The Ur-Quan Masters Discussion Forum

Before I report this bug to Bugzilla I wan't to double-check that I am not reading it wrong or something of that nature. Here goes!

When you talk to the probe's homeworld (The Slyrandro) about the probes they say:

Q: You mentioned the probe's defensive capabilities. Elaborate.
           A:That behavior was hard-coded by the Melnorme.
               We couldn't mess with it.
               Essentially, the probe will only fire its weapons if it has been attacked and cannot communicate with the attacker.  

Q. And when defending itself, it uses its lightning weapon?
       A. No. The probe is armed with a battery of missiles.
           It doesn't use its electrical discharge device in combat.

Q. Missiles? It only attacked us with lightning!
            A.That's impossible! It's inconceivable!
                The electrical discharge device is used only for breaking down raw replication materials
                 into their component compounds for easy gathering.

Ok - Now when you talk to a probe about (say the weather ::) ) it say say an answer and then the reproductive program will kick-in resulting in combat with the lighnting weapon. Rightfully so because it is trying to break down minerals into supplies it can use for  reproducing itself.  (Come to think of it you would not see lightning in space because there is no atoms for the electricity to cause friction with which results in light that we see - but I like the special effects that happens when you can see it ;) )
Anyway, if YOU attack the probe (through selecting combat instead of talking) my logic dictates that the probe will defend itself with missiles. The only problem is it does not -  it dos the lighntning weapon! - See any holes in my thinking?                                                  

No, but you're deliberately missing the point.

Let me be the first to ask you not to file a bug about this, as I see no chance of it getting fixed. The Probe, as programmed by the SC2 creators, does not have any sort of missile capability and there's no way the core developers would add one in.

Anyway, you're right that technically the probe should use its missiles against you if you attack without talking, but you're missing the point that the probes should always be using missiles in combat. If it bothers you that much, just assume that the probe does a priority check before engaging in combat and realizes that it should be breaking down your ship, not attacking it.

1.  The ship, as written now, does not have a missle weapon; its primary weapon is the lightning.  So it is not a "bug"

2.  The Probe's programming is supposed to be screwed up, to the extent that accquiring raw materials overrides ALL other behaviours, up to and including self-defense.  Thisis shown in-game if you threaten to attack the probe ("DEFENSE SYSTEM HAS BEEN ENGAGED. HOSTILITIES COMMENCE.  PRIORITY OVER-RIDE. NEW BEHAVIOR DICTATED.  MUST BREAK TARGET INTO COMPONENT MATERIALS.")  So one can assume that if you start shooting at them, the self-defense circuitry engages, then the priority override takes effect, so you only see the lightning weapon.

My vote:  Internally and externally consistent.

The more I think about it you are right - This is not a problem for Bugzilla - However how hard would it be to add into the game?  It does not SOUND that hard, however being not a programmer I do not know. Anyone with more experience with programming can give some input on how hard it would be to put in?  

Step 1:  Download Timewarp (http://www.classicgaming.com/starcontrol/timewarp/).

Step 2:  Add the "Slylandro Probe2" to your fleet.

Step 3:  Enjoy.

Step 4: Ignore all "I hate Timewarp" posts to follow.

Hey guys, hate it or not, it does have the missle firing Sylandro.

And Nic makes a sound argument for why it shouldn't use missilises ing-game. Lightning wins out every time. Case closed.

I am with Nic. Again, he is right.

If Nic hadn't pointed it out, I would've. The defense behavior is being overridden by the mineral gathering behavior.

Nit pick: It's "MUST BREAK TARGET INTO COMPONENT COMPOUNDS" :P

I respectfully suggest that you check your subtitle file again.  for instance, here is the relevant portion from mine:

slyland.txt

That's a difference between PC and 3DO.  It was "compounds" in the original.

(http://www.oap-sloth.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/owned.gif)

When will people learn not to argue with Nic? He is ALWAYS right.

Being new to these forums I have yet to learn that! :'(  - I think I will get it eventually though.....   :)

This time I were right too. ;D

Back to the point shall we?

Naah. Another nit pick:

It should be "NEGATIVE" when Chmmr say "NO", instead of that boring "NO". :P

As we are speaking of UQM, technically you weren't right. Had we been specifically speaking about the original SC2, pc version, you would've been.

But as this topic is about someone thinkign to report a bug to bugzilla (an occurence that seldom happens for the original SC2, but which happens on a regular basic for UQM), it is implied that this thread is UQM specific, not SC2 specific. And whilst UQM does aim to be a perfect conversion of the 3DO SC2, I seem to recall (and do correct me if I'm wrong, not quite sure of this one), there has been no mention of it ever being a perfect reproduction of the PC version. Since the code is, you know, lost and all...

Therefore, through flawless reasoning, I have yet again declared you incorrect my good sir! Haha! [/snottiness]

I feel an overwhelming urge to suggest a new race called the Nikinlukipela over on the TW boards; a race that's always right.  ;D

Just make sure that they are dashing, hansdsome and cool.

Lukipela, I'm normally not one to point out typographic errors, but you seem to have misspelled "obsessive fanboys".

Perhaps it's yet another case "International English vs. American English" rearing its head.  :P

(http://www.oap-sloth.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/owned.gif)

To make it worse, I actually went back to my thread and looked for the phrase "obsessive fan boy"...  :-[

Oh well...

*Hits DJ over the head with a pillow.

There, now I feel better.

not my thread man...

fill me in... what was the point of that HUGE quote and post which said nothing?

I guess that he wanted to show that this was the first time in UQM forum history that it was not his topic that was ended in a pillow fight :)  
What does this all mean - Well that means we need to make bigger pillowfights on Deep Jiffa's Topics!!! ;D ;D  - Though I don't understand what is so bad about having a pillow fight on your own topic - I mean, the question got answered (Rather quickly I might add!) so what else is the topic good for!  

*With that he hits DJ over the head with a pillow as he tries to get up - unfortuatly he puts to much force in the hit resulting in the pillow bursting and him falling over on the floor  next to DJ*

Actually DJ, I don't care wether a topic is yours or not. If it has seemed that I've been out to "get" your topics, then I apologize. Basically, any topic where the original question has been answered is a viable place for pillowfighting. I find it helps relieve stress, especially after Nic puttin it to me that well...

(http://www.oap-sloth.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/owned.gif)
*No more mister nice Guy!!!*

(http://www.oap-sloth.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/uzi.gif)     Nic
(http://www.oap-sloth.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/troutslap.gif)<===Lukipela
(http://www.oap-sloth.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/AR15firing.gif)   guesst
Necro <=== (http://www.oap-sloth.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/bash.gif)

Anyone else wants some!??! (http://www.oap-sloth.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/comeandgetsome.gif)

D_999 zooms by at 0.8 C and an impact parameter to DJ of exactly the range of a PLIED attack. Of which he recently released two. DJ is hit by 35 pillows at high speed, and D_999 is out of range in the blink of an eye.

You were saying "0\/\/|\|!=<|"?

Smilies aren't everything.

After being repeatedly hit over the head with a hammer, NECRO falls to the floor...where another NECRO drags him away from the fracas. Suddenly, ten thousand more NECRO's appear, all with pillows and an sinister grin directed at DJ.

"Own this!" Screams the bloodied NECRO.

Simultaneously, ten thousand pillows converge on DJ; some swung, many thrown, and a few lobbed, but all connecting in the largest cloud of feathers man/alienkind has ever seen and more than anyone ever concieved could possibly be in one place at one time.

Don't attack a man that's got more of himself waiting to warp your life into a tragic period of pillow fights and feather clouds.

I never thought that pillow fights could get so hi tech with it comes to smilies! - Neat idea DJ. Don't forget what got you here though...

**Thinks to himself** "I wonder why everyone is ganging up on DJ?" He looks over and see DJ banging everyone with a hammer, a trout, pistol and a machinegun. "Oh - That is why!!!"


*FalconMWC gets up and hits DJ over the head in a regular down fluff pillow for the finishing touches after seening a few thousand Necros throw pillows at DJ *

EDIT: Thanks Necro - I knew something was fishy about leaving LP out  :P

He slapped Luki around with a large trout, as well.
*mIRC reference, tee hee :P*

I will skip the "owned" part... ;D

*While I am surrounded by everyone in this forum, +9999 Necro, I find myself in an hopeless situation. ((http://www.oap-sloth.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/help.gif))But wait! I didn't use my special attack!*

DJ:"F.R.I.E.D? Nah, not original... Plasma pillow? Too weak... I know!!!"

-^USE THE FORCE JIFFA!^-

(http://www.oap-sloth.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/fart.gif)

Now I only need to find a way to escape...

(http://www.oap-sloth.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/toilet.gif) Give me a hand? Or just pull the handle...

As DJ is trying to escape FalconMWC stands over him. "You forget DJ that your Jedi mind tricks do not work on robots!" (At least I think they don't, I haven't watched Star Wars so I am guessing) **FalconMWC smacks DJ one more time, but the force the the pillow coming down allows DJ to escape**

(No - This post was not the only reason I changed my picture - I had been meaning to change it for a while - but this Pillow fight reminded me!)

I have got plenty of smiles... try me ;)

Where do you get all of your smiles? - A website or program? - I have to admit they look pretty cool.

Karhfaäsa... I always compare to the original. In every damn aspect. Thus I am correct also.

You soon make me want to just get a 386 comp, install SC2 (THE ORIGINAL PC VERSION == BEST) and play it. Keep your typos.

DJ: Bring it on!

Oh yea? You are just an old man....

(http://www.oap-sloth.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/anti-old.gif)

(http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/waffen/violent-smiley-041.gif)

It is amazing what a little google search can do you know....

(Before today I always thought that pillow fights were done with text. I guess I was wrong!)

m60....
Nah.... I can bring you better.... even Redeemer.

I've seen a Redeemer one where the smilie fires, but guides it back into his own dumb self. Random vicera and red wallpaper insue.

In response to your original question, the solution is simple, you see, the Prob PRIORITY OVER-RIDE. NEW BEHAVIOR DICTATED.  MUST BREAK TARGET INTO COMPONENT MATERIALS.
<Eran proceeds to turn in his chair while moving it diagonally in the room, constantly spurting "bzzz bzzz bzzz" from his mouth">

p.s
I can't believe no one has posted this yet. Call yourselves obsessive fanboys...

Obsessive? Maybe... but you are, well how do I put it? (http://www.oap-sloth.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/wacky.gif)

To expand on Deep-Jiffa's comment:

Well, we've been at this for almost a year and a half now.  This has a tendency to put one in a more adult, 'welcome to the real world' view of the project -- and thus to try to work what quotes we do make into something at least slightly more subtle, or, optimally, even relevant to the topic at hand.