What happens when friendly codes match? (This list is expected to be complete.)
- A starbase's Load Torpedoes mission will load torpedoes onto ships with matching code, Refuel Ships will refuel them, Unload will unload them.
- A starbase's Force Surrender mission will force ships with matching code to give up and surrender.
- Objects with matching codes will not attack each other in combat.
- Ships that match a minefield friendly code will not trigger a mine. Webs will not drain fuel from ships with matching codes.
- Ships that match the friendly code of a Firecloud will be allowed to pass the Chunnel.
- Ships that match the friendly code of a minefield will not sweep the field.
- Fed ships that match the friendly code of a starbase will be allowed to use parts from that base for Super Refit.
- Ships that match the friendly code of a planet will be allowed to beam up minerals from that planet, use the planet's supplies for Training and build torpedoes or fighters.
- Ships that match the friendly code of a planet can Colonize there even if the planet is already inhabited by another player.
- Ships that match the friendly code of a repair ship can be repaired by it; ships that match the friendly code of an academy ship can receive crew from it.
Now when are two friendly codes are considered matching? When they are identical, character by character, of course. Friendly codes are case-sensitive, a lower-case 'a' doesn't match an upper-case 'A'. However, in PHost, there's one big exception: Special Friendly Codes Never Match!
If a ship has a special friendly code (either registered friendly codes or the unregistered ones) then it will never match the friendly code of another ship, planet, or minefield. For example, if a ship has a friendly code of mkt then it will fight an enemy ship even if the enemy ship also has a friendly code of mkt. This holds true even for unregistered games, and does not distinguish between planet and ship codes (a ship with bum will not match another ship with bum, although bum has a special effect only on planets).
All the special friendly codes defined by PHost are listed below. Add-ons may define their own special friendly codes. At host-side, these codes are listed in a file xtrfcode.txt. Players can use the send fcodes command to request a copy of that file. The file format is described below.
