Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

To alleviate the confusions with time zones, the #se4 web site now has a count down page, which gives you the exact amount of time left until the scheduled chat sessions. It was contributed by Tevlik. You can view it here:

http://se4irc.spaceempires.net/countdown.php

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Now this resolved everything!
Thank you Tevlik!
And thank you Fyron!

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Just a quick note, the questions you post here will not be asked during the chat sessions, I will be compiling them into a Q&A (with all the questions and Blank spaces for the answers) I will then send this batch of Questions to Aaron who will answer them at his leisure and return the completed Q&A back to me. I will then post the resulting file here for all to see.

Oh, and remember this is a Q&A not a wish list, so post your 'wishes' in that 'other' thread.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Alas, this chart confirms the time I had expected for my own session, and I won't be able to get there (at least, I managed to figure out the time for my zone without being fully confused).

So my questions are as follow:
- Will the construction rates "stack"? That is to say, will any excess carry over to the next item in the list, or will it be "one queue element per turn" as in SEIV? For example, will you need two turns to build two ships costing 2,000 minerals at a 4,000 minerals spaceyard, or a single one?
- Will the dynamics behind Stellar Manipulation be changed with SEV?
- As mentioned before, would it be possible to have a few details about the script system?

Thanks!

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

While i'll try to be Online and ask this myself, but it is possible i'll not be able to make it, so heres my question:

- Will the game have an option to save smaller, patch like savegame files when generating the new PBW turn? I'm talking about files, the client can use to build the actual savegame file itself, taking the previous turn's one, and applying the changes received to it. (Shameless feature request hidden inside http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif)

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

I also hope to make it, but just in case I have to work ( http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif ) I'll post a couple of my questions here:

1. When will beta testing begin, and when are applications going to be available?

2. (The obvious question on all our minds) When is the approximate release date for SE5 (if there is one)?

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Can someone tell me what I need to do too get to the chat session? I downloaded Trillian and got that setup. But is there anything else I need to do. Not in the mood to problem solve today. Thanks

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Another question.

Will there be some kind of history for communication between empires.

Also what will the treaty system in SEV be like ( will there be more options such as the SJ school of trading... We can enter a trade agreement... 1 % organic for 2 % Rad... etc... )

Will there be more flexablity in what we can choose in our relationships with other empires... Such as what they see, intel , research sharing and trading....

Do I get my sortable/selectable reports http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Will there be a better map generating tool ( if so suggestion,,, allow for a statistical overview )

Will there be the ability to set up seneraos or generate full maps that are at later stages in the game ?


And Last but not least.

What do you think will be hard coded and not available for modding

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

ok this is the Last one.

Will we be able to export reports ?

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

http://se4irc.spaceempires.net details what you need to do to connect to the channel. Make sure you can get to the channel itself a while before the chat sessions, such as today. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Oh Yea.

What is the scale of SEV

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Okay, I'm connected via Trillian. Thank goodness for the Connection Guide on Fyron's site!
Without it, I never would be able to connect the damn program to Gamesurge.
I hope to be there tonight. Around this time nobody is Online. I however will be Online pretty much this entire day. Later dudes!

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

someone has to post the FULL logfile once the chat is over!!

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

I am sure Fyron and others will post the log file for us all to enjoy. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Around that time, nearly everyone that frequents the channel was asleep, as they live in America (Canada or US). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

It will be available in the same location as the other #se4 guest speaker logs:

http://se4irc.spaceempires.net/archives.php

Just 2 hours and 18 minutes to go for first session!

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Yay! I should be able to make it for the first session, but I am not sure about the second.

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

I have posted a brief rules page of the rules that will be in effect during the chat sessions. Make sure to thoroughly understand them (there are only 3). Thanks.

http://se4irc.spaceempires.net/rules.php

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

What is the SEV system for Tatical scanning of enemy/allied ships , units and space objects. Will it be ship vs ship or will you take the total scanning power of one player vs the other and determine what they will be able to determine ? Same with Jamming. I am thinking along the lines of the David Weber books if you need a frame of reference.

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

well, the first one is over and I can say that it was a bLast. Just rubbing it in to all of you who missed it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Logs for those who missed it... (I hope attaching works...)

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Official chat log has been posted on the #se4 web site:

http://se4irc.spaceempires.net/archives.php

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

The 'Attachment' works Will, and I aprieciate your posting it, but as Fyron said the "Official" place to look is here..
First Chat Session wit Aaron Hall

I'd say the first chat was a quallified success, but don't forget if you can't make it of failed to get your question asked, just post it here and I'll get it to Aaron.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Yeah, it's a bit hard to see in the title section. But a success (and it went over 20 minutes past when it was supposed to!).

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

I must say after seeing the chat this afternoon I am even more excited about SEV! The way the combat is going to take place I think will be really neat.

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Only a qualified success??

SE3 Research
 

So, what is this SE3 research/intel model that will be used in SEV? How does it differ from SEIV?

Re: SE3 Research
 

It uses %'s in it. You have X amount of research points like in SEIV and you can take X% of that and put into any given tech, then another Y% into another and yet another. You can have it to where you have 1% of you total research points in 100(perhaps more?) different tech areas whereas you are limited to just 12 max areas of research in SEIV and really even less then that unless you turn on devide points evenly.

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Of course; we've only witnessed one half of the entire event, you know http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif.

Re: SE3 Research
 

You can get the shareware for SE3 from www.malfador.com (under 2 MBs, possibly a lot less) and see exactly how it works. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: SE3 Research
 

The way research points accumulate (e.g., without compound interest) makes it preferable to put all points into a single project. MOO I had a sort of strange system where spreading research around was beneficial, but as long as doubling research allocation halves research time (that is to say, as long as research "flow" and time are perfectly inversely proportional) spreading research is detrimental.

For example:

If you have 4 projects of 1000 RP each, and you get 1000 RP per turn, sharing the research gives you 4 advances on turn 4... but focusing research gives you one advance per turn. The more you spread research, the worse off you'll be...

Was there some hidden advantage to spreading research in SE3, like compound interest or decreasing gains?

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

This blew my mind, although I know it is fluff:

<Malfador> Did I mention the System Map is 3D rendered as well? Nice spinning planets and all...

That will be neat http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Wildcard

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

I also like that we will go back to SE3 style Intel and Research. It was one of the biggest turn-offs for SE4 for me for a long time. I downloaded the demo and kept on putting off getting it until Last year...

Wildcard

Re: SE3 Research
 

It is more of a benefit for intelligence... If you make a huge amount of research and can get many tech levels in a turn, there is no limit to 12 tech areas. The same goes for intelligence, for which the limit tends to be reached a lot more easily. Also, you don't have to remove tech areas that you started researching, but changed your mind mid-way, due to no limit of 12 slots in the queue.

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

'Neat'? Not really. More like distracting, and a waste of CPU power. I hope it can be disabled to make SE V more playable on older systems. If he can allow 2D images to be used in combat rather than the 3D renderings I'd think he could disable this as well.

A good strategy game doesn't need fancy graphics.

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

True, but it still benefits from them. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Join, join! It's the Last chance for you.

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Session #2 done! And even more juicy tidbits in this one. Fyron doesn't seem to want me to post my logs... shh, don't tell http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Official chat log of session two has been posted on the #se4 web site:

http://se4irc.spaceempires.net/archives.php

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Ok, folks I'll be gathering questions for another day, then I'll gather them all up and send them to Aaron. So don't be shy, ask away.

You might want to read the logs for the two chat sessions so that your question does not get wasted due to it having allready been answered.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

hey guys. thanks really enjoyed that.

Will intel allow for false information. Or perhaps just pieces of the big picture.

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

I added line wraps at column 80 to my chat logs...

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

I attended the second session and was very impressed with the level of detail going into the political/diplomatic aspects of the game. If you missed this session be sure to read the transcript to find out more! It's going to be really cool. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

Was reading both chat sessions... SO GREAT IMPROVEMENTS! SEV will be not SEIV plus! I want SEV right NOW!

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

I wasn't able to attend the chat, but after reading log files a question came to my mind.

Is it possible to release the syntax of SEV's map files? Then somebody could make his own map editor.

Re: Q&A Chat session with Aaron Hall. (On #se4)
 

I was there, but I still have more questions http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

1. What kinds of new techniques can we have to texture our ship models that were not seen in Starfury? I'm talking about stuff like procedural shading (yeah! yeah! uv is SO hard to align right http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif), bump mapping, gloss mapping, transparency, etc.

2. You said we'll be able to completely customize our unit types so we could for instance make fighters that warp or ships that go in cargo... will we be able to do the same with stellar objects so we could make for instance colonizable stars (for plasma based races) or remote-mineable nebulas?