**************************************************************
**  Aldebarans Modular Station Resource Two (Star Wars)     **
**************************************************************

THIS IS NOT A MOD.

This is an open resource for mod builders of Freelancer (or any other game that people wish to convert the parts over to). which essentially expands the number of available solar modules and docks within the Freelancer Engine, helping to allow for more variety within mod stations.

Aldebaran's Modular Station project began in 2004 and was first released to the public with Freeworlds 1.66 in Febuary 2006.  And was released to the public in Spring of 2006.  Aldebaran's Modular Station II (Star Wars) Project was built and designed at the same time as the first Modular Station project was released as an open modders resource with the intention of being used with Freeworlds 1.68.  However, due to the inevitable short comings of the Freeworlds Community as a whole, Freeworlds 1.68 has since halted production and Aldebaran has thus released this here Modular Station II Resource to the Freelancer community as a whole without it going first through any other mods.

Aldebaran's Modular Station II project is quite different to the first Modular Station project and very much based upon designs of space stations found within the Star Wars universe created by LucasArts, most notably stations seen in both computer games X-Wing Alliance and Star Wars Galaxies.  However, the intention of this project was to generate a resource not only capable of reproducing the original space stations, but also to potentially make them look better and more in line with Freelancer style graphics along with combining it with the idea of being able to swap parts around to create truely customisable designs within the Freelancer Enviroment.  The textures on these models are done in DDS for best compression and also include glowmaps and running lights in order to really make the stations stand out.

*****************************
**   Conditions of use     **
*****************************

These are free to use to any mod.  You do NOT need to contact Aldebaran or the Freeworlds Development Team to ask permission to use them.  However, it is expected that all necessary due credit be given for the use of this project within a mod.  Credit must be given to Aldebaran and the Freeworlds Development team within your readme and any appropriate associate material.  In addition, a link back to the Freeworlds Development site at http://www.phpbber.com/phpbb/index.php?mforum=fwt is appreciated as well.

Though these models are provided complete, it is understandable if you wish to alter the models and / or textures for your own projects (especially as the writing on the dock face is written in Aurabesh, a Star Wars alphabet / font).  You are free to do this too, as long as credit is still given to Aldebaran and the Freeworlds Development Team for the original designs that it is based from.  This credit must be clearly made known without any room for confusion as to where the stations were built.

**********************************************************************************
**    How to use (different to the original How to Use in Modular Station I)    **
**********************************************************************************

I will not go into detail here about the uses of the Modular Station project, but just give the general basics.  Most people who would be using these should at least have some general knowledge of Freelancer modding.

First of all, you need to get these stations into your mod.  Find the directory in this zip file called ams2 and copy this into your Solar directory (../DATA/SOLAR/). Next open up your mods solararch.ini file and at the end of it paste all of the code in the .txt file entitled solararch.txt found inside of this zip file.  Now repeat this also for the loadouts.ini, pasting at the end all of the code from loadouts.txt.  Next go into the equipment directory and open up the text file select_equip and add this code to the top of your select_equip.ini file in your mod.

This will have now set your mod up ready to use Modular Stations.  All you need to do is just programmed your new stations in.

If you use Freelancer Explorer (the latest versions), including the componants is very easy.  Next time you load up your mod in Explorer, you will find when you plant a new base down, you will now have the options for three new station types (single dock, double dock and quad dock).  These can be used instead of a normal station, though as you will see, these central docks are quite plain and boring until you add to your station the rest of your modular station componants.  Next choose 'other objects' and place it near to your station, checking the box which says 'use nearest stations as parent.'  On the pull down list, you will find there is now towards the bottom numerous new 'ojects,' which come from modular station.  Place down the componants you wish before right clicking on your base and selecting 'edit base layout.'  This now brings up a graphical wireframe display of the componants, allowing you to reposition the various componants to your hearts desire.

The alternative is to hand code it.  If you are hand coding stations anyway, I doubt I require to give you a tutorial on how to do it.  Just use the new archetypes and loadouts given with the solararch and loadouts coding instead of normal Freelancer archetypes and loadouts.

Note - Some loadouts are capable of putting the blocks together for pre-built versions of the stations, saving you from having to work out how to position the items every single time.  Work on this is only conceptual though and mostly relates to space colonies and fighter defence platforms.  The additional modules added with these loadouts will not show up however in FLExplorer, but will show up in game.

Also, I have included a number of reference pictures with this directory to enable you to identify individual modules easier and also given some images to assist in working out to assemble these stations to either look like the original Star Wars stations as well as some ideas for variations that can built taking advantage of Modular Stations interchangability.

**************************************************************
**    Why Modular Station is better than single stations    **
**************************************************************

There are two main reasons:

A)  Modular Stations are easier to get a better fitting Sur File for than single model stations.

B)  Modular Stations enable you to use a standard set of models that can be repositioned in a large number of ways, keeping a uniform identity amongst stations yet also making each stations unique.  Think of it like a giant Lego set to play with in Freelancer.

All the models are low polygon to not cause to much issue with computers and rendering within the Freelancer Engine.  However, it is not recommended to use more than 15-20 pieces within a single station, as the computer has to work out each individual models location and orientation.  If you use excessive amounts, slower machines will experience graphical lag around the stations.  A reasonable level is around 10 pieces per station which most machines should be able to use without a problem.

**************************************************************
**   Jedi Hyperspace Transport Rings and Star Wars Buoys    **
**************************************************************

I have also included in here models for the Jedi Hyperspace Transport Rings (which make great scenery in any Star Wars mod to have floating near to Jedi locations) and models for three types of buoys that are based on the designs from X-Wing Alliance.  Feel free to use these in your mods, observing the same copyright conditions below.  I have not however provided the code for how to include these into your mods, but most advanced modders should know how to do this by now.  These models like the station modules have glowmaps built into them and are built using DDS textures for best compression.

****************************************
**    Final Copyright notification    **
****************************************

The permission to use Modular Stations II within other Freelancer mods only extends to the models included in this package.  All copyright remains with Aldebaran in their design and this permission does NOT extend to any other models included within Freeworlds (within which the copyrights of individual models belong to the people who originally modelled them and thus Aldebaran has not authority to give permission for) or any of Aldebaran's other projects which will be released on a case by case basis.  This also means Aldebaran's other Freeworlds models (the remaining stations he built for Freeworlds, a small selection of the ships and the various THN / cityscape models) are NOT to be used by anyone else without Aldebaran's express written consent or them being released first as a public resource via Lancers Reactor.

This zip file may be redistributed freely as long as it remains intact, including this readme included with the zip file.  If any one asks about the modular stations included within your mod that originate from here, please point them to these files directly found at Lancers Reactor.

**************************
**    Special Credit    **
**************************

Dev of the Star Wars:  Tides of War mod for giving me the idea about using the HPConnect trick used with some of this Modular Station II project.

Images of the original X-Wing Alliance stations used in the concept pictures are original work of Lucas Arts.  In addition, the stations these modular componants are based on are also the original designs of LucasArts.

Thank you to the few good souls in the Freeworlds Community who I've known over the years, including Burnout, ZaccaR, CzW, Ston and the old development team and testers that tried their hardest to please a community that really couldn't care less.


THANK YOU LANCERS REACTOR AND THE FREEWORLDS DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR ALL THE ASSISTANCE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.  HERES TO A FEW MORE YEARS TO COME YET OF FREELANCER MODDING.