So, I'm reading this, and I'm going, "Cool!" A bit different from NS, although I guess I can envision the "Union" as the feeders, and the "Rogues"/"Alliances" as kinda like our own little user-created regions.
Yeah I did think that there was a similarity there, and it is no longer unintentional
.
However, I have a few questions about game mechanics:
1) Reading this, I assume that there is a map? And presumably a tech tree? And an "enemy" group that is not controlled by players? Does this mean that there will be a population cap in the game? Does this mean that the Dsordsa Empire would be computer/AI-controlled? Or do they pretty much follow a highly scripted sequence?
A. There would be a galactic map, and potentially each system would have a map-- much of this would be random generated.
B. I am not sure if there should be much of a tech tree actually, as the Milky Way civilization is supposed to be insanely advanced already. Could use some discussing.
C. And I suppose there would be a pop. cap but it would be Really Really big; you wouldn't be able to reach it in a decade probably.
D. The Dsordsa would be mostly automated although Admins would be able to control its actions. It could potentially be an In Character way to justify administrative punishments as well?
2) How do you envision the military aspect of the game to work? Closer to NS or to CN, or something new altogether?
Mostly new altogether: given that there would be a galactic map and your ships, formed into fleets, would be moving around on it. Tactical battles would not occur-- simply strategic movements and then evaluatoins of the result of a battle when opponents meet.
3) How are politics done? If one chooses to stay in the Empire, what influence do they have? Can one change sectors? Is there a hard-coded bureaucracy? Basically, how much freedom does the player have to move around?
A. If one remains in the Union, one has influence over what the various Union leadership is, and Union leadership has authority over a certain quantity of 'galactic funds' coming from the Milky Way as well as NSUN-style influence on the issues module. In my current plan the Union has the following leadership hierarchy:
Code:
Galactic Leadership
|
Sector Species
| |
| Sector Species
| /
Individual
B. Once a player is in a sector, they cannot leave the sector except by either A restarting or B taking a new planet in the other sector (and perhaps abandoning the old one). You can leave and join alliances but not sectors-- sectors you are simply in, as your position on the map does not change.
4) What, exactly, is the relationship between the Rogue states and the Union? It appears that there are victory conditions for the Union but not for the Rogue. What are their possibilities for action in this game? Do they get to choose sides?
A. It is the choice of each Rogue nation/alliance and the Union how the relations between them go. It mostly depends on the Union leadership; whether they choose to oppose all rogues entirely or to forge relations.
B. Rogue Nations simply go by score generally, but if the Union wins their status is determined by what Union leadership says their intentions toward those Rogue Nations and Alliances would be.
5) Also, are there loss conditions for the Union? Otherwise, I imagine that a game going badly could drag on, no?
Yes. If by some insanity the Dsordsa manage to destroy the 'gate' to the Milky Way (which is very heavily guarded by Union forces by default) or if through cunning and hard work a Rogue Alliance manages to the same, then the Union will be considered to have "lost".
6) If (presumably) most of the human players are working toward one objective set in stone, wouldn't it kinda detract from the thrill of conflict with others that thrill so many in the NS invading/defending game?
Well that presumes that most humans would choose to stay in the Union.
All in all, the idea shows great promise, and I hope you follow through with it.
Heheh, if I do it will be ALOT of work. I would probably need helpers coding it
) There would be a central server that the 'official' game would run on with an admin team who would accept or reject submissions to that code, as well as tinkering themselves.
