SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

There have been many many good ideas presented in the “Next Patch Request” thread, and I’d love to see most if not all implemented in yet another update. However it is unlikely that all of them could be implemented in anything short of SE:V, thus my tongue in cheek reference to SE:IV Platinum. I’ve summarized most of the ideas from the thread as follows. I’d like everyone’s opinion on what changes would make SE:IV, the greatest 4X space game to date, even better. The items with the most weighted votes, who knows, may even make their way into the next update…

So, I ask you this – If you could ask Aaron directly and personally (over a coffee say) to change any FIVE things about SE:IV, what would they be?

Here are the rules, because I’d like us to be somewhat realistic about what the man could do and because I’m going to sum this all up and give you back the cumulative opinion of this community. Each voter gets a total of 5 votes, you can apply them anyway you want to the following 30 suggestions produced in the thread (plus mine http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif ). If you really like a particular item, feel free to assign several of your 5 votes to it!

And please, no fractions or decimals http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

So here are your big ideas by Category

Ships, Components and Facilities:
1.Components that do research/intel functions
2.Security Components that help protect ship from intelligence attacks
3.Jammers working to block viewing ship in tactical combat as well
4.Drones with “move to” orders
5.Transporters to steal/destroy cargo and or supplies

Modding:
6.Option to not need star for some types of constructed planet
7.More “Damage Only” categories
8.Introduce “Damage Only” by family number(s)
9.Get restricted traits working
10.Increase max # of move points (255 curr.) to eliminate range check error
11.Stackable Combat Movement bonuses (afterburners)
12.“Yes I’d like Aaron to do one of the following, of his choosing”
a)Give sats up to one movement/combat turn
b)spread sats out around planet instead of same corner
c)make sats and bases move in orbit by moving one space around planet every X combat turns

Diplomacy and AI:
13.Introduce anger modifiers for the use of certain components or facilities
14.Introduce race specific anger modifiers (i.e. blood feuds)
15.When AI or human agrees to “declare war” on another alien race, make it so the declaration goes into effect immediately for a certain number of turns
16.Teach AI to utilize captured populations (on planets with correct atmosphere)
17.Introduce “just out of enemy range” and “in and out of enemy range” to AI combat tactics.
18.Current relationship modifies infiltration factor for intelligence projects

Map Editor:
19.Be able to add ships etc. during map making process
20.Make monsters (and derelict ships) that attack (or can be salvaged by) players & AI
21.Editable galaxy options, ie # of arms, # of black holes, etc.
22.“system randomizer” option that lets the author select one of several classes of system, that the editor then makes (ie. trinary star system, asteroids only, etc)
23.Add more Warp Point types (delayed transit time, war points that collapse after X turns (player made?), periodic warp points that open and close)

Other:
24.Racial points used to buy starting technologies
25.Button to select ALL ships of a class be upgraded to another class
26.Ships auto-resupply if running low en route to another destination (if resupply base is within say 3 spaces anywhere along the route)
27.A supply transfer window for ship and fleets.
28.Race Experience Points to do something
29.Wheel Mouse Support
And finally, number 30...
...More Killer Attack Squirrels

/Edit in proof:
31 Individual ministers for unit and vehicle construction
32 Unit construction in the facilities building cue.
33 an "ADD TO ALL EMPTY QUES" button, lets you add a particular item to any empty ques for all your planets.
/End Edit

I did my best to repressent each idea clearly, but if you have any questions as to what the heck a Category is about, just jump over to the thread entitled "Next Patch Requests"

My votes are as follows

3 votes for #8
1 vote for #1
1 vote for #12

[ May 13, 2002, 11:20 PM: Message edited by: jimbob ]

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

3 votes for #16
1 vote for #26
1 vote for #29

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Jimbob,

Nicejob, but you left out two of my pet peeves. Individual ministers for unit and vehicle construction and unit construction in facility build cue(making it possible to build WP's before facilities).

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

1 for 1
2 for 20
1 for 4
1 for 21

and 10 for 30 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

3 votes for #22
1 vote for #5
1 vote for #1

OT: Woohoo! The Posts are no longer in those annoying tiny windows when making a reply!

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

My votes: 2, 6, 12, 22, 24

Nice thread Jimbob. Of course It took me a few minutes af looking before I realized there was no actual poll to vote in. With that new feature on the forum I was execting to find one. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Geoschmo

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Nice job compiling the thread Jimbob. Here's my votes:
2 votes for #12,
1 vote for #20,
2 votes for #21.

Keep up the good work.

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Gandalph's point is quite true, he did mention the modification/improvement in minister intelligence. Being the compulsive-obsesive perfectionist kinda guy that I am, I've never employed said ministers... but obviously some people have larger empires than I do http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

So, items following the combat rodents are
31 Individual ministers for unit and vehicle construction
32 Unit construction in the facilities building cue.

I've also added these to the original posting.

Edit: Geo, how smart do you think I am? As soon as I saw "how many questions" I went back to the tried and true method http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ May 13, 2002, 11:04 PM: Message edited by: jimbob ]

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

I vote for all of them...

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">1.Components that do research/intel functions

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">10.Increase max # of move points (255 curr.) to eliminate range check error (NOTE: This is a limit that is universal with most 4x games. It has to do with the programing language)

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">None

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">NONE

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">29.Wheel Mouse Support
33. an "ADD TO ALL EMPTY QUES" button, lets you add a particular item to any empty ques for all your planets.

[ May 13, 2002, 11:28 PM: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

1,6,10,10 & 15 for me.

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

MB, doesn't that disqualify your vote? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif The goal was to narrow the choices, not be redundant and select all of them. lol!

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Avatar!
Think it's even an unused one, a bit Tom Selleky tho http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Atrocities: Done and done. If you'd like, just change your vote - maybe you'd like to weight things differently now (please note everyone that it was a suggestion already in the thread that I should have included, but simply missed http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif )

33. an "ADD TO ALL EMPTY QUES" button, lets you add a particular item to any empty ques for all your planets.

[ May 13, 2002, 11:23 PM: Message edited by: jimbob ]

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Probably you're right... but I would like to have all of them included into the next patch!

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Well of course! But you can't expect to get everything all at once. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif Unless, of course, you want to wait a few years for the next patch. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

I think (more or less) that most of the ideas would be good for the game (and most not so hard to stick in for the next patch). However, has anyone actually sent Aaron any of these suggestions?

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

5 votes for #29 (wheel mouse support)

Why it doesn't have it in the first place, I don't know.

Derek

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's my intention Capt'n. I will ask Richard perhaps... I'm sure there is some sort of channel we can persue.
So then, what's your vote(s) Cappy?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wow, you really want that wheel mouse support! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ May 13, 2002, 11:54 PM: Message edited by: jimbob ]

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Picking just five was tough, but I've narrowed it down to:

4, 7, 12, 14, 22

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Ok...

I vote for:

1 - Components that do research/intel
12 - Sats spread out around planet
14 - Race specific feuds
17 - "Out of Range", "In & Out of Range" tatics
22 - System randomizer for Map editor

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

1, 4, 8, 9, 23

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

1,12,15, and 2 pts for #14-Blood Feuds.

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

2, 12, 26, 27, 29.

Hard choices!

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Picking five was so tough,I vote for 1,12,20,31,33,for me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

I vote for #12... & anything else that makes the AI "smarter" or gives it reasonable advantages. Truthfully, I just don't know enough about many of the other choices to make an informed selection.

Not included in your poll of the polls was to make the most recent game setup the new defaults for the next game.

Dog

K... 1 vote for #12 & 2 each for no's 16 & 17

[ May 14, 2002, 06:32 AM: Message edited by: Dogberry ]

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

dogberry:

hey, everybody's input is welcome here!
#12 is pretty popular, so it looks like you're right on target http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

In terms of "smartening" the AI, probably 16 & 17 are the best (tho there has been some suggestions that the AI can do these manouvers occassionally). number 12 would probably remove a tactical ploy that the AI cannot exploit.

So if you want to cast just 1 vote for 12, that's all right. You could cast all 5 votes on #12, or if you'd like you could split up your votes a little. Feel free to re-vote and I'll take the newest one (you could edit your post too)

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Two for 27, one for 24, 23 and 22. I choose these because they would make multiplayer games more interesting. The AI stuff is nice but I haven't played against AI in very long time.

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Ok, for me is..:

17,25,26

But i like to see all implemented ....LOL

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

I would pick 4,14,19,22,23.

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Taz wants 1,4,5,12,22 ! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Here are my votes. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

# 12
# 15
# 24
# 26
# 28

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

All about the AI: 12, 13, 15, 16, 17

And also Dogberry's 'save presets' so I don't have to go through the entire list of choices in a new game. IIRC, didn't SE3 allow that?

Also, in the game setup, allow Users to specify how many empires to compete against; I can never get it to fill up all 20 slots with random AI.

The Last two choices weren't on the list, so shouldn't count towards my vote total. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

zen

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

My votes: 1, 7, 14, 15, 23.

But also my personal pet peeves http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Retreat option please! that and stackable damage types (ie, if I want a weapon that both skips shields and kills security stations or damages engines first but goes on to damage the ship as well.)

[ May 14, 2002, 01:36 PM: Message edited by: Deathstalker ]

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

6, 6, 6, 8, & 8

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This can be done now. In the data folder is a file called settings.txt, and near the bottom of that file are the enties that control the minimum and maximum AI and Nuetral races. I have set all nuetral races to 0 and the AI races to 7 min&max on small (total of 8 players including myself), 11 on medium, and 19 on large.

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Aw, geez, thanks Gandalph! I thought I had gone over the settings with a fine tooth comb, too. *sigh*

This will certainly mitigate the amount of restarts I'll need to max out empires. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

zen

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

It's all about role play:
1, 19, 20, 23, 24

And didn't I put my request for separate tactical and strategic MP into the other thread?

But I'll trade everything for a savegame/scenario editor! (One that couldn't be used to cheat, I mean.)

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

I like all of the ideas but if I can only pick 5 than it would have to be the following. But I would also like to see #34 More ground combat.

#7 1 vote
#12 1 vote
#14 2 votes
#25 1 vote

The Corps will live forever

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Personally, I want to see that bug/design flaw/feature that allows people to sneak normal damage past shields/armor fixed. I want fighter damage not stacked (side effect: emissive armor might finally be useful). I want to be able to order ships to be able to meet up with (or as) a fleet, then attack something when in simultaneous mode. Most importantly, I think fixing bugs/design flaws is more important than new features.

Obviously my requests have been mentioned in many threads before by many different people, although not recently. Anyone know if Aaron has any plans to follow up on them?

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

All I want is Sortable Reports.

Can you add this to the list or am I the only person who sees value in this.

Example.

265 planets.

200 of them have troop units
250 of them have weapon platforms
30 have fighters

So now I want to see which planets have fighters stored on them.

How do I do this. Right now I scroll by 265 planets on the cargo screen

I would like to select show fighters and thats it.

Then if I want to load those fighters on a ship I select the ship open the planet screen select cargo select show fighters only and click on that planet.

Then I can hit the upload button and select fighters.

Very simple and easy to manage.

Unlike the current way it is set up.

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Another example of a good sortable report would be

265 planets

1 of them has a resource converter on it.

Can you tell me which one it is?

How about Select Planet Facility screen report and filter it to only show Resource Converters.

This drives me crazy in the game. Does anyone else see any value in this???

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">An addendum to this:

In Simultaneous mode, when you launch units, have it ask you how many and what kind and store this as part of the orders, so you can selectively launch different kinds of satellites (for example) if you are carrying several kinds, and also only launch half of your capability instead of launching all.

Similar request for the Jettison Cargo order. Nothing irks me more than when I fill up a domed colony cargo with WP's and have a new design and my only choice is to jettison all of a particular design in order to make room for the new ones. I'd like to be able to jettison them one at a time please.

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Yes this is important for all the system-wide facility types. I get a PBW turn and often wonder if I have created such-and-such system facility in a system and have to go check all the planets in the system manually to find it.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I see the value, and I like the way things were done in SE3 where you could do a few of the things you wanted. However, unless Aaron has been using a third party SQL database, or a format that can be used as one with an ODBC driver, this requires a lot of coding. Even with a database, it could take a while. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

Tesco, your ideas are real great.
Time and again (i like to play large games), i hoped for then......

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

i vote for #74: steal intel system from starwars:rebellion http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

1 vote for #29
1 vote for #26
1 vote for #23
1 vote for #12
1 vote for #3

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

7, 8, 12, 16, 29,

I'm assuming wheel mouse would mean that you wouldn't have to hit the mouse button teo dozen times to add two dozen components.

------------------------------------

Platinum happens!!!

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

I believe at least #'s 1, 4, 9, 12, 14, 15, 20, 26, and 29 have already been requested by the beta testers. They had been included on a spreadsheet of requested changes.

edit: that is in regards to Aaron being informed of the requests.

[ May 14, 2002, 12:36 PM: Message edited by: Atraikius ]

Re: SE:IV Platinum Edition (voting topic)
 

OK, now my votes are
12,14,17,29,32