Terran Terraforming arc
The Terran Terraforming arc (story_terraforming.xml, 860KB) is the Terran DLC’s terraforming story, distinct from the base game’s terraforming.xml system. The arc revolves around the Torus facility, Betty Research Ship with invincibility mechanic, the Yaki Scientist (cross-arc character), and 9 chapters (Ch0-Ch8) of Solar System terraforming progression.
- Script:
story_terraforming.xml - DLC: Cradle of Humanity
- Size: 860,699 bytes (~860KB)
- Text page: 30224
- MDScript version: 6 (heavily revised)
- Chapters: 9 (Ch0-Ch8)
Note: This is NOT the same as the base game terraforming system. See Vanilla Terraforming catalog for the base game’s 99-project system. The Terran-DLC Terraforming arc adds story-driven terraforming content WITHIN the existing terraforming framework.
Sectors anchored
Section titled “Sectors anchored”| Variable | Macro | Vanilla name |
|---|---|---|
| (Earth) | cluster_104_sector001 | Earth |
| (Moon) | cluster_104_sector002 | Moon / Luna |
| (Mars) | cluster_101_sector001 | Mars |
| (Venus) | cluster_102_sector001 | Venus |
| (Mercury) | cluster_106_sector001 | Mercury |
| (Asteroid Belt) | cluster_100_sector001 | Asteroid Belt |
$GetsuFune | cluster_48_sector001 | Getsu Fune (bridge sector) |
The arc primarily operates within the Solar System plus Getsu Fune as a transition sector to Yaki space.
Persistent characters
Section titled “Persistent characters”| Character | Setup cue | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Dal Busta | Set_Dal_Immediately | Player oversight |
| Police Patrols | Setup_Character_Police_Patrols (v2) + reset actors | Patrol force |
| Yaki Scientist | Setup_Character_YakiScientist (v2) | CROSS-ARC with Yaki story — Yaki Scientist character appears here too |
| Betty Actor | Setup_Character_BettyActor (v2) | Betty NPC |
| Betty Pilot Actor | Setup_Character_BettyPilotActor (v3) | Betty Ship pilot |
| Torus | Setup_Character_Torus (v2) | The Torus character (likely AI / facility persona) |
| Chief Scientist | Ch0_Conversation_ChiefScientist | Initial conversation NPC |
| SSC (Secret Service Contact) | Ch0_Conversation_SSC_Started | Secret Service Contact |
The Yaki Scientist cross-arc is notable — modifying one Terran arc may affect the other.
The Betty Research Ship + invincibility system
Section titled “The Betty Research Ship + invincibility system”A standout vanilla mechanic: the Betty Research Ship has a dynamic invincibility system with multiple sub-cues:
Setup_Character_Torus└── ResearchShip_WaitForFirstSpawn └── ResearchShip_FirstSpawned └── ResearchShip_Catch_Disappearance ├── ResearchShip_MoveDie (Tracking Completed) ├── ResearchShipDestroyed └── ResearchShipExists
Setup_BettyInvincibility_PopulateGroup (instanced)Setup_Betty_Invincibility_Undocking (instanced)Setup_Betty_Invincibility_Request_Invulnerability_Group (instanced)Setup_Betty_Invincibility_Request_Vulnerability_Group (instanced)Setup_Betty_Invincibility_Request_Invulnerability (instanced)Setup_Betty_Invincibility_Request_Vulnerability_ (instanced)Setup_Betty_Invulnerability_Rescue (instanced)The Betty Ship is dynamically invincible at specific story points — its invincibility can be requested/released per group or individually, with rescue handling if vulnerability would cause loss. Modders dealing with Betty Ship state must respect this complex system.
Chapter overview
Section titled “Chapter overview”Chapter 0 — Introductory conversations
Section titled “Chapter 0 — Introductory conversations”| Cue | What it covers |
|---|---|
Ch0_Conversation_ChiefScientist (instanced) | Talk to Chief Scientist |
Ch0_HQ_Plot_Done | Verify HQ plot done (precondition) |
Ch0_Conversation_SSC_Started (instanced) | Talk to Secret Service Contact |
Ch0_Conv_SSC_Anything_To_Report (instanced) | SSC asks for report |
Player encounters:
- Chief Scientist at HQ briefs the player
- SSC contact provides covert oversight
- Arc primes for Ch1 research ship setup
Chapter 1 — Research Ship Setup
Section titled “Chapter 1 — Research Ship Setup”| Cue | What it covers |
|---|---|
Ch1_Setup_ResearchShip (v2) | Setup research ship |
Ch1_Setup_ResearchShip_Reset_Relation (instanced) | Reset relations as needed |
Ch1_Setup_Order_Event (instanced) | Order events |
Ch1_Setup_ResearchShip_HQ_Warp_Pursuit_Order (instanced) | HQ warp pursuit handling |
Ch1_Conversation_Cancel_Destroyed_Patch | Save patch for destroyed-during-conversation |
Ch1_Conversation_ResearchShip_Pilot_Refer (instanced) | Refer to pilot in conversation |
Player encounters:
- Research ship spawns
- Player engages with research ship pilot
- Relation may be reset as part of setup
Chapter 4 — Research Ship alignment
Section titled “Chapter 4 — Research Ship alignment”| Cue | What it covers |
|---|---|
Ch4_Setup_Align_ResearchShip_Ref (refs LIB_Generic.ApproachLocation_Handler) | Align research ship to location |
Ch4_Setup_Warp_Conditions_Check (5s polling) | Check warp conditions |
Player encounters:
- Research ship needs alignment for warp
- Periodic conditions check ensures viability
Chapter 5 — Betty Ship Behavior
Section titled “Chapter 5 — Betty Ship Behavior”| Cue | What it covers |
|---|---|
Ch5_Setup_BettyShip_Behaviour | Activate Betty Ship (when player first docks) |
Ch5_Hint_BettyShip_ID_Masked (instanced) | Hint: Betty Ship ID is masked |
Ch5_Hint_BettyShip_ID_Masked_Ref (refs LIB_Dialog.Speak_Actor) | Spoken hint |
Ch5_Hint_BettyShip_ID_Lost (instanced) | Hint: Betty Ship ID lost |
Ch5_Hint_BettyShip_ID_Lost_Ref (refs LIB_Dialog.Speak_Actor) | Spoken hint |
Player encounters:
- Betty Ship has masked ID (player can’t identify it via normal scans)
- If player loses Betty Ship ID, hint plays
- Betty Ship behavior tied to player docking events
Chapter 6 — Torus approach
Section titled “Chapter 6 — Torus approach”| Cue | What it covers |
|---|---|
Ch6_Torus_InRange_Ref (refs LIB_Generic.ApproachObject_Handler) | Torus approach detection (in-range) |
Ch6_Torus_OutOfRange (refs LIB_Generic.ApproachObject_Handler) | Torus approach detection (out-of-range) |
Player encounters:
- The Torus is the central plot facility
- Player approaches → triggers events
- Player leaves range → cleanup / state reset
Chapters 2-3, 7-8
Section titled “Chapters 2-3, 7-8”Specific chapter cues exist but were not exhaustively cataloged in this overview. Modders should grep story_terraforming.xml for Ch2_*, Ch3_*, Ch7_*, Ch8_* to extract per-chapter detail.
The arc concludes with Ch8 as the climactic terraforming achievement.
Save migration
Section titled “Save migration”Multiple save migration patches:
Ch1_Conversation_Cancel_Destroyed_Patch— handles destroyed research ship mid-conversation- Other patch helpers throughout the arc (instanced for save-load compatibility)
Mod conflict risks (Terran Terraforming-specific)
Section titled “Mod conflict risks (Terran Terraforming-specific)”- ❌ Mods that change Solar System sector ownership affect entire arc
- ❌ Mods that disable Yaki Scientist (cross-arc dependency) break Setup_Character_YakiScientist
- ❌ Mods that change HQ research mechanics affect Ch0/Ch1 prerequisites
- ❌ Mods that interfere with
ApproachLocation_Handler/ApproachObject_Handlerbreak Torus and research ship alignment - ❌ Mods that change invincibility request mechanics break Betty Ship survival system
- ⚠ Mods that affect ship-masking / scanning mechanics break Ch5 Betty ID masking
- ⚠ Mods affecting research ship behaviors break Ch1 pursuit + Ch4 alignment
- ⚠ Faction-relation mods on Terran factions affect Ch1 reset_relation
Code references
Section titled “Code references”| Concern | Cue |
|---|---|
| Police patrols | Setup_Character_Police_Patrols (v2) |
| Torus setup | Setup_Torus (v2) + Setup_Character_Torus |
| Yaki Scientist (cross-arc) | Setup_Character_YakiScientist (v2) |
| Betty actors | Setup_Character_BettyActor (v2) + Setup_Character_BettyPilotActor (v3) |
| Research Ship lifecycle | ResearchShip_WaitForFirstSpawn → FirstSpawned → Catch_Disappearance |
| Betty invincibility system | Setup_Betty_Invincibility_* block (7+ cues) |
| Ch0 conversations | Ch0_Conversation_* |
| Ch1 Research Ship setup | Ch1_Setup_ResearchShip (v2) |
| Ch4 Research Ship alignment | Ch4_Setup_Align_ResearchShip_Ref |
| Ch5 Betty Ship behavior | Ch5_Setup_BettyShip_Behaviour |
| Ch6 Torus approach | Ch6_Torus_InRange_Ref / OutOfRange |
| Save patch | Ch1_Conversation_Cancel_Destroyed_Patch |
Related
Section titled “Related”- Terran arcs overview
- Yaki arc — shares Yaki Scientist character
- Terran Core — Solar System restricted-territory enforcement
- HQ Discovery — HQ unlock arc (prerequisite)
- Vanilla Terraforming catalog — base game’s 99-project terraforming framework
Terran Terraforming is distinct from base game terraforming — story-driven research arc within the Solar System. Betty Ship with dynamic invincibility, Torus facility, Yaki Scientist cross-arc — your mod’s interference with any of these breaks the 860KB story chain.