In trying to mod the modifiers for the effects of modules I have discovered that I cannot implement negative values. For example I would like to add a modifier to decrease ship evasion for the plasma intensifier to offset the benefits and discourage stacking. I've tried adjusting the min/maxs but to no avail.

Could you please allow for negative bonuses on modules and weapons?

I'm not a Dev but could you give me an example of the exact modifications you are trying ?

As when it comes to -1 in MinValue's & MaxValue's They can mean -infinity & +infinity respectively (See Public/Simulation/HapppinessStatusSetDefinitions.XML)

<!-- Ecstatic -->
<HappinessStatusDefinition Name="HappinessStatusEmpire4" MinValue="85" MaxValue="-1">
<SimulationDescriptorReference Name="HappinessStatusEmpire4"/>
</HappinessStatusDefinition>

But Negative Numbers can be used in Modifiers just fine and are used quite often (mostly in battle related stuff)

<SimulationDescriptor Name="ColonizedStarSystemInfluenceStateOwnerFriend" Type="ColonizedStarSystemInfluenceState">
   <Modifier TargetProperty="NetSystemMoney"           Operation="Percent"       Value="-.25"/>
   <Modifier TargetProperty="NetSystemResearch"        Operation="Percent"       Value="-.25"/>
   <Modifier TargetProperty="NetSystemEmpirePoint"     Operation="Percent"       Value="-.25"/>
</SimulationDescriptor>

Painter448 wrote:

I'm not a Dev but could you give me an example of the exact modifications you are trying ?

As when it comes to -1 in MinValue's & MaxValue's They can mean -infinity & +infinity respectively (See Public/Simulation/HapppinessStatusSetDefinitions.XML)

<!-- Ecstatic -->
<HappinessStatusDefinition Name="HappinessStatusEmpire4" MinValue="85" MaxValue="-1">
<SimulationDescriptorReference Name="HappinessStatusEmpire4"/>
</HappinessStatusDefinition>

But Negative Numbers can be used in Modifiers just fine and are used quite often (mostly in battle related stuff)

<SimulationDescriptor Name="ColonizedStarSystemInfluenceStateOwnerFriend" Type="ColonizedStarSystemInfluenceState">
   <Modifier TargetProperty="NetSystemMoney"           Operation="Percent"       Value="-.25"/>
   <Modifier TargetProperty="NetSystemResearch"        Operation="Percent"       Value="-.25"/>
   <Modifier TargetProperty="NetSystemEmpirePoint"     Operation="Percent"       Value="-.25"/>
</SimulationDescriptor>

Yes negative numbers are used throughout but they don't appear to work for upgrades like modules and weapons.  I tried a whole slew of variations but you just can't seem to get it to give a negative bonus.

As for examples, you could try the one above. Take a energy weapon upgrader like the plasma intensifier (the one that gives bonus to your energy weapons) and then add a negative bonus to evasion...or movement or anything really. It just won't seem to take because I think they are hard coded somewhere. I found a file that deals with min/maxs and tried tweaking that but still no good.

I don't know why they aren't working, I may have an in-depth look into it later on if no progress is made (currently I'm focusing on understanding other ares)

Spaz wrote:

In case you're still looking for the answer :

a property can not be negative unless it's been specified it can in its declaration. By default a property has a MinValue of 0, and so can not be negative.

Both the Evasion property on Module and Ship do not have a MinValue, you need to modify those two ( add MinValue="Negative" ?or Minvalue="1" if it's really a percentage? ).

Modifying the property of ClassModuleDefense will mean that a module can have a negative Evasion

Modifying the property on ClassShip will mean that a Ship can have a negative Evasion

In addition and to specify: 
You need to modify the files: Simulation/Battles/SimulationDescriptors[ModuleDefense].xml
> Add MinValue="Negative" to take into account the minimum value of the "Evasion" property: <Property Name="Evasion" BaseValue="0" MinValue="Negative"/>
> Add the property to the module you want to change (here, the base defense module on starter ships "ModuleDefenseHullPlating1"): <Modifier TargetProperty="Evasion" Operation="Addition" Value="-0.1"   Path="ClassModuleDefense"/>

You need to modify the file: Gui/Miscellaneous/PanelFeatureModuleEffectsDefinition.xml
> To change the minimum value (%) for the "Evasion" property: currently "0", change for "-1" to allow the "-100%" maximum negative value: <Item Name="Evasion" Title="%PanelFeatureModuleEvasionTitle" MinValue="-1" IsPercentage="true"/>

I create an example module that changes the base defense module to add a "-10% evasion" value.
You can try it here: EvasionModule.zip

Hi Dagart,

While you're right, the module ModuleDefenseHullPlating1 will reduce Evasion, I think the requestor was looking for a weapon that would inflict -10% evasion upon an enemy ship that it's firing on, ie, negate 10% of the Evasion on an enemy ship. 

As in all coding, there's six ways to do the same thing. IMO, the easiest counter to Evasion would be the weapon property Accuracy. In order to knock down 10% Evasion, bump *up* Accuracy a like amount. 

Another option would be to clone the property OpponentEnergyWeaponAccuracyPercent. It looks like that property affects an enemy vessel.

He yes! Sorry for the misunderstanding :)
The way you give Knyghtefall is good!