Ground Combat?
 

From the IRC chats, it almost seemed that there would be no ground combat or only a very simplified version thereof. But this screenshot completely blows that out of the water, if in fact it is a ground combat view and not just a facility planning view. Ground combat in 3d even, reminiscent of Imperium Galactica! Although there is significant reason to believe it is a facility planning view that is labeled Ground Combat, being as there is only one empire on the planet. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

It does seem to indicate that unit numbers will be, um, slightly less, or that units have will have a 'strength' of a number of units per-hex.

Hmmmm...

Re: Ground Combat?
 

If it is tactical control, then it would almost be a game within the game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Ground Combat?
 

oooo, looks very IG2 like. And i'd hoped there would be a much better ground combat system from what SE4 had. I just hope their intelligence system is better as well.

Re: Ground Combat?
 

I hope we could have Arty in there, that would be cool, but I have no idea if it could work (ie, does it have to be LOS shooting)

Re: Ground Combat?
 

I don't think it needs to be overly complex.

I think it will work sort of like fighters in tactical combat in SE:IV where the units can be stacked or launched in groups, and that weapons will have range and facilities damage points etc. That alone would be an ideal level of detail.

Re: Ground Combat?
 

perhaps, we will see

Re: Ground Combat?
 

Perhaps we will be able to actually maneuver the units. Holding the enemy front with heavy forces while flanking with lighter faster units would be an example. Or using air support to weaken strong points and destroy the enemy troop’s willingness to fight as another. It could also be nice if there was an option to have planetary campaigns lasting many turns, perhaps replacing the current method of parking troops on a planet to keep the peace. But I guess that would be asking a lot.

Re: Ground Combat?
 

I would love to see "Star General" ground combat. And for those who don't want it, just have a let the computer "autoresolve" option similar to what we now have for space combat.

Re: Ground Combat?
 

I loved Star Genral game series from SSI, and I think many aspects of this can be churned into SEV. Another great space/ground combo game was Emperor of the Fading suns, and it's great modding engine (even a rock like myself could mod it!). I'd like to see ground combat engine in SEV that can turn the tide or battle in close situations, rather than a dice toss. Victory is Space is no guarantee of victory on the ground, and from what I've seen of the screenshots, I'm satisfied.

Re: Ground Combat?
 

Yes Emperor of teh Fading Suns was a game with great potential. Too bad it dropped out of sight. I loved the way they incorporated ground combat.

Re: Ground Combat?
 

You can still et it online, but the game was buggy as heck, and that took alot of fun out of it! SEIV did alot of things better, but I'm hoping SEV really takes it up a notch, and gets a nice balance of space and ground action.

Re: Ground Combat?
 

Anyone notice that there are mountains in the screenshot of Ground Combat? I wonder it Mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans, etc, will have an effect on combat? Will this be modable outside the game? Opens up a lot of possibilites.

Re: Ground Combat?
 

I don't think it's for ground combat. As the OP said, it looks more like a facility planning screen. If it were for ground combat, it would be very cool http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Ground Combat?
 

If you take a good look at the screenshot and the minimap, you'll notice two green points: in my view these are the 2 turrets you seen on the main screen on each side of that big building. I believe these are probably defensive turrets. As the rest of the on the minimap is grey, it seems to me that only the militaristic building are active, thus that it is indeed the Ground Combat screen.

My two cents.

Re: Ground Combat?
 

Yes, it's a ground combat screen. See how it has targetting controls like the space combat screen? It was quite a shock to see this after MM had denied that ground combat would be any different from SE IV. But we'll see how it works. These screen shots are not a 'promise', remember. He might decide to yank this and leave us with only the SE IV style 'strategic' ground combat.

Re: Ground Combat?
 

Something else in favor of it being a combat screen...if you look closely at the "top bar" of the screenshot, it says:
<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>
Ground Combat Planet Sultran Turn 1 Empires (Amon'krie Flag)
</pre><hr />
Heh, I gotta stop looking at the screenshots, else I'll have to invest in some plastic keyboard covers to prevent drool-comtamination http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/stupid.gif

Re: Ground Combat?
 

wow, you're right. man, this would be great http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif