Performance Files for Trieres.
Introduction
The ships in Trieres can have varying performance data. This allows us to
set the performance of 'fast trieres' versus slow ones and allow for
differences in crew experience, ship maintenance and even for whether they
have masts and sails on board, or are carrying marines or cavalry.
The default set of performance data is in 'missions/default.per' - but
each mission can choose a different performance data file.
These are simple text files that are stored in the 'missions' directory with
the '.per' extensions.
Syntax
A performance file consists of a number of 'records'. Each record consists
of a keyword followed by a bracketed set of commands - one to a line.
eg. This is a typical performance record:
SHIP_TYPE
{
NAME "Fast Athenian Trieres"
CRUISE_SPEED 5kts
RAM_SPEED 9kts
BACKWATER_SPEED 3kts
SAIL_SPEED 30%
ACCELLERATION_RATE 0.1g
DECELLERATION_RATE 0.2g
SAILING_TURN_RATE 1deg/s
STEERING_OAR_TURN_RATE 3deg/s
FAST_TURN_RATE 5deg/s
SPIN_TURN_RATE 10deg/s
SPEED_DROP_IN_FAST_TURN 30%
TIME_TO_REVERSE_DIRECTION 20s
HAS_SAILS_ON_BOARD No
}
Entries that are missing are filled in from the first SHIP_TYPE record -
which should always have the NAME field set to "default".
To aid readability, you can use blank lines and have comments that
start with a '#' character. All symbols can be in upper, lower or
mixed case (although for clarity, they are always in UPPERCASE throughout
this document).
You can have as many of SHIP_TYPE record as you like (although only the
first one of them can have the name "default").
SHIP_TYPE records.
These consist of lines taken from the following set of commands:
- NAME "{string}" -- sets the name of this type of ship. This name is
referred to in the SHIP_TYPE command in the ENEMY_SHIP/FRIENDLY_SHIP
records within the mission file. The special name "default" is the
type applied to all ships in the mission file for which the ship
type is not specified.
- CRUISE_SPEED -- The speed the ship will use in normal battle manouvering.
- RAM_SPEED -- The speed the ship will attempt to reach when ramming.
- BACKWATER_SPEED -- The speed at which the ship can be rowed backwards.
- SAIL_SPEED -- The PERCENTAGE of the wind speed at which the ship will
travel when the wind is coming from directly
astern.
- ACCELLERATION_RATE -- The maximum accelleration rate under oars.
- DECELLERATION_RATE -- The maximum decelleration rate under oars.
- SAILING_TURN_RATE -- The maximum rate of turn under sail.
- STEERING_OAR_TURN_RATE -- The maximum rate of turn under oars
when turning using only the steering oars.
- FAST_TURN_RATE -- The maximum rate of turn when the oarsmen on one side
of the ship stop rowing.
- SPIN_TURN_RATE -- The maximum rate of turn when the oarsmen on one side
of the ship row backwards whilst those on
the other row forwards.
- SPEED_DROP_IN_FAST_TURN -- The speed drop (as a percentage) when
performing a 'fast turn'.
- TIME_TO_REVERSE_DIRECTION -- The time to switch from rowing forwards
to rowing backwards.
- HAS_SAILS_ON_BOARD -- Set to 'Yes' if the vessel is carrying sailing
equipment on board, 'No' if it was left ashore
somewhere.