[clark]

Here is an idea again...

Create txt files that are refrenced to automatically name individual ships (of course they can be renamed). Create txt files that are refrenced to automatically name a captain for a ship. This can be included in the AI folders. It dosen't have to neccessarily do anything, but it adds flavor, and it seems it might be easy enough to implement.

On micromanaging... perhaps allow for us to search ships by system. Perhaps allow us to give commands for all ships in a system. Basically, click on the system map and give a command that all ships there follow the same order, or same destination. Perhaps allow for the player to choose only certain class types (ie Attack ships, Defense ships, stellar ships, etc.) that the command applies to.

If possible, allow the player to drag and click a square- be it in combat or on the solar system view- all ships, or planets within the square are selected.

Keep a record of events automatically. I hate having to calculate and record when a star is going to explode, or a planet blow up. I should be able to look at a list generated by the computer that keeps track of that, with warnings every so many turns.

Ship designs- don't make a long list I have to scroll through. Put them in a row across the screen, fill each row. Basically an icon of each with their name and type I can click on to get more information.

Let me try out different fleet strategies in the simulator.
Let me assign ship positions within fleets by attaching letters or numbers (whatever) to each ship that corresponds to the appropriate place within the fleet (perhaps associate a fleet position letter in ship settings with class type- A for attack, P for PDC, B for Boarding). The ships will fill those fleet positions they are assigned to first. This might also improve the AI since we can control how they place their ships in combat!

Give me a "guard" command. Similar to sentry, but ignores low fuel, enemy movement, etc. I hate having to constantly click through a ship I just want to leave as a guard or spy.

Let me click on a ship or a fleet in the ship sort, and when I do, let it highlight which system it is in. Having to guess the name of the system is a pain. Clicking on it takes me to the system, but then I have to go back to square one in trying to find other ships.

Let me sort by domed colonies- these are the ones I need to get my alien population to. Let me sort by system. Let me choose which colony ship will head to colonize a planet. Give me more than a green star to let me know a planet is colonizable, or what kind of planet it is. I hate having to guess if the planet is ice or rock, they look almost the same. Either the graphics have to change, or you need to put an optional icon that denotes planet type and atmosphere type (when we get alien populations, it becomes a hassle trying to figure out hydrogen versus methane, or in some instances hydrogen versus carbon dioxide)

Give us the option to hide warp-points with cloak levels so they require sensors of some type to see and use. Let us have more options in the creation of warp points (you don't have to put them in stock, but give us more control).

Have a seperate txt file for planet (and perhaps even system level) descriptions. Rock planets refrence the txt file and places at random a description from the txt file. This way we can compile a moster list for all the planet types and it will add more flavor (similar to the name txts that Users have created) to the game. Perhaps allow for system level too in the same manner- ex. Black hole system might be described as "ungodly monster black hole from which no light or hope may escape". lame, but perhaps you get the idea.

Spice up the event files, or give us more options to utilize them. Perhaps even allow the religious trait to lose the almighty super-targeting device of never missing for a "prayer facility for a random act of vengence from our holy god upon the wicked" it would of course refrence the events txt and smite a selected enemy. Just a wild thought.

Instead of abbreviations for system facilities, let me be able to select a system and see all the current system facilities- regardless of what planet they are on. A system level view perhaps that tells me the total count of resource generation, resupply bases, starports, etc.