Idea: Deathstar & Prestige Objects

[Aegis]

[Disclaimer] O.k., I've only been reading the Boards since the start of the month, so it may be that a similar topic has already been discussed to death. Ignore this post if, for that reason or any other, you feel offended by it.
[End-Disclaimer]

Now that the top level of ship construction is empty, I've been considering what could be put in it (for a brief period, about 1/2 a second or so, I even considered whether or not the Last level should simply be discarded, before dismissing the notion with a chuckle). One of the things that I still miss from MOO2 are Death Star's (Ok, they were called Doom Star's, but same difference). A really BIG ship. A really EXPENSIVE ship.

I would love a ship to have the following abilities:
1) Size: 10.000 kT, or something similarly big
2) Movement: No Engines, Solar Sails, Emergency pods etc. allowed, but an intrinsic movement of 1, built into the frame.
3) Cost: 500 kT in all resources or something similarly heinous.
4) Maintenance: 10% Normal, through Solar Generators etc.
5) Combat: Fills 4 squares, like a small planet, movement of 1.
6) Weapons: Ability to field weapons as per a Starbase.
7) Achilles Heel: Damage from fighters penetrates straight through shield and armour, as the fighters fly to vulnerable spots. (i.e. have lots of p.d.)

Now, whilst thinking of this I also considered that such a ship might well be considered to expensive to really be viable. In that case though it falls into the same Category as RW's and SW's. For slow builder types these do come into the game, but for most players they're the top of the research tree that's never reached by game's end.

So to make these a little more attractive I thought you could use Prestige Objects. Objects of such magnitude that other races cannot help but be impressed by them. A Death Star would be a level 1 PO, a RW level 2, and a SW level 3. Only the highest bonus would apply, but this would provide a permanent diplomacy bonus. Other races are simply not as likely to take on the sleeping giant. Of course, such a change would have to be encoded by Aaron *mumbles 'may he live forever'*, but if others like it and it's not too difficult...

-Aegis

[James Sterrett]

Prestige Objects - that's an interesting idea!

How would my PO interact with your PO? If I have a Sphere and you only have a Doom Star, then are you are a -2 to me?

Do other races take our relative PO levels into account when deciding, for example, if they want to accept your invitation/demand to go to war with me?

[Aegis]

Probably the best way I think is to have them be relative. If Player A has PO-Level 1, Player B has PO-Level 3, and Player C has PO-Level 0, then for straight diplomacy:
A has level 0 to B and level 1 to C
B has level 2 to A and level 3 to C
C has level 0 to both A and B

Consequently, if A asks C to go to war with B, then his request gets upped one level of importance for his PO-level, and dropped three levels of importance due to B's PO-level, so his request is at -2.

-Aegis

[Tampa_Gamer]

James-

I have not seen you around lately. Excellent job on your initial tech listing in the "early" days. Did you ever update it for later Versions?

[Mako]

I like your prestige idea. I'd sure like some help when talking to other empires. I also would like to see Death Star like ships. I tried to make one myself, but I found I'm an idoit when it comes to makeing a new ship type.

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Mako the Space Shark

[Baron Munchausen]

You could make the deathstar. Just put the hull in the VehicleSize.txt file and give it "Standard Ship Movement" as one of its abilities like it was an engine. It will be able to move as much as you give it without engines.

The "Prestige Object" idea hits on a missing element in the game. Sure, other races ought to be impressed if you are obviously more technologically advanced than they are. But even if they are currently, we don't KNOW if they are. There needs to be a "reputation" rating of some sort that gives a clue about how the AIs regard you. For that matter, give it to all of the AIs in the diplomatic screen so we know how each of our AI competitors is currently regarded by the galactic community. It could be based on perceived technological advancement, combat prowess, and also diplomatic finesse. So, a race that keeps up good treaties with everyone could have a good rating and be seen as 'friendly' even if they aren't hugely powerful. But as the 'Prestige Object' idea suggests, other races ought to feel something like "awe" of races which can produce artifacts which obviously require very advanced technology. They also ought to feel anger and fear at races which genocidally slaughter or conquer and enslave others. Since 'sophistication' and 'threat level' and 'diplomatic skill' are seperate things, maybe there need to be seperate Ratings for each of them. But, we need SOME additional clues about the way the AI perceives us beyond this "mood" thing.



[This message has been edited by Baron Munchausen (edited 23 January 2001).]