Next Upgrade/patch
 

Seeing that Richard is no longer in the Pic we can not ask him Soooo, has anyone any word as to the next release and what it will have/be? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ January 23, 2003, 01:34: Message edited by: mottlee ]

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I heard if it isn't out by the holidays then Aaron will have it out sometime before the end of January. That's just what I heard, I can't remember where I heard it either.

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

Cool any idea on what is in it? (miss Richards Intel)

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The newest Version is 1.82. That I know of, at least thats the latest patch Version that has been talked about.
Here is the History of fixes that have been done.

Version 1.82:
1. Changed - Ships in combat will now follow their fleet's strategy regardless
of whether they are in a combat group or not.
2. Fixed - Computer Players which had a "Computer Player Bonus" set above
None were not using all of their bonus funds.
3. Fixed - The largest ship in a sector was not always being drawn on top
in the system display.
4. Fixed - Planets in combat would not fire all of their weapons (sometimes).
5. Fixed - Planets in combat would not fire enough seekers against a target
to guarantee its destruction (sometimes).
6. Fixed - Improved the Transport minister a little.
7. Added - The Log Window will now return you to the item you had selected the
Last time you were in the window.
8. Fixed - Ships with a Tractor Beam would not fire weapons located after
the tractor beam in their design.

Version 1.81:
1. Fixed - "Crew ConVersion" damage type will work on all target types,
again.
2. Fixed - "Crew ConVersion" damage type will fail against a ship with
a Master Computer (regardless if that component is damaged or
not). It does not matter if there is a Bridge on the ship.
3. Fixed - AI will no longer launch "Anti-Planet" Drones in combat.
4. Added - Option to strategems to control how many drones are launched
per target in combat.
5. Changed - You can now give drones orders to Attack warp points. This
is essentially the same as telling them to warp through
and attack anything on the other side. Any survivors can then
be given new orders.

Version 1.80:
1. Fixed - Integer Overflow when a unit with no shields was hit by normal
weapons.
2. Changed - "Crew ConVersion" damage type will only work against ships
regardless of the target type.
3. Fixed - "Crew ConVersion" damage type will fail against a ship with
a Master Computer (regardless if that component is damaged or
not).
4. Fixed - You can now give resource gifts in excess of 200,000.
5. Added - "x10000" and "x100000" to the Select Package window for resources.
6. Fixed - Fighters were unable to "Fire On And Destroy" ships.
7. Fixed - Organic Armor was pre-regenerating itself before damage occurred
in combat.

Version 1.79:
1. Fixed - "X Damage to Shields" damage types were not working correctly.
2. Fixed - Shield Depeleters will now work properly against units.
3. Fixed - The result of a Communication interception intelligence project
will be displayed with arrows in the log window.
4. Fixed - Ships would clear their order if trying to move to sector 0,0.
5. Fixed - Ships with regnerating armor will regnerate all of their armor
at the end of combat.
6. Fixed - During a Deconstruct & Analyze, you would sometimes receive duplicate
techs if a component and the vehicle size were new to you.

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

Thanks realy like 1.82 #7 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

"1. Changed - Ships in combat will now follow their fleet's strategy regardless
of whether they are in a combat group or not.
"

Not sure about this one. Does this mean 'breaking formation' will do nothing (ie, ships won't follow their own strategy?). If so, I don't like. I want my ships to break formation so that some will hold off at max range while others close to point blank. (ie, missile and ripper beam ships).
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

1. Changed - Ships in combat will now follow their fleet's strategy regardless
of whether they are in a combat group or not.

Yea... I do not like that one either...

Please explain oh beta testers

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">These are the two that I think shouldn't have been changed.

The first is because I want ships to break formation for a reason, so that they use their individual strategies instead of the fleet strategy. Otherwise you can't mix different types of ships effectively in a single fleet and the strategic options become fewer. This is a change from what I see as the correct behaviour to what I would consider a bug.

The organic armour change causes the problem that the regeneration in combat is now nearly useless. The armour is already only half as good as shields, and it really needs the preregeneration to make it a viable choice for ships, as it still has all the other disadvantages of armour with regards to disabling and armour skipping weapons. The fact that it will all regenerate after combat doesn't really compensate because the ship needs to actually survive for that to be a factor, and ships don't tend to survive half-damaged in large numbers.

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

Quote:

1. Changed - Ships in combat will now follow their fleet's strategy regardless of whether they are in a combat group or not

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What's a "combat group"?

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Thanks mottlee & Ragnarok for this patch post, I like V1.82 #6 and 7 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif , V1.80 #5. I hope there s more to add to the patch,How about Ideas like;

(a) Intell > Demand that you remove your ships/or colonies from (my systems), instead of a pacific system.makes it simpler for player.

(b) Multi-add > (One turns worth), on that menu.

(c) Empire > Game setup tab, a print out or list of the current set up empire.this way player can remember the diffucuty ai etc/ and own settings.
(d) ) In game help manuel > More INFO like (A)pop 4000m = 4billion or 4million?.(B)ministers(C)intell(D) demeanors,in game set up & ministers.

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

Given the wording about "combat Groups," it may not be referring to ships set on Break Formation. Then again, I could just be doing some wishful thinking.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think this was question before when they released the history of fixes. But I can't remember what it was. Maybe a Beta tester can stop by here and let us know again what it means. I certainly hope it does not mean that they do not break formation anymore. That would suck!

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"Break formation" is still working as you know it. The "combat group" thing is misleading and is only a description of what caused the bug. This bug resulted in your ships attacking a planet even if they had the express order not to. Nothing more, nothing less.

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i hope they get the fix in for component mounts of weapon type 'any'

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&ltsigh&gt We already had this conversation. Bugs in v1.78? {link}

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1.82 # 7

WHOOOHOOOO!!!!!

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Looking forward to changes 1.82 #2 and #7.....

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">So, you've tested that it's still possible to have a fleet with ships set to break formation, and those ships will then use their design's strategy on a per-ship basis, instead of the fleet strategy?

PvK

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I have a suggestion for the next patch (one I'm sure the PBW would appreiate):

Every turn, the turns get sent to the host and it indicates that it recieves each of the players turns. You have to wait until the host hits the turn button to got to the next turn.

I was wondering if there was a way to add an options section for the host TCP/IP and the ablitity to select and automatic turn processing after all players have sent in their turns? It would make multi-player much more enjoyable.

Also, having the option for a tactical combat (some-sort-of instant messenger screen where players could interact for that combat) would be a great addition.
Having the control of the ships during combat can really help sometimes.

KirbyEF

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes. "Break formation" still works the way we know it.

[ December 31, 2002, 00:03: Message edited by: Mephisto ]

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif ANY WORD YET???? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

Don't expect anything before the end of the month.

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Mephisto http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

thx so much for the info man!

you have no idea how eagerly we await the patch...

maybe one other thing you might want to add, i know a lot of us in big pbw games could use...

SAVE TURN - currently, you must finish an entire turn, hit end turn, and then you're left with your turn file... i know many people spend more than 1 sitting doing their turns, and this has led to many extra hours of cpu power on ;p

help us save energy http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

if not this patch, can you indicate if you've thought about this?

thx in advance

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since we're on the topic of patches ;p

has a decision to balance religous talismans been made yet?

how about making them +99% to hit or something?
they really are overpowered, unfair, and unbalancing compared to other racial techs

i think there is a general agreement here about this issue, i'm sure you've noticed? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">At the risk of being a total mensch, would you really notice the 1%. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

i would rather that the talisman stay the way it is.

Leave that up to the mods for changing.

We do not want our modding abilities to be removed...

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes I agree. Keep it the way it is and mod it differently. You could mod it to cost more. Or to take up more hull space. Or both. Having it cost more and take up more space would in effect balance it. Especially if it were to go from being 50kt to like 125kt or something like that.

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

Thanks guys http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif will try to hold breath till out http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

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"At the risk of being a total mensch, would you really notice the 1%."

Yes. Because now ECM could do something against the talisman, and so could distance/stealth/defensiveness/etc.

Phoenix-D

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That would simply reduce the religious talisman to a little bit more potent combat sensor and an ability in the game would be removed!
I sorry to say this again but I am completely against removing any abilities from the game.
I have the impression that more and more people forget that the most important feature of SE IV is that you can modify it yourself. Therefore I agree with the proposal of Ragnorak.

[ January 05, 2003, 07:18: Message edited by: Q ]

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

I'd like to see a confirm dialog added to the savegame menu - you have no idea how pissed off I've gotten from the many times I've accidentally saved over one of my games that I was on turn 2700.8 or some such because there ISN'T a dialog box for it and my mouse jammed while I'm going hyper from 3 days no sleep and masive quantities of no-doz just to play up that high....

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just curious, what does "mensch" used in this way mean?

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just curious, what does "mensch" used in this way mean?[/QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">mensch: polite term for one who is a constant kvetsh, particularly an over formal one; a stuffy complainer
example:
"Sorry to mensch, but if you're done with the hedge trimmer, could you pop it in the post"

[ January 05, 2003, 15:20: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

That would simply reduce the religious talisman to a little bit more potent combat sensor and an ability in the game would be removed!"

Changing the way the talisman works in the standard game wouldn't have to affect mods. Just change the ability given to the talisman to the same as the combat sensor ability, and leave the "always hit" ability intact for modders to use.

Phoenix-D

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just curious, what does "mensch" used in this way mean?</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">mensch: polite term for one who is a constant kvetsh, particularly an over formal one; a stuffy complainer
example:
"Sorry to mensch, but if you're done with the hedge trimmer, could you pop it in the post"[/QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanks! Because in German Mensch = Human.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">there is a backup directory where se4 keeps your Last turn played, along with the current turn for each game. in \temp off of the main se4 directory.

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And, there is always the Autosave feature. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

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g3n3r4l3n1gm4 while I agree this would be nice, I would like to see it simply default to creating a new name. Those "1:00 in the morning mistakes" can ruin your whole night.
To save myself from myself I currently save each game to its own folder. Had to learn that the hard way.

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

Save during simultaneous mode games has been requested many times. I requested it during the original beta. I think MM knows we'd love to have it, but I suppose it must present some problems versus the way the program is currently written. Too bad, because ya it makes it hard to get through the long turns in developed games. Let MM know though what your most wanted features are - he's one of the most responsive developers.

PvK

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yep, that is the only really big annoyance i have with SEIV. Glad to see it's solved.
kewlness!

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why not add an auto save at the end of the PBW turn?

I have no idea what I am talking about. I only have the demo and my CD has been shipped but not recieved yet. But, if in PBW when a player hits/clicks/whatever the "I am done, send my turn to the host" message/box/link/whatever, at that point save the game. that way if a reload is necessary, you don't have to do everything all over again. (IE "PBW/MP-autosave" file name).

Since we are on the topic though, I have seen a lot of things present in the demo I would like to see fixed. If they have been fixed in the most recently released patch for the full Version, then goodie. If not, their persual for consideration would be appreciated. Some I consider bugs, others are just wants. My list so far is:

1. Enemy units warp past SAT defended wormholes. I had a wormhole defended of the enemy side with some SATs. When the enemy entered the sector, I got the combat screen, but the enemy ship used a "don't get hurt" type of movement. When the combat was over, the enemy ship appeared on my side of the wormhole. It made it through the wormhole after combat was finished and I think that was fubar.
2. I wouyld like to see the option to force a ship in combat to break formation and not auto move around when the lead ship is moved. As it is now, I am begining to hate the fleet combat system and I have not even recieved the cd yet. an option under "orders" to force remove it from formation would be nice. Also, if i select a ship other than the lead ship and move it one space (IE 3 available) then DON'T automaticly change the ship selected to another one. i had a reason for putting it there, and the continous bouncing around in the combat screen is a headache. I have pretty much quit using fleets for this reason.
3. Have hot keys in combat for "next unit with movement points remaining" and "center window on currently selected unit" (if these are in the game already, I have not found them). I tried the "c" key for center and found the capture ship option (nice) though.
4. you get ripped off if you mix engine types. Say I can put 6 engines on a design. The first engine added is a photon type (+2 movement). All the rest of the photon engines added do not give additional movement. That is fine, but if for the 2nd through 6th engine I place Ion3 engines, I lose the extra movement points. I was trying to limit the mineral cost of the ship considering the photons are lots more expensive than the ion ones.
5. On the designs screen, there is a button to upgrade a paticular unit. it would be nice if when there is no upgradeable parts, you got an edit stating that. IE "there is currently nothing to upgrade on this design".
6. Allow editing of prototype designs even if some are already in the queues. Not necessarily referring to ones partially built, but ones that are a new design, and after looking at the "turns to build" (or whatever) you decide to edit the new design. having to go back and remove all the ones you just placed in the queue, just so you can change one component is a pain. Also I would like to be able to delete a prototype design (provided none are in the queue) instead of having to obsolete it and waiting for turn x.9 to get rid of it.
7. On the ship "design detail", show the total maintenance cost. It might be a factor in the design (duh, guys).
8. the ability to move the boxes around (click and drag). I don't care if I can resize them or not, but would like to be able to scoot them over a bit at times. IE, when making player notes regarding a system, I might want to note something like "3 stars, 1 asteroid 232/312/375" referring to the minerals in the asteroid belt. But the notes box covers this information on the main game screen. so it write it down, then open the notes box, then type the info info... that is a hassle imo.
9. When you click "end turn" you can get a message of confirmation. it would be nice if there were also a message that could be recieved when "you do not have enough minerals to complete the queue orders".
10. When your using the empire queue list(f7), have the main screen re-center on the planet that you selected. Similar to the way it works when you click on a planet from the "colonies" screen (f5).
11. WP stats/strategy incomplete. In the design window, with a current WP design selected, and the button for "stats/strategy" selected, the screen shows zero for enemy tonnage destroyed. this is not accurate. It works fine for SATs, but not WPs.
12. I would like to see the negative happiness factors on the planet detail. My planets have gone from "happy" to "indifferent" and I would like to know why.
13. What is the reason for an AI counter proposal of an "unavailable technology" and an "unavailable planet" in return for the organics I previously offered? This should not even happen in the game imo.
14. Limit the technology list to offer the AI to items they don't have. IE, if they HAVE rock colonization, then don't list that when making your offer. Also, on the want tech list, don't show tech I already have.
15. I would like the ability to transfer supplies from one ship to another. Say I have a colony ship comming from one direction and a light crusier comming from the other direction. they meet at the planet I am going to colonize. I would like to be able to transfer the remaining supplies from the colony ship to the other one before giving the coloniz order. One may be mostly full, the other may be nearly empty. Likewise, that would make supply ship designs work as well. (an escort with only engines and supply storage could transfer surplus supplies to the ships in the fleet). Those who have played STARS! know what I am talking about. Alternately, if I add the supply ship to a fleet, the supplies go into the supply pool. But if I then remove the ship from the fleet, the supplies "delivered" stay on the ship removed. It would be acceptable if the supplies from the pool were evenly divided between the ships being removed from the fleet and the number of ships remaining in the fleet. (IE 5 ships in the fleet, 100k supplies in the pool. remove 2 ships. 60k supplies remain in the pool and each ship removed gets 20k supplies each.
16. The 3 next/previous buttons could be lit when there are next selections to consider. for example, the ship icon could be green when there are ships remaining with movement points, same for the fleets icon. Since the next button skips ships/fleets with no movement remaining, a lite would make it easy to tell at a glance. The colony icon could be lit when there are empty queues.
17. When using the "next colony" button, what part of next colony didn't the game get? it does select the next system with a colony in it, but if there are SATs, ships or moons present, you have to select the colony again. This is an extra, tedious step. ALSO, when selecting the next colony, the detail/facility/cargo tabs reset to the detail selection. I would like to see it remain on the previously selected choice. meaning, if I am looking at a facilities list for one colony, when I select the next planet arrow I still want the facility tab to be selected.
18. it would be nice if the system had the Last visited info displayed. IE, I visit a system but decide to not leave a unit there to monitor traffic. It now will show as explored when selected in the galaxy window. I would like something along the lines of "this information is 15 turns old" or "system Last visited on stardate 2404.9". this could be displayed underneath the system name in the upper left corner. It could also show red if it has been more than ten turns since Last visited, but color coding is not necessary, just a nice addition.
19. Allow one engine on space stations. Since it is listed as a ship, why not? Being able to move it one square per turn makes more sence than having to build a construction ship and move that to where you want to build one and then building it there. Like some little ship could carry enough material to completly build a space station without having to make multiple trips. yeah, right. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif
20. Nix the confirmation edit when you selected the attack order. I can understand it if you choose the "move to" button and the path puts you in a battle situation. But if i select the "attack" order, why does it ask me again if I want to enter that sector with enemy ships. Hello, was it not listening the first time? What part of "attack" didn't it understand. Also, turning this warning off is not listed in the empire options like most of the other warning the game can give. at least let me turn it off.
21. Why do you lose construction accumulated when re-ordering the build queue? this is dumb. sorry, you have to destroy that partially built mine before you can build a ship on the other side of town. absurd. ESP since you retain research points accumulated when re-ordering the tech choices. It's bad enough that excess construction don't roll over to the next project in line. But having both is too much construction penalty IMNSHO.
22. No construction surplus rollover? It does for reasearch, why not construction.
23. have some picture options for your designs. say a choice of 3 or 4 pictures for each ship size. Again, those that have played STARS! know what i am talking about. it can't be that hard to program in. (IE escort1.gif,escort2.gif. .gif meaning whatever file type they used in the game. don't get picky)
24. Some sort of mineral alchemy would be nice. even if it is a small amount. just something to put in the queues of those planets that you can't build anything else with. like 10 to 100 of each mineral/organics/radioactives per turn. the amount could be a racial trait, or just limit it to 50 or 100. call it alchemy, or a recycling program, whatever. most cities have some sort of program like this so it is not out of the realm of reality. Recycle prgrams, comunity compost heaps, and old car batteries and used oil reclamation about cover the 3 resources in the game. lol

OK, thats it for my list. I know this is a long post and my appreciations to those patient enough to have read throught it. And many thanks in advance to those who reply to any of them.

(whew) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

For starters, the current released Version is 1.78, which is a large number of patches away from the demo.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The ships would have appeared right on top of the warppoint, and right next to your satellittes. If they couldn't destroy it before they ran away, then yes, they would be able to get into your system, because those satellittes aren't going to chase them around.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Go into your strategies menu under empire options. Select the strategy that you want your fleet to use. Select launching, and pick ships to break formation. They will then follow their individual design type strategies instead of the fleet strategy.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's +2 bonus movement, not +2 movement. Otherwise ships with 6 quantum engines would be running around at speeds of 20+ which is game-breakingly fast.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Part of the movement rules is that all engines must be the same type for engine bonus movement to be applied.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This would probably break simultaneous movement games.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The maintenance cost can be seen after you click create design, but it would be nice to see it before hand.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I would definetly not want this. I want my currently selected ship to stay selected through almost anything.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">For offers, that's far too much intelligence information to give someone for no effort.

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

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Why exactly? There's no reason for a construction yard to require an immobile station, which is what bases are treated as in the game. You could always just add a vehicle with the same stats as a base and the ability to add engines.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Civilian transport is completely automated in this game. A ship does not need to carry resources because they are delivered to it.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'd like an option for this in the settings.txt file. I want to be able to set ships to be built more than one per yard in my mod.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">\races\pictures has every picture available to be changed if you want to.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hit the Spacebar. It works in combat and out of combat too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Hit the Help button (F1) and then look in the Hotkeys tab.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That would be a great feature, but it would require the savegame files to be a lot larger. And I mean a lot. This is bad for MP games for Users on dial-up modems.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">In an ancient Version of the game, you would maintain the construction points already accumulated towards building a project when changing to a new one. But, that was easily exploitable, and so was removed. A system similar to Research and Intel was in SE3 though. MM tried to do something different with SE4, but that part didn't work. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif I do agree that it would be good to keep the construction done on a project just like Research and Intel Projects, but it is too late to code that into SE4. It might make its way into SE5 though. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">When you get the full game, research Chemistry 2, then Resource Manipulation. You get a Resource Converter, which can convert resources from one type to another. It doesn't use up any build queues.

[ January 08, 2003, 00:48: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That would be a great feature, but it would require the savegame files to be a lot larger. And I mean a lot. This is bad for MP games for Users on dial-up modems.

Actually, I am not so sure it would make the savegame all that much bigger. All the information is there anyway. It has to be otherwise you couldn't have everybodies turn running off of the same .gam file. All that would be needed would be a couple of more bits for each system to say how old the view is for each system for each empire. The coding for the actual color coding or symbols or whatever would be in the game executable, not in the savegame.

Geoschmo

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

Geo, it doesn't store the info of what is in the system on old turns in the savegame file. If it did, they would always get larger. But as players start to be eliminated, the savegame files get smaller.

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

Good point. I was thinking of real time info, but we can't exactly be giving that away now can we. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That would be a great feature, but it would require the savegame files to be a lot larger. And I mean a lot. This is bad for MP games for Users on dial-up modems.

Actually, I am not so sure it would make the savegame all that much bigger. All the information is there anyway. It has to be otherwise you couldn't have everybodies turn running off of the same .gam file. All that would be needed would be a couple of more bits for each system to say how old the view is for each system for each empire. The coding for the actual color coding or symbols or whatever would be in the game executable, not in the savegame.

Geoschmo</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you want to make it simpler, you don't have to keep track of every ship and sat. Just remember what planets an opponent had colonized. Sure maybe one was just glassed and now you have an opprotunity to colonize ... but really is it worth haveing the colonization minister trying repeatedly on the off chance that happens. Some systems you just don't care about.

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

couslee,
A lot of good ideas. I like quite a few of them. In particular having the maintance cost displayed during the design process.
Just an idea > Yes losing a partialy built ship because you have to build something else is regretable. There are many aspects this game, (and many others) that don't make, "rational sence". They "seem" dumb. There is almost always a reason weather it is play ballance or coding limitaton, or just plain practical.

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

thanks guys.

RE-18: I am not saying to save the details. I have no problem with the way that is now. You enter a system, you see all the current plkanet date, other ships present, ect.. When you leave the system, all that info disappears and it looks like an empty system, irregardless of planets already colonized, ect. No need to change that. All I was saying, was under the system name an indication of when I Last viewed it would be nice. The game already shows the system now as explored. Make it show explored on what date. that should not cause an big increase in save file size.

#19, Quote reply:
"Why exactly? There's no reason for a construction yard to require an immobile station, which is what bases are treated as in the game. You could always just add a vehicle with the same stats as a base and the ability to add engines."
I may not be putting a construction yard on one. I may want to design a remote mining platform and be able to send it to a nearby asteroid field. Even if it was prohibited from using warp points would be fine. Or I may want to design a station as a defensive or repair base. With one engine, i could build it at the planet and slowly move it to where I want it placed.. It just makes more sence than building a ship with ship yard abilities so i can go build a ship yard..... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif

#4 Quote reply:
"That's +2 bonus movement, not +2 movement. Otherwise ships with 6 quantum engines would be running around at speeds of 20+ which is game-breakingly fast."
I understand that, that is not what I am saying. I would not want ships with that many movement points. design a ship, put one bonus movement engine on it. You see it has 3 movement. Add one Ion engine and that drops to two movement. You lose the bonus movement when mixing engines. All I was saying, was allow the mixing of engines without being penalized.

#14 Quote reply:
"For offers, that's far too much intelligence information to give someone for no effort."
How so? if both of us have Rock colonization, there is no reason to have it show on the tech list when offering a trade. Likewise, if I have rock colonization, there is no need for it to be on the tech list for the "request" side. I can understand you point regarding the offer side, knowing what you have that they don't could be construed as undue intel. But there is NO reason to be able to request a tech I already have. all that does is clutter the list.

thrilled to know #15 is in the full Version. At least in part. That don't work in the demo.

back to my search for info. can't find what I need regarding captured ships. (I captured one, that has organic weaponry. Now what do I do with it? retrofit command only brings up a list of my designs. How do I change the cheap engines, and retain the weapons. AND/OR I would like to learn those organic component abilities, but that don't seem possible in the demo, or I am missing something)

Re: Next Upgrade/patch
 

"#19, Quote reply:
"Why exactly? There's no reason for a construction yard to require an immobile station, which is what bases are treated as in the game. You could always just add a vehicle with the same stats as a base and the ability to add engines."
I may not be putting a construction yard on one. I may want to design a remote mining platform and be able to send it to a nearby asteroid field. Even if it was prohibited from using warp points would be fine. Or I may want to design a station as a defensive or repair base. With one engine, i could build it at the planet and slowly move it to where I want it placed.. It just makes more sence than building a ship with ship yard abilities so i can go build a ship yard....."

Not really. If you need to build something, but don't have the tools, what do you do? Make the tools. It makes perfect sense to me.

"#4 Quote reply:
"That's +2 bonus movement, not +2 movement. Otherwise ships with 6 quantum engines would be running around at speeds of 20+ which is game-breakingly fast."
I understand that, that is not what I am saying. I would not want ships with that many movement points. design a ship, put one bonus movement engine on it. You see it has 3 movement. Add one Ion engine and that drops to two movement. You lose the bonus movement when mixing engines. All I was saying, was allow the mixing of engines without being penalized."

Balance issue. This can be modded, but it would allow you to get Quantum speed but only paying the Ion price.

#14 Quote reply:
"For offers, that's far too much intelligence information to give someone for no effort."
How so? if both of us have Rock colonization, there is no reason to have it show on the tech list when offering a trade. Likewise, if I have rock colonization, there is no need for it to be on the tech list for the "request" side. I can understand you point regarding the offer side, knowing what you have that they don't could be construed as undue intel. But there is NO reason to be able to request a tech I already have. all that does is clutter the list."

Actually there is a reason. Namely, multiple level techs, and bluffing. If you have ship construction 3, and your ally has 5, you certainly want it listed for a trade!

"back to my search for info. can't find what I need regarding captured ships. (I captured one, that has organic weaponry. Now what do I do with it? retrofit command only brings up a list of my designs. How do I change the cheap engines, and retain the weapons. AND/OR I would like to learn those organic component abilities, but that don't seem possible in the demo, or I am missing something)"

The answer here to all is "you can't". Racial tech- which is what Organic tech is- can't be captured.

Phoenix-D