[Tnarg]

Originally posted by Sabin:
I found some information about the Space Monsters aspect, Atrocities.(Devnull MOD Version.)

* Space Monsters (This is an attempt to add Space Monsters to SE4 by modding. The Space Monsters are basically just a normal AI. However they do have their own tech tree with special hulls, components and facilities. They do not colonize and expand their empire, but operate from hidden invisible home planets.)
Please note, the Monsters form an incredible challenge in a game (the AI is highly offensive, and the monsters have some nasty abilities). Use with caution in multi-player games, as they can (and have) completely wiped out starting empires.

It seems to me that if the Space Monsters and similar items are going to be added, some special smoke & mirrors, among other things, may have to be added. However, the pay-off may be very significant if done right.

I remember playing a couple of games with the Devnull Mod and it was a bLast defending against the random encounters. Can't remember if the TDM utilized this as well. This would be a great idea for the STM mod.

This is just an idea but make their hull designs all different according to ship size. "Probe" is a destroyer, "V'Ger" a battleship, "Nexus" a dreadnaught.

I can't quite remember how the Devnull Mod made these work, but it was effective. Just substitute the monster images with Star Trek images and rework the monster components a bit to add more zing.

Or instead of ship damaging weapons for all the monster AI creation files incorportate the Stellar Weapons or WMD for them, nebula makers, planet destroyers, warp point openers or closers. Is there a weapon that can effect population moral. Organinc plague weapons ect...

Another idea for the monster AI would be to have their research focus heavily on intelligence so they could drop those nasty intelligence projects on empires at random.