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...