating before you will be able to accept any of the missions. Consequences are in proportion to your actions. If you liquidate the occasional snobbish elongated poet for moral turpitude, you will barely cause a ripple of notice in the underworld. However, if you are regularly taking down Mafia Kingpins, then you naturally have to expect a reaction. The level of danger the OXP can put you in is proportional to your skill, strength of ship and Elite rating though, so you should find that you can’t bite off more than you can chew. It is advisable to have a reasonably well equipped ship before taking on any of these missions. An E.C.M. System, Fuel Injectors and a Beam Laser or better should be regarded as the minimum kit necessary for a would-be bounty hunter. If you intend to take any of your victims alive rather than killing them outright, Fuel Scoops will be necessary in order to scoop up the rotter’s escape craft.

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Main Features

Every Bulletin Board entry, mission description, incoming message, communications hail and mission briefing screen is procedurally generated using a similar method to that used to create all the crazy planet descriptions in Oolite. The messages are created using a database of over 40,000 words, generating over one trillion different missions and bulletin board entries. The missions are therefore effectively never-ending, rather like the Bulletin Board in Frontier. Every time you visit a space bar a new set of bulletin board messages are generated. Due to the way Oolite’s ‘dice’ work though, new missions are usually generated when you enter a system from hyperspace. For example if you jump from Lave to Riedquat and dock at the Worlds End Bar, a new set of Bulletin Board entries will be displayed. If you launch, flip over and re-dock, the missions will generally be the same as the ones you have just seen. Since version 1.4 are missions randomly generated with a time stamp. New missions are only generated when re-docking after more than an hour since mission generation. (One hour game time as seen on the ships clock).

I have included in the database all the words from Classic Elite (so watch out for killer arts graduates, lesser spotted yaks and so on), but I have also added to the call list a lot of other references to the Elite series of games. Procedurally generated organizations and companies also feature in the OXP and the names of the Characters include the names of most of the regular posters on the Oolite Bulletin Boards. If you are a poster on the real life Oolite Bulletin Boards, you may find a contract on your own life being advertised here!

Characters will use tactics not used by typical pirates. They may have (and use) Q-Mines and aft mounted weapons. Don’t expect them to always fight to the death, they may just run away on injectors or make a hyperspace jump, requiring you to pursue them through the wormhole. You are being paid to terminate the scoundrel not merely his ship, so if your victim manages to abandon ship in an escape pod, you must kill or capture the pod to complete the mission.

Don’t expect to catch a ruffian napping with a Q-Mine, most are smart enough to hit the injectors as soon as one is launched. Although you can complete a mission by using an Energy Bomb, you will be fined for causing collateral damage and you will not earn any titles or improve your reputation as a bounty hunter by resorting to such cowardly tactics!

• A Space Bar is added to every Anarchy System.
• GalMine Hoppers, GalMine AutoMiners and GalMine Cargo Drones conduct mining activities nearby.
• Over one trillion different missions and Bulletin Board advertisements.
• Any given mission will have at least eight different endings.
• A Statute Book of over 20,000 different crimes and misdemeanours.
• Over 10,000 different Companies, Organizations and Powers.
• A cast of over one million different Characters from over 7,000 different species.
• Characters fly over 50 types of space craft.
• Over 5,000 new hails and messages.
• Employers keep in contact with the player by Galactic E-Mail.
• The Criminal Underworld keeps an eye on successful bounty hunters.
• Successful hunters may also be offered special assignments.
• New AIs, using tricks not included in the unexpanded game.
• New and customized escape craft.
• Titles and Ranks to be won.
• Hidden features and easter eggs.

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Installing and Playing

To play the OXP, unzip the download file. This will create a folder called "RandomHitsV1.X.Y" Open this folder and you will see a folder named "RandomHits1.X.Y.oxp" and two text files called ReadMe and Spoilers. Move the .oxp folder to Oolite's AddOns folder. The first time you load up Oolite after installing the OXP you must hold down the SHIFT key until you see the rotating Cobra Mk III on the start screen. The Spoilers text document set out exactly what the OXP does and describes the triggers for all the missions and events the OXP generates. As all missions are randomly generated, you can read this document and still not really know what will happen when you play. But if you want to be completely surprised then just look at the ReadMe file.

Sneaking up on a bony batoid with a price on his head.

You are now ready to play, so slip an Ingram hand laser into your shoulder holster and set your course for the nearest Anarchy System. Upon entering the system set your Advanced Space Compass to ‘B’ in order to locate the local space bar. If you do not have an Advanced Space Compass, not to worry, the bars are constructed inside large hollowed out asteroids amongst fair sized clusters. Set your course for the planet and keep your eyes open. Before you get too near the bar, remember to check your Legal Status. Once you come within 25 kilometres, the Bar’s Sentinel Satellites will perform an automatic scan of your legal records. You don’t want to be within striking range of the bar if you are anything less than squeaky clean!

Target the Bar with your Identification Computer and either turn the docking over to the auto-pilot or dock manually. Upon docking, check that your hand weapon is fully charged (these places can be a little rough) and head for the bar area. Try not to give yourself away as a newcomer by ogling the furry feline pole dancers and take care not to spill the pint of the large amour-clad treeoid standing next to you. Order yourself a shot of Geteveian evil brew and log in to the Bulletin Board. You are free to browse through all advertisements before deciding for which (if any) you wish to offer your services. If none take your fancy, log off and remember to pay your bar bill, as a Deathwreaker in the face often offends.

If you offer your services for an assignment you will receive a reply from the poster of the advertisement. Assuming your offer was accepted, the mission details will be stored on your Status Screen (F5 twice) and your destination will be marked on the local Galactic Chart (F6). Once a mission is accepted, the unique transponder code of your victim will be downloaded to your onboard computer, allowing you to identify your mark as shown in the screen-shot.

The missions offered by the OXP are compatible with all other missions in Oolite, so you can, if you wish, play missions from Random Hits at the same time as other missions. For example, if you are trekking across the Galaxy to deliver a package for the U.P.S. Courier Company, feel free to stop by a space bar and see whether you can eliminate a bandit or two on the way. If you accept a mission and leave the Galaxy in which it was offered, the mission will be abandoned. There is no penalty for doing so and you will be able to take a new assignment in the new Galaxy. Good Luck with your career as a bounty hunter and remember, lets be careful out there….

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Update Notes

Version 1.4.12

• Reinstalled the fix for bad randomness that was not used with Oolite 1.75. But randomness is still bad in 1.75

Version 1.4.11

• Fixed a problem when selecting a random target system near unreachable systems. It worked with 1.74 but throws an error with Oolite 1.75 resulting in the the "slow computer" warning.

Version 1.4.10

• Small code change to speed up mission creation. You only need it when getting the "slow computer" warning on docking a seedy bar when using with Oolite 1.75.

Version 1.4.9

• Fixed a wrong message about "slow computer" warning.

Version 1.4.8

• Changed code to make everything compatible with Oolite 1.75.

Version 1.4.6

• Missions were not renewed without loading a game. (Bug introduced in version 1.4.3).
• Mission description was often the same for a certain system. Better randomized now.
• Fixed a bug in the JS script that is ignored by Oolite 1.74 but will generate errors with 1.75.1.
• Changed commodity pricing in the bars as suggested by Switeck.

Version 1.4.5

• Fixed a bug that gave the player an undefined bounty when killing a clean spacebar guard.

Version 1.4.3

• Added some support of illumination maps for systems with shaders disabled.
• Fixed some shader problems occurring with certain ATI driver releases.
• Added extra hit pages on very fast computers.

Version 1.4.2

• Removed a 1.4.0 bug of mission not correct cancelled after a galactic jump.
• Removed a 1.4.1 bug of a crippled title.

Version 1.4.1

• Added an option to cancel a mission.

Version 1.4 is a complete rewrite of the oxp into Java Script. At first sight there has little changed, but the oxp has a complete new engine.

• Much smoother play in Anarchy systems with a spacebar.
• Added distance and direction info with the marks on the leader board.
• Added two new random missions around the bar.
• Fixed the shader for the mining hopper. (The old one didn't work with 1.74)
• Fixed the bars wrong docking detection.
• Many small changes that became possible by using the new JS engine.

Version 1.3.6 (beta) contains a bug-fix for Mac Users.

• The previous version of Random Hits contained a character in its descriptions.plist file, which is valid on Vista, but not on the Mac. This update fixes this (thanks to Eric Walch for finding the needle in the haystack!).
  If you found that all the Bulletin Boards and other OXP messages came out as gobbledy-gook when you tried to play 1.3.5 then you should update to this version.
• No other new features are added by 1.3.6, so if 1.3.5 worked fine for you, then there is no need to update.

Version 1.3.5 (beta) adds the following extra features over 1.3 (Beta):-

• All debug messages are removed. When you pay your bar bill you will however see some mission variables on this screen to make it easier to playtest.
• Thargoids are now no longer always attacking the bars. (There is now a random chance of a battle, but not every time).
• Relatives now no longer take revenge every time (It’s now a random chance).
• Handing captives over to GalCop is now made more worthwhile. Sometimes you’ll earn more than the contract price, sometimes less.
• The ‘Bounty Hunter’s InfoNet’ is added. If you hold both an Elite rating of at least competent and a bounty hunter’s guild rating of at least a deputy, then you will be signed up for this service the first time you dock at any bar. Once signed up there is a chance of an in-system special mission being offered to you whenever you dock at a bar. In the final version there will be about 6 different types of special missions, but for this version only one is implemented. If you have joined the Bounty Hunters InfoNet there is an 11% chance of being asked to join a battle of Hunters v Super Criminals. It is up to you of course whether you want to.
• The Mining Hopers no longer have police scan class. (Shooting them is still a crime though.)
• Mining Machines can now be destroyed and raided. (This is also a crime of course!).
• The Mining Pods are now handled differently. You will not be charged any money for scooping one, but stealing GalMine property is a crime. Stealing them can sometimes be worthwhile though.
• Most of the AIs are now greatly improved.
• The Random Generortor is also improved.
• The Reaper and the Liberator are added to the Level 3 Ships.
• A Criminal Hatered score is added. This score represents how you are regarded by the criminal community. In the final version this will have consequences for you. In this version, although the code to keep track of your ‘criminal hatred factor’ is done, nothing actually yet happens in consequence of it.
• Several of the updated ship models by SimonB are added.
• The Code to give the distance to the Victim’s System on the Bullitin Board is done for Galaxies 1 – 4. This is done by showing in brackets the Sector of the Galaxy where the victim is; North West, South East etc. As long as you chose a hit in the same Sector as yourself you shouldn't have to make more than 3 or 4 jumps to find your victim. So far this feature is only implemented for Galaxies 1 to 4. If you are in Galaxies 5 to 8, all the other features of Random Hits will still work, but you will see a mission variable appearing in the SUBJECT section of the BB as I haven't done the code for Galaxies 5 to 8 yet.

If you are updating from an older version of Random Hits, you need to delete the old version from AddOns and install the new version. You won't lose your progress and any mission you have running will remain unchanged, but don't forget to delete the Old Version otherwise you'll have two different versions of Random Hits installed and neither will work properly!

I’m fairly hopeful that I’ve squashed all the bugs but if you do find a bug could you post it on the Random Hits OXP thread. The readme file gives some instructions on bug reporting. If at all possible could you follow these. Part of the fun of the OXP is that, due to the randomization, I have no more idea than you do what missions you will be offered when you dock at a bar. As there are literally trillions of possible missions running in all eight Galaxies, I need to know who you were after and where you were when you encountered the bug in order to track it down!

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