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IDProjectCategoryLast Update
0024688AI War 2Gameplay IssueApr 16, 2021 6:39 pm
Reportervinco Assigned ToBadgerBadger  
Severitytext 
Status resolvedResolutionfixed 
Product Version2.800 The Paradigm Shift 
Fixed in Version2.803 Multiplayer Option Overload 
Summary0024688: Text improvements for FS journal - in progress
DescriptionFirst signal detected journal: Update "to research this" to "to research this signal" or "to research this relic"
Spire initial Relic Found: Still references a warship, but in game it's the unarmed artifact. This one probably needs a full rewrite. Suggestion follows:
"Commander,

This... is a day we will remember. Assuming we survive. We have found the source of the powerful energy signal on *PLANET*. This relic seems to have been the power core of an alien starship, a starship crewed by an unknown alien race. It seems to have hidden out of phase with our reality until our scanners triggered some kind of reaction. While only minor fragments of the ship itself have survived, a portion of the crew and rudimentary propulsion capability remain intact.

Our previous contact with the Zenith and others has made the linguistic situation at least possible, but we're still working on getting these translators to do something other than spit out gibberish. Gibberish aside, we have been able to determine that they are on the run from the AI, and want us to rescue them. We can only assume that this means taking them to a safe planet where we can protect them from the AI. Given the sheer power level present in that core, this new race clearly has the capability to be dangerous. Whether to us or the AI has yet to be determined. It's your call whether or not this is a good idea. In any event, what's left of the alien ship will now obey your commands.

Judging by local AI warp activity, we'd better get it moving!
TagsNo tags attached.

Activities

vinco

Apr 14, 2021 11:16 pm

reporter   ~0061113

Suggested edits attached.
TSR_Journal_SpireCampaign - Vinco.xml (24,447 bytes)   
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<root>
  <journal name="TSR_Spire_RelicSpawn_1" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; Signal Detected" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
    text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
    chat_text="Subspace Signal Detected"
    text_replacement_related_planet="true"
    full_text="Commander,

During a recent routine scan for variations in the AI's warp grid, our personnel detected an abnormal subspace signal on {PlanetName}. Further analysis confirmed that we have no record of similar phenomena. It seems to be generated by some sort of alien Relic.

We should consider sending a flagship to research this relic; our Hacking interface should enable us to understand it more clearly. Scans also show increased AI warp activity in that area. While this lab cannot issue military recommendations, for the sake of our team I personally request that you carry a very large stick. 

Hacking this planet will begin the Spire Campaign, which transforms the game into an all-out war against the AI." />

  <journal name="TSR_Spire_FirstRelicFound" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; Initial Relic Found"
           can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
           text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
           chat_text="Relic Found"
           text_replacement_related_planet="true"
           full_text="Commander,

This... is a day we will remember. Assuming we survive. We have found the source of the powerful energy signal on {PlanetName}. This relic seems to have been the power core of an alien starship, a starship crewed by an unknown alien race. It seems to have hidden out of phase with our reality until our scanners triggered some kind of reaction. While only minor fragments of the ship itself have survived, a portion of the crew and rudimentary propulsion capability remain intact. 

Our previous contact with the Zenith and others has made the linguistic situation at least possible, but we're still working on getting these translators to do something other than spit out gibberish. Gibberish aside, we have been able to determine that they are on the run from the AI, and want us to rescue them. We can only assume that this means taking them to a safe planet where we can protect them from the AI. Given the sheer power level present in that core, this new race clearly has the capability to be dangerous. Whether to us or the AI has yet to be determined. It's your call whether or not this is a good idea. In any event, what's left of the alien ship will now obey your commands.

Gibberish aside, we have been able to determine that they are on the run from the AI, and want us to rescue them. Given our previous experience, this means taking them to a safe planet where we can protect them from the AI. Whether welcoming a fully operational alien warship to our territory is a good idea... we have to leave that to you. In any event, the alien starship will now obey your commands.

Judging by local AI warp activity, we'd better get it moving!" />

  <journal name="TSR_Spire_NumCities_1" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; First City Built"
           can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
           text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
           chat_text="Spire Capital Built"
           text_replacement_related_planet="true"
           full_text="Commander,

We've worked through most of the basic communication barriers with the alien refugees. They call themselves the Spire. They aren't very talkative, but they are grateful to have a place for them to rebuild their Galactic Capitol on {PlanetName}.

They are also rocks.

Er, that's perhaps not very diplomatic. To put it another way: their bodies are crystalline formations. Exact composition unknown, for reasons you can deduce. They have constructed a new home base in our Galaxy and have offered to build a small number of what they called 'tiny craft' to help us. We don't know if the translators are still on the fritz or what, but the design they transmitted is far from tiny.  

We're not sure if they've been studying us before now, but they've managed to build something similar in function to, though vastly more powerful than our own flagships.  We believe that the 'tiny craft' will associate with this flagship similarly to how our own strikecraft and frigates do with ours, though they seem more tightly linked to their city core and associated flagship.  We won't have the same flexibility to move ships between these fleets, but the sheer firepower they possess makes up for at least part of this inconvenience.

Finally, it seems they are scanning subspace to try to locate other refugees. Or perhaps other artifacts. We couldn't really figure out which. Either way, it seems they are our best lead to finding out what's going on... if we want to know." />

    <journal name="TSR_Spire_SimCityOverview" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; City Mechanics"
           can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
           text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
           text_replacement_related_planet="true"
           full_text="Commander,

We've begun to understand how a Spire City works. Each city comes with several 'Sockets' that support building additional Spire structures. There are a variety of these structures; some have a military purpose, others seem like they function similarly to our own metal extractors and generators. We're still working out what they all do.

It's important to note that the Spire must build a Shipyard in a city to allow for the production of their offensive ships at that city. A Shipyard can build ships for any nearby Spire fleets, even those without a shipyard at their own home city.

Their cities seem to have resonance generators that work more effectively when more of them exist. This suggests that if we can help create more Spire Cities, their existing cities might 'mark up'. Higher-Mark cities would allow for more sockets and more powerful ships and structures.

Hovering over a Spire City will telll you what requirements must be met to upgrade that city's mark level. When a city is ready to upgrade you will see a Notification; interacting with that Notification will allow the city to mark up."
           />

  <journal name="TSR_Spire_RelicSpawn_2" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; Second Relic Detected" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
    text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
    chat_text="Second Subspace Signal Detected"
    text_replacement_related_planet="true"
    full_text="Commander,

We've made some progress in understanding the Spire. Here is an attempted transliteration:

From: (attempted translitaration) Entelemaren Exaron
{FactionColor}
Gratitude.
Surprise.
Suspicion.
Patience.
Rebuilding.
Can Help. Small.
Looking. For others.
&lt;/color&gt;
We have made some progress understanding the Spire's communications; it seems like Exaron is their leader or spokesbeing. As far as we can tell they were not counting on help from humans. We may know nothing of them, but they've apparently heard a lot about us. And not in a positive way. Regardless, they are willing to set our recent actions in rescuing them against our dubious reputation, and are also very grateful for our allowing them to settle their small number of refugees in this system.

It seems they have detected a new Relic in the galaxy with more refugees, and have requested that we dispatch one of our fleets to recover the object. We pressed them for some details. Given the circumstances, they were not reluctant.

It seems these Relics are powerful shards of energy that can each power a city.  We're not quite sure what these shards were powering before, but the Spire can clearly build cities around them now.

Do we want them to expand? That's a decision for you, Commander. But they have conducted themselves honorably thus far.

One final note: they caution us that the AI is aware of their presence, and that the Spire and the AI have a... complicated history. If we continue to pursue this path, we should be prepared for powerful attacks. " />

    <journal name="TSR_Spire_NumCities_2" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; Second City Built"
           can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
           text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
           chat_text="Second Spire City Built"
           text_replacement_related_planet="true"
           full_text="Commander,

It's hard to read feelings from a rock, but the refugees are rejoicing. Each new city built will allow the Spire to support a new Flagship to use against the AI.  While it's clear that the resonance between the two generators they have now is having an impact on their power levels, it doesn't seem to be enough for a meaningful upgrade to the capabilities of their cities." />

  <journal name="TSR_Spire_MarkLevel_2" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; City Reached Mark 2" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
    text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
    chat_text="A {FactionColor}Spire City&lt;/color&gt; has reached mark 2"
    text_replacement_related_planet="true"
    full_text="From: Entelemaren Exaron
{FactionColor}
Gratitude.
Have Grown.
Can Fight. Little.
Must Grow. More.
Menace. Is Coming.
Apologies. Restitution.
&lt;/color&gt;
Now that the city on {PlanetName} has begun to draw on the resonance energy of the other cities, it has begun to grow again. They have constructed some advanced subspace scanning equipment within the Hub, and are looking for... from what I could understand, another Relic. I'm not certain, but I believe they have found that our galaxy's background radiation is interfering with their ability to construct new cities. They can build what they need for facilities and ships, but they can't actually construct the kind of power source needed by another city hub without a new Relic.

Which, incidentally, is exactly what they want to build next.

To be clear, they aren't demanding anything. We can simply go about our business and forget about pursuing these signals. And if we intend to stop, now would be a good time. The AI's aggressions against the Spire are significant, but have stabilized somewhat. If the Spire continue to grow, we may find ourselves in the middle of an all-out war. " />

  <journal name="TSR_Spire_RelicSpawn_3" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; Third Relic Detected" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
    text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
    chat_text="Third Subspace Signal Detected"
    text_replacement_related_planet="true"
    full_text="From: Entelemaren Exaron
{FactionColor}
Enselle-immumin, child of Terra. Your (translator-failure: nearest word 'princess') of Xenobiology. Has labored. Improving communications.
Our gratitude. Undying. One day. Perhaps. Debt repaid.
Cannot face machines. Yet.
They come. You know this. They come. For us both.
Need expand. More.
Cannot build. Here.
Have found another. Can build with that.
We. At your service.
&lt;/color&gt;
While basic communication has been possible since very early on, it has been... difficult. While the previous messages from the Spire may seem appropriate for the mannerisms of a rock, I have found that they actually have a much smoother thought process and manner of speaking to one another. I hope that my efforts will continue to improve the... rapport.

In any event, they have successfully located another Relic which they believe will power another city. This recovery mission is likely to be extremely dangerous, and the AI continues to attack, but hopefully the growing Spire fleet will offset these additional challenges.

But remember, the AI is after us both now. We have learned to hide from the AI, to avoid antagonizing it and bringing down its wrath. The Spire do not seem to have learned this lesson. They are obedient to our desires to not unnecessarily provoke the AI, but I do not believe that we can both continue to assist the Spire expansion while maintaining a low profile.

I do not have to tell you how absurdly dangerous that could be." />

      <journal name="TSR_Spire_MarkLevel_3" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; City Reached Mark 3" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
    text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
    chat_text="A {FactionColor}Spire City&lt;/color&gt; has reached mark 3"
    text_replacement_related_planet="true"
    full_text="From: Entelemaren Exaron
{FactionColor}
Enselle-illumin, child of Terra. May we both survive.
Still hampered. Bad oscillations. Perhaps the stories...
No matter. We must work with what we have.
Another Relic. Stronger Cities.
But indebteded to you. You say fight, we fight. You say stay, we stay. The machine. Not yet fully (translation failed, best guesss: 'Awake').
&lt;/color&gt;
Commander, these stronger Spire cities are allowing them to create some devastating weapons. These Battleships are marvels of engineering, and give us a real chance against the AI.
" />
<!-- use this entry if the citadel/lab lore dump has been acquired -->
    <journal name="TSR_Spire_MarkLevel_4" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; City Reached Mark 4" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
    text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
    chat_text="A {FactionColor}Spire City&lt;/color&gt; has reached mark 4"
    text_replacement_related_planet="true"
    full_text="From: Exaron the Seventh
{FactionColor}
Enselle-illumin, child of Terra. Victory grows closer. Or, the possibilitiy of victory.
Yes, it is true. I am the Emperor of the Spire; I and a few others escaped the AI attack against the homeworld. No deception was intended by not revealing earlier.
The AI destroyed our central transciever, trapping my Fleet in Endless Rift. We can bring home.
A little stronger and can rebuild transciever. 
&lt;/color&gt;
This is remarkable, Commander! We were very fortunate to rescue the leader of the Spire. If we build this Transciever they request, we can bring in the full Imperial Spire fleet to fight the AI. We should expect a major AI response if we do so though.
It looks like we just need to help them upgrade their strongest city one more time, and then we can rescue the spire fleet!" />

<!-- Use this alternate entry if the citadel/lab lore dump has not been acquired
Enselle-illumin, child of Terra. Victory grows closer. Or, the possibilitiy of victory.
It is the time for knowing. For sharing. I am the Emperor of the Spire; I and a few others escaped the AI attack against the homeworld. No deception was intended by not revealing earlier.
Our fleet was called home to defend. While they traveled, the AI destroyed our central transciever, trapping my Fleet in Endless Rift. We can bring home.
A little stronger and can rebuild transciever. 
&lt;/color&gt;
This is remarkable, Commander! We were very fortunate to rescue the leader of the Spire. If we build this Transciever they request, we can bring in the full Imperial Spire fleet to fight the AI. We should expect a major AI response if we do so though.
It looks like we just need to help them upgrade their strongest city one more time, and then we can rescue the spire fleet!"
-->

    <journal name="TSR_Spire_MarkLevel_5" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; City Reached Mark 5" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
    text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
    chat_text="A {FactionColor}Spire City&lt;/color&gt; has reached mark 5"
    text_replacement_related_planet="true"
    full_text="From: Exaron the Seventh
{FactionColor}
Enselle-illumin, child of Terra.
My congratulations. The transciever can be recreated. And I thank you. I imagine it is not obvious to an outsider, but that which we build we build from ourselves. Not exactly the same type, but that which is Spire, is Spire. {PlanetName}'s city again sings its song.
With this, we can again join the galaxies, and star shall sing to star. It is probably difficult for those like humans to understand. No matter, we both share the understanding that either we destroy the machine, or the machine will destroy us.
Remember the risk. The machine will come, far worse than before. We can still choose to defeat the machine with nearby forces rather than summon the Imperial fleet to this battle.
The choice is yours.&lt;/color&gt;" />

    <journal name="TSR_Spire_TranscieverStartedBuilding" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; TranscieverStarted Summoned" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
    text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
    chat_text="A {FactionColor}Spire City&lt;/color&gt; Transciever Complete"
    text_replacement_related_planet="true"
    full_text="From: Exaron the Seventh
{FactionColor}
Enselle-illumin, child of Terra.
Thank you for beginning upon this path, for taking this risk. It is a risk we take together.
The machine comes. I prepare myself for battle.&lt;/color&gt;" />

    <journal name="TSR_Spire_ImperialFleetInbound" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; Imperial Fleet Summoned" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
    text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
    chat_text="A {FactionColor}Spire City&lt;/color&gt; Transciever Complete"
    text_replacement_related_planet="true"
    full_text="Commander,
`
The Exogalactic Transceiver on {PlanetName} is complete! I've been watching the skies for a long time, commander, and I have never seen radiation like that.
From what the Spire tell me, tt will take some time to re-establish the intergalactic channels of communication and transit. During this time, we are in grave peril, as there is simply no way the AI does not know what we are doing. This is a flare-lit tip-off, commander, and the AI is not stupid.
At this stage, if it truly comes down to it, we need only protect Home Command and the transceiver itself. One way or the other, this war should be over soon." />

    <journal name="TSR_Spire_ImperialFleetArrived" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; Imperial Fleet Arrived" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
    text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
    chat_text="A {FactionColor}Spire City&lt;/color&gt; Imperial Fleet Arrived"
    text_replacement_related_planet="true"
    full_text="From: Exaron the Seventh
{FactionColor}
Victory is at hand!
My call has gone out through the galaxies. And my subjects come to our aid. Indeed, there are more surviving than I had hoped. I had feared that the machine had spread too far, and destroyed too many.
Do not rest just yet. Our fleets shall cleanse this galaxy, but the machine still fights. Do not drop your guard.&lt;/color&gt;" />

    <!-- These are some miscellaneous entries -->
    
  <!-- this journal entry is for destroying the AI Spire Citadel or AI Spire Research Lab -->
  <journal name="TSR_Spire_AILoreDump" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; AI Records"
           can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
           text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
           chat_text="AI Spire Records discovered"
           full_text="Commander,

We've uncovered a wealth of information about the Spire from the wreckage of this AI base.

Sometime in the last few hundred years, the AI detected the Spire, who had already colonized several nearby galaxies. After much preparation, the AI launched a devastating surprise attack against the Spire homeworld. The Spire attempted to use their TransWarp technology to warp their full Imperial Fleet home to defend the center of their civilization. However, while the jump was happening the AI sabotaged the Transceiver on the homeworld. Instead of arriving in a blaze of vengeance, the Spire Fleet was trapped in inter-dimensional space. The Spire’s local defenses were no match for the AI and their Scourge allies.

In desparation, the Spire launched a number of Relics in an attempt to escape and find new places to rebuild their empire. One of those who escaped was Exaron the Seventh, Sovereign of the Imperial Spire, much to the consteration of the AI. The AI is also very worried that Exaron may now be allied to us.

If we can make the Spire Cities strong enough, we might be able to construct a new transwarp Transciever that would allow the main Imperial Fleet to escape the interdimenstional rift they've been trapped in. This would allow us to end the AI once and for all. If the AI picks up transwarp energy signatures, we should expect a truly massive AI assault." />

  <!-- For the first relic train -->
  <journal name="TSR_SpireRelicTrain" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; Relic Train Detected" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
    text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
    full_text="Commander, we're picking up some Spire energy from an AI source. It looks like they have captured a Relic from their assault. We should rescue these Spire from the AI! If we can't then the AI will probably transform it into a powerful ship to use against us." />

  <!-- For the first debris -->
  <journal name="TSR_SpireDebris" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; Debris" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
           text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
    full_text="Commander, it seems that not all of the spire Relics have remained intact.  Creating a new spire city has allowed them to find debris from broken Relics. This debris is packed with energy and could be useful for whoever is able to claim it." />
<!-- For specific city upgrades -->
  <journal name="TSR_Spire_FrigateNeuralNet" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; Frigates" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
           text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
           chat_text="Spire Frigate Available"           
    full_text="Commander, the Spire have built their first Frigate Neural Net. The flagship attached to this city core will now be able to build Frigates when it is near a Spire Shipyard, even one belonging to another city. 

While the Spire call these 'toy' ships, these are still very intimidating warships. Lets see what they can do!" />

  <journal name="TSR_Spire_DestroyerNeuralNet" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; Destroyers" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
           chat_text="Spire Destroyer Available"           
           text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
    full_text="Commander, the Spire have built their first Destroyer Neural Net. The city's flagship will now be able to build Destroyers when it is near a Spire Shipyard.

These ships pack devastating armaments against large single targets, but require significantly more resources to build." />

  <journal name="TSR_Spire_BattleshipFlagship" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; Battleship Flagship" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
           chat_text="One of our Flagships has upgraded!"           
           text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
           text_replacement_related_planet="true"
    full_text="Commander, the Spire Flagship attached to {PlanetName}'s city has been upgraded! We now have our first Spire Battleship. This ship is vastly more powerful than the Cruiser class." />

  <journal name="TSR_Spire_DreadnaughtFlagship" sidebar_text="{FactionColor}Spire&lt;/color&gt; Dreadnaught Flagship" can_record_another_copy_if_already_recorded_in_this_campaign="false"
           chat_text="One of our Flagships has upgraded!"           
           text_replacement_related_faction_color="true"
           text_replacement_related_planet="true"
    full_text="Commander, the Spire Flagship on {PlanetName}'s has been upgraded! We now have our first Spire Dreadnaught. The AI is *not* going to like fighting this ship. I'm glad the Spire are on our side." />

/>
  
</root>

BadgerBadger

Apr 16, 2021 6:39 pm

manager   ~0061134

Updated to include your feedback. Thanks

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
Apr 14, 2021 10:18 pm vinco New Issue
Apr 14, 2021 11:16 pm vinco File Added: TSR_Journal_SpireCampaign - Vinco.xml
Apr 14, 2021 11:16 pm vinco Note Added: 0061113
Apr 16, 2021 6:39 pm BadgerBadger Assigned To => BadgerBadger
Apr 16, 2021 6:39 pm BadgerBadger Status new => resolved
Apr 16, 2021 6:39 pm BadgerBadger Resolution open => fixed
Apr 16, 2021 6:39 pm BadgerBadger Fixed in Version => 2.803 Multiplayer Option Overload
Apr 16, 2021 6:39 pm BadgerBadger Note Added: 0061134