Oh, yes. Almost forgot to mention this. This mod (as well as the base game) really needs some improvements with ship terror missions. The significant part of X-COM success is due to randomly generated maps. And in TFTD we have only 2 static ships. Adding to the game more ship maps is actually not very good solution, because, no matter how many static maps are added to the game, they cannot compensate random generation. I don't know how hard it will be (if possible at all) to make alien spawns more random. Static maps by themselves are not particularly big problem. But aliens spawning at the same places over and over again definitely is a problem.
I think that aliens spawn randomly ...
all is about setting nodes in RMP file .. there is defined priority and rank so if you create enough nodes for each rank with same priority,
then the unit placement will be quite random ...
You can try my map for 1st level of naga city thas has fixed skeleton with some block variety ...
The ships can be enhanced in the same way ..
1) cut them in blocks (cinema / pool / restaurant) , (engines), (cabins/storage/ restroom ), (landing zone) , (top deck)
2) design several (2-4) ship types [30x50,30x60,30x80] with height 2- 4 (6? - just for high control tower)
for both categories (CARGO, LINER)
that uses fixed blocks [10 x 10, 10 x 20, 10 x 30]
3) adjust mission generation that smaller ships are used in the beginning and larger in later stages
The problem with random is that ship is usually long and thin and you should keep meaningful layout of structures
however I can imagine and create these 1level design ships (inspired by reality) :
- big cargo ship filled with containers with huge control tower and cabins on stern
- carrier with control tower on side with huge open space inside with some elevators (may try use typhoon graphics to create some jets )
- fishing boat with whale in huge space inside surrounded by bridges, elevators, cranes, and another huge frozen storage space filled with canes and boxes
- small ship with only two decks
- huge ferry
- 0 engines,
- 1,2 wast space with few creates (if only I have some map tiles with cars)
- 3 restaurant
- 4 few cabins entertainment and bridge
- 5 small restaurant surrounded by open space
