[SIZE=5]Bombardment suggestions[/SIZE]
I believe Galactic Civilization two, unlike one has to midly make invasion and bombarding of planets more indepth, take a look at Master-Of-Orion-3, that should be the direct direction GC-II should go, we need to step aside simple random numerical to decide the fate of our ground forces, their was absolutely no tacticalism in the first GC because "luck" was involved.
My approach begins with bombardment. The Forum member Lowa presented reasonable ideas but I question their realism and balance. First foremost Bombardment shouldn't be a Hull requirement instead a large weapon platform underneith captiol-ships taking considerable resources, time and effort to construct. Possibly Ballistic, Beam and Missile Bombardment weaponry; Ballistic directly ravages the terrain, infrastructure and does most Standing-Army casualites. Missile is deliberatly inaccurcate hardware and decimates the cohensive of the planets Standing-Army.
Beam weapons focus immense energy onto precised targets, in essence limited shots, consuming heavily but "knocking" out planetary Orbital-Guns and Enemy Armour unopposed. Instead Industrial tech introduces Colony/Freighter Hulls enhanced and integrated into efficent Bombardment roles allowing far more firepower to bring about unless you wish to use a Battleship inefficently. Lastmore, when a invader invades a planet he is allowed to fire his guns anytime he desires as long as space superiority is in place thus giving him a unique advantage when discovering oppositions fortifed positions, armies, etc.
[SIZE=5]Planetary Invasion suggestions[/SIZE]
The first GC introduced a very simple, tactially meaningless module of war into the gameplay, no depth whatsoever, you just loaded up a transport full of millions and "hoped" for the best if you chose a high number, possessed lot of men and tech....
Instead StarDock in my vision introduce much more larger depth to invasion with many options to command your troops.
A"virtual battlefield" to launch your armies across, Generals and array of Naval (Spaceship wise) and Ground units such as Corvettes bombers and interceptors, APCs, Tanks, Adv.Tanks, Infantry than Marine, Elite, etc all coming from the Industrial, medical, Warfare, biology and astrology techs and maybe something else liable to.
Lets being with Generals & Armie, every race should have adozen Generals which are assigned to all the armies on a particular enemy planet or yours. Every individual General is unique with their protrait, male, female, provide bonus's long many lines of supply, strategic enhancement, Defensive, Offensive, Passive points to strengthen your armies on all one planet or galaxy. Generals can only maintain so many Armies full of either hundreds (Armour, Naval), thousands, (Ground Forces) of units before their bonus's value decreases and eventually are in minus and many are cut-off from the Generals HQ due to quantity.
Now my idea for a Virtual Battlefield begins here. Every PLANET, will affect the layout and course of a battle completely like if "endless landmass", many oceans, tropical islands, lava, immense population=Urban. To start off in StarDocks screenshots of building structures on the map of your planet battles would be held by every square on a planets map.
The ATTACKER depending upon survillence technology, visual of Armies, recent "failed" invasions and change of planet in any way will dictate how much information the invader possess's on his enemies cities and projects. (A Homeworld or Colony that builds its Captiol, I dont know or building on a tile will be declared the "most" Urban area of the planet)
When a ATTACKER invades a planet it depends upon Orbital-Guns, planets reserve of space-craft and hostile areas which will limit to tiles that are rural with population, coastal tiles presuming beachheads and if he/she so desires, deploy the mainforce inside the centre of the planets urbanry decimated by bombardment and encircled by the invaders minority outside.
When a ATTACKER launches the invasion and Armies travel through the atmosphere to their destinations they will go under fire from I repeat oftenly, Orbital-Guns, Defending-Armies, drafted population, (conscripts), Armour, AA, etc if desired or remain hidden from the invaders survelling and striking fleets. If the Transports and possible escorts undergo damage, Escorts will fly to the source and engage in bombing runs across the area and both Trans and Escorts sustain many casualites and perhaps ultimatly, total destruction, a tremendous halt to the campagin.
The DEFENDERA Defender generally should have knowledge of the invaders armadas sitting in orbit especially strength if deployed the planets orbital-guns to aid defense or eliminate (especially if the OG's are static rubble and surrounding). The DEFENDER is highly vulnerable to be assaulted ANYWHERE, bombarded anywhere, population pressured into defecting to the enemy culturally or under fear of death by invaders propaganda launched through the cities, communications which is available in a small Warfare and Communication branch involving propaganda options.
A DEFENDER before then and under this event now always has a unique option of fortifying its planet with simple early Warfare tech, Trenches Bunkers, Foxholes, hidden Gun emplacements and weak&vulnerable base barracks complexes From advanced Warfare tech leading to Adv.Bunker Camouflage, Automated AA, Anti-Infantry weapon-systems, Underground Base Complexes support immense supplies and Troops, Armour, Aircraft including Missile-Silos to launch at unsuspected fleets inspace and enemies on the surface already.
The Government and happiness of a planet determines heavily whethever the populace will fanaticlly resist and eagerly volunteer into the Army, wont mind large immendiate draft into service of defense, support operations of the Army in many ways including if the planet is occuppied completely or partially conduct uncontrollible partisan acts, sabotage, infiltrate and relay information to you.
Or the people can betray you and either refuse or bitch over being forced into service, openly or occasionally, "point out" your positions through events as the ownership of territory shifts, be eager to perform heresy if conscripted and kill your Armys most royality and loyality to exist under the "Terrific!" Government of the invading morons.
