Energy Rebalance

[stranger]

Energy Rebalance
Latest OXZ - Version 0.3.0
Uploaded 28 February 2019

Energy Rebalance (Ship Configuration Compatible) aka Energy Rebalance SCC (modification made by phkb)
Latest OXZ - Version 0.2.0
Uploaded 28 February 2019

This OXP rebalances energy between shields and energy banks. If forward/aft shield level dropped below 25% of max capacity under fire, energy from banks is transferred directly onto shield in question, preventing damage of equipment and cargo, until energy banks are drained under 64 units.
If energy level drops below critical 32 unit level, energy transfer switches back from remaining shields to energy bank.
Well, Energy Rebalance looks as extremely simplified and fully automated "lite" version of Shield Cycler (author Lone_Wolf), but it is not equipment upgrade. It is redefined game mechanics.

Dependencies:

Energy Rebalance OXP requires Breakable Shield Generators & Breakable Energy Unit (author Capt Murphy).
Energy Rebalance SCC OXP requires Ship Configuration (author phkb).

Conflicts:

Energy Rebalance OXP is incompatible with Shield Equaliser+Capacitors (author CommonSense OTB) and with Shield Cycler / Shield Cycler Next (author Lone_Wolf).
It is also incompatible with Ship Configuration (author phkb). Use Energy Rebalance SCC in this case.

Credits:

Shield Cycler / Shield Cycler Next (author Lone_Wolf) - clear formulation of problem with energy damage and working way for fixing it.
IronHide (author Thargoid) - some code tricks (not included onto final code, but very helpful in testing of some ideas).
phkb - editing Energy Rebalance to adopt for Ship Configuration.

[phkb]

It is also incompatible with Ship Configuration (author phkb).

It looks like it wouldn't be hard to add compatibility with Ship Config. I'll see if I can put a small code snippet together.

[stranger]

It is also incompatible with Ship Configuration (author phkb).

It looks like it wouldn't be hard to add compatibility with Ship Config. I'll see if I can put a small code snippet together.

Nice! Ship Configuration seems a bit complicated for me, but it is very interesting project. I like idea of equipment bay with limited capacity.

[stranger]

Energy Rebalance OXP is presented in two versions now:

Energy Rebalance OXP in initial variant - dependent on Breakable Equipment and incompatible with Ship Configuration.
Energy Rebalance SCC (rewritten by phkb) - compatible with Ship Configuration. Thanks, phkb, for adopted SCC variant and sorry for such long delay!

[jackiebean]

sounds really cool. i wonder if someone will come up with crew variables for how well the energy rebalance behaves? not having an actual crew for some ships makes it a lot harder to handle all the crew stations, so something like your energy rebalance is very welcome.

[stranger]

i wonder if someone will come up with crew variables for how well the energy rebalance behaves?

Simulating crew is interesting idea and there are some tricks to do it. There are some pros and cons affecting gameplay also. I think it deserves separate discussion.

[stranger]

In both versions of Energy Rebalance added new feature. If energy level drops below critical 32 unit level, energy transfer switches back from remaining shields to energy banks.

Just for clarity: Energy Rebalance compensates only energy damage (laser hits and missile blasts). It will not compensate shield level drop caused by collision.

[stranger]

Extract from latest.log demonstrating how it works.

Modelled situation. Launched from Coriolis and open fire to nav beacon. You all know following events
Having laser fire from six o'clock.

Without Energy Rebalance

Taking aft shield damage

Code: Select all

06:19:44.251 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 3793 128+128 shield and 256 energy left
06:19:44.254 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 3793 128+122 shield and 256 energy left
06:19:44.256 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 3793 128+122 shield and 256 energy left
06:19:44.257 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 3793 128+116 shield and 256 energy left
...
06:19:45.302 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 3793 128+16 shield and 256 energy left
06:19:45.303 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 3793 128+10 shield and 256 energy left
06:19:45.432 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 3793 128+10 shield and 256 energy left
06:19:45.434 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 3793 128+4 shield and 256 energy left

Aft shield depleted. Taking direct energy damage.

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06:19:45.435 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 3793 128+4 shield and 256 energy left
06:19:45.437 [LogEvents]: taking 2 energy damage from GalCop Viper 3793 128+0 shield and 254 energy left
06:19:45.532 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 3793 128+0 shield and 255 energy left
06:19:45.534 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 3793 128+0 shield and 249 energy left
...
06:19:48.059 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 3793 128+0 shield and 7 energy left
06:19:48.060 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 3793 128+0 shield and 1 energy left
06:19:48.192 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 3793 128+0 shield and 1 energy left
06:19:48.194 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 3793 128+0 shield and -5 energy left
06:19:48.195 [LogEvents]: got energy damage from GalCop Viper 3793 and died!

BANG!

Now with Energy Rebalance.

Taking aft shield damage

Code: Select all

06:24:35.830 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+128 shield and 256 energy left
06:24:35.832 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+122 shield and 256 energy left
06:24:35.833 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+122 shield and 256 energy left
06:24:35.834 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+116 shield and 256 energy left
...
06:24:36.624 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+40 shield and 256 energy left
06:24:36.625 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+34 shield and 256 energy left
06:24:36.721 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+34 shield and 256 energy left
06:24:36.723 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+28 shield and 256 energy left

Aft shield level drops below 32. Starting energy transfer to stabilize aft shield.

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06:24:36.725 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+32 shield and 252 energy left
06:24:36.726 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+26 shield and 252 energy left
06:24:36.851 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+32 shield and 246 energy left
06:24:36.852 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+26 shield and 246 energy left
...
06:24:38.531 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+32 shield and 73 energy left
06:24:38.532 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+26 shield and 73 energy left
06:24:38.533 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+32 shield and 67 energy left
06:24:38.535 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+26 shield and 67 energy left

Energy drops below 64. Energy transfer aborted.

Code: Select all

06:24:38.645 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+32 shield and 61 energy left
06:24:38.647 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+26 shield and 61 energy left
06:24:38.648 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+26 shield and 61 energy left
06:24:38.649 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+20 shield and 61 energy left
...
06:24:38.754 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+14 shield and 62 energy left
06:24:38.755 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+8 shield and 62 energy left
06:24:38.885 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+9 shield and 62 energy left
06:24:38.887 [LogEvents]: taking shield damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+3 shield and 62 energy left

Aft shield depleted. Taking energy damage.

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06:24:38.889 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+3 shield and 62 energy left
06:24:38.890 [LogEvents]: taking 3 energy damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+0 shield and 58 energy left
06:24:38.986 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+0 shield and 59 energy left
06:24:38.987 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+0 shield and 53 energy left
...
06:24:39.125 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+0 shield and 41 energy left
06:24:39.127 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+0 shield and 35 energy left
06:24:39.230 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 128+0 shield and 36 energy left
06:24:39.232 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 17849 128+0 shield and 30 energy left

Energy drops below 32. Critical alert. Last hope - transfer energy from remaining forward shield.

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06:24:39.233 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 112+0 shield and 46 energy left
06:24:39.234 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 17849 112+0 shield and 40 energy left
06:24:39.336 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 112+0 shield and 40 energy left
06:24:39.338 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 17849 112+0 shield and 34 energy left
...
06:24:40.198 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 34+0 shield and 37 energy left
06:24:40.200 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 17849 34+0 shield and 31 energy left
06:24:40.201 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 17849 18+0 shield and 47 energy left
06:24:40.202 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 17849 18+0 shield and 41 energy left

Galcop Viper 17849 taking lunch break. 15 seconds later his teammate 16279 continue his work. Nothing personal, it's business.

Code: Select all

06:24:54.639 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 16279 47+0 shield and 41 energy left
06:24:54.641 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 16279 47+0 shield and 36 energy left
06:24:54.642 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 16279 47+0 shield and 36 energy left
06:24:54.643 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 16279 47+0 shield and 30 energy left
...
06:24:54.955 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 16279 15+0 shield and 38 energy left
06:24:54.956 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 16279 15+0 shield and 32 energy left
06:24:54.957 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 16279 15+0 shield and 32 energy left
06:24:54.958 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 16279 15+0 shield and 26 energy left

Forward shield depleted. Final phase.

Code: Select all

06:24:55.069 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 16279 0+0 shield and 42 energy left
06:24:55.071 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 16279 0+0 shield and 36 energy left
06:24:55.073 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 16279 0+0 shield and 36 energy left
06:24:55.074 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 16279 0+0 shield and 30 energy left
...
06:24:55.456 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 16279 0+0 shield and 7 energy left
06:24:55.458 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 16279 0+0 shield and 1 energy left
06:24:55.462 [LogEvents]: attacked by GalCop Viper 16279 0+0 shield and 1 energy left
06:24:55.463 [LogEvents]: taking 6 energy damage from GalCop Viper 16279 0+0 shield and -5 energy left
06:24:55.465 [LogEvents]: got energy damage from GalCop Viper 16279 and died!

It is testing situation. No any evasive maneuvers. In real combat you'll have good chance to take heavy fire and break contact without shield loss and equipment damage due to direct energy damage.
Energy capacity really matters now. Without energy rebalance you'll have only 1.2 s of military laser fire before shield collapse. Having energy rebalance you have 3.0 s safe exposure for your Cobra Mk III without upgrades.

[Redspear]

Interesting...
I look forward to trying it out. Thanks

[stranger]

@Redspear

Are you using Ship Configuration? It will be nice to have feedback for Energy Rebalance SCC too.

[Redspear]

No, sorry... It's a very fine oxp just a bit too much 'accountancy' for my tastes. 10-15 years ago it probably would have been one of my favourites.

Besides, I've been updating Equipment by Ship Class - long overdue and simpler approach to the same idea. Less ambitious and much more clumsily coded