Well, that could be a bunch of things. It can be pretty tricky to isolate the actual cause. For my mod i have made up a test system with only a dockable planet , station and single popzone. You could give that a go.
Other than that, do you know which encounter or zone is causing the problem? It can be so many things like formations or even custom npc names.

Like Mace says, could be a number of things, lets see some code

ok...

System Zone:

[Zone
nickname = Zone_ST04_pop_ambient_01
pos = 0, 0, 0
rotate = 0, 0, 0
shape = SPHERE
size = 99011
sort = 51
toughness = 4
density = 3
repop_time = 25
max_battle_size = 10
damage = 0
spacedust = asteroiddust
spacedust_maxparticles = 0
interference = 0.000000
pop_type = Background
relief_time = 35
population_additive = false
faction_weight = fc_n_grp, 1
encounter = area_nomads_m13, 4, 0.050000
faction = fc_n_grp, 0.050000
faction = fc_n_grp, 0.050000
encounter = area_defend, 10, 0.800000
faction = bu_gp_grp, 0.800000

Faction Props:

[FactionProps
affiliation = bu_gp_grp
legality = lawful
nickname_plurality = singular
msg_id_prefix = gcs_refer_faction_li_n
jump_preference = any
npc_ship = bu_gp_squad
voice = pilot_f_mil_m01
voice = pilot_f_mil_m02
voice = pilot_f_leg_f01
mc_costume = mc_rh
space_costume = li_captain_head, li_male_elite_body, comm_ge_generic2
space_costume = li_rockford_head, li_male_elite_body, comm_li_hatcher
space_costume = li_sales_head_hat, li_male_elite_body, comm_ge_generic2
firstname_male = 226608, 226741
firstname_female = 226808, 226952
lastname = 227008, 227307
rank_desig = 197137, 197138, 197139, 8, 15
formation_desig = 197821, 197828
formation = gunboats, gunboat_wall
formation = cruisers, cruiser_wall

NPCShips:

[NPCShipArch
nickname = bu_gp_squad
level = d10
loadout = bu_gp_loadout
ship archetype = defender2
state_graph = FIGHTER
pilot = pilot_military_ace
npc_class = lawful, FIGHTER, d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, d6, d7, d8, d9, d10, d11, d12, d13, d14, d15, d16, d17, d18, d19

Happy?

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Loadout:

[Loadout
nickname = bu_gp_loadout
archetype = defender2
equip = ge_bwe_engine_01
equip = npc_shield01_mark10, HpShield01
equip = infinite_power
equip = ge_s_scanner_02
equip = ge_s_tractor_01
equip = ge_s_thruster_01, HpThruster01
equip = armor_scale_5
equip = special_gun04, HpWeapon01
equip = special_gun04, HpWeapon02
equip = special_gun04, HpWeapon03
equip = special_gun04, HpWeapon04
equip = special_gun04, HpWeapon05
equip = cruise_disruptor01_mark01, HpTorpedo01
cargo = cruise_disruptor01_mark01_ammo, 50
equip = mine01_mark01, HpMine01
cargo = mine01_mark01_ammo, 50
equip = ge_s_cm_01, HpCM01
cargo = ge_s_cm_01_ammo, 50
equip = LargeWhiteSpecial, HpHeadlight
equip = SlowSmallOrange, HpRunningLight01
equip = SlowSmallOrange, HpRunningLight02
equip = contrail01, HpContrail01
equip = contrail01, HpContrail02
equip = DockingLightRedSmall, HpDockLight01
equip = DockingLightRedSmall, HpDockLight02

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Got a few things. The main one is that there is no fighter formation listed for bu_gp_grp in faction_prop. The ship_class bit was missing from the npcships bit, i don't know if that bit is missed off the file or just the post.
What ship_class is defender2?
In the popzone, there is nothing that would cause the crash assuming that the encounter lines are added at the top of the system file. This bit is a bit dodgy, but it isn't a crash:

---

encounter = area_nomads_m13, 4, 0.050000
faction = fc_n_grp, 0.050000
faction = fc_n_grp, 0.050000
encounter = area_defend, 10, 0.800000
faction = bu_gp_grp, 0.800000

---

Normally all factions in the encounter would equal 1.0000, they are also the same faction twice. I doubt if that would give any real problems.
The levels are low, being D4 and D10, but thats ok as you only have one loadout for the D1-19 range.
The loadout looks ok.

Edited by - Mace_166 on 9/26/2006 9:18:10 AM

on the system zone, do i have to add 'faction_weight =' to both factions?

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You should do really, but that wouldn't cause a crash. I think it just helps determine something to do with random missions.
FLE is good for this sort of thing. If you just give it a check over if you don't usually use it, everything would be fine.

Edited by - Mace_166 on 9/26/2006 1:27:17 PM

I have to agree with Mace, spotted the same as i have lol, but FLE would cure the encounters for sure

sorry i don't use FLE. I try and work out for self, thx for ur time

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Did you get the bit about the faction_prop entries? There need to be a formation for fighters added.

yes i did that now, its fighters, fighters_guild or something like that

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I have a comlete tutorial om making missions. I originally went through the same problems you are mentioning.
The tutorial I wrote was tested by anewbie and on his first try all parts of his missions worked.

Just go to www.planet-zero.us and look in the tutorial section of the board navigation block.

J-MAN

thx J-MAN, i dno if u remember me. I used to be on ur server years ago

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