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DF Modding / Project: adding the missing values to the raws
« on: May 13, 2009, 04:38:47 pm »
Hello everyone,
The raws in the current version of DF are missing a lot of data. For instance, many materials have no melting point, boiling point, specific heat, or density. Adding this data often doesn't do much right now (though it might; more stones will become magma-safe for instance), but if we can get the data reasonably complete, then Toady might use it for all kinds of nifty stuff in future versions of DF. Density might lead to objects floating for instance, and specific heat could lead to plate armor becoming uncomfortably hot in warmer climates. Who knows what cool stuff Toady could use this for?
Now, since researching all this data is so much boring work, it's probably not something Toady will get around to doing anytime soon. In fact, I'm sure everyone prefers that he just keep working on the stuff he's already got planned. There's no reason why we couldn't do the legwork for him though.
Towards this goal, I'm compiling a list of data that could be added to the raws. I'll also make it available as a mod, so anyone can test it. Once it's become reasonably complete, I'll offer it to Toady in the hope that he'll find it useful.
Of course, if anyone has data to contribute, that'd be extremely welcome. Specifically, anyone with access to a scientific library on geology or chemistry could add a lot of data that I simply don't have access to. Anyone with access to google could probably find stuff that I missed though.
The kind of data I'm looking for should meet the following criteria:
Here's the list containing all data so far. Here's the mod containing these changes. (Currently just the data from Molten Rocks.)
If you'd like to add data, you can edit the list directly, or if you prefer, you can just post the data in this thread and I'll add it to the list.
The raws in the current version of DF are missing a lot of data. For instance, many materials have no melting point, boiling point, specific heat, or density. Adding this data often doesn't do much right now (though it might; more stones will become magma-safe for instance), but if we can get the data reasonably complete, then Toady might use it for all kinds of nifty stuff in future versions of DF. Density might lead to objects floating for instance, and specific heat could lead to plate armor becoming uncomfortably hot in warmer climates. Who knows what cool stuff Toady could use this for?
Now, since researching all this data is so much boring work, it's probably not something Toady will get around to doing anytime soon. In fact, I'm sure everyone prefers that he just keep working on the stuff he's already got planned. There's no reason why we couldn't do the legwork for him though.
Towards this goal, I'm compiling a list of data that could be added to the raws. I'll also make it available as a mod, so anyone can test it. Once it's become reasonably complete, I'll offer it to Toady in the hope that he'll find it useful.
Of course, if anyone has data to contribute, that'd be extremely welcome. Specifically, anyone with access to a scientific library on geology or chemistry could add a lot of data that I simply don't have access to. Anyone with access to google could probably find stuff that I missed though.
The kind of data I'm looking for should meet the following criteria:
- It should be (reasonably) objective, not a matter of taste.
- It should preferably come with a source. A reference to a textbook or scientific journal would be great, but a link to a website such as wikipedia will do in a pinch.
- It should improve existing stuff, not add new stuff. So no new reactions or new critters, but a correction to an existing creature (for instance to its speed) could be reasonable. Most changes will probably be physics stuff though, as that's the most objective.
Here's the list containing all data so far. Here's the mod containing these changes. (Currently just the data from Molten Rocks.)
If you'd like to add data, you can edit the list directly, or if you prefer, you can just post the data in this thread and I'll add it to the list.
