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Unique textList?

Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2016 9:16 pm
by bathroomscales
Hi,

Browsing through the default data file, I noticed that (very rarely) a textList can have a 'unique' attribute. For example, the BOARDERS_TEXT textList. This attribute isn't documented anywhere that I can see, so I wonder if anyone here knows anything about it?

Does a unique=true textList mean that each option can only be chosen once per sector? (like a unique event?) Seems a weird way to do it, because...

1. If the event that loads the textList isn't also unique, then you could 'run out' of textList options (if the event occurs 1 more time than there are options)?
2. OR if the event IS unique, then what is the point of making the textList unique too?

But I'm not sure what else it could mean.

Also, I wonder if textLists are always unique by default? I only can find the attribute used when it's being set to false, so I would assume that means you need to explicitly declare it NOT unique (otherwise it would be). However that would seem to make the odds of "running out" of options (as mentioned above) quite high!

If anyone has any info or even guesses about the unique property for a text list, please don't hesitate to share. If we can figure out how it works I would be happy to update the modding wiki too :)

Thank you!

Re: Unique textList?

Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2016 10:22 pm
by stylesrj
Unique means that event will only pop up once per sector. That's important for things like the ship unlock quests.

Re: Unique textList?

Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2016 10:36 pm
by bathroomscales
Thanks for the quick response! But please re-read my question. I'm wondering about the unique attribute when used on a textList, not an eventList.

Re: Unique textList?

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 12:00 am
by sul
bathroomscales wrote:Hi,

Browsing through the default data file, I noticed that (very rarely) a textList can have a 'unique' attribute. For example, the BOARDERS_TEXT textList. This attribute isn't documented anywhere that I can see, so I wonder if anyone here knows anything about it?

Does a unique=true textList mean that each option can only be chosen once per sector? (like a unique event?) Seems a weird way to do it, because...

1. If the event that loads the textList isn't also unique, then you could 'run out' of textList options (if the event occurs 1 more time than there are options)?
2. OR if the event IS unique, then what is the point of making the textList unique too?

But I'm not sure what else it could mean.

Also, I wonder if textLists are always unique by default? I only can find the attribute used when it's being set to false, so I would assume that means you need to explicitly declare it NOT unique (otherwise it would be). However that would seem to make the odds of "running out" of options (as mentioned above) quite high!

If anyone has any info or even guesses about the unique property for a text list, please don't hesitate to share. If we can figure out how it works I would be happy to update the modding wiki too :)

Thank you!
Interesting thoughs ! I never really experimented with the "unique" property, but I usually get most answers to my questions by writing and testing a custom event at first beacon. For example, have two events in a row call the same text and see what happens ?

Re: Unique textList?

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 11:37 pm
by bathroomscales
Good idea, I'll see what I can figure out! Do you have any suggestions for testing a lot of these at the beginning, to stress test if it's possible to "run out" of a unique text item?