To Suicide_Junkie...
 

I downloaded your FTL map and tried it out (single player, just wanted to see how it works).
And to quote my favorite character, "Impressive. Most Impressive." I like the way it works. I also found that the computer players were all over the place. You mentioned that AI's will act like neutrals but I'm finding one race, in particular everywhere! I just wanted to let you know that it's a great piece of work.

I had one suggestion that I'm not sure if you concidered or not. The map itself looks kind of odd with that large box in the center. So, have you thought about stacking all the hyperspace systems onto the same galacitic co-ordinates? I found out this could be done by accident and used it quite effectivly to develope, IMO, a more realistic nebula for the game. My nebulaes consist of several nebula systems all stacked. The purpose is that ships can get lost in them. In the galaxy map, all it looks like is one system. I've also given them all the same name and the wps are all in the same locations. Works quite well. And as an interesting side effect, if someone 'maps' a route through a nebula then they have an advantage over anyone else. If you're interested I can send you the nebula test map I've done.

Wow, got a little long winded there, sorry. Anyway, great job on the FTL map. Love it.

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

Thanks! After 12 hours of work, its nice to be appreciated http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

As for placing all of the hyperspace systems on top of each other; how can you view one of those systems? Clicking on the galaxy map would only allow you to see one, right?

How long did it take you to figure out the de-FTL pattern?

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

I have played around with stacking systems as well. You are correct clicking on the galaxy map only shows you the top one, but you can right click on the galaxy map and select "Goto system" to get to the underneath ones. Also if you have ships in one of the systems you can do a next ship to get to the system you ship is in.

It's quite an effect. Can be very confusing. IO haven't figured out a good use for it, but it would be usefull for your FTL map.

Geo

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

I can think of a very devious way to hide home systems. For example, IlllIII and llllIII could very well look the same given SE4's font style...

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

You know what would be interesting for your FTL/Hyperjump map? Having local hyperspace "hubs" throughout the map as opposed to all the systems in the middle - it might make it more playable for the AI as well...

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

I think the AI's main problem is the fact that there are 12 warppoints leading to the same place to choose from...

What do you mean by Hyperspace Hubs?

The effect I originally intended was for the distance between systems at FTL speed to be directly related to their distance in realspace, so as to mimic the ability to travel through the empty systems in between.
I'd assume that any kind of hub system would have a completely different feel to it.

Unless you just mean spreading the apparent location of the hyperspace systems, so they aren't all clustered in the center?

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

Think of a cluster map. Each cluster would have it's own hyperspace hub, with each of those hubs connecting to one central hub in the middle of the map...

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

Would that be a sort of hyper-hyperspace sector in the middle?
If so, then once you've reached hyper^2space, you would be travelling one cluster every 1 or 2 MP?
And at normal hyperspace, you travel one galaxy map square every MP?

EDIT: stupid sig corruption http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

[ 10 December 2001: Message edited by: suicide_junkie ]</p>

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

Not quite...

Each cluster has it's own hyperspace hub that connects to each other system in the cluster. That one hyperspace hub connects to the central hub, where one can travel to other cluster's hyperspace hubs and then onto the various systems in that cluster. Does that make any sense?

s s s s s s
s s s | s s s s
s \ H H
\ \ /
H - - - H2 - - /
|
s - H - /
s s s
s s

s = system
H = Hyperspace Hub
H2 = Central Hub

The systems are not connected to each other, only through the hub.

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

Looks like my little map didn't work out...

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

Try using the [ CODE ] UBB tags, they're supposed to keep your formatting.

Also, where in the hyperspace systems would the warp points be located?

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

I dounloaded the map as well, but i can't figure out what to do exactly, how it works differently other than a bunch of central systems to confuse me with. however, i think that a couple stacked Groups in the center would be good, 3 stacks, 3-3-4 systems each so it wouldn't be as daunting and would give the idea that they weren't stacked until the player explored more.

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

The Warp points could have somewhat random placement in the hyperspace hub, there's no specific reason why they should remain on the edges.

If I had more time I would make a template - but these gosh darn exams (which I should be preparing for...) are getting in the way!

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

Ah, OK.

The point of my FTL map is to model Trek/B5/Wars FTL propulsion.
Thusly, ships must travel to the edge of a starsystem before they can "warp", or go FTL in whatever manner. Also, hyperspace essentially compresses the 13x13 square starsystems (and empty spaces (10 LY across?)) into single-squares of hyperspace. You travel exactly 10LY per movement point, or 100x the speed of light for each movement point.

One at warp, you will find yourself in hyperspace, with a B5-style hyperspace background (red nebula). Every square in hyperspace corresponds exactly to one square on the galaxy map. So, if you can see an unexplored system that is three squares right and ten squares down from your homeworld, you can go FTL, move three to the right, ten down. At this point, you will find a "de-FTL" warppoint, which you can use to slow down and enter the unexplored system.

There are still normal warppoints, which can be seen as wormholes through normal space, but the galaxy is not connected, and some FTL travel is required. Also, note that hyperspace is impossible to blockade, since there is a random movement effect. This prevents any defenses from remaining on a warppoint indefinitely, since they will be dragged away every turn.

APPEND: Try looking at an the map as an ancient race.
You'll get a very cool 3D effect, where the central hyperspace systems appear to be above or below the others. This may help in visualizing the map.

[ 11 December 2001: Message edited by: suicide_junkie ]</p>

Re: To Suicide_Junkie...
 

I like the idea of random movement - it makes for good balance. The hyperspace hub idea is not really to simulate FTL like your map, just another type of map that has its own little strategy quirks...