According to information posted on this BB forum, yes, SE V will have 'real time' combat because the RPG spin-off -- which is 'real time' -- will be a test/proof of concept for the combat portion of SE V. As long as it is ONLY the combat part of the game I don't think this is a big deal. One of the problems in making combat 'fair' is initiative. Something close to 'real time' (at least, many very small turns) is really required to make combat fair for smaller, quicker ships. Depending on how it's done I think it can turn out much better than the current system. Combat in MOO II was the one thing that was really better than original MOO, btw.
[ September 06, 2002, 02:28: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]