Ships Points

I seem to have read through so many Ship building guides and tutorials but can not seem to end my confusion on the ship structure.

I belive it would be shown best in a mindmap style graphical chain but untill i know how it works i couldnt start to know what links to what

The base reason for the question is one that ill not post but instead ask for guidance along the lines.

Its mostly to do with Ship structure in FL ini files.
the path to Follow from Purchase at a Base to Hard code.

What i know so far is

Market_ships - Were your ship is Sold
Goods - The Hull calling Shiparch
Shiparch - The actual Ship linked to Hull
Goods - The Package containing what you get on the ship when purchased.

So my problem lies in the Shiparch / Goods / Loadout .ini

1. What does the loadout.ini deffine ?

2. If i add a Hardpoint to my cmp ship, how do i define it in the Shiparch.

3. Do i need to add it to my package in the goods for it to work after adding to shiparch or by leaving it out of the package does that just mean its an empty slot ?

Its been a while sinice i have edited

Sorry for the long post
Im sure it will still be confusing for you and me after this
but any advice will help

Thx
Tani

Yeah i dont know enough about adding thinks that dont already exist lol, but hey we only learn by pushing the boundarys

I got a bit further in my quest but i just cant work out some of the relationships between definitions in different files...~

I think i explain it better like this

The problem i have is in editing a ship.
Im working for Multiplayer in LAN.

What i want to do is add on a Hardpoint say HpAriel01

So i have edited the ships cmp to add the hardpoint

Now i want the Item on the Hardpoint to be on the ship but not showup in game.
i.e you can't sell it, its bound to the ship so its ship specific.

When i add it to the MP loadout for start up
i add something like

equip=ariel_fighter, HpAriel01

[Loadout]
nickname=MP_loadout
archetype=LF-14c
equip=ge_lf_engine_01
equip=shield01_mark03_lf, HpShield01
equip=power_injector01, HpEngine01
equip=ge_fighter3_power01
equip=ge_s_tractor_00
equip=ge_s_scanner_01
equip=ge_s_thruster_01, HpThruster01
equip=co_gun01_mark03, HpWeapon01
equip=co_gun01_mark03, HpWeapon02
equip=co_gun02_mark02, HpWeapon03
equip=gd_im_gun01_mark02, HpWeapon04
equip=ge_s_cm_01, HpCM01
cargo=ge_s_cm_01_ammo, 18
cargo=ge_s_battery_01, 11
cargo=ge_s_repair_01, 11
equip=LargeWhiteSpecial, HpHeadlight
equip=SlowSmallOrange, HpRunningLight01
equip=SlowSmallOrange, HpRunningLight02
equip=SlowSmallOrange, HpRunningLight03
equip=SlowSmallOrange, HpRunningLight04
equip=SlowSmallOrange, HpRunningLight05
equip=SlowSmallOrange, HpRunningLight06
equip=contrail01, HpContrail01
equip=contrail01, HpContrail02
equip=DockingLightRedSmall, HpDockLight01
equip=DockingLightRedSmall, HpDockLight02
equip=ariel_fighter, HpAriel01

ariel_fighter is defined in Weapon_equip.ini

[Ariel]
nickname=ariel_fighter
ids_name=1
ids_info=1
hit_pts=1000000000
DA_archetype=Equipment\models\weapons\no_fighter_gun.cmp
material_library=Equipment\models\hardware.mat
HP_child=HPConnect
mass=1
volume=2
power_usage=0

Do i need to edit the Shiparch.ini ?
Do i need to define it there ?

[Ship]
ids_name = 491023
ids_info = 491023
ids_info1 = 491024
ids_info2 = 66608
ids_info3 = 491025
ship_class = 0
nickname = LF-14c
LODranges = 0, 2000
msg_id_prefix = gcs_refer_shiparch_Liblf
mission_property = can_use_berths
type = FIGHTER
mass = 75.000000
hold_size = 50
linear_drag = 45.000000
fuse = li_fighter_gas01, 0.000000, -1
fuse = li_fighter_smoke01, 0.000000, -1
fuse = intermed_damage_smallship02, 0.000000, 400
fuse = intermed_damage_smallship03, 0.000000, 200
max_bank_angle = 35
camera_offset = 6, 38
camera_angular_acceleration = 0.050000
camera_horizontal_turn_angle = 23
camera_vertical_turn_up_angle = 5
camera_vertical_turn_down_angle = 30
camera_turn_look_ahead_slerp_amount = 1.000000
nanobot_limit = 45
shield_battery_limit = 50
hit_pts = 3600
DA_archetype = ships\TFV\LF-14c\LF-14c.cmp
material_library = ships\TFV\LF-14c\LF-14c.mat
material_library = fx\envmapbasic.mat
envmap_material = envmapbasic
cockpit = cockpits\swcockpits\naboo_cockpit.ini
pilot_mesh = generic_pilot
explosion_arch = explosion_li_fighter
surface_hit_effects = 0, small_hull_hit_light01, small_hull_hit_light02, small_hull_hit_light03
surface_hit_effects = 150, small_hull_hit_medium01, small_hull_hit_medium02, small_hull_hit_medium03
surface_hit_effects = 300, small_hull_hit_heavy01, small_hull_hit_heavy02, small_hull_hit_heavy03
steering_torque = 24000.000000, 24000.000000, 58000.000000
angular_drag = 15000.000000, 15000.000000, 35000.000000
rotation_inertia = 2800.000000, 2800.000000, 1000.000000
nudge_force = 30000.000000
strafe_force = 58000
strafe_power_usage = 58
bay_door_anim = Sc_open baydoor
bay_doors_open_snd = cargo_doors_open
bay_doors_close_snd = cargo_doors_close
HP_bay_surface = HpBayDoor01
HP_bay_external = HpBayDoor02
num_exhaust_nozzles = 2
HP_tractor_source = HpTractor_Source
shield_link = l_fighter_shield01, HpMount, HpShield01, HpEngine01, HpEngine02
hp_type = hp_fighter_shield_generator, HpEngine01, HpEngine02
hp_type = hp_gun_special_7, HpWeapon01, HpWeapon02
hp_type = hp_gun_special_6, HpWeapon01, HpWeapon02, HpWeapon03, HpWeapon04
hp_type = hp_gun_special_5, HpWeapon01, HpWeapon02, HpWeapon03, HpWeapon04
hp_type = hp_gun_special_4, HpWeapon01, HpWeapon02, HpWeapon03, HpWeapon04
hp_type = hp_gun_special_3, HpWeapon01, HpWeapon02, HpWeapon03, HpWeapon04
hp_type = hp_gun_special_2, HpWeapon01, HpWeapon02, HpWeapon03, HpWeapon04
hp_type = hp_gun_special_1, HpWeapon01, HpWeapon02, HpWeapon03, HpWeapon04
hp_type = hp_fighter_shield_special_7, HpShield01
hp_type = hp_fighter_shield_special_6, HpShield01
hp_type = hp_fighter_shield_special_5, HpShield01
hp_type = hp_fighter_shield_special_4, HpShield01
hp_type = hp_fighter_shield_special_3, HpShield01
hp_type = hp_fighter_shield_special_2, HpShield01
hp_type = hp_fighter_shield_special_1, HpShield01
hp_type = hp_thruster, HpThruster01
hp_type = hp_mine_dropper, HpMine01
hp_type = hp_countermeasure_dropper, HpCM01
hp_type = hp_torpedo_special_1, HpTorpedo01
hp_type = hp_torpedo_special_2, HpTorpedo01

The main problem i have at the moment is
I added a Hp using Shipeditor for HpAriel01
I dont change the Shiparch.ini - left as the ship was originally
I added into the Loadout for MP start equip=ariel_fighter, HpAriel01

When i get ingame i have the Ariel in my Inventory
Its not in the Ship section its in the Commodities section

I dont want this item to be sellable just effect the ships that have it
Why does it show up in the Inven ?
How can i make it invisible to the player ?

In Shiparch only if i change

hp_type = hp_fighter_shield_generator, HpEngine01, HpEngine02 <--- Normal line
hp_type = hp_fighter_shield_generator, HpAriel01, HpEngine01, HpEngine02 <-- Seems to Adds a slot to Ship

With that changed and no Loadout changes = Extra Slot and no Ariel
with that changed and Loadout changed = Extra Slot with Ariel in it + Ariel is shown in Inven but is also in the as Extra Slot on shield menu

As i dont want it to show up ingame it seems im best not to add to shiparch as it will show in the ship.

But if i dont add it to the load out my scripts say its not present. And when i do add it to the MP loadout it shows up as cargo and is sellable.

I need someone to shed some light on my problem as my systematic approch is running low on idea's im missing summet simple im sure.

Sorry i used that as an example so the names would follow as you read it

Im using the hardpoints found freelancer. not a custom one.

Im doing something like add a custom gun to the ship but it wont need to shoot and will be internal and to not show to the player, it will be checked by scripts to say ship has or doesnt have the item.

I almost have it working just when,
First i add the HP HpWeapon08 to the cmp
Mp_loadout i add the equip=ariel_fighter, HpWeapon08

It works and the script finds the ariel_fighter

Thats all good, Problem left is
when i then add the Hardpoint to another ship and make it sellable at a base.

in Goods.ini i add to the package
addon = ariel_fighter, HpWeapon08

then in my theory it should be the same as the ship you start with.

I buy the ship at the base and when i exit the base the script doesnt activate it. Its not equiped to the hardpoint .

How do i add addon = ariel_fighter, HpWeapon08
to a package but make it auto equip
so its already equipped when you purchase the ship.

it works when you start with Loadout equip =
but it doesnt when u buy package with addon =

Sorry for being such a noob at editing
All ideas most welcome

Thx for your fast responces Magnet

Thank you Both Magnet and Swat for you support

I have finally managed to resolve my problem.
Its made me a better FL modder and made me double check my coding in future

Again thank you both!