Bay 12 Games Forum

Pretty much...though placing the bodypart in the body_default file doesn't override all tails. Putting it in a separate file makes sorting out modded portions easier when updating to a new version of DF, etc. A creature's BODY is put together from all the bodyparts that follow, so other creatures (or castes using different BODY sets) are unaffected.

Here's the short summary on how creatures are constructed (The tail goes into body_default):

b_detail_plan: Contains shortcuts for the designation of materials and tissues used in a creature, as well as layering for those tissues.

     STANDARD_MATERIALS defines material templates to be attached to the tag (such as HEART or MUSCLE). Material templates are found in material_template_default
     STANDARD_TISSUES defines the tissue for that material, also attached to the tag. Tissues are found in tissue_template_default.
     TISSUE_LAYERS defines the layering of these tissues for each bodypart, with ARG1-5 defined in creature (usually SKIN, FAT, MUSCLE, BONE and CARTILAGE)
         First a bodypart is defined by category (Each bodypart has a category in body_default), then the layers are defined from inward to outward, each with their   
         relative thickness. For example, [BP_LAYERS:BY_CATEGORY:LEG_LOWER:ARG3:3:ARG1:1] defines LEG_LOWER bodyparts as (in to out) bone:3x, skin:1x (This
         being for a modded creature...normal creatures have more layers). ARG can be replaced by the tags mentioned above as appropriate (ex: eye uses the EYE tag)

body_default: Defines bodyparts that will go together to make the creature. They are put together in the creature itself under the BODY tag.

A creature has each of these defined sequentially...for example, an ordinary creature would have:
   [BODY:QUADRUPED:TAIL:2EYES:2EARS:NOSE:2LUNGS:HEART:etc...] Chooses the bodyparts to be used.
   [BODY_DETAIL_PLAN:STANDARD_MATERIALS] (Taken from b_detail_plan) Defines the materials for that creature.
   [BODY_DETAIL_PLAN:STANDARD_TISSUES]    (Taken from b_detail_plan) Defines the tissues for that creature.
   [BODY_DETAIL_PLAN:VERTEBRATE_TISSUE_LAYERS:SKIN:FAT:MUSCLE:BONE:CARTILAGE] (Taken from b_detail_plan, using the tags defined previously)

Alicorn ambushes don't arrive until later as they're difficult to defeat without a well-developed stable. I am however reworking the requirements a bit for the next version. There are also going to be fixes to the cutie mark system and high-quality salvage frequencies.

Robo-brains, protectaponies, and Mr. Macintoshes are mostly done. You'll be able to purchase a protectapony for basic stable security, and upgrade it into an armored protectapony later for better performance. Wild robots are rare, but they are quite dangerous when they do show up.

Mr. Hooves and Nurse Redheart are proving to be a bit more tricky...but I've managed to get it to where if a doctor activates a terminal near a wounded pony in bed at the hospital, the Nurse Redheart will administer painkillers and healing potion to stabilize the patient. You'll have to keep the Nurse Redheart chained or pastured in the hospital, as it tends to wander off, leaving the wounded patients helpless. It's also no substitute for actual surgery should it be necessary.

I'm trying to make Mr. Hooves into a maintenance robot for other robots, but that's not turning out as well...I may have to just leave each robot with a bit of natural healing.

To make the telekinesis intangible, make its [DEFAULT_RELSIZE:0] to zero. That way attacks will pass right through, though both holding things and wrestling will still be possible (I've seen unicorns grapple each others telekinesis).

Just scorpion power armor for now.

I've found I set up my creature frequencies all wrong ...which would explain the ghouls aren't showing up properly in evil and terrifying biomes. This will be fixed by the next version, along with balancing to reduce yield rates of high-quality salvage and skill rates for cutie marks.

I left the leather tag in so they could be made out of chitin from the simplified leather mod.

Though now that you mention it, they're probably best limited to metal.

Work on robots and turrets is in progress, though quite bumpy.

Unfortunately, item melting is hardcoded and so can't be added to custom buildings.