Post by contributor on Dec 6, 2013 5:49:12 GMT -5
Thought, about PMing this the TB's but I might as well post it and see what others think. It's is just one ST junky's opinion and offered with no expectations.
Another thread got me thinking about what I would really love in ST2, it's been on my mental back-burner now for a few days and is starting to cook down into something that might be really good. It's a combination of existing ideas as well as a rejection of some of them and it may be completely impossible (at least for the time being). It may also be going off completely in a different direction from what the TB's are scheming of.
The core of the idea is to retain the sandbox-captain-of-a-single-ship gameplay of ST2 and to place it within an expanding 4X universe. In this universe the factions would be expanding, or traveling on from the Quadrant and doing all the things a player in 4X universe might be doing. The captain however is not in control of any of this he can only exert influence on the whole process. A few examples: by taking explore missions for a faction you increase the chances of their being the first to colonize the new worlds you discover, by blockading an enemy planet you increase the chances of it being captured by your faction or ending a Solar War in your faction's favor, by finding and delivering artifacts to a faction you increase the technologies that they have available, raw materials turn into ships eventually, weapons deliveries swing the course of wars and rebellions. There's endless opportunities.
So in all of this the captain is not taking direct control of managing a planet, or picking which technologies to research, or declaring war on anybody or forming a fleet (though maybe he could join one for a particular mission as a mercenary ?). He is an independent operator and can chose his role, sides and personal destiny, but he will also see his actions influencing the ultimate shape of the emerging new region of space. The idea is basically to mash 4X and trader games together into something new and wonderful. Has this been tried before? I don't actually have a broad knowledge of all the games out there.
Anyways, there's lot of possibilities here, the biggest challenge is creating the complex engine that would drive all of this. It would take creating a whole 4x model that would basically be played out by the computer pitting all of the factions (with unique AIs) against each other and then a whole other system for the Captain, his missions and what he is doing and how he influences the course of events.
Another thread got me thinking about what I would really love in ST2, it's been on my mental back-burner now for a few days and is starting to cook down into something that might be really good. It's a combination of existing ideas as well as a rejection of some of them and it may be completely impossible (at least for the time being). It may also be going off completely in a different direction from what the TB's are scheming of.
The core of the idea is to retain the sandbox-captain-of-a-single-ship gameplay of ST2 and to place it within an expanding 4X universe. In this universe the factions would be expanding, or traveling on from the Quadrant and doing all the things a player in 4X universe might be doing. The captain however is not in control of any of this he can only exert influence on the whole process. A few examples: by taking explore missions for a faction you increase the chances of their being the first to colonize the new worlds you discover, by blockading an enemy planet you increase the chances of it being captured by your faction or ending a Solar War in your faction's favor, by finding and delivering artifacts to a faction you increase the technologies that they have available, raw materials turn into ships eventually, weapons deliveries swing the course of wars and rebellions. There's endless opportunities.
So in all of this the captain is not taking direct control of managing a planet, or picking which technologies to research, or declaring war on anybody or forming a fleet (though maybe he could join one for a particular mission as a mercenary ?). He is an independent operator and can chose his role, sides and personal destiny, but he will also see his actions influencing the ultimate shape of the emerging new region of space. The idea is basically to mash 4X and trader games together into something new and wonderful. Has this been tried before? I don't actually have a broad knowledge of all the games out there.
Anyways, there's lot of possibilities here, the biggest challenge is creating the complex engine that would drive all of this. It would take creating a whole 4x model that would basically be played out by the computer pitting all of the factions (with unique AIs) against each other and then a whole other system for the Captain, his missions and what he is doing and how he influences the course of events.
