14 February 2004

The first version of the Galaxy Import utility is now available for testing. You may download the tool here. In order to use the import tool, you must be a registered user with access to Starfire Online enabled.

The current version of the tool supports files produced by GSFUtils 0.5.3 beta in the compact format. The final version of the tool will support both compact and verbose format files from GSF Utils as well as files produced by Galaxy46.

After importing your data, you may navigate through your systems using the browser-based navigation tool found here (users who are not yet registered or who do not have access to Starfire Online may preview the browser-based tool here).

29 January 2004

We will shortly begin testing of several Space Master Aides. The initial tools will include system and scenario editors, a map tool for viewing a collection of systems connected by a network of warp points, and a contact generator allowing Space Masters to enter movement orders for player units and fleets and determine when and where detection events occur.

We will also be releasing a tool supporting Space Masters who have system data in GSFUtil format (and possibly also in Galaxy43 format), allowing them to import their pre-generated systems and use them with the Space Master Aides.

Few games offer a job as challenging as that of the Starfire Space Master: generate hundreds of star systems for the campaign; link them together through warp points; audit players for "accounting errors;" manage non-player races; generate contacts between potentially hostile forces. What was the total capacity of that warp point? How long does it take to transit from System A to System X? The sheer volume of data to manage can be an accountant's nightmare! Space Master Aides give you tools to manage the data driving your campaign. And the tools interface directly to the Tactical Combat system, allowing you to set up battles for your players who are also subscribers.

The Starfire Space Master Aides are tools to simplify the tasks associated with running a Starfire campaign. The tools will allow space masters to quickly and easily generate and manage the data required for a campaign. The first tools provided will focus on generating the environment in which the game will be played. This will include tools to generate and view astrogation data and non-player empires. Subsequent additions will provide a means for recording player movement orders, using them to generate contact events between players or with non-player empires, and the ability to set up tactical battles for players who are also subscribers.

System Editor

The System Editor is derived from the scenario editor built for the Starfire Online Tactical Space Combat game. The tool allows a user to build a new system or edit an existing system. Users can link Systems through warp points, and define a variety of conditions (such as nebulae and special nebula effects). Users will be able to print the systems they generate to support campaigns played offline.

Scenario Editor

The Scenario Editor is derived from the scenario editor built for the Starfire Online Tactical Space Combat game. A user may build a new scenario or edit an existing scenario. The user may place the scenario in a previously defined system, and may constrain the scenario to a region surrounding a star, planet, warp point, or other system feature; to define the scenario to be played in open space, or to define other conditions such as a warp point assault.

The tool will allow Space Masters to place fixed and mobile forces in a system as part of the scenario definition, and to place features such as populations, silos, hiding places, and facilities in the system. For non-player empires, users will be able to specify attributes governing the empire's behavior.

Users will be able to print the scenarios they generate to support campaigns played offline. Scenarios generated by the Scenario Editor will also work in the Starfire Online Tactical Space Combat game, allowing Space Masters to set up games for their players who are also Starfire Online subscribers.

Astrogator

Astrogator is a visualization tool that will allow Space Masters to browse a network of warp-point-connected systems visually. The tool will support two modes of viewing a collection of systems:

• system-centered - the user selects a system and sees the network of all systems within two warp transits of the selected system;
• route-based - the user specifies a route between an origin system and a destination system, and sees all systems within one warp transit of any system on the path.

Contact Generator

The Contact Generator will allow a Space Master to enter movement orders for all the players in a campaign managed by the Space Master. The tool will allow the Space Master to generate a report of all contact events that occur as a result of player movement. The tool will also provide a mechanism for generating a scenario definition that the Space Master may edit through the Scenario Editor. The resulting scenario will be printable for play off-line, or used with the Tactical Space Combat game if the players are also subscribers.

Galaxy Importer

The Galaxy Importer will provide a mechanism for Space Masters to import their existing Starfire systems for use with Space Master Aides.

We Want to Hear From You!

The Starfire Space Master Aides are intended to be tools to simplify the life of a Space Master. The types of tools we intend to provide include system generators, NPR generators, galaxy visualization tools, and book keeping tools for tracking player turns. We anticipate tools development to be an ongoing process, with existing tools evolving and new tools being added as the community requests them.

Additional support and visualization tools will be developed based upon input from Space Masters, with the goal of simplifying their book keeping and allowing them to do their real job: help their players have fun.

Now is the time to make your voice heard! Let us know what tools you most desire, and the features you want in those tools.