Not a bad idea IMO.



The survey modules appear too late in the game as it is IMO, by the time I can build one there isn't a parsec not explored and emptied of anything useful by me or the AI.

They are available as soon as you research them.

You are, after all, in charge of your own research. You could always research them sooner rather than later.

Science vessels would be better implemented (I think), along with space terrain

For instance, bringing a science ship through a nebula (a ship with an Interstellar Laboratory module or some-such thing) would boost something depending. For instance, maybe you discover a new type of scientific research by examining the nebula or a new manufacturing process by studying a comet field. Whatever.

That would differ from Survey Ships, because anomalies disappear, but these wouldn't. And they'd be more late-game and expensive.

Unfortunately, you can't have modules add to your research quota, it simply isn't supported. It WOULD be DAMN COOL, though, to be able to do that.

And...every race except the Terrans (and possibly a Custom) starts with Stellar Cartography, so you can generally research it right away. Takes 100 tp.

For comparison with an early game tech that IS expensive, Extreme Colonization costs 1000 tp.

The first ship I actually build is always a Survey equipped long-range explorer. (OK, sometimes some colonists come first.)

drrider

yes they're quite easy to get. the core designed survey ships are another matter, but that's the whole point of building your own ships. 100 points of research, slap 1 on a cargo hull with 3 ion drives and 2 life supports, and you've got yourself an affordable and powerful means to exploit the anomolies. and the AI never uses them (which is a little weak, but another issue entirely).

I've done that a couple times...make one really nice warship and given it a survey module to run around and grab anomalies.

However, on the main topic, it would be interesting to allow Research starbases that were unique in that they could, for a race, form a non influence generating science "platform". Set a limit...say...2 per "body type" of station (i.e.; gas giant, micro world, nebula, etc.). I don't think the tech should be too hard to reach. Edited in: In fact, what about keying the ability to build and launch the base be predicated on a race getting a random event (or scripted *shrugs*) to match... "A nebula near (enter name of planet owned by said race) is discovered to be radiating a strange sort of energy, prodding the scientific community to demand that research be done to examine it closer." Then have it start a, say, 5 game year timer to get a research platform launched before losing the ability to do so...

Scientific Research is at the core of the game and is the underlying mechanic around which the whole rest of the game revolves.

Create unique trees of discovery based on race, luck, present scientific research levels, and other qualifying factors to generate (on the fly) unique discoveries available to a race that wishes to undertake such endeavors. Make the bases not capable of mounting weapons or defense platforms and make them high-priority targets for the AI in times of war.

Many things could be done to expand in this field without tipping the balance scales too far to one side or another.

...at least, not when you consider what can happen when/if a Ranger class ship is discovered... lol WOW!

Speaking of modifying the way techs are researched, I'd love to have multiple tech requirements

But to get back on topic, I like your idea. Pure research vessels would be very interesting indeed...

hehe Imagine being able to salvage the field of battle after a victory and being able to effectively steal ship tech from rivals in this manner? The reverse would, of course, be true as well.

Don't confuse an antimatter weapon with a "total conversion" weapon. An antimatter weapon combines a small amount of antimatter with matter for a nice big exothermic reaction (A gram of the stuff with a gram og matter will give the same yield as a 43 kiloton nuclear bomb), while a conversion weapon turns the target itself into energy (which promises an absolutely absurd blast). I don't think any weapon in Gal Civ actually converts the target to energy, except for the doom ray, which does it piecemeal.

Personally, I think the best use of scrap fields is simply to reclaim some of the cost incurred in production, instead of potentially unbalancing research bonuses. After all, if it takes 180 bc to build your top of the line heavy fighter, certainly it will leave at least 12 bc worth of debris behind to melt down, sell, or use as workable components!

I like the idea of raiding freighters for a substantial cash reward, though.

This would hurt your civ's reputation, correct?

Two ideas that I really like from this thread:

1. Science vessels - Study gas giants, asteroids, Progenitor ruins etc in order to either:
- Contribute to research points overall, or
- Push research forward in certain specific areas.

For example, you may research some forum of gas that contributes points towards the discovery of an advanced energy weapon. The research cannot be completed until you work your way up the research tree to reach it, but once you do, it may take 2-3 turns to complete research instead of the normal 8-9 turns as a very vague example

2. Salvage - After space battles (maybe only fairly large ones, or, base it on random chance or some other factor), space debris is created from the destroyed hulks of ships. This "space junk" can be salvaged for cash by specialised salvage vessels or, at the choice of the player, could be studied with the potential to reverse-engineer any more advanced technologies you find on the destroyed hulk.