Pre-Christmas Chat with Aaron

[David E. Gervais]

Hello, People

I'm planning on asking Aaron if he has the time to do another Chat Session on #spaceempires the week before Christmas. So with that in mind, here is my poll.. (note times and dates are for California, you do the math)

[Atrocities]

You have my vote for Friday Evening.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Captain Kwok]

This is good. Now I can finally get a chance to update that SE:V information on my website. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Suicide Junkie]

I'd go with *any* day, but not in the morning.

Of course, if nessesary, I'd stay up all night to catch it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Timstone]

Wednesday afternoon. There is a 6 hour timedifference between CA and Kleigat Pampercity.
I hope the time will be suitable, otherwise I'll have to go and read the chat logs again.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

I voted for evening.

[David E. Gervais]

FYI: I'm waiting for a reply on the chat session idea from Aaron. I'd guess he'll like the idea and let me know when is a good time for him. If enough interest is given and the poll results support the idea, I might be able to convince Aaron to do a double chat session to accomidate both europe and north america.

Off hand I'd say that a chat session in the morning before he dives into his work for the day (approx 9am California time) and one at the end of the day either after he gets home or before he heads home in the early evening (6pm California time). But first I need to hear from him. I sure hope i haven't jumped the gun.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Fyron]

Timstone said:
Wednesday afternoon. There is a 6 hour timedifference between CA and Kleigat Pampercity.
I hope the time will be suitable, otherwise I'll have to go and read the chat logs again.

You are in GMT -2? California is GMT -8...

Will my moderation services be required again, or would you like to volunteer to do it David? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Atrocities]

Fyron would be a great moderator, or assistant moderator. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

/me slips fyron some $$ under the table to move my questions to the top of the list when I ask one. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[David E. Gervais]

Hi fyron, I would prefer that you moderate, and or perhaps tesco. I might try to get the whole se5 dev team into the chat room and have us as side guests. but this is all providing that Aaron's reply is favorable. He's obviously busy, because these past few days replies from him have been slower than usual.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Atrocities]

I know why Aaron wants to have a chat.... To accept pre-orders for SE V. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[HEMAN]

I voted friday evening,but anyday is fine with me.

[Colonel]

Atrocities said:
I know why Aaron wants to have a chat.... To accept pre-orders for SE V. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif



I would think there would be a LONG>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> list of pre orders already http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif. Anyways this sounds el greatoes.

[tesco samoa]

evening is rather hard for our friends in europe

[TurinTurambar]

Wednesday morning... I'm stayin' home...

<raps>"Go Aaron, it's my Birthday... Go Aaron, it's my Birthday..."

[Renegade 13]

Evening would be most convenient for those of us who have to go to school/college/university. Afternoon and morning would exclude me (and possibly others). Then again, there is the concern for those of you in Europe.....damn time zones!

[Will]

Ok, is this the week of the 12th, or the week of the 19th? It makes a difference for me, since the week of the 12th has finals and term papers, and the week of the 19th has me traveling cross-country (to a location with dialup, yick!).

[David E. Gervais]

Still waiting for a reply, but the aim is for the week of 19th to the 24th. I figure whatever is Aarons' Last day before the hollidays he can do a chat in the morning and before he leaves in the late afternoon evening. The only question is IF he feel up to it, and When is best for him.

Like I said I'll keep you posted.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[DarkAnt]

Is it possible to have it on the weekend. I know most of us are pretty busy and as previously said, the evening is not good for europeans. If we could have it on a weekend we wouldn't have to set the time to evening and we might get more people there.

[David E. Gervais]

Most people at this time of year are more than busy on weekends. (you know shopping for xmas gifts and installing winter tires, etc, etc..) But I'll mention it to Aaron, you never know.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[David E. Gervais]

I just got a 'first response' from Aaron. in a word,.. "YES!" he is happy to have a 'Chat Session' in the week before xmas. I'll be getting his availability times later today.

So, please spread the word and get people to respond to this poll. (we will more than likely have two chats to help make it easier for our international friends to join) The results of this poll should help in narrowing down the day.

Thank you, and I'll keep you posted.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[David E. Gervais]

*UPDATE* The day has been confirmed..

Wednesday December 22. Now to lock down a time..

Note: Aaron has said that he would prefer only one chat session. So with that in mind I think a late afternoon chat might be best.

Comments welcome, Cheers!

[Renegade 13]

If it's late afternoon, would that mean after about 4 PM Pacific time? If it's before that I'll still be in school, and not able to make it...which would really suck!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Caduceus]

I think we have to go with Aaron's wishes on this. He might *knock back* the release date if we pester him too much http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Captain Kwok]

3 PST is cool by me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Colonel]

AHHH thats Finals week but that day is a half day http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[David E. Gervais]

I have suggested to Aaron 4 to 6pm (california time) I'm still waiting for his reply on the time. He might have to make arrangements to get home earlier and chat from home, or let his wife know he intends to be a bit later than usual on that day. Aaron will have the final word on when, I did my part by setting up the chat, and giving him my suggestions.

I'll be there regardless of the time and hope to see many of you there too.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Captain Kwok]

I assumed that Aaron did work at home - or does he maintain an office of sorts somewhere?

[TerranC]

4 PM PST is good. 5 PM PST is better.

[Colonel]

just to be clear cailfornia is two hours behind the midwest about correct or is more then that.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Just to post, I'm excited about this too. What time GMT?

[narf poit chez BOOM]

According to Fyron, Aaron's on the same time as me.

[David E. Gervais]

It's now official,..

Christmas Chat with Aaron Hall, Wednesday December 22, from 5pm to 6pm (California time).

Could someone you frequents the se4 forums at yahoo post this info there? Thanks.

I hope to see as many of you there as possible.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

P.S. Also, could someone post links and revelant info on how to get to #spaceempires. Thanks again.

[Fyron]

http://seirc.spaceempires.net/

http://www.spaceempires.net/home/modules.php?name=Irc

[Timstone]

DAMN!! That means the chat is at 03:00 hours my time. Grr...
Ah well, that means I'll have to read the chatlogs again. You can't have it all. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif

[David E. Gervais]

Tim, here's an idea,.. go to bed about an hour and a half earlier than usual and set your alarm, wake up, make a coffee and join the chat. After the chat crawl back into bed and dream of se5. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif (oh, and don't forget to reset your alarm to it's regular time or you'll be stuck in the se5 dreamworld forever.)

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Timstone]

Hmm... David, I don't think that's a good idea. I get up mostly at )6:45 hours. If I do what you suggested I would need a huge cup of coffee and I don't think my body can handle that much cafeine. That would be enough to let me walk the ceilings for an entire day. Think Beavis-style behaviour. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Try kool-aid. Sure, it's horrible. But in the morning, it's absolutly hideous. Wake you right up.

[Timstone]

I have no idea what kind of stuff you mean, but I think it's really horrible. Maybe I should look at a pic of Barbara Streisand.
"Warning, this episode contains Spooky Vision!" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rant.gif

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Well, first, it's cheap. Second, it's an attempt to chemically duplicate fruit drinks.

[Kevin Arisa]

Kool-Aid is okay if you mix it with lemonade. Especially raspberry lemonade. Mmm. Oh the sweet and sour goodness. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Fyron]

Kevin Arisa said:
Kool-Aid is okay...

Blasphemy! Kool-Aid is always crap. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Will]

Hmmm... I should just be getting home then. I'll be on dialup, but that's good enough for IRC. I should be able to manage. I think. I hope...

Unless DEG curses us with screenshots. Curse because it will take me several minutes to download unless they are highly compressed. And I don't wanna wait http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Kamog]

Hmm, I *might* be able to catch the Last little bit of the chat. I'm in the Pacific time zone, but I usually don't get home from work until almost 6:00 or so. Just before Christmas is a busy time of year at work...

Well, I guess if I miss the chat, I'll just read the log.

[David E. Gervais]

Like I said in another thread,.. let's make Dec 22nd and the #spaceempires chat room the day and place for this years SE xmas party. I encourage everyone to try and drop by there at any time. If you can manage to be there when Aaron shows up, all the better, if not we can still have fun.

As for releasing screenshots or any other artwork, I can and do make lots of 'fluff' but the decision of if and when to publish any is always up to Aaron. I'll try to do some special stuff for the occasion, at the very least, some new wallpaper, but I suspect that any screenshots will be held back until the official announcement of the beta in January.

I just had a thought, maybe I'll put together a bunch of the artwork that is on my editing room floor. You know stuff that has not 'yet' been approved or made to fit in SE5.

Just to keep my rep as a master teaser (according to Fyron) I'll tell you this.. I made what I think is a Fantastic Concept for a 'Ringworld' but it didn't fit in with aaron's view/idea of what a ringworld should be. I think he like many have been brainwashed by the traditional view of a 2d surface that well, rings around the sun. But personally I don't like the idea of a planet that is always in sunlight. I like to sleep in the dark, look at the stars, and with that type of ringworld, they would be lost to the brightness of the sky. The poor people that would be forced to live/work in a world without stars. Just so you know, I never saw what many know as this type of ringworld, so when I came up with my concept, I went a more mechanical route. After all, these things are supposed to be built right? Anyway, I'll see if Aaron will let me publish that render.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Timstone]

David:
I've seen a very cool concept of a ringworld too. It involved more than one ring.
One ring to live on and several others to provide space for machines, weapons and to block out the sun once in a while.
I like it very much and I wanted to make a 3D model from it, but I don't have the time to do that. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif

[Ed Kolis]

Hmm... let me guess... no, it can't be just a flat ring along the ecliptic like Saturn's rings so the world is in perpetual twilight, that's not innovative enough, even if people live on both sides... How about a torus composed of subrings that rotate about their centers, producing day and night by rotating into and out of the light side of the main ring?

[Timstone]

Ed Kolis said:
Hmm... let me guess... no, it can't be just a flat ring along the ecliptic like Saturn's rings so the world is in perpetual twilight, that's not innovative enough, even if people live on both sides... How about a torus composed of subrings that rotate about their centers, producing day and night by rotating into and out of the light side of the main ring?



Didn't I just say that?

[Suicide Junkie]

Why not simply live on the inner surface while you're awake, and head over to the outer surface to sleep?

Your day/night cycle is then totally up to you.

[Timstone]

Hahaha... now that's a great idea. There should be a transportation network soo big it could handle about 500 million people at once. Now that's a truelly mammoth undertaking. How to build such a monstrosity, how to maintain it, how to pay for it's construction?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

[Raging Deadstar]

Timstone said:
Hahaha... now that's a great idea. There should be a transportation network soo big it could handle about 500 million people at once. Now that's a truelly mammoth undertaking. How to build such a monstrosity, how to maintain it, how to pay for it's construction?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif


Pah, You haven't seen my Ministry of Transportation duties in Se4 By Committee. Sometimes Shipping several billion citizens around every turn.

[Kana]

Maybe someone can post a Sticky message with the 'exact time/date' of the chat, and all particulars like where and how and such....

Kana

[Baron Munchausen]

David E. Gervais said:
Like I said in another thread,.. let's make Dec 22nd and the #spaceempires chat room the day and place for this years SE xmas party. I encourage everyone to try and drop by there at any time. If you can manage to be there when Aaron shows up, all the better, if not we can still have fun.

As for releasing screenshots or any other artwork, I can and do make lots of 'fluff' but the decision of if and when to publish any is always up to Aaron. I'll try to do some special stuff for the occasion, at the very least, some new wallpaper, but I suspect that any screenshots will be held back until the official announcement of the beta in January.

I just had a thought, maybe I'll put together a bunch of the artwork that is on my editing room floor. You know stuff that has not 'yet' been approved or made to fit in SE5.

Just to keep my rep as a master teaser (according to Fyron) I'll tell you this.. I made what I think is a Fantastic Concept for a 'Ringworld' but it didn't fit in with aaron's view/idea of what a ringworld should be. I think he like many have been brainwashed by the traditional view of a 2d surface that well, rings around the sun. But personally I don't like the idea of a planet that is always in sunlight. I like to sleep in the dark, look at the stars, and with that type of ringworld, they would be lost to the brightness of the sky. The poor people that would be forced to live/work in a world without stars. Just so you know, I never saw what many know as this type of ringworld, so when I came up with my concept, I went a more mechanical route. After all, these things are supposed to be built right? Anyway, I'll see if Aaron will let me publish that render.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif



Can we see some space monsters soon? I'd really like some idea of what they will be like.

And if your ringworld hasn't been approved for SE 5 then what stops you from releasing it? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Has he got you under contract for ALL of your work?

[David E. Gervais]

I did some 'Artist's concept' renders of some monsters of my own design, I'll see if I can release those. Also, fyi, throughout the dev of se5 I often send Aaron ideas and artistic samples of what I think might be good. Until they get 100% rejected there still rests a posibility that they will make it into the game. so unless I get 100% confirmation of certain artwork not making the grade or not fitting into the game, it remains Copyright Malfador Machinations.

Also, if I were to release some of MY ideas as se5 artwork, people might feel missled if the good stuff never gets into the game. This way, once the game is released, I'll be able to make much of my unpublished work available to modders.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[TurinTurambar]

And how, if someone would refresh my memory, does one get to the #spaceempires chat?

Turin

[Nodachi]

http://www.spaceempires.net/

[Suicide Junkie]

Timstone said:
Hahaha... now that's a great idea. There should be a transportation network soo big it could handle about 500 million people at once. Now that's a truelly mammoth undertaking. How to build such a monstrosity, how to maintain it, how to pay for it's construction?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

Quite simply, make it distributed.

Make the ring a bunch of stories thick. Throw in a bunch of elevators, skyscraper-style in a pattern across the landscape.
Open air up top. Shops and stuff one floor down. Sleeping quarters below that. Services and cargo in the lower-middle. Armor on the very bottom.

[Timstone]

Suicide Junkie said:

Timstone said:
Hahaha... now that's a great idea. There should be a transportation network soo big it could handle about 500 million people at once. Now that's a truelly mammoth undertaking. How to build such a monstrosity, how to maintain it, how to pay for it's construction?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

Quite simply, make it distributed.

Make the ring a bunch of stories thick. Throw in a bunch of elevators, skyscraper-style in a pattern across the landscape.
Open air up top. Shops and stuff one floor down. Sleeping quarters below that. Services and cargo in the lower-middle. Armor on the very bottom.



Like I said, how the hell are you going to build such a thing?! It's huge! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

[Aiken]

Just build a small (R ~ 2Rsun) circumsolar inner ring, with a transparent "hemiring".

[Randallw]

If you are talking about orbital rings (instead of ringworlds around suns) then anyone who has read Walter Jon Williams "Dread Empires Fall" series knows what can happen to them in a war. I'd post a description but can't figure out how to cover a spoiler.

[Suicide Junkie]

Timstone said:

Suicide Junkie said:

Timstone said:
Hahaha... now that's a great idea. There should be a transportation network soo big it could handle about 500 million people at once. Now that's a truelly mammoth undertaking. How to build such a monstrosity, how to maintain it, how to pay for it's construction?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

Quite simply, make it distributed.

Make the ring a bunch of stories thick. Throw in a bunch of elevators, skyscraper-style in a pattern across the landscape.
Open air up top. Shops and stuff one floor down. Sleeping quarters below that. Services and cargo in the lower-middle. Armor on the very bottom.



Like I said, how the hell are you going to build such a thing?! It's huge! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

The ringworld is a given. The elevators are trivial. You hire a bunch of contractors who build one elevator at a time while you install the main structure.


Just build a small (R ~ 2Rsun) circumsolar inner ring, with a transparent "hemiring".

Hmm... do plants even need a day/night cycle?
If they do, wouldn't it be easier to put shades on the inner surface of your main ring? Easier to maintain by simply having workers climb up, plus the solar intensity is much less and you're not going to burn them up.

How about making the shades out of solar panels. Tilt them up to let light through, then lay them back down to block it. Amusingly, you'd make most of your solar power at night http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Baron Munchausen]

In Larry Niven's original design they did indeed use large panels rotating in a smaller ring to simulate day & night for the surface. The panels were connected by gigantic 'cables' of whatever the Ringworld itself was made out of, and the whole thing was timed according to their size and the size of the gaps to come out to a reasonable approximation of a day/night cycle on a terrestrial planet. It would be quite interesting to see that feature included in a Starfury model of a Ringworld. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Or an SE V model if we will be able to visit our simulated systems. I wonder if we'll have a 'tour' mode where we can drop in on our held systems in SE V and view them as if playing a Starfury game. Or will the 'combat' space for SE V always be a much smaller space than an entire system?

[Suicide Junkie]

Baron Munchausen said:I wonder if we'll have a 'tour' mode where we can drop in on our held systems in SE V and view them as if playing a Starfury game. Or will the 'combat' space for SE V always be a much smaller space than an entire system?

Combat had better not cover the whole system like starfury, or the 100-ship enemy fleet will glass all your planets during the warppoint battle http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Fyron]

Randallw said:
If you are talking about orbital rings (instead of ringworlds around suns) then anyone who has read Walter Jon Williams "Dread Empires Fall" series knows what can happen to them in a war. I'd post a description but can't figure out how to cover a spoiler.

Use some HTML and CSS voodoo. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

<div style="background-color: #000000; color=#000000;">This is invisible unless you highlight it.</div>

When making your post, you must select to make it "Using UBB and HTML." You can not use the Quick Reply form to do this, you must hit the Reply button on some post. The following code will get black text with black background. You could use any color you want, really, but black is just a nice, easy standard. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Since UBB doesn't interpret divs in code or pre tags properly, I have been forced to attach an image to show the HTML code...

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/317174-ubbsucks.gif

[Timstone]

Suicide Junkie said:

Baron Munchausen said:I wonder if we'll have a 'tour' mode where we can drop in on our held systems in SE V and view them as if playing a Starfury game. Or will the 'combat' space for SE V always be a much smaller space than an entire system?

Combat had better not cover the whole system like starfury, or the 100-ship enemy fleet will glass all your planets during the warppoint battle http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif



Damn! That's not a very cool option. Ah well, Aaron will think of something simple, but effective. But it really gets you thinking. How large should the ships be of a large fleet untill they are too big to fit in one sector of space.

[Randallw]

oops sorry, totally forgot why I needed to know how to add a spoiler.

<div style="background-color: #000000; color=#000000;">
Ok, in the Latest "Dread Empires Fall" book the invading race (it's a civil war) captures the orbital ring but the loyalists bring down the cables connecting it to the planet. Since the Orbital ring has been in place for 12,000 years the invaders aren't prepared to be unable to land any other way. On another planet the enemy fire on the loyalist fleet despite being warned not to. The loyalists fire back and destroy the ring with a couple of hundred million people. The ring then falls into the atmosphere causing a nuclear winter and dooming a few billion people. So what would be interesting is if the opportunity to capture the ring but the not the planet is included as well as the risk that if the orbital ring is destroyed it falls into the atmosphere. So it isn't a stellar construction but an expanded base. </div>

Edit: on a related note it might be interesting to have ships destroyed when attacking/defending a world possibly fall into the atmosphere.

[Timstone]

Whoa! That's a cool option. I doubt it will make it into the game. Privateer: Freelancer had that incorperated too. It was very uncomfi when you have a fight near a planet.

[Suicide Junkie]

A ring around your planet... falling into the atmosphere...

Ok. First question: Why are you using your cables to hold up the ring when it would be easier and safer to have the ring spinning in orbit and holding its own weight up? Just imagine the mechanical stresses on the sections between the cables.

-----

Some free salvage of resources and technology from ships shot down near planets would be nice...
If you're on the defensive, you need all the help you can get http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Baron Munchausen]

Suicide Junkie said:
A ring around your planet... falling into the atmosphere...

Ok. First question: Why are you using your cables to hold up the ring when it would be easier and safer to have the ring spinning in orbit and holding its own weight up? Just imagine the mechanical stresses on the sections between the cables.





First of all, the theory of 'space elevators' and the stations that could be at the top of them is that they are held in place by centrifugal forces. The excess force is necessary to allow things to be sent up the cables. If you have a complete ring -- which would be a really huge structure but we are already used to thinking of stellar Ringworlds and so it doesn't seem so huge by comparison -- it wouldn't be stable anymore than the Ringworld around a star. A solid ring around a star or a planet would be pushed and pulled in all sorts of inconveniant ways just by virtue of being a single piece instead of a free floating body that can vary its orbit somewhat without hitting things. The cables are still needed to hold it in place or it would lose 'center' on the planet. For the stellar Ringworld Larry Niven had to invent those 'thrusters' that figured in one of the later stories.

[Suicide Junkie]

If you've got cables connecting to the surface, you can easily use them to nudge it in the right direction and keep it in the right spot.
The point being that with your ring spinning, and a small net inward pull by the cables, the pieces of the ring will drift to a slightly higher orbit and the rubble will diffuse from there.
It will take a lot of energy to deorbit the ring parts. The enemy force might as well glass you with "conventional" weapons designed for the task instead http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Kamog]

Instead of cables, if you had solid towers supporting the ring, then you won't have to worry about the ring moving around. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Baron Munchausen]

Kamog said:
Instead of cables, if you had solid towers supporting the ring, then you won't have to worry about the ring moving around. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif



That's even more difficult than the cables, though. The stresses on cables for just a planetary space elevator are getting close to the maximum possible that ordinary matter can handle. That's why they need to develop carbon nanotubes so they can have the molecular bond itself as the strength of the cables. A rigid structure would be much more demanding. Niven had to invent a fictional material (scrith) to explain how the stellar Ringworld was even possible.

[Baron Munchausen]

Suicide Junkie said:
If you've got cables connecting to the surface, you can easily use them to nudge it in the right direction and keep it in the right spot.
The point being that with your ring spinning, and a small net inward pull by the cables, the pieces of the ring will drift to a slightly higher orbit and the rubble will diffuse from there.
It will take a lot of energy to deorbit the ring parts. The enemy force might as well glass you with "conventional" weapons designed for the task instead http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif



In the sense of decelerating the ring parts so they 'fall' out of orbit, yes that would take a lot of energy directed in just the right way. But if the ring loses its centering on the planet then the ring will simply collide with the planet at full speed.

[Suicide Junkie]

So, simply hit the self destruct button, and chop it into blocks that orbit freely.

Or better, just unlock the pieces so you can put 'em back together when you have a chance to rebuild.

[Fyron]

If anybody has any questions they would like to see asked, but will be unable to attend the session, feel free to post them now, and they will probably be asked.

[HEMAN]

Thanks Imperator Fyron,if you could ask the question;
(1)Will sev operate on low end systems,Like my P300mhz 64ram 16mb graphic card voodoo.
(2)Will there be a addon AI Modder?.Like,david g se4 modder 1.74.

[Timstone]

The DavidG modder isn't an AI modder. It's a component modder.

Edit:
I've send my questions to David E. Gervais already. I hope he can ask them for me.

[Kana]

1. Any chance that Aaron can find someone he trusts to make somekind of modder program before the release of SEV, so that way we have a modding kit to make mods right from the box...?

2. When he means we can mod damage types what does he mean by that? Will there be a list to choose from? Will we be able to add/mod in new forms of damage types? Can you add multiple types to a weapon?


Kana

[Ragnarok]

HEMAN said:
Thanks Imperator Fyron,if you could ask the question;
(1)Will sev operate on low end systems,Like my P300mhz 64ram 16mb graphic card voodoo.
(2)Will there be a addon AI Modder?.Like,david g se4 modder 1.74.



Heman, the common reply to your first question is that it will most likely take similar specs to Starfury to run SEV. Those requirements are: System Requirements Pentium 500MHz or better class machine
Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, XP
32 megabytes RAM or better
1024x768 or better screen resolution
16 bit color display or better
DirectX 7.0 (or better)
A video card with 3D acceleration
400 megs hard drive space
A sound card capable of supporting MP3 and DirectSound playback. Sound card must be DirectX 7.0 (or better) compatible.

You will most likely need at least those requirements if not a little bit more to run the game smoothly.

[Suicide Junkie]

Kana said:
1. Any chance that Aaron can find someone he trusts to make somekind of modder program before the release of SEV, so that way we have a modding kit to make mods right from the box...?


I don't think Aaron will have to ask; it will just happen. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Captain Kwok]

Heman:

Note that I was able to run Star Fury ok on a PII-300Mhz Celeron with 320Mb of RAM and 16MB Nvidia card with Win98, less ok on the same system with WinXP Pro. I'd suspect that SE:V will not run at that level, unless there is some sort of 2D graphics display. It might be time for an upgrade to at least a P3-1Ghz if money is an issue. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[HEMAN]

Thanks players, for Quick reponses.Sad news about my computer,too slow .(Timestone Wrote: The DavidG modder isn't an AI modder,It's a component modder.) My error,i meant to that.Thanks all.

[Ragnarok]

Captain Kwok said:
Heman:

Note that I was able to run Star Fury ok on a PII-300Mhz Celeron with 320Mb of RAM and 16MB Nvidia card with Win98, less ok on the same system with WinXP Pro. I'd suspect that SE:V will not run at that level, unless there is some sort of 2D graphics display. It might be time for an upgrade to at least a P3-1Ghz if money is an issue. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif



Kwok, I do seem to recall it being said we will have the option at the start of a game of having the 3D view as we are looking forward to or just having a standard 2D view as we are used to now. Perhaps someone could clearify this a little bit more?

[Fyron]

I have set up the countdown script for this chat session, so there is no confusion over time zones. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

http://seirc.spaceempires.net/countdown.php

[Atrocities]

Very cool Fyron. Thanks man. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Thanks.

[Timstone]

Cool feature man!
Unfortunately I still can't join you guys with the chat. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif

[douglas]

How did this thread manage to fall to page 2? Why didn't it get stickied?

Anyway, I can't make it to the chat, but I have a few questions I'd like answered if someone would ask them for me.

1. How will the AI scripts be structured?

2. Will it be possible to give high-level orders to your ministers, such as "Military Advisor! I want a force prepared for attacking X system pronto! Assemble it one warp point away in Y system."?

3. Will it be possible in the scripts to dynamically create and change data specifically associated with particular ships, systems, and other objects, such as designating a ship as being assigned to the task of protecting a particular system with a specified priority? If so, will orders be available to do such things in game to help the ministers figure out what to do when you give them high-level orders?

[Atrocities]

The chat is only going to be about an hour long right? I guess I may not attend this one, just catch the highlights later.

[David E. Gervais]

Remember people, Aaron may only be there for an hour (probably more) we can still have fun and make this the official SE xmas party and hang out.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[tesco samoa]

since i cannot make the chat i have a few questions if some could ask them.

1. Will there be a Map Maker for SEV and if so could you describe it.
2. Will we be able to generate/make systems and save them for use in later maps.
3. Will we be able to create senarios using some tool ? If so could you describe it. If not are you interested in this aspect of SEV.
4. Build Ques. Will we be able to add and remove many items on many planets ? Will we be able to set many planets to build 1 turns worth of units ( so the planets figure out how much that is instead of selecting 1 , 5 etc... )
5. Build Ques. Will we be able to select for units build until all space is used up and on the Last turn it just builds what is needed to fill out the remaining space.
6. Build ques. Will we be able to select a planet and go there to some planet screen with all the info we need ? with the option to exit this screen to the system or back to the build que ? Perhaps this leads to the real question. What will the navagation be like in SEV ?

[Alneyan]

Only one question from me (if it has not been answered yet): is there any hope for macros in the game?

For example, a macro could be: "Build 3 Mineral Facilities on every planet without a spaceyard, nothing in the queue, and at least 100% mineral value", or anything of the like.

Something else that could fit in with macros would be the automation of retrofits. Would it be possible to make Empire-wide retrofits? For example, you could order all Gloriana vessels to be retrofitted to the Victoria class (assuming they are at a spaceyard).

[dogscoff]

I very much doubt I can make the chat, so if I'm not there please tell Aaron I said "hi".

[Will]

Chat's about to start... so...

*BUMP*

--edit: And it's started.

[Renegade 13]

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif He's late!

[Fyron]

Log file has been posted!

http://seirc.spaceempires.net/archives.php

[Atrocities]

It went well if any one cares to know.

[Captain Kwok]

Good times were had!

You can also find an updated feature list of SE:V at my website. Check it out here: Space Empires Depot SE:V Info (http://members.rogers.com/capt-kwok/se5info.html)

[Baron Munchausen]

It sure did.

'Heros' confirmed (as long as the artwork gets done)
Distance sensitive sight rules confirmed
Planetary gravity, temp, and radiation levels confirmed
Choosing tech levels at startup like SE III confirmed
Restrictions on racial traits finally to be implemented
Space monsters still intended but not yet coded

Good stuff.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

And I kept reminding myself to be there...

[narf poit chez BOOM]

[05:58:05-PM] ZeroAdunn: Hypothetical Question: If I was a ninja, and you were a pirate, and we were both robots, who do you think would win in a fight?

How come we never got an answer to this? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[AMF]

Probably because the answer is obvious

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif


narf poit chez BOOM said:

[05:58:05-PM] ZeroAdunn: Hypothetical Question: If I was a ninja, and you were a pirate, and we were both robots, who do you think would win in a fight?

How come we never got an answer to this? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Alneyan]

Thanks Aiken for having posted my question. Empire-wide retrofitting, hurray!

[Timstone]

I'm going to read the log file as soon as I'm home again. I hardly can't wait!

[Caduceus]

Very nice interesting and amusing chat.

[Timstone]

CNC:
Thanks for the question about the jewelcase! Thumbs up for you!