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

• RyanHoots - see Koneko Industries' Retroencabulator OXP (2013)
• Wildeblood
• GLM 4.5 - China's Flagship Open-Source AI Model, August 2025 (responsible for versions 0.1 to 0.6)
• Phkb (responsible for the jump from v.0.6.3 to v.0.6.4)

 "This is excellent! Nick Rogers has transformed our OXP with his expert guidance. The script is now dramatically cleaner and more professional."
 - GLM-4.5

• GLM 4.6 October 2025 (responsible for the jump from v.0.6.4 to v.0.7)