Alternative Galactic Civilizations Game Mechanics (from the developers)

from Stardock Forums

Here are some other concepts we have for Galactic Civilizations that we think would be possible if we made use of a 3D engine:

  1. Planets on the sector map. Rather than having to clck on a star and then click on a planet, we could put stars on the sector map (they'd be made to use 4 move areas instead of 1) and then put the actual planets on there. With the use of a 3D engine, you could adjust the camera angle so that this would look good I think. Moreover, it would greatly reduce the amount of clicking. You'd just click on the planet itself.  You could even show the ships in orbit as a little icon by the planet that you could click on to make them leave orbit of the planet.
  2. Starbases affect a specified area. Rather than affecting a sector, a starbase could use a 3D engine's colorizing to give a faint (Very faint) glow to the area it affects.
  3. Asteroid fields and what not could be displayed.  Asteroid fields at a galactic level are silly. You don't worry about asteroids between stars. But within a solar system, you could then have asteroid fields that would have to be navigated around, mined, etc. This would create "galactic terrain".

What do you think?

1,783 views 52 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Out of the three, I really like #2. For #3 you could have a tech that allows you to mine the asteroids for increased prod or perhaps research(asteroid lab). As for #1 then ships would protect planets not systems then, correct? So perhaps a cheap ship with no mobility(ie intrasystem engines only) that could be built for planetary defense.

While you're at it, how about a tech that can convert an asteroid field into a planet(Make it a sub tech of planet creation). Even a tech that provides a social improvement that allows all sub 10 planets to become a class 14(or 15) planet(This way it won't affect good planets). But you have to build it so you'll have negative income and low population while it is being built. This would introduce a new late game colonization rush(perhaps).

I like. Much to do. Why are you guys reading this? Get coding!!! LOL (This coming from a programmer, BTW).

B

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
I like the first two ideas very much! The asteroid fields are kinda strange, I'm not saying it's a bad idea, I think I would have to see it to have a decision.

The starbase "area of effect" is great!!! :)
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Are we talking about a sequel (i.e. a new game) or an expansion to the existing one? (I'm assuming a sequel for my response...)

Personally, I don't feel a need for options 1 and 2, and I'm a bit worried that you might be feeling the need to go 3d and casting about for justifications/ways to use it. The existing 2d engine is just fine. If you really want a use for 3d, though, make the galaxy truly 3d, with stars in all directions instead of a flat plane. However, I'll bet that designing a good interface for interacting with that would be tough!

Option 3 might be nice, but if you want asteroid fields you can implement that in your existing 2d engine as a different planet type which can be exploited with fairly minor modifications to the existing rules and techs. e.g. asteroids can be colonized once you reach a certain tech level. They would have low PQ but provide bonuses like extra cash and/or production capacity to the other planets in the same system by virtue of being cheap suppliers of valuable raw materials.
;)
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
The sphere of influence around a SB would make it more reasonable. If you had a resource right at the border to a sector, why should the planet 8 diagonal away get bonuses, while the planet 1 diagonal away in the next sector gets nothing.

B
[Message Edited]
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
have the starmap as it is now, 2D. for individual solar systems, have the map in 3D. i think a 3D map for all the star systems would be to intimidating to most users, however, with individual starsystems, i think a 3D map would work just fine.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
i think a 3D map for all the star systems would be to intimidating to most users
End of quote


Especially at Gigantic! :SURPRISED:
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Starbases affecting a specific area - would that be for current 1-sector bonuses (like +speed modules), or current empire-wide bonuses (like +research)?


About asteroid fields and space terrain - that does open up some interesting combat possibilities. Maybe have ships hiding in an asteroid field get the first attack roll, even if they're the ones being attacked?
Ships in a nebula can't be seen unless another ship's next to them? The only thing I'm worried about is getting lots more off-world improvements to micromanage - you know, building roads and railroads everywhere, farms on every plains square, mines on every hill...
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
This seems nice, but I just wonder about the level of micro it will bring to this game that marvelously brings a "global idea" and "global management". I'm thinking more specifically about the asteroid field (is it REALLY useful to add, except for graphical purposes?)

About the SB sector, I think it'd be great :)
Also, I believe the interface could be simplified AND nicer like this :D

Thx again for your enthusiasm Brad :CONGRAT:
[Message Edited]
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Oh, and about 3D - a 3D engine would look great, but I think making a fully 3D universe would get messy.

If you're after the eye-candy factor, how about have 3D models (still on a flat map, though), that "leap off the page" and go fully 3D when they're fighting each other? Think BattleChess. You can get pretty fights that make great screenshots, and still have the actual strategy take place at a 2D level.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
Roads and railroad tracks?? Hello!!!! This suppose to be the 22 century, no need for railroad tracks or roads, only parking spaces around the stores and in your home, the garage will be very, very full. LOL LOL LOL
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
I like # 2, but if you're going to do things that are "faint (Very Faint)", you will need to put some kind of gamma adjustment controls in there. No matter what settings I put my monitory at, I really can't see the current sector influence map up in the right corner, so more feedback that I cannot see would be frustrating.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

3D engine, not 3D map.

It would still take place on a 2D plane.

I personally find clicking on a star and then on a planet tedious. I would much prefer to just click on planets directly.

The reason we couldn't do that in GalCiv 1 was because sprite based engines are harder to zoom in and out.  But with a 3D engine we could zoom in and out much easier.

Plus having a big star sprite would suck up a lot of memory per star. Whereas with a 3D engine it's no biggy.

The biggest draw back on 2D engines for us is tha tit severely limits the number of objects in the game. Each object uses quite a bit of ram. 2D engines also don't get hardware acceleration.

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
The biggest draw back on 2D engines for us is tha tit severely limits the number of objects in the game.
End of quote


The modders would love to get their hands on more objects!

With so many positives, there's really no debate that there should be a 3D engine next time.
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
3D engine, not 3D map.It would still take place on a 2D plane.
End of quote


Someday, somewhere far into the future (sigh), I'd really like to see a true 3D space game. It would add so much. It took me forever to convince the Senate that our ships wouldn't fall off the edge of the universe! LOL
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
Of the above, #3 is the one that gets me. Of course, there is no 'terrain' in space, but I would like to suggest that it be included. In addition to fixed 'asteroid fields' of the sort described, would it be possible to introduce a unit that lays space mines? There could be a limit on the total number of mines laid, for example, but it would introduce another tactical element to movement between worlds. Thus, terrain becomes 1) impassable or 2) an area that does a fixed amount a damage to a ship passing through it until the 'mine' is used up, or 3) just an area that requires more movement points to get through.
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
I have been playing Galciv from the early OS/2 versions. It was the one thing I really missed when I moved to linux. I did keep the subscription to stardock's mailing list just in case. I was happy to seen the windows version - I play it on my son's box...

I would _really_ like the option of a 3D map. ie forget the idea of sectors, show the influence of planets/starbase as suggested. I do not think that 3D for planets would be that much of a plus though.

Ed

~SDC~
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
Terrain would be really nice. Some equivalent of "roads" would be really nice too, especially on the big maps.

Your first idea I don't really have any strong feelings about. Sure it would be nice, but it's just one extra click. No big deal when you've got a monstrous constructor clickfest late game.

Your second idea, while certainly more realistic than the current "sector" system, wouldn't change the game in any significant way that I can see.
Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top
Equivalent of roads like Trade Lanes in Freelancer? I can imagine something like that working in GalCiv, you'd have to build them yourself, and it would work like the +Speed modules but only if your ships are traveling along the lane. It'd be limited to travel between systems too I suppose, since it wouldn't make sense having roads to nowhere.
Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
Ideas 1 & 2 are nice to have.

I really like the idea of having galactic terrain in the game.
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
Hehe, I only mentioned roads, farms, and mines, cause I got sick of managing terraforming in other games, and I don't want this to turn into a "upgrade all the city squares" kinda game. :)

But now that I think about it, some sort of road thing might be a good idea. Instead of a +speed bonus that covers a whole region, a stronger +speed bonus that follows a straight line would certainly be possible.

Maybe have a new starbase module that links to a specific starbase somewhere else, and gives a speed bonus to ships going on that exact line.

If you have space terrain that other ships can hide in, it also raises the possibility of ambushing enemy ships as they travel along the virtual road, robin hood style...
Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top
I like ideas 1 and 2. Idea 3 sounds more like an expension to star system defense. Could look cool though. That raises the possibility that with a 3D system some improvements could actually appear on the map. The terraforming improvements would be cool, but maybe also add orbital rings, defense stations, industrialisation, system mining colonies, stargates, etc... Even more amazing would be the addition of enahnced imrpovements like Dyson spheres. Now that would look cool, especially if you actualyl saw improvements in various stages of building!

Need to be careful of any extra micromanagement though.

Paul.

~SDC~
Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
Something else that might add a nice twist to larger maps, especially ones with tight clusters, would be to somehow limit ships traveling across the vast empty reaches of space. My understanding of the galaxy is that natural lanes do exist based on the physical layout of the galaxy. It is very unlikely we will ever explore the empty regions, and limiting movement that way until the later stages of the game could make it imperative to research the right tech to explore it and send deep space constuctors to newly discovered resources. Just an idea.