Possible PBW game idea: Neutral Challange 2
 

For those that have been around here a while, we had a discussion once about playing the game form the perspective of a neutral player. This turned into a game on PBW, appropriately titled "Neutral Challange". In the game I created a standard game with randomly generated players and neutrals, and then allowed the Human players to take the neutral spots at the bottom, instead of the regular players spost at the top.

Problem was we learned that a human player playing a neutral was hindered by the same limitation in that they are not able to send ships through the warp points into the rest of the galaxy. We ended up starting the game over, with human players usign the neutral shipsets, and all average characteristics, but otherwise being standard players. In the end the game just turned into every other PBW game because of the inept performance of the AI players.

I got to thinking though, what if we had continued the original game and actually played as neutrals? Would it be possible through means of trading with AI's and possibly intelligence to build a semi-legitamate empire that spanned the galaxy. What sort of tactics would be possible for such an empire?

I tried a test game with a ten planet start. Of course as a neutral I only had one planet. I was holding my own in combat against one AI player early on that was trying to exterminate me. The main problem was I had it set to able to start in same system, so he wasn't too happy abou tme starting in his homesystem.

After a while another empire happened by and we were on good terms. Actually got him to trade me one of his homeplanets for one of my colonies, so now I had a presence in two systems. I think it may be possible, although to be sure very slow building up your empire this way.

Anyone interested? If tehre is an interest I owuld be willing to make a go of it.

Geoschmo

[ October 31, 2002, 16:46: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

Re: Possible PBW game idea: Neutral Challange 2
 

Geoshmo,

I was interested in the first games, and enjoyed them until my machine and I had a terminal falling out. I think that what you propose is also interesting, but it might be best to manually edit the starting sectors of the Neutral Empires. If you get hosed on other planets available in your home sector, you are truly, royally screwed.

CombatSquirrel

Re: Possible PBW game idea: Neutral Challange 2
 

Good point Cs. What I was considering is using Fyron's quadrant mod. I think he has one that has a lot of planets per system or something.

Geoschmo

Re: Possible PBW game idea: Neutral Challange 2
 

Fyron's QuadMod is deluxe...

The AI mod used will also make a huge difference. Some TDM-Modpack races don't like to share, and can really go after you hard and fast. In short, they're almost competant. That's a good thing, but you can easily become the proverbial "fish-in-a-barrel" with a too close neighbor.

Geo, this has solid potential for a frustrating turn 8 glassing, or a long, slow, painful climb to galactic inadequacy.

Count me in.

CombatSquirrel

Re: Possible PBW game idea: Neutral Challange 2
 

Yes, anyone who get's knocked out by the AI early shouldn't feel bad in this one. Being limited to one system until some AI is kind enough to trade planets with you or you can manage some intel production will make it very difficult I believe.

Geoschmo

Re: Possible PBW game idea: Neutral Challange 2
 

A question: if we (neutrals) do trade a planet that is OUTSIDE our homesystem, and build a ship from there, are those ships capable of warp, or is neutralnowarp thing hardcoded?

Re: Possible PBW game idea: Neutral Challange 2
 

It is hardcoded. A neutrals ships cannot warp under any circumstances that I have been able to divine. I have heard reports, and even seen myself once or twice playing against neutrals of a neutral ship venturing through a warp point. But playing as a neutral player in several test games I have been completly unable to duplicate it.

It makes it quite interesting actually. If you happen to trade for or subvert a colony ship that is in a dead system, or any kind of ship anywhere pretty much, you won't be able to do much with it save patrol that system and maybe make contact with new races to have relations with.

Planets are definetly the thing to trade if you are a neutral empire. That's the only way to expand the reach of your empire.

I could imagine a decent strategy would be to build up your homesystem, trade planets with the first AI that happens by, and then capture all the planets in that system with troops. Then recapture your orignal planet in your homesystem and wait for the next AI race to happen by. Or figure a way to get the original AI to trust you enough to do it to him again. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Geoschmo

[ October 31, 2002, 21:12: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

Re: Possible PBW game idea: Neutral Challange 2
 

Can't you give an order to move to an explored system, and let the captain do the warping on his own?

But anyways, instead of getting the AI to sell you a colony, why not just get it to sell you a spaceyard, or a colony ship?

Re: Possible PBW game idea: Neutral Challange 2
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No to the first question. Your ship will move to the warp point and then clear orders.

Yes of course to the second point. However without a planet in the system it would be tough to keep a fleet supplied and maintained, and without population you can't make a supply station. Although you could make a fleet with some troop ships and whatnot and capture a planet. That would be doable in time.

Geoschmo

Re: Possible PBW game idea: Neutral Challange 2
 

Very cool idea, im in after a week or so (midterms)