[geoschmo]

[quote]Originally posted by PvK:

One problem I have with imagining such high basic abilities, is that with those abilities, the raw materials and empty space provided by alien planets seem to me like they wouldn't be particularly helpful. The raw materials of a single planet would probably be more than enough to provide for all the needs of such an advanced techology. The main advantages of spreading out would be dispersion and maneuver, not providing "used up resources" or "room to study".

Good point. And a lot of Sci-Fi ignores the whole "expand by colonization" thing. The assumption there seems to be more in line with your belief that starting a new planet from scratch takes a tremendously long time. Even in Star Trek with their matter replication technologies, terroforming worlds takes generations.

The large empires in Sci-Fi are typically built through conquering and subjugating exsisting alien populations with the infrastructure more or less intact. There are of course many examples of powerful empires that have star spanning influence, but these typically only talk about a few large population centers. I.E. "The Homeworld".

Problem is though with SE4, you can only have 20 players, computer or not. So it's hard to really get that satisfying "Master of all you survey" feeling when you only have one large planet and a half a dozen measly colonies that cost more to defend than they produce in return.

Geoschmo

[ October 22, 2002, 16:27: Message edited by: geoschmo ]