version 102.1 (for EV version 1.0.2, document version 1)
I've tinkered around a bit with creating plugins for EV, and one thing that I noticed about the Resource Bible is that it doesn't explain all of the interactions between the resource numbers as well as it could. I've created this guide to help in writing plugins.
I make a distinction, as does the Resource Bible, between a resource ID and an index number (or index#). Index numbers signify all available items of a certain EV-type, like a ship or a weapon. They are numbered 0 to (maximum of that type - 1). Also, many of the first few index numbers of an ev-type are used by the standard galaxy (as stored in the 'EV Data' file). Providing your own resources of these IDs will replace the standard ones (which is cool if that's your intention). See the EV Resource Bible for more details.
This document doesn't really introduce anything new; I've just taken everything that I could find about about resource numbers and presented it from that point of view. That's all. If you want to know what's actually in the resources, you'll need the Resource Bible.
Get the EV Resource Bible (if you don't have it already). The Resource Bible is what you need if you want to be writing plugins.
Incantations By EV-Type
Ships: Ships are ships, those things that you fly around in. Index numbers for ships run from 0-63, with 0-26 & 63 being used by the standard galaxy. Some related resources are...
• a shïp resource with ID = 128 + index# giving the technical description of the ship.
• a spïn resource with ID = 128 + index# for a custom graphic for the ship while flying around.
• a dësc resource with ID = 2000 + index# giving the ship class description shown in the shipyard.
• a dësc resource with ID = 2100 + index# giving the ship pilot description for the hire-escort dialog.
• a STR resource with ID = 3600 + index# giving a short shipyard name for display in the shipyard menu.
• a STR resource with ID = 3700 + index# giving a long shipyard name for ???.
• a STR resource with ID = 3800 + index# giving a short ship name for the communication dialog box.
• a 32x32 PICT resource with ID = 5101 + index# with a graphic of the ship for display in the shipyard menu.
• a 100x100 PICT resource with ID = 5000 + index# with a closeup graphic of the ship when it is selected in the shipyard.
• a 100x100 PICT resource with ID = 5300 + index# with a scan of the ship when it is targeted. See other PICTs in the 5300-5363 range to get an idea of the style graphic to use.
• a 128x64 PICT resource with ID = 3000 + index# with a scan of the ship for the 'hail ship' dialog box. This is typically a head-on view of the ship. See other PICTs in the 3000-3063 range to get an idea of the common graphic style.
Outfit Items: Outfit items are weapons and gadgets for ships. Index numbers for outfits run from 0-127, with 0-53 being used by the standard galaxy. In addition, due to resource numbering limitations, outfits from 100-127 can't have their own graphic in the 'outfit' dialog box (where you purchase stuff for your ship). This basically means that outfits with index numbers 100-127 aren't purchasable, but this is cool since they can be used for outfits that are granted by a mission. Resource used to create outfit items are...
• an oütf resource with ID = 128 + index# giving a techinical description of the outfit item.
• a dësc resource with ID = 3000 + index# giving the outfit item description as shown when the item is selected in outfitting dialog.
• a STR resource with ID = 3000 + index# giving the short outfit name for display in the outfitting dialog menu
• a STR resource with ID = 3200 + index# giving a lower case singular name of the outfit for display in the 'ship info' section of the player info dialog. You should test this string in EV to make sure that it makes sense gramatically.
• a STR resource with ID = 3400 + index# giving a lower case plural name of the outfit for display in the 'ship info' section of the player info dialog. This also should be tested in EV for grammar, though it is less likely to cause problems.
• a 100x100 PICT resource with ID = 6000 + index# with a closeup graphic of the outfit item when it is selected in the outfit dialog.
• a 32x32 PICT resource with ID = 6101 + index# with a graphic of the outfit for display in the outfit dialog menu.
Missions: Missions are missions that the player has the option of running. Index numbers for missions run from 0-255, with 0-115 being used by the standard galaxy.
• a mïsn resource with ID = 128 + index# giving a techinical description of the outfit item.
• a dësc resource with ID = 4000 + index# giving the initial mission description. [ Just what is the initial mission description and how does it relate to the other descriptions as pointed to in the mïsn resource? ]
• In addition, Stormbringer 1.0 (a plugin compatability system) makes the following suggestions for dësc resources for missions: briefing texts get ID = 5000 + index#; quick briefing texts get ID = 6000 + index#; ending texts get ID = 7000 + index#; and load cargo texts get ID = 8000 + index#.
OK, I guess those are the tricky ones. Check out the Resource Bible for the rest of the resources, but they should be pretty straight forward. Appendix III - Patching STR# Resources is an especially good read. If you have any comments, corrections, or suggestions, please send them my way to drew@io.com .
