Universal-Constructor (Beta) Readme File
10/16/00 Edward Gann
e-mail: egann@mindspring.com
ICQ: 93254615
I also frequent the ION Storm BB's. postings there will be noticed.


******The Universal Constructor Mod*************

Mission Statement (Gimem a break;): No really, this is a mission statement.  I loved DX, thought is was one of the best if not the best FPS made.  But I also felt there were some problems, mainly that the game was too easy but there was also a lot of useless equipment.

The Universal Constructor Mod is designed to fix some of the problems in the game.  In this version I have changed some of the Augs, changed all of the Charged Pickups (Tech Goggles, Ballistic Armor, etc.), and created a Store.  My Goals is to make the Augs and Charged Pcikups more useful, and allow money to be spent in mods to this fantastic game.

In addition, I plan to add some major AI changes to make the game more challenging. Much of this will be scaled by level also.  These changes will all be packaged into a single mod called the Universal Constructor that will be available for any Mod maker out there.  There are already several Mods being planned that are going to use the UC system, including one based on John Carpenters movie "They Live", A cyberpuck mod based on the ShodowRun world, and a Stay with UNATCO mod.  (In some cases there are other teams working on similar mods.)

I am deploying this Beta in an effort to get some help and provide some assistance. If you can help me by using these mods in the exisitng game and testing them for me an making recommendations, it would save us some time testing and at the same time insure that different ideas can be incorporated into the UC project.

Anyway, enough of that, lets get on with it.

********INSTALLATION***********

Copy the file DeusExUC.u to your ...deusex\system folder. In the ...deusex\system, find the file User.ini and change the line:

	Class=DeusEx.JCDentonMale
to
	Class=DeusExUC.MeUC

When you start Deus Ex the changes will automatically be loaded.  You should be able to summon any objects using the cheats.  If you want to add Objects to your maps or load the code, then start UnRealEd, select Classes in the upper right, and press the load button to load the DeusExUC.u file.

*******RELEASE NOTES**********

This mod includes some changes to the three areas of the DX Game system; 

	1. Some of the Augs have been changed.
	2. The Charged Pickups have all been changed.
	3. I've created Store Items so that most things can be easily purchased.

In addition, JCDentonMale has been replaced with MeUC in order to facilitate these changes.


*********Testing**********
There are three primary goals I wish to achieve by releasing this beta.
	
	1. Have Bug reported so they can be fixed.
	2. Insure that the mods don't unbalance the game too much.
	3. Get feedback from you as to how to improve the UC




*********The Mods************

There are three main areas of Mod Changes.  Changes to Augs, Charged Pickups, and the UC Store.  In addition, JCDentonMale has been SubClassed into MeUC in order to incorporate the changes.

*********The Augs***********

I've changed several of the Mods to make them passive, that is they don't drain energy until they are actually used.  There are some more that I'll be changing in the future. These Augs are:

The Ballistic Shield is now AugBallisticUC
The EMP Shield is now AugEMPUC
The Enviro Shield is now AugEnviroUC
The Energy Shield is now AugShieldUC 

Each of these is a subclass of the existing Aug.  None of them drain Energy over time anymore, but they will drain energy equal to the damage they absorb from an attack. That means they can be left on all the time.

	*****Future Mod Alert: I'm going to do something Similar with the Strength, 	Speed/Jump, Active Defense, Swimming, Healing, and Synthetic Heart Augs shortly.

	*****Future Mod Alert: I'm going to make the Power Recirculator on all the time and 	not drain any energy.  

	
Aug Coding Notes: I subclassed Augmentation Manager to handle the changes.  MeUC destroys the AugmentationSystem created in DeusExPlayer and replaces it with an AugmentationManagerUC. This allows the UI to access the AugmentationSystem in DeusExPlayer while the Augs are controlled by AugmentationSystemUC in MeUC.

********Charged Pickups***********

Armor, Rebreathers, Tech Goggles, etc were very under utilized in the game.  I've made efforts to change that.  One thing I've done is eliminated the Enviro Skill, although it's still in the game at this time, it doesn't do anything in the UC Mods.  I would be willing to take suggestions on what to replace it with.  (My thoughts are Climbing right now.)

Ballistic Armor is now Armor_BallisticUC 
The Hazmat Suit is now Armor_HazMatUC 

Similar changes to the Augs, they don't deteriorate over time, only due to damage.  The Augs and the Armors are Stackable, the augs take the damage first and reduce it by a percentage based on their level, then the Armors take the remaining damage and reduce it by 35% for ballistic and 50% for Hazmat. (These are equivalent to a Level 2 Aug of the same type.)


The Thermo Armor is now CP_AdaptiveArmorUC
The Rebreather is now CP_RebreatherUC
The Tech Gggles are now CP_TechGogglesUC

All are rechargeable using Prod Charger Ammo.  They each hold 2000 units of energy and one Prod cell will recharge 100 points.  The Tech Goggles drain 1 point per tick, the Rebreather 2 points, and the Thermo Armor 4 points.  

To recharge them, put them in your hand and hit the Semi-colon (;).  

The Tech Goggles now work like a Level 2 Vision Aug instead of a level 1.  The Rebreather only drains when you are actually in the water.  

All of the Charged Pickups and Armor are all removable.


	****Future Upgrade Alert.  I'm going to design IR and UV Laser Alarms that cannot be 	seen with the Naked Eye.  Your Tech Goggles will become valuable.

	****Possible Future Upgrade Alert.  If you pick up an additional Charged Pickup, I'm 	thinking about having it recharge whatever is in Inventory.

Armor Coding Notes: I subclassed Charged Pickups into ArmorUC, then copied the Ballistic Armor and Hazmat into new Classes under ArmorUC. This probably wasn't necessary, but I think Armor may change a lot as new ideas come in so I wanted the flexibility.

Charged Pickup Coding Notes: I subclassed ChargedPickups into ChargedPickupsUC and then copied these classes into Subclasses of ChargedPickupUC.  (Just like armor.)  

********The Store*********

DeusExStoreUC 

I have created a number of Decorations that look like different types of Ammo, Weapons, and other Pickups.  They are all under the DeusExUCStore which is a subclass of DeusExPickup. 

All of the Items names are preceded with the word Store, followed by the name of the Item, followed by the designation UC.

When you put one of these decorations on the Map, you will need to open the Properties and set the Price and Quantity under DeusExUCStore properties. Once set, the player can target the Store Decoration and it will display the Item being sold, the Price and the Quantity. (Probably should add available credits huh?)

When they frob on it, the Item will be added to their Inventory and the Credits will be removed provided they, have enough credits and enough room in their Inventory.  Once the quantity reaches 0, the Item will be destroyed.

	****Bug: If you add a Store Item with a Quantity of 0 to a map, it just sits there 	and does nothing.

	****Bug: There is an error when adding the items to the Inventory.  Everything works 	fine until you actually look at your Inventory.  Then new items start to stack in 	previously filled slots.

	This Bug is so much like the Jaime Reynes/Gary Savage Upgrade Cannister bug that I 	am assuming they are related.  I've been putting off fixing it until the Patch comes 	out to see if Ion Storm has made the fix saving me the trouble.


******Using these Items*******

You will need to either engage Cheats or add these Items to the existing Maps to use them.  The Items in the current game have not changed and will be the same ole stuff.  The names listed above for each item is it's Summon name.  If you have trouble with this, post a question on the Ion Storm BB ans someone will help you.


*****Modders Info*****

Any Modder out there can use UC as they wish.  I would appreciate a mention of the fact in your game doc.  If you have any trouble implementing any of these Mods, let me know I'll be glad to Help.

*******Credits**********

Well that's all for know, except for Credits.

Lead Cheese: that would be me.

Others (by Ion Storm BB Handle): 
	Bliah 
	Magnus Arcanum 
	M@x Fra9w3ll

In addition, I would also like to thank all the Web Sites that have hosted this mod.

Finally, You.  For all the great Ideas you are going to share with us.