MOO3

[thecyclemania]

Wow, this topic sure generated a lot of interest.

A few comments,

Mafia -----
You're right. There are similarities between SE4 and MOO3 for the tech tree. You can research on pure sciences (like chemistry) or application (like armor). Hey, it's a good idea, why not use it. But they intent to create a 'web' instead of a tree. Meaning that tech will have more dependencies. In SE4, it is too linear. Technologies don't have enough dependencies. Remember Civilization II...

Talenn----
The pacial was slow. Game were long. I totally agree. But from what I read, that's what they're working hard on. Improving the pacing. A cool idea (I think) they are implementing is "action points" (or something). As the player/emperor, you can only involve yourself directly in a limited number of actions each turn. You CAN'T do everything. You'll have to play with ministers or something similar. I really love this idea. Sure, in a way it limits your involvement in the game, but it adds gameplay. As the leader, everything shouldn't go as you want all the time. One things for sure, this will accelerate the pace.

Combat in general--------
I don't know if you guys read the section on combat, but it's totally different.
Ground combat looks promising.
Check it out at http://moo3.quicksilver.com/ground_combat.htm
Space combat will also be different. You will play the role of the commander of the fleet. So you won't control the movement and fire action of every single ships in the fleet. Then again, I think it adds so much more to the gameplay. Hey, If I want to play a game where I control every single unit in combat, I'll play TA or Starcraft. Those are tactical game. But combat in a 4X game should have a different feel to it. I think this will definitively be a move in that direction.
Personnaly, I think tactical combat in SE4 sucks big time. I always play strategic combat instead. What's the point ? Get in range, shoot then move away. Shoot then move away. From time to time, shoot seeking weapons. If you have the tech, you might have some "super cool variant" (being sarcastic) and you can board the enemy ships to capture it. Wow...
I think I enjoyed tactical combat more in MOO2 just because the icons were bigger, they looked more cool, and the explosion and fire effects were a bit more complex. In SE4, the icon are just plain too small. "Is that a battleship or an escort? can't really tell..." I want to be afraid of the enemy big mamma ship. Just seing that battleship, I should freak out...

Anyway, there is so much more to say.

And I said before, I love SE4. I bought this game just to play PBEM (no tcp/ip for now). I never play alone, the AI sucks and is never a challenge. Maybe we'll have a challenge at some point.
Remember the "Mshrann" (the cat) in MOO2 ?
They were my favorite enemy (very aggresive, bonus in space battle). I would play small galaxy, 8 players, impossible level of difficulties. You had a war going on within 10 minutes of gameplay...I loved it.