What new abilities would you like to see?

[JLS]

Q,
Agreed now those would open great modding opportunities.

[Cyrien]

I wouldn't recomend a specific new ability. But rather a new way of defining abilites. A moddable way.

For instance instead of recomedning a new atmosphere type throw in a text file that allows the user to define atmosphere types. Have settings such as Can it be used by a Race as start Atmosphere := True or False
Can be X Planet Type :=
Where X planet type is defined in another file with default being Gas, Rock, Ice.

Such a system would have less hardcoded and give a great deal more potential for modding. Also it is only an extension of the existing system.

Define new abilities
Ability Name := Damges X only
Does damage to := ALL or a component family number or Shields only.

Instead of defining specifically each thing that can or cannot be damaged in hard code format. Hard code general things and put specific in moddable files.

This can also be better from a programing stand point. Instead of having to code in so many different specific abilities that different people want, code in general areas and allow each user to make what they want.

[ May 03, 2003, 16:56: Message edited by: Cyrien ]

[Cyrien]

To clarify a little more. I would recommend very general abilities.
Example:
Can colonize
Can cloak
Can damage
Can block damage (armor)
Can block damage (shield)
Can regenerate

with specifics in each one not being hardcoded but instead being moddable in specific txt files.

[JLS]

Does any one know a work around for this?

I would like to add small amounts of Space Yard Rates to Towns, Cities thru Culture Center, in that way it may represent the Industrial might of a well infurstrtured planet.

I can do this on the Home World because the Game will load a Space Yard Facility and all the starting Cultures Centers even having SY abilities. They are cumulative and all will work fine

But after the game starts, se4 will not let me have any two facilities with SY abilities to be built on the same planet

Is there a work around; so we may have two or more Facilities with Space Yard Ability be Built on a planet?

[ May 04, 2003, 15:40: Message edited by: JLS ]

[Me Loonn]

Originally posted by Aloofim:

-The ability to limit cloaking to a maximum size. If cloacking could be limited to small hulls the life of such hulls will not only be enlarged, but we could simulate submarine warfare with cloakers capable of launching spies, virus and nuclear bombs on planets without being detected unless the right sensor was in the sector. A cloaked vessel in combat should be detected only when it fires its guns, and then for a brief moment. And the best anti cloacker defense should be another cloaker.
-Exploration: Systems shouldn't be explored by just jumping to it. Visiting a system should only reveal the number of planets, size and location, but not resorce value or ruins. To explore a planet a vessel should visit the planet, and have a planet scanner component or explorer party on board.
-Ruins: should only be a random event happening some time after a colony have been stablished. (to simulate buried ruins that need to be excavated after found by chance by farmers or something)
-Diplomacy: First contact shouldn't mean combat! The lack of treaty shouldn't mean war. To attack a vessel there should be first an state of war, and if not, attacking that vessel would be a declaration of war.

Heh, those were about same what i was gonna post here, but ahwell ...

Anyway, about them:
- Cloaking, especial hull should be added, somekind of "Space Submarine" ship that gets +1 level to cloaking. With lvl 1 cloaking devise it gets lvl 3 cloaking and not just normal 2. Or another way; larger hulls get -1, or even -2 penalty to cloakin.

This way you cant detect "sub" with lvl 3 cloaking device, unless its 3 sectors or less away from lvl 3 scanner.

Example:
You got lvl 1 scanner (u scan at lvl 2) and enemy has lvl 3 cloaking devise (cloacks at lvl 4).

With formula like this:
"base + scan lvl - cloak lvl = scan distance"
you get :
3 + 2 - 4 = 1,
you can spot enemy from 1 sector away.

But if you got lvl 2 scanner :
3 + 3 - 4 = 2,
you can spot enemy from 2 sectors away.

And with lvl 3 scanner :
3 + 4 - 4 = 3,
you can spot enemy from 3 sectors away;

This should also apply to exploration, only few sectors should be "mapped"; better the sensors, farther it could see. Only huge things such as black hole systems, nebulae etc. could be explored just by entering that system.

[ May 04, 2003, 16:20: Message edited by: Me Loonn ]

[HEMAN]

What new abilities would you like to see?
1)INTELL > Add % to field on the (active intell project) menu.
2)INTELL > Wouldnt it be a good idea to give them flat percentage of success in case of counterintel?.
3)INTELL > Expand Ais Intell reponses trade solutions/ treaty.

4)INTELL > I'd like to see PPP give some sort of warning as the political movement builds towards declaring independence. Surely you would notice the political movement even if there is a 'hidden hand' guiding it that you cannot see?.

5) Plague on planet/Planet will explode ,I would like a tab for all planets with this to identify. Because after 1 turn that message dose not reapear.
All these for se4gold. Whata guys think of these ideas?.

[kalthalior]

edit: This topic has gone quite a ways since I started to reply to Aloofi -- sorry for the delay.

Aloofi said:
No Battleship have been built after WW2. The Last american Battleships comisioned during WW2 were scrapped and the hulls used for Carriers. The largest warship in any fleet today its a Cruiser size.

Actually, no US WW II era BB was converted to a CV, but 2 WWI era BC were ( Lexington & Satatoga ) and served with distinction in the Pacific. Most BB were either scrapped or are floating museums today. There is an initiative to reactivate 1 or 2 Iowa class, primarily driven by the US Marine Corps' desire for a larger fire support platform for Naval landings. I would also note that 2 modernized BB fired over 1000 rounds of 16" shells in Gulf War 1 -- basically destroying 5 Iraqi army divisions in the process. The missile capability is an ADDED feature, not the primary rationale for the modernization of the 1980's.

More BB info

[ May 06, 2003, 17:37: Message edited by: kalthalior ]