*Salute*

Welcome to SCO report number twenty-seven under my command. Not an overly busy week but Kermee has cooked up an idea on a different implementation on how the patch archive is set up so that we might get more craft into circulation.

As submitted by CA Kermee:

Recently, a topic of discussion at the Science Office has been how to make the most out of the
limited number of available ship slots in XWA. What we want to do is allow as many craft to be
available for install alongside each other as possible, while still maintaining an ordered setup to
the available slots and having room for people to create new patches for use with their battles. In
considering this we've looked at planning for future expansion in the number of available patches
and also had to consider the limited number (around 30 or 40) free slots in XWA.

The solution we've come up with is to have the primary EH fighters & cap ships (eg. TIE Guardian
and the Sov), and certain other craft (such as the ESSD's) to be available for install alongside
each other, and possibly available as a larger all-in-one patch sometime in the future. Here, each
craft has a specific slot allocated to it and there should be no conflicts. This is already
implemented in the existing set of patches with installers.

Then, we have block of 5 slots which will be available for non-core patches to use. The idea is
that these can be used by patch creators for craft which will only likely feature in a few battles,
or have some other limited scope use. This will allow us to approve craft for use in a single battle
more easily, as we wont be permanently allocating a slot for craft which may never be used again.
However, these non-core or limited use patches must still meet some basic quality criteria before
getting approval (originality, timeline, quality, power and EH content criteria). Despite this, it
will be much easier, especially if you're already working on the battle. If in doubt, talk to us :P
I'd like to add that these limited use patches will still be available for anyone to use in
their battles. We can't and won't stop others from using your patch once its approved (but TAC may
stop them from blowing up your personal craft :P). Also, patch creators will be responsible for
marinating the ordering of their own patches. There are only 5 slots available and no two craft can
use the same slot at the same time :P Also, once a patch has been created it stays in a specific
slot, we wont be stocking multiple versions. So user beware when installing patches from multiple
authors, or hoping to use them in your battle (this may change in the future, but currently it is
impractical to have the same patch available for multiple slots).

Lastly, this new category does not replace the experimental craft category and only applies for
XWA at this point in time. You can still submit anything for an experimental craft, and you still
can not use experimental craft in your battles. Platforms other than XWA do not have the same number
of available slots and thus the idea of patches which install alongside one another isn't quite
practical.

Now go make some patches :P

And for those that are still confused, some definitions and example:
The SCO definition of an XWA 'slot': a combination of EXE slot, species # & specific line in
spacecraft0.lst. Just bug us for the details of which combinations are available for use in these
non-core patches.

Core patch: A custom fighter or cap ship in use by the fleet, such as the SSSD, Task Force Cruiser,
TIE Guardian, TIE Vanguard or Phalanx Interceptor Gunboat. (no, patches for all of these do not
exist yet but we'd welcome them!). Basically anything on the roster, in the Order of Battle, and a
few others, including major enemy craft that just-damn-look-cool.

Limited Use patch: Any fighter or cap ship approved for use in an EH Battle which is not in
widespread use. Such may include a personal craft, mission-modified ships, or limited production
craft (stolen, borrowed etc.) or craft from our enemies. As an example, the Ast-class tug would fit
into here if it where coming out today. We also have a pair of Bounty Hunters craft to go in this
category soon for an upcoming battle.

Experimental patch: A category for showing off craft without having to worry about formal approval
(other than "it works") and slots. Craft from this category can not be used in battles.

The other news worthy event of the week has been the release of the TIE Vanguard for XWA. This is an excellent opt by former SCOA LT MindB_ender. It can be found in the patch section of the SCO archive, a XvT version should be out shortly.

*Salute*
-------------------------------------------
SCO/AD Den Darkhill/CS-10/SSSD Sovereign
BSx2/PCx4/ISMx12/MoI-BC/IS-1BW-1PW/LoC/CoB/OV-2E [PLDN]
{IWATS-CBX-GFX-ICQ-IIC/1-M/1/2-PHP/1-SM/2-TT-VBS}
SW Den Darkhill(Sith)/House Ludo Kressh of Clan Naga Sadow
WR-RM w/2/DC-KC/(BN)
"Fly for Honor, Fly for Glory, come home in bodybag."