This is a log rather than a tutorial. It does one very specific thing, to reveal all HSAPs without getting 'modified' tag. Though I think the method of injecting/calling script without modified tag is worth sharing.

Senario

I have my HQ deployed at Unclaimed Sector behind Xenon Secot 524. So When I learned there could be a Unclaimed Sector beta but it's not in my game due to some game start randomness I try to bring it back without losing my game progress or getting a 'modified' tag.

Tools

• Unmodifier + Win 7

Procedure

• write a script z.cheat.mkmark.revealall.hsap.xml to reveal all HSAPs based on cycrow's revealall cheat script, and add a fake signiture
• extract plugin.turbo.hotkey.xml from corresponding pck file, backup the pck, then replace the pck by a modified xml where z.cheat.mkmark.revealall.hsap are replaced by plugin.turbo.activate
• follow the 'Unmodifier' instruction to launch a game
• activate turbo boost in game

the plain script of z.cheat.mkmark.revealall.hsap.xml

$main.universe = get global variable: name='main.universe'
skip if $main.universe -> exists
  $main.universe = get sector from universe index: x=0, y=0
skip if $main.universe -> exists
  $main.universe = [PLAYERSHIP] -> get sector

$x = get max sectors in x direction
while $x
  $y = get max sectors in y direction
  dec $x =
  while $y
    dec $y =

    $sector = get sector from universe index: x=$x, y=$y
    skip if $sector -> exists
      continue

    $flags = [Find.ExcludeTerranGates] | [Find.ExcludeGates] | [Find.Hyperspeed]
    $hsap = find gate: flags=$flags, refobj=$sector, max dist=null, refpos=null
    if $hsap -> exists
      if $hsap ->is hyperspeed access point
        if not $hsap ->is hsap discoverable
          if is valid route between sectors $main.universe and $sector
            $hsap -> set hsap discoverable [TRUE]
          end
        end
      end
    end

  end
end
return null

Reference

• https://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=436933&start=15#p5068731 (I generally followed Cheese's method but fixed the bug of extra missions)

Boarding a Xenon Q with 0 casualty was easy in TC since one can save load at each deck. Need a little more SL in AP, but was easier than P IIRC. Now it's very hard, but I finally made it after 717 attempts.

So I lower the Q's shield, launch 21 marines, initiate the jump sequence, keep shields low, and save right before boarding pods hit Q. After each reload, once the jump is completed, I open the property menu to watch the marine status, take a screenshot at the hacking stage, save the game, and copy the save to somewhere else.

I wrote a .ahk script to automate the above process, gathering a lot of saves and corresponding screenshots. The screenshots are later processed and clustered using python.

Of all the 793 scenarios recorded, 101 times Q launched a Firestorm Torpedo against me but ironically destroyed itself due to close-range detonation by my anti-missile system.

Of the remaining 692 scenarios, 447 times the marines did not survive till hacking the core. The other 245 (almost) successful scenarios have a distribution of remaining crews as follows at the hacking stage. Note there are occasions when less than 16 marines made it to this stage but were not eliminated.

Only in one scenario, at the 717th attempt, did all 21 crews survive the operation.

Sadly the original server went dark.

Fortunately, I made a copy of the TC version even before that.

With some help from web.archive.org, I successfully build the AP version from the TC one.