[Mod Idea] Sins Galaxy

(A larger scale, more 'realistic' experience)

from Sins Forums
[A concept I was musing over after reading in the star wars thread that they were experimenting with stars and planets in the same gravwell]

What if each gravwell had a star in the center instead of a planet, and was itself ringed by small planets and other celestial bodies?

What if each ship were too small to be represented by a 3d model, and only had its icon shown? (except maybe for *extreme* zoom...)

What if each ship's movement were governed more by newtonian physics and less by rts conventions?

What if weapons and weapon effects were altered to be more in line with extreme range, high powered space combat?

What if the game were slowed down to suppose that combat and movement were taking place over the expanse of a solar system instead of a planetary gravity well?

I'm not sure if such a mod would necessarily be fun to watch or play, but the idea of making sins feel 'larger' is certainly appealing.

I'm not one to usually tout 'realism' in mods, as I feel it's a neverending goal that can get in the way of fun. However, a mod along these lines seems like it'd have some fun potential as well. Not sure I'll pursue it (I'm working on my own in the meantime), but thought I'd throw it out there.

What do you all think?
modding
4,135 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
PDSmod for Homeworld 2 had an offshoot which tried a bunch of those ideas, and you're right, it's not fun to watch or play.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
I like this idea. It would make strategy more important, just have to worry about the time scale really.
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Ya...zooming out is not the way to make a game feel larger.

Now if you have a God complex and you want to feel like your in control of everything, then ya this might be up your alley. However if you want to make a game feel big, let people zoom way way way in, and make the ships massive.

Basically the mod your describing is chess on a solar scale. Thats fine, but not what this game is designed for at all.

Best thing you could do is design some maps that are more realistic to galactic standards such as only ten planets per system rather than sixty, and have more maps with multiple stars. This would give you the realistic feeling your craving without breaking game mechanics.