Hello. First let’s dispense with the usual. It’s wonderful, it’s great, it eats up hours and hours of my time, it’s addictive, I love it, my wife hates you and curses the ground you walk on (I’m sure it not personal). A true "just one more turn" game that has yet to be matched!
Why this message and why now? Well with many of these space based strategy games input from the fan base was generally disregarded. However here I have been pleasantly surprised by the developers to expand their initial product with updated fan based input. So here it is;
Is space really this empty…wait for it…no.
I have been a fan of space strategy games for many a year, a computer technician for most and an astronomer for a few more. I have noted one item that on the surface seems trivial, but from a strategic point of view is very relevant; that is space debris.
Nebulas, Super Novas, Dark matter clouds, and Black Holes. All of these items exist in the real universe, and at times their effects can stretch hundreds of light years. I see the games primary strategic value lies in positioning and how you deploy your bases over a relatively open area. What if there was an obstruction between you and your primary target, nothing menacing, but something that could through a twist into how you might formulate an attack or beef up your defenses.
Now in terms of game mechanics you can’t have all of theses items in a small map it would be an awfully crowded. But on the larger scales, why not? What would they do, how would they enhance the game? Or for that matter slow it down (always two sides right). To say nothing of the programming nightmare. But do I think it would be worth it? Absolutely!
So here it is my two cents worth:
1) Make these items random, but have the ability to turn them off or just their effects off (now they are just eye candy).
2) Black holes – Can cover anywhere from a single square to a 3x3 square (Deadly). Optionally you could have "gravitation" effects. Pull ships within a range toward the center each turn. 1 Square = 1 gravity range, 2x2 square = 2 gravity range, ect. The Look: it’s a black hole, its big and black and a hole, do the math.
3) Super Nova – Stars do die, and when they do, BOOM! Could be a random event, could be a remnant of what happened. Anyway, ships damaged if they remain in the "area"); same sizes as the black hole, 1-9 squares (1x1 to 3x3). The Look: looks like a glowing dust cloud.
4) Dark Matter Clouds and Nebulas – Generally larger "clouds" of either dust, gas, dark matter, exotic matter, universal garbage pile whatever. Ships could hide inside, fleets could hide inside, hell whole planets could be hidden…ooohhh now there’s a thought. The Look: looks like a (insert favorite color) cloud of stuff that obscures scanner unless your right beside them; "Sir you should look out our port side, I think I found that Battle cruiser you were looking for".
I’m sure there are more debris types, but the list is meant to be endless. Just my thoughts and a comments from an old gamer.
Thanks.
