I believe that is a yes to all. but since I haven't personally checked perhaps wait for a second opinion.

There are some limits to how much you can mod the interface, though. For example, you can't really change how the player portraits are displayed in the theme selection (if you look at the graphic file, the rows are like the theme index, and the columns are the races' pictures, so the game basically scrolls through the rows as the different themes).

Changing it for example to display a picture for the 4th race may be possible in theory. It won't be easy to change the screen to make room for the 4th picture, and I don't know if the game can take a variable number or if it's designed for 3 even if you make room.

yes to all......and check out 7 Deadly Sins while youre at it

So I've been happily changing the .str files and playing with unit properties and some basic interface changes, but I have a couple more questions! I couldn't find the answer here on these boards, so I'll ask up here.

1. Can I add new structure types? I want to break it into Frigate, Cruiser, and Capital, rather than Frigate/Cruiser and capital. Are new structures supported?

2. Can you change the name of structures on the fly as they get upgraded? Say I upgrade my sentry turret via tech... can I change the building to be a sentry turret Mk. II? Or is it all under the hood? (This is a minor one; just curious. ) If not structures, can ships be changed?

I'm sure I'll have more; thanks for the input! I'll share as to what I'm developing once I have more work done. Secret for now, unless you can guess from my post. ^^

Thanks!

--Kibb

Thanks Annatar!

And for the "If not structures, can ships be changed?" comment, I was referring to ship names. Say changing a ship name from 'Super Duper Cruiser' to 'SUPER-D-DUPER Cruiser' when you get upgrade X.

Oh! Another question!

I know there are Hull and Shield values for ship protection; are these the only 2 that can be used? What does the 'armor' value refer to? Is there any way I could make it Shield/Armor/Hull and have the armor act as the shield and hull do? Is that even possible to have the 3 HP values? I thought about hacking Antimatter to make it work, but... yeah, that's really a hack sort of thing.

Is it possible inside of SOASE to mod a 3rd HP value so I can have shield/armor/hull?

You've all been very helpfuil. I'm getting the hang of this now. Thanks for the help!

you might be able to do it with antimater but it would be hard for a captical ship since you will need to have it as a upgrade ability. the ability/buff system can be used in several diffrent ways to work around hardcoaded material.  it really comes down to fooling around with it enough to get what your looking for. keep in mond this would only "immitate" the effect, it wouldnt actualy be like having a 3rd value.

Good luck!!