Space Vikings
Version Gold 1.11
Date: 02.02.2003
SEIV Gold Version 1.84

Description
===========
This is the Space Vikings shipset. Graphics by Dogscoff, and AI by Rollo.
Rollo is also responsible for the missile (tiny hammer) graphics.
We would appreciate any constructive criticism and/or praise.
Contact details are below.


List of Changes
===============

Version 1.11
02.02.2003:	* deleted Baseship Attack Base
		* deleted Master Computers as a misc. ability
		* changed unit construction for homeworlds
		* added recon sat design and removed sensors from normal sats
		* tweaked vehicle construction
		* tweaked troop designs
		* changed minimum tonnage in settings to allow early base ship yards

Version 1.10
15.4.2002:	* deleted Defense Ships from construction and designs
		* changed settings and .emps: Vikings will now avoid minefields
		* added mines 2-5 to research
		* added construction_units file
		* changed scout designs and removed napalm research (AI seems not to bomb
		  planets with Attack Bases) :-(
		* "Defend (short term)" now uses the same construction queue as "Infrastructure"
		* added new pic "scout" for use in Proportions Mod

Version 1.00
(Gold version
for the new
SE4 Gold CD)	
12.12.2001:	* updated settings and strategies to SE4 Gold
		* created new empire files
		* graphical update

Version 0.97	
04.12.2001:	* graphical update
		* some tweaks to research, designs, and vehicle construction

Version 0.96
15.11.2001:	* Major graphical update. Added pictures for all ships and units plus pics for
		  special ship sizes (for example Battlemoon).
		* Moved gas colo and rock colo up in research. Also added planetary weapons.
		* Added new class design "Scout".
		* Removed fleet training from facility construction.
		* Corrected typos in speech.
		* Changed colonizer strategy to ram.

Version 0.95
03.11.2001:	* Changed culture from renegades to berzerkers.
		* Changed research, because parameters are working now.
		* Changed general.txt file to get race stats smaller than 100, when selected
		  randomly.
		* Changed empire files. The Vikings now move through minefields. Also changed
		  some racial statistics.
		* Changed most of the designs to carry mine sweeper components. Removed stealth
		  armor.
		* Added designs that will carry Quantum Reactors for all ships.
		* Removed recon satellites from the designs and build queues. Combat sats will
		  carry sensors when they become available.
		* Added planet creators and warp point openers.
		* Restricted research of radioactives and organics extraction to level2 in order
		  to make the AI build Monoliths on refining and farming worlds in the late game.
		* Lowered the number of defense ships to get more attack fleets that will include
		  troop transports.
		* Limited ship sizes to LC for the first few turns in full tech games (seems to 
		  work only with turn based movement, not simultaneous, possible bug).
		* Changed research in "not connected" AI state.
		* Changed unit designs for Troops, Satellites, and Weapon Platforms.

Version 0.94
09.10.2001:	* Changed research to get phased weapons and shields sooner. Removed weapon
		  overloading weapons and ripper beams from research.
		* Changed designs according to the new research. There are now five different
		  designs (class a-e) for attack and defense ships with different weapon
		  combinations to make mixed fleets.
		* Changed anger and politics files.
		* Changed facility construction.

Version 0.93 
26.09.2001:	* Added more speech
		* Changed empires cunning from 50% to 80%.
		* Changed research file to include applied intelligence, energy stream weapons,
		  higher levels of High-Energy Discharge and medical bays.
		* Changed research under "Not Connected" AI state.
		* Added C-class designs (minimum size: dreadnoughts) using APBs for end-game and
		  full-tech games.
		* Changed population transport design to carry medical bays.
		* Added open warp point design.
		* Removed stealth armor from troop transports and boarding ships.
		* Changed the number of troops being produced, because of frequent storage
		  problems. Upped the number of attack and defense ships at the end of the
		  contruction queue.
		* Tweaked Defense Ship(A) design.
		* Changed planet_types and construction_facilities files.

Version 0.92
14.09.2001:	* Changed the racename from Rollvik to Vikings. Note that this will create a new
		  race in your folder. Unless you still need the Rollvik folder (for unfinished
		  games or for PBW) you can delete it.
		* Updated empire files and added race descriptions.
		* Added new images. Portrait, main, and population.
		* Changes to the Speech, Politics, Anger, Research, and DesignCreation files.
		* Added textfiles for shipnames. Norse.txt is the default, but you can also use
		  beer.txt, if you like.

Version 0.91
21.08.2001:	* Small changes to the Anger, Politics, Fleets, Settings,
		  and DesignCreation files.

Version 0.90
17.08.2001:	* first release under the name Rollvik


Thanks
======
Rollo thanks Master Belisarius, Atraikius, Tampa Gamer and Mephisto for providing valuable tips
to make the AI better; and of course Dogscoff for inspiring Viking discussions and making this
great shipset. 


Web pages
=========
Check for a more up to date version at the official Space Vikings homepage: 
http://www.sandman43.fsnet.co.uk

or go see what's new on the Space Vikings Thread on Shrapnel's forum: 
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/Forum23/HTML/002823.html


Contact
=======
For suggestions, feedback and bug reports about the AI drop an email to:
snickelsen@web.de

For feedback on the graphics, mail: 
dogscoff@altavista.co.uk