Mod idea: SEIV Junior
 

My kids have expressed an interest in SE4, but there is just so much complexity that it's a bit overwhelming for them to pickup at a young age. A lot of board games , Monopoly and Clue for two, have released "Jr." versions which are simplified versions of the game geared towards younger players. So while playing around with my Risk Mod I realized we could do something like this in a mod. Here's what I'm thinking:

All planets have room for one facility. Either a Space Yard, a Research Facility, or a Resource Facility.

All planets are the same resource percentage.

Colonization has automatic population.

Simplified tech tree with one general tech branch. As research advances, gradually larger and more capable ships become available.

Simplified ship design with single components that handle all ship abilities. See Risk Mod for example. In addition to simplifieng ship design this also eliminates the need to deal with repairing damaged ships.

No units, including mines and fighters. Ship combat only. Planets are captured by glassing and recolonizing. Modify settings so glassed planets don't lose their value.

Eliminate maintance concerns. Ships cost resources to build, but once they are built, no maintenace.

More advanced ships will be more expensive and take longer to build, but be stronger in combat.

Players will still have choices to make. Build colony ships and expand or war ships and exterminate? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Turn your planets into space yards and build more ships, or generate resources to pay for the ships you are building at other planets. Mine for resources to support more ships, or concentrate on research to get better ships.

No intel.

Trade will generate resources and research, so diplomacy will still be a part of the game. And alling with someone to kick someone else's butt is always an option.

I think this would give kids a taste of the 4X ,sci-fi and strategic aspects of the game, without getting overwhelmed with the dozens or hundreds of decisions that have to be made every turn.

Actually, it wouldn't have to be just be for kids. Could be a nice way to play a quick game when you don't want to get bogged down in micro-managment.

Re: Mod idea: SEIV Junior
 

Sounds good. Why don't you make that mod? Seems easy, simply wipe everything and place those entries in.

Re: Mod idea: SEIV Junior
 

If you did this and still wanted to keep it simple, wouldn't you want to get rid of different atmosphere types / would all empires be same atmo breathers?

When I've used that in a mod, all colonizers have my own empire characterisitcs.

I'd suggest making all empires the same atmo type; oxygen for instance. Then that wouldn't matter and you'd still get the flavor of different atmospheres. Hey, with 1 fac per planet, would'nt really have to worry whether the planet is domed or not except for population capacity and resulting bonuses. That's a good thing IMO; still the benefit of colonizing your own atmo type.

Re: Mod idea: SEIV Junior
 

Just give all three facilities a 1-turn atmosphere converter.

Then you can still have you unique breathing races, and the planets will change picture to show the last player who owned them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

"My planets are RED! Daddy's are Blue! Attack the Blue!" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: Mod idea: SEIV Junior
 

Also, less "strange" and alien system names. Something that would appeal more to kiddies. I mean, have you ever heard a seven-year-old kid trying to pronounce "Mveloem" or "Ishantrissti"?

Re: Mod idea: SEIV Junior
 

The Barney system...

Re: Mod idea: SEIV Junior
 

I'm not (directly) suggesting to use new names of things that children like (there's definitely going to be fights in the Chocolate Chip Ice Cream system) but just that the more "alien" names are deleted, and perhaps more names in the SEIV style but then not so alien. Like I said, ever heard a kid trying to pronounce "Mveloem"?

(Well I haven't, but I can imagine how it would be.....)

Re: Mod idea: SEIV Junior
 

Ah, pronouncability.
You could make up a custom systemnames list, based on street names from your city.

Or perhaps make it their spelling list for the next year of english class.

Re: Mod idea: SEIV Junior
 

English class? Now that's just MEAN.....

No, but really. Say, the "Manhattan System" is more easily comprehensible than, say, "Ishantrissti". Therefore, more accessible for the, ah, smaller Emperors.

Or indeed famous streets/places/monuments/cities/etc.

Ideas:

Manhattan
Toronto
New Hawaii
Fifth Ave.
Brooklyn Bridge
Jefferson

etc.

Re: Mod idea: SEIV Junior
 

I guess you people without pointed tounges have a hard time pronoucing some system names?