I have also thought this would be cool. I have some questions though. I am thinking that, in keeping with weapons tech in Gal Civ2, there would have to be a way to see through the cloak. And a whole research tree for cloaks and seeing through them. Are we sure that this is really what we want?

Honestly my primary focus on things I'd like to see in GalCiv3 would mostly be around what I perceive to be the "flaws" in GC2. Note though, I do not mean flaws in the worst way possible, I just think there are aspects of the game that could be done better given more time/resources, such as:

1) Make class 0 planets have some use. Simple solution is just to create an outpost construction of some sort to be used on class zero's. Little population, used exclusively for construction or something along those lines. A more exotic solution would be to extend then terraforming tech branch to allow terraforming modules to be placed on ships which will convert a planets environment over time (I like this idea in that it could create a third much later game phase of "colony rushing", but that's just me).

2) I think most would agree that we'd like to see morale with respect to max populations handled differently. The obvious way to do this is to tie the maximum sustainable population to base planet size. You could even make it 1-1, such as a class 10 can support 10 billion people while a class 30 can support 30 billion. Ideally I would go so far as to say that this would be an ideal place to add more racial distinction with some races focusing on a smaller number of super planets (which can support higher populations) with others focusing on many low pop planets. This of course would need balancing and tweaking, but this is just a wishlist dammit.

3) I'd like to see more modules for military use in the game. I realize that this can be a problem with the ai focus, and for everything you add you have to make sure the ai can use it reletively effectively, but I'd like to think this can be done. The reason behind this is I'd basically like to see a game where medium ship A with 5 beam attack and 2 gun defense could potentially be a drastically different ship than medium ship b with 5 beam attack and 2 gun defense.

-pleth

I like this idea. I could see an 'Outpost' that would allow the extention of transport much in the same way that star bases can be used. But there would have to be some added benefit. Maybe it is as simple as these bases are not limited in the way that star bases are with regards to module limit?

In any event, this could be beneficial as listening posts or spy outposts or military staging areas or almost anything.

I would like to see 3D maps. Instead of moving from square to square you would move from cube to cube in a giant cube-shaped map. Expanding and maintaining your empire and influence in three different directions would be quite different and exciting.

And as a side note there has been countless post like this they never look at it because one: the things we ask for are somewhat impossible or Two: they already that of it. if they want you opinion they’ll ask for it.

im just saying a fact. why talk when you can do. and besides its like the carrer post there every where and stardock made point after point some of the stuff we come up with is imposible. some of it is possible but they dont whant to do them selves theats why they put a bunch of editors in TA.

What I would love to see in Gal Civ 3 above anything else is turn based tactical combat, along with much more in-depth design options as far as weapons and defenses go. That would take the ship design aspect to a whole new level which already proved a big selling point for Gal Civ 2.

Freeman43, you bring up an interesting point. Can anyone give me a link to a modding technique forum? I bet there are a lot of things I could do myself.

-How do you modify invasion tactics for one thing? And also making small fighters harder to hit is probably possible if you just make a better fleet defense component that only affects smallish ships.

I'm trying to create a more intensive fleet system. So far I've managed to increase fighter effectiveness but I'd like to have capital ship weapons that only fit on large and huge ships that can only be effective against med-large-huge ships.

And I don't care if cloaking is impossible, inconvenient, or useless. I'm an american and if I want it, someone better get for me quick; regardless of cost or functionality!

After reading over a few of your ideas I figured id put down a few of my own. Input is appreciated, especially if you can get through all of it .

Overwatch

As one of the other posters mentioned, employing a system that gives each ship a set number of action points per turn, allowing you to “save” points for use during your opponents turn would greatly improve the level of control that the user has over his units. It also gives rise to the creation of an ability based system, abilities costing a set number of action points before being used. This system is much like the one used in various RTS games such as warcraft III, company of heroes, and of course sins of a solar empire. This system could be implemented into the module system that exists for T.A. allowing the user to further customize their tactics.

Overmatch

When you or your opponent have a technological edge (i.e. speed, weapons range, targeting etc) it applies directly into combat.

For example, unit A has a movement of 4 and a weapons range of 5, unit B has a movement of 3 and a weapons range of 4, which would result in unit A being able to engage unit B at range without risk of retaliation. Factor in a random margin for error (pilot error, mechanical b.s. etc) and you have a slightly more complex and dynamic combat system.
While the Gal Civ 2 system basically does this using incremental increase in damage and speed, it only marginally affects combat. This is because speed only affects the order of attack, instead of providing control over the fight, i.e. the ability to engage and disengage at will. This also relates to weapons in that the race with superior targeting technologies can attack from further away (given that they have weapons that are capable of such an attack).

New L.O.S. Mechanics

Changes to the way Gal Civ 2 handles line of sight would serve to improve the number of tactical choices that the player can make, giving them more options to explore. By this I am referring to the creation of a stealth mechanic as well as adding further depth to the current system. To explain further, I would like to see the addition of an active/passive detection mechanic or a radar like system. This system would allow the player to choose between two types of detection mode for their ships, one passive, and the other active, one state would allow for more stealth but less visibility (passive), while the other would allow for less stealth and more visibility. Ships would have a base visibility value depending on their size and other factors (stealth enhancement modules/ anti-stealth). This new system would increase the tactical challenges and solutions giving the player, yet again more options.

Combat Changes

- Improved Visuals (of course we want these)
- More dramatic ship pathing, i.e. make the ships maneuver more, the current system is fairly clunky and all ship types move the same way despite size (speed is effected, bigger slower, but all ship types seem to maneuver the same way) mix it up a little.
- Countermeasures/Effects – if the ship has chaff, make it visible, using a P.D.S. fill the area with tracer fire, just make things look more chaotic and I’m sure the level of intensity of the fights will improve as will the immersion factor.
- Tactical Weapons – space mines, nukes, lazer net of death, whatever flavor they add tactical freedom and more ways to skin the cat that is gal civ.
- Pre-combat tactical choices – much like the invasion system, this would allow the user to pick a tactical stance before fighting.



Movement and Nifty Stuff

- Jump mechanic (movement idea 1) - allowing the player to spend money/resources to insta travel (with a cool down time to prevent overuse). This would allow for lighting raids but would substantially drain the users cash supply if it was overused.
- Active Spatial Phenomenon – i.e. nebulas, caustic clouds, comets – anything like this would add some terrain to the blackness of space limiting movement and or providing tactical advantages. (hide in nebula, comet has special metal etc) Simply put it would add variety to the lifeless void.
- Warp mechanic (movement idea 2) – not to be confused with movement idea 1, this idea centers around the notion that ships moving at warp move really fast and thus cannot turn fast (yea I’m no physics major here so bear with me). Basically put if ships use warp drive they move faster, but must move a specific distance and only in one direction (i.e. must move at least 10 spaces, while ships that use sub-light drives will be allowed more freedom of movement but will not be able to travel as far. This mechanic, while maybe not very realistic would allow for some increased tactical game play, causing the players to have to plan their movements and also allow them to setup choke points at various areas of the map that they expect the enemy to warp in from.

Not to break this thread at all but I wanted to post here in case some of the people posting here haven't seen Brad's annoucement in other locations. While the GalCiv team is ready to do number 3 they will not be doing so just yet. Brad has them working on a more fantasy based game. I can't tell you any more than that but I didn't want everyone discussing the next GalCiv thinking it would be around the developers corner. First will come the next title before the talks about the third installment resume. Just an FYI to the gamers out there.

Popebucky - please GOD, no! While that may be a reasonable system for a small number of planets, anyone playing a game where you have to repeat multi-turn invasions for 100+ planets would immediately quit playing. If you were instead to limit invasions to one attack per turn, that might be better and accomplish the same goal. You can use as many transports as you can get in a fleet, but you can only hit the planet once.

Oddly, I've had the AI us the multipe invasion tactic on me. They managed it pretty well.

The thing to keep in mind about all these ideas (especially anything movement related or that adds tactical combat): How well does the AI deal with it? The problem is that AIs build to predetermined rules (if A happens, do . Human players are extremely good at figuring those rules out and exploiting them. Many of these suggestions would simply result in advantages for the human player. That's why tactical combat wasn't included to begin with.

"these guys are good but there no geneses"

Fabulous. I think that's my new sig file.

My vote would be for specialised ground troops and a tech tree for land combat, then a much more detailed implementation of the ground combat screen. Numbers and flags just don't cut it for me.