Things we'd like to see in the next patch

[Atrocities]

1. Wheel Mouse support
2. Slider Bars (to move from right to left up down etc.
3. An ADD TO ALL EMPTY QUES feature that allows one click instead of SHIFT many.
4. Improved Political operations.
5. The ability to use other races ship images if you steal their designs, or conquer them. Once Conquered, their ship images are added to your your ship construction list. You can choose to use your ship images or theirs.
6. A withdraw from combat option for Tatical and Stratigic combat. (You can avoid the fight entirely, RETREAT - STRATIGIC - TATICAL or run from it after its started OPTIONS, WITHDRAW. This feature would allow all ships that have the ability to leave to leave the combat area and can not be used for combat. Damaged ships that can not leave are automatically destroyed, or captured if the attacking fleet has capture ships. Why you ask - well have ever engage an enemy fleet that you thought was 12 ships and it turned out to be 90? You have 20 ships, and now your committed. A nice advantage for race who use cloaking devices but a P.I.T.*** for those who don't.)
7. (May already exsist) A way to disable the frelling Fleet Leader during tatical combat. I have lost way to many ships because of them trying to follow the GD leader and using up all their moves freaking out like a GD grasshopper on a hot plate!

[ September 19, 2002, 12:40: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[President_Elect_Shang]

Ok, this thing is up to 12 pages so if I am repeating something someone else said forgive me.

I would like to see the capability of moving through jump points made into an “ability” to be giving out of the Ability.txt file. Such as “Combat Best Experience” ability for example.

I would also like to see the ability “Drop Troops” programmed so that it can work with fighters. Actually it is for a strain of fighters that I call small craft. You can think of them as pre-fighter fighters, just think of the shuttles used in Star Wars or Star Trek that ferried men and equipment.

Finally I would like to see (this is a big one) a new “ability” that could be called “Dock Ship” or “Link Ships”. I think this one is pretty self-explanatory but just in case it would allow two or more ships to link up but not fire when linked. This would allow for the creation of a strain of warships that need a piggy back ride through jump points but can “unlink” before combat; fight; then link back up for the next transit.

Oh, since I am making out a wish list two more things. Change the tactical screen from squares to hexes; add in the ability to flee combat like in SE III; and add firing arcs to the Ability.txt file or as a line in the Components.txt file such as the “Weapon Type” line is.

That’s a lot of wishes!

[Atrocities]

I would also like to see the ability “Drop Troops” programmed so that it can work with fighters. Actually it is for a strain of fighters that I call small craft. You can think of them as pre-fighter fighters, just think of the shuttles used in Star Wars or Star Trek that ferried men and equipment.

Try this:

Name := Large Fighter Transport
Short Name := Smart Craft
Description := Fighter that can carry troops
Code := FL
Primary Bitmap Name := FighterLarge
Alternate Bitmap Name := FighterLarge
Vehicle Type := Fighter
Tonnage := 95
Cost Minerals := 300
Cost Organics := 0
Cost Radioactives := 0
Engines Per Move := 1
Number of Tech Req := 1
Tech Area Req 1 := Fighters
Tech Level Req 1 := 3
Number of Abilities := 2
Ability 1 Type := Combat To Hit Offense Plus
Ability 1 Descr := Maneuverability increases chance to hit enemy targets in combat by 50%.
Ability 1 Val 1 := 50
Ability 1 Val 2 := 0
Ability 2 Type := Combat To Hit Defense Plus
Ability 2 Descr := Small size makes ship 60% harder to hit in combat.
Ability 2 Val 1 := 60
Ability 2 Val 2 := 0
Requirement Must Have Bridge := True
Requirement Can Have Aux Con := False
Requirement Min Life Support := 1
Requirement Min Crew Quarters := 0
Requirement Uses Engines := True
Requirement Max Engines := 9
Requirement Pct Fighter Bays := 0
Requirement Pct Colony Mods := 0
Requirement Pct Cargo := 25

[ September 19, 2002, 12:46: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Q]

Originally posted by QuarianRex:
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet. What I would really like to see is the order of planetary cargo damage to be reversed.

Currently, planets see their fighters, mines, troops, and satellites get wiped out before the weapon platforms even get touched. If they could reverse that so the largest units (the weapon platforms) get smoked first then you might actually be able to get some interesting ground combats (the defending troops not being previously wiped out to protect the weapon platforms).

Does anyone know why it was set up like this? In ship combat components tend to get damaged from largest to smallest and I can't see why it would be reversed for planets.

I did not see it in the history.txt but I believe this has already been changed. At least I conquered several planets with weapon platforms and troops on it and my ships only destroyed the weapon platforms before my troops landed. They had to fight againts the enemy troops and militia together (Version 1.78)

[geoschmo]

Atrocities, that won't work currently. Units cannot hold cargo, even if you mod them to have cargo components.

Geoschmo

[Atrocities]

I thought as much, I have never tried it myself, just trying to offer an avenue of exploration.

[President_Elect_Shang]

Afraid Geo is right. I tried it also.
What do you and Geo have to say on the "Arcs of Fire?" Good idea, bad idea? Go ahead and criticize, I can take it. My idea is that it would make ship speed in combat more valuable.