Help: Galaxy Customization

[Anthropoid]

Rather than start a new thread that specifically deals with my question (see below), I'll post my question as a bump to this thread, as I generally would like to promote the same thing OP was asking for.

MY QUESTION: What do "method =", "value =", and "max =" _DO_ in the "cluster_count =" block in files at:
C:\Steam\steamapps\common\Stellaris\map\setup_scenarios

For example, huge.txt

setup_scenario = {
    name = "huge"
    priority = 4                    #priority decides in which order the scenarios are listed
    num_stars = 1000
    radius = 450                    #should be less than 500, preferably less than ~460
    num_empires = { min = 1 max = 39 }    #limits player customization
    num_empire_default = 29
    fallen_empire_default = 5
    advanced_empire_default = 8
    colonizable_planet_odds = 1.0
  
    cluster_count = {
        method = one_every_x_empire
        #method = constant
        value = 1
        max = 6
    }
    cluster_radius = 150
    cluster_distance_from_core = 300
  
    num_nebulas    = 10
    nebula_size = 60
    nebula_min_dist = 200
  
    supports_shape = elliptical
    supports_shape = spiral_2
    supports_shape = spiral_4
    supports_shape = ring
}

I have created my own:
C:\Users\Anthropoid\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Stellaris\mod\anthropoid\map\setup_scenarios\enormous.txt

Spoiler

setup_scenario = {
    name = "enormous"
    priority = 5                    #priority decides in which order the scenarios are listed
    num_stars = 1500
    radius = 490                    #should be less than 500, preferably less than ~460
    num_empires = { min = 20 max = 22 }    #limits player customization
    num_empire_default = 21
    fallen_empire_default = 7
    advanced_empire_default = 0
    colonizable_planet_odds = 0.63
  
    cluster_count = {
        # method = one_every_x_empire
        method = constant
        value = 6
        max = 10
    }
    cluster_radius = 150
  
    cluster_distance_from_core = 300
  
    num_nebulas    = 10
    nebula_size = 60
    nebula_min_dist = 200
  
    supports_shape = elliptical
    supports_shape = spiral_2
    supports_shape = spiral_4
    supports_shape = ring
}

Which works as intended.

However, my efforts to change the method=, value=, and max= were inconclusive.

 

[Evil Victor]

The clusters defined there are used to determine empire placement when the galaxy is created. I guess it's their way of making sure that you have neighbors even if you start with 2 empires in a massive galaxy, it clumps everybody into groups, or clusters.

For example, if you change the max to one, clusters_radius to match the galaxy radius (400 in your example) and the cluster_distance_from_core to zero to even distribute all empires.

I haven't played around with them much beyond that since all I wanted to do was get evenly distributed starts. I would think that if you set it to the constant methods with a large number of clusters you'd end up with a similar effect. Unfortunately I didn't see anyway to use those clusters for any other effects like starting different species all within the same cluster.

 

[Anthropoid]

I tried various permutations of values, not all of them, but perhaps 25 or so. It is fairly tedious and when a dev might explain it without need of "experimenting" then that tedium seems of questionable value.

cluster_radius = 
cluster_distance_from_core =

Those seem to work as one would predict, larger "distance_from" causes the centers of the circular clusters to occur farther from the center of the galaxy. However, there seem to be some maths in the engine or elsewhere in the scripting files that place limits on the viable range for that distance. Not enough repetitions to be sure but, it seems that: if you make the distance too large, it breaks it. Perhaps too small too. I would speculate that the viable range is from some minimum value up to some ratio of the total galaxy radius.

cluster_radius, likewise. A larger integer = larger clusters. However, again there might be some limits related either to the number of clusters, or galaxy size and/or distance from core.

        #method = constant
        value = 1
        max = 6

The method line seems to be commented out. I did try it without the pound sign to comment it out and if memory serves, it worked with the value 'constant' and also with 'random' at some times, but not others. Very few repetitions performed, but it did exhibit non-functionality and game crash in at least one combination I tried.

If "value =" does anything, I was not able to establish what it was. Changing this number and nothing else seemed to result in the same number of clusters. My initial hypothesis was that, "value" specified a minimum, and max a "maximum" but I was unable to either falsify or confirm that.

Lastly, "max" at least for a certain range of variation, "max" seemed to determine the actual number of clusters. I had already posted some of the details at the time I tested these things, I'll see if I could find the thread and quote it here.

Really, the best thing would be if someone who really understands this code (like a dev) just explain to us if it actually does anything, and if so what the assignments do.

 

[Anthropoid]

Here is the thread where I recounted the results of my testing right after I did them

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/custom-galaxies.950976/#post-21462623