Creating a Universe from the Command Line

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Other Game Setup Topics

For experienced hosts only

Use the following command to create a new game/universe without using Stars! setup dialogs:

stars!.exe -a game.def 

game.def has the following format, with arguments appearing in the order and groupings listed:

Game Name
Universe Size (0-4) Density (0-3) Starting Distance (0-3) [Random Seed, any #]
Maximum Minerals (0/1) Slow Tech (0/1) BBS Play (0/1) .... (other check boxes)
Number of Players (1-16)
Pathnames to race files, or AI descriptions
VC # of planets (0/1) Percent of planets (20-100)
VC Tech (0/1) Level (8-26) Fields (2-6)
VC Score (0/1) Score (1000-20000)
VC Exceeds nearest (0/1) (Percent (20-300)
VC Production (0/1) Capacity (10-500)
VC Capital Ships (0/1) Number (10-300)
VC Turns (0/1) Years (30-900)
VC Must Meet (0-7) Minimum Years (30-500)
New universe file name

• Random Seed

  The optional Random Seed number forces the universe to be created exactly the same each time, if you use the same Seed number.

  By keeping the same random seed and changing to order of players .r files, you can alter the players postions

  IT and PP mess with both of these properties

AI Descriptions

The AI description takes the form, "# N M", where N is the ID number of the AI and M is the skill level of the AI.

Race ids:

0=Random, 
1=Robotoids 
2=Turndrones 
3=Automitrons 
4=Rototills 
5=Cybertrons 
6=Mcinti 

Skill levels:

0=Random 
1=Easy 
2=Standard 
3=Tough 
4=Expert 

For example, # 1 4 specifies an expert Robotoid AI.

Example game.def file

("Save target as..." to download)

Tour of Duty
3 2 2 13424531
0 0 0 0 1 1 1
4
c:\stars\play\game.r1
c:\stars\play\game.r2
c:\stars\play\game.r3
# 2 1
1 60
1 26 4
0
1 150
0
1 100
0
2 150
c:\stars\play\game.xy

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This is a Frequently Asked Question