Future Tweak question

Just a general question

from GalCiv2 Forums
Well, I've been reading up on this game for a while. And going back and forth through the forum posts, to find whatever kernals or gems of information that will spark my interest.

I understand that currently combat is a bit of a rock paper scissors equation. Though, there is something about it that I find curious.

Attacking Fleet A, has A1 attack, then A2 Attack, then A3 attack. Then the defending fleet returns attacks, D1 attacks, D2 Attacks, D3 attacks. Repeat ad naseum, until a winner is determined.

Now I'm not going to ask for anything like tactical control. (At least anywhere within this thread, as I'm accepting of the playstyle as it's been mentioned so far.)

But what I was going to ask for.. a potential tweak down the road.

Combat Initiative. Each ship rolls the equivalent of a dice to determine it's initiative order. To simulate, readiness, skill, awareness, etc...

But then it could also have a bit more impact on the game, depending on who got initiative. To always say the attacker goes first and that's that. Is fine on one hand.

But if you want a bit more flair to the battles, with timing have a bit more importance, etc..and it's NOT a tactical manipulation per se. Just an extra bit of randomness within the battle to not make it always.

Tech/Plus appropriate Rock/scissors/Paper/ +Experience = Winner.

So that way, luck can also be the random chaos factor, beyond simplistic dice. Heck, who would ever of thought a Stealth Plane could be shot down by anyone other than say the Russians of the past? Well it's happened. And it was more a matter of luck.

Anyhow, I was just thinking that it might create a more interactive experience for the battles that were watching.

Cause I know I'll be looking forward to more interactivity within a battle.. other than, side a shoots, then side b shoots, then side a shoots. Even if they are all zooming around each other... I still would like that bit of random luck factor.

Thanks for your time...
15,456 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Hm, I don't quite understand - why would this make the battles 'more interactive'?
It would make them more random, sure... but I don't think that is a good thing.
Luck/randomf is allready a part of the battle as it is - your idea would only make this factor bigger, without giving the player any new ways to control the outcome. More randomness=lass strategy.
Or did I misunderstand you?
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
i think you missed his point yellow and i like his idea.

He means basically that players would have one more decision to make when desigining their ships. They could have ships which would have high initative and could therefore jump the gun in a defence situation however they would have to sacrafice something in return like weapons and armarment. High initiative low survivability but it may be that extra edge that someone needs to survive a battle.
Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Ah! Now I see.
Yeah, that could indeed be interessting. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea, but I guess it would be difficult to add (balancing, AI etc) but - who knows?
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Well it would add an additional variable to the system.

You already have: Attack (Variable 1dX), Defense (Variable 1dX) as well as the 3 sub areas of each one. A third variable (initiative) would have to be added in. You could even do 3 sub areas too (Speed, Stealth, Scanning for instance). However This adds an amazing number of permutations for the AI to decide in ship building. It's no longer Attack vs Defense.. it's Attack vs Defense vs Initiative. With each of the subfloors as well.

It's doable, and not a bad idea as it removes the advantage that the Attack always goes first (perhaps giving attacker a bonus dX+10 or something) , but it would be a major major rewrite of the AI ship building and combat algorithims. Not a light task by far.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Can you set any variables before combat begins? Ship formations for example?
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Nope.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I know I haven't seen the game past the pre-load screen
What are your thoughts on there being formations or tactics involved in the combat system?
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I like the idea of adding a tactic/formation to a fleet, counter formations/tactics serve as balance, additional technology related to formation flying and fleet tactics etc.
Never know, someone might mod it in if it's possible
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Lame, this is not a space sim. It is an empire sim. Buy a space sim if you want to control formations and ships.