BRIDGE COMMANDER QUESTIONS:

1. How do I get these new ships to work with Bridge Commander?

2. I've installed the mod just like the readme file told me to, why doesn't it work? When I try to use the ship, Bridge Commander crashes!

4. How do I make my own Bridge Commander ships, and what tools do I need to do so?

ANSWER 1: How do I get these new ships to work with Bridge Commander?

Adding ships to Bridge Commander is alot easier thanks to Daniel B. Houghton (aka Dasher42). He wrote the 'Foundation Plugin System' which is a fancy name for something that makes it possible to add ships to Bridge Commander.

The only thing I think I should add here, is that it's generally accepted that you
should INSTALL A SEPARATE COPY OF BRIDGE COMMANDER BEFORE YOU START ADDING SHIPS TO IT.
This is because Bridge Commander relies heavily on working Python scripts, and if you make the smallest error... say, an extra space in the wrong place... Bridge Commander will refuse to work.
So save yourself some grief and practice on a second install of the game, so you don't get upset when it refuses to start up. Then you can play your original Bridge Commander install when you get frustrated.
Sounds like a plan, huh?

To install a second copy of Bridge Commander, put in the install CD and just install it to a different directory than the first time you installed it. Maybe you could install it to a directory called 'Bridge Commander_MODIFIED' so it'll be easy to tell them apart.

After you've installed a second copy of Bridge Commander, or if you're a brave and foolhearty type that doesn't want to bother, go on to step 1.

Step 1: Installing the Foundation Plugin System

First off, you're going to need to install the 'Foundation Plugin System' if
you want to use it, of course. If you've already installed the 'Foundation Plugin System', and you just want to add a new ship, skip over to step 2. You only have to install the 'Foundation Plugin System' once.

If you *do* need to install the foundation plugin system, you first need to download it!

Download the newest version HERE

Alright... when you've downloaded it to your desktop, unzip it to the desktop.
Now look in the file with Explorer and you should see something like this:

All of the files in this folder have to be copied into the ROOT of the Bridge Commander folder. (the 'Bridge Commander MODIFIED' folder, that is. heheh)

Just select them all, and copy them into the root of Bridge Commander, like so:

You will probably get a warning from Windows saying something like this:

That's OK, the folder names are the same but you're not copying over any files. Just click OK and let the files copy.

Are you done that? Well, hey! You just installed the Foundation Plugin system! That was too easy!

You're all set, the system is in place and ready to go. Now let's tackle adding a new ship...

Step 2: Installing a new ship

This is kinda the scariest step because there are no standard ways of installing ships. Some modders will release zip files that simply include the files you need to use their ship, while others will distribute full-blown install programs that do almost everything for you.

Since the full blown install programs do everything and you don't have to worry about it, let's concentrate on when the modder has left you high and dry with a zip file and no a clue what to do with it. =)

Here is an example, my Eximius Class battlecruiser. Ships will usually come with at least a data and scripts folder, although some might have more files to add functionality like weapons and sounds:

What you have to do is select all of these files and copy them to your Bridge Commander directory, the same as you did with the Foundation Plugin System:

You will probably get that warning from Windows again saying that the folder you're moving is already there, yadda yadda... that's OK.

As a final note, you see that file above called 'Eximius Class.txt'? Well, the author will include a readme file like that... it'll include stuff like credits (which are always important to read).

The ship is now installed! Right?
Maybe.

One detail remains... you see, since the foundation plugin system has gone through several versions, old mods are not automatically compatible with it.

This is no big problem though, and is usually very easy to fix. Just make sure that if a ship installed files into the Bridge Commander/Scripts/plugins folder that you move all of these files into the Bridge Commander/Scripts/Custom/Ships folder. This will move the files that the new foundation plugin system needs to insert a ship... see the diagram below:

If there were files to move, and you move'd em, you're good to go.

Step 3: Turning the *ON* switch

OK... everything should be Kosher and you're good to go, right?
Well... sort of.

Now that the Foundation Plugin System is installed, you have to turn it on.
To do that, start Bridge Commander. (The copy that you have modified and added ships to). Once the opening movie is done, you'll see the screen below. Click the 'CONFIGURE' button:

There... if you've clicked it, you should now see a screen like this:

See the 'MUTATORS' button above? Click it to see this screen:

There!
Now, make sure those three options to the right have been selected as they are in the picture... Stock Systems, Stock Ships, and Extra ships and Mods should ALL be checked and have a yellow dot beside them. This indicates that Bridge Commander is ready to use custom ships. You're good to go!

Step 4: Try it out

Now you can ALMOST try it out. Just a few more things to remember:

When you do, make damn sure that if you've installed 2 versions of Bridge Commander, that you're trying out the right one.
After doing all this work to your extra install, trying your original install would be a sign of the hopelessness of humanity's future, and I wouldn't want to be reminded of that.

Remember also that some ships will not list properly in the quickbattle menus. Most ships will be listed improperly under 'other ships', and they might show up as '???' instead of their proper class name.
This is OK, it's a limitation of the Foundation Plugin System, but there are talented people working to fix that.

Alright, fingers crossed - NOW TRY BRIDGE COMMANDER! If it doesn't crash before the startup movie, chances are good that it works. =)

If it DOES crash, check answer 2 below: 'I've installed the mod just like the readme file told me to, why doesn't it work? When I try to use the ship, Bridge Commander crashes?'

Good luck and good hunting!

- Cleeve
www.STARYARDS.com

ANSWER 2: I've installed the mod just like the readme file told me to, why doesn't it work? When I try to use the ship, Bridge Commander crashes?

Hmmm.

If you just can't get it to work, post your problem on a Bridge Commander site's message board. Maybe it's a problem with the mod itself, so ask around.

ANSWER 3: How do I make my own Bridge Commander Ships, and what tools do I need to do so?

PROBABLY NOT COMING SOON!!!!