Ground Combat Expansion

[Klauss]

Very good idea.

I can even imagine that on-planet facilities are placed automatically by the computer on this board while generating the map. These facilities could be victims of attacks, bombardements, fallout or whatever.

The only problem I see is that troops are very cheap and you can built a lot of them at the cost of virtually nothing.

This could hinder and bog down effective ground combat. Remember that in space combat you cannot have so many ships because of maintenance costs.
A solution could be to give units (and thus troopers) maintenance costs too.

The amount of squares of a planet should depend on its size.

klaus

Ps: I liked star general too (not the space system but the ground system). Also good is IMO the Fadings Suns system.

[Noble713]

I keep forgetting about Emperor of the Fading Suns, it's been so long since I've played. I agree, it had a pretty good system as well, although I never managed to successfully invade a planet (never strong enough to build enough troops).

I like the idea of adding facilities to the planet map. This way you could drop some fast, hard-hitting troops on a planet, have them destroy all the mining facilities and the resupply depot and pull back. You could cripple a planet's industry without having to use those smart bombs ( I never liked those things).

[General Hawkwing]

I agree that ground combat should be improved. I know this is a "space" game but I feel that the ground combat should be as good as the space combat. However, I can see the problem with this. A space combat can end with no clear victor. How do you end a combat on a planet with both sides still standing? Would ground combat take place as it does now, during the middle of space combat? Are troops automatically "reloaded" on their ships? What if there are no ships left to load on? etc???

[This message has been edited by General Hawkwing (edited 21 September 2000).]

[Noble713]

Ground combat would take place as soon as troops are landed. For any ground battles that aren't resolved, the planet becomes contested. The planet can't produce anything like during a riot. The units of both sides remain on the planet, and as soon as

1) more troops are landed
2) a player with troops on the planet begins his or her turn

ground combat commences again. Also, militia units spawn at the beginning of the planet's owner's turn.

Um, did I leave anything out? I feel like I did but I can't think of what...

[Comar]

I still play Emperor of the Fading Suns on a regular basis in PBEM, but the tactical aspects of ground combat are not that great in it either. The two stacks just go at it without any imput until a decision is reached, much like this model. The difference is that the entire planet is not conquered in one turn, like here. It can take quite a while to conquer a planet, particuarily when playing against a human opponet.

The suggestion of using the existing model of warfare is a good one. It isn't perfect, but it could work. The only problem would be that it would only be for single player, not multi.