So over the past months I've been working on a set of plugins of which I am still adding too, the idea was to make them all feel more connected and not as if they are each just their own thing. While some of my plugins are more connected than others they all communicate in some respect. While I don't have screenshots of everything it is at least in a fully working state, I can't exactly say any of these are completed because i'm still making changes to these every day.
The "Core" : Advanced Records
Advanced records (GUI wise) looks a lot like the plugin made by
Trudeau, why you ask? Because it's good, I based the UI for mine of his because it works and it looks good. However beside the layout of UI (not the actual code of it) everything else was done from scratch because certain design features and functions would be needed to allow it to more easily communicate with other plugins and allow other plugins to communicate with it. With the large amount of data I predicted it could eventually be storing I decided the best option was to have it store the data inside the database with it's own table, so after a bit of digging I found and got used to the functions built into Clockwork for SQL interaction.
Hooks and functions were created so any plugin could interact with it, add new entries or edit it's own data that is isolated from the data of the character (though it functions exactly the same). The reason for that i'll get to later on but needless to say it was important. The record could be viewed by any member of Civil Protection or anyone with administrative privileges on the server just in case a change needed to be made while a staff member was not on their CP. This plugin acted as a hub, storing and coordinating information that could be viewed and used by many other plugins.
This plugin is interesting, when a citizen is created they will spawn with a "Transfer Coupon" which contains some basic information as to who it belongs to. This can be taken to a CP and used to print a CIC that displays basic information about a character like their name, CID, loyalty rank and so on. However it does not store this information, that is stored in the records table and the card only points to it; Allowing other citizens in some instances to commit identity theft as using my improved and completely redesigned ration dispenser looks at the CIC they have to check what record and thus what ration they get and who they are. Each time a CIC is created it is logged in their record and the original CIC they get from the relocation coupon differs from the model used for replacement cards. It's worth noting that if the option is enabled in their record a CIC can also act as a union card. The item is also coded so they can only carry one at a time.
Restriction Fields : Better Force Fields
While this plugin doesn't have a whole lot of cross interaction with others it is a vast improvement over others, first off is that it automatically sizes to the gap where it's being placed and snaps to a 90 degree angle. It also have a collision sound effect and the texture used for the force fields in the actual game our lovely universe is based off. But whats really nice about it is that it's far more seamless, you don't get that pause that you have with current force fields. On top of that people cannot fall over though it but can be taken though it when carried by a member of Civil Protection. Also like the force fields it will block props but allow gun fire though making it as accurate as I can make it to what you find in the Half-Life 2.
Quality of Life : UU Supplies & Employment Vouchers
While each one of these are their own plugin i'm just going to do this in one because they are small QOL type things. The first is just some UU items and new rations that makes use of a UU branded items mod in the workshop. The second is used to pay citizens in work cycles based on how well they do because I reduced the amount of tokens in rations drastically.
Business Menu Replacement : Supply Chain
This one was created because I have always hated the business menu because it broke up immersion a bit, while it hasn't been a big issue it's been something I wanted to replace. So it starts when someone get's a store, they are set as the owner then they can go to a terminal and order their items which are then delivered to their store within two hours. While it seems like a lot of work for what looks like a small change it's a nice touch and adds that tiny bit of extra immersion.
Lock & Light Replacement : Union Systems
This plugin is rather broad, I've been slowly recoding various entities such as combine locks, vending machines, union lights and so on to include them into a single plugin to neaten things up a bit and improve them. While i'm still not completely flushed out on all of their improvements I hope to make the locks and vending machine interact with the records in some way by the time they are done. I'll likely also eventually move the force fields plugin to this one.
Better Rations : Smart Dispenser
I always liked the ration machine but it always needed improvements. So I started with remaking it's visual effects, the indicator now appears as a bar rather than a sprite. Functionally what happens is when you interact with it the machine will beep fifteen times then will check your record to see your loyalty tier. It uses that information to decide what ration you get then opens the tray and extends it, However it will remain extended until someone interacts with it again to "pick up" the ration from the machine. It will also not give out anything if the person has no CIC since it's unable to get the record ID and check the information without one.
