Frigate-sized target painter

Hi all. It puzzled me that there were fighter-sized target painters, and cruiser-sized target painters, but no frigate version. So as my first attempt at modding GSB I have made one.

[code][config]
unlockcost = 0
lockable = 0
classname = “SIM_TargetPainterModule”
category = “WEAPONS”
size = “FRIGATE”
name = “frigate_targetpainter”
guiname = “Frigate Target Painter”
description = “Target-tracking assistance module that fires a highly visible beam at enemy ships and ensures a missile fired at the painted target will always hit.”
fire_interval = 7500
beam_duration = 3750
max_range = 560
color = 255,16,16
weight = 25
hitpoints = 10
cost = 35
icon = turret
crew_required = 8
powerconsumed = 4
texture = target_painter_beam.dds
turret_sprite = “turret_pd_v1”
turretsize = 9.0
tracking_speed = 1.15
slot_type = TURRET
uisortpos = 1210

[dataitems]
0 = cost,DECIMAL
1 = weight,DECIMAL
2 = hitpoints,DECIMAL
3 = powerconsumed,DECIMAL
4 = max_range,DECIMAL
5 = fire_interval,INTEGER
6 = crew_required,INTEGER
[/code]

I tried to balance it somewhere between the fighter and cruiser versions. Since this is my first try at this, I have a few questions:

  1. The fighter version didn’t have a color line; the cruiser version did. I just kept the cruiser version. What does this line do?
  2. How do you pick a good value for uisortpos?
  3. Is the [dataitems] section at the bottom identical for all modules always? If so why does it exist?
  4. Did I do a good job picking values for cost, weight, crew, power, etc.? What would you choose?
  5. Does anyone have a clue why the game doesn’t already have a frigate target painter? Is it inherently overpowered?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

2: its about where u wanna put the module in the ship building screen
(for example if module A has 1210, B has 1500, and C has 1380; the order on the screen will be ACB)

3: its about what 2 display in the ship building screen
(for example u don’t wanna display the range for a crew module)

Oh excellent, thanks for that information. :slight_smile: