tech tree/combat
 

I've been playing the old demo for quite a while now and fear that I will soon reach the 100 turn limit http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon9.gif but that aside I was wondering if anyone knows if the full game will ship with some sort of "map" of the tech tree as I have found there are so many areas you can get lost, not that I am saying that is bad! Also I have notcied in the create menu and some of the technology there seems to be an option to create tanks or robots or some sort of ground based/boarding parties. Is this merely disabled for the demo? If so will combat for ship boarding/planet invading be handled the same way as ship combat? One Last thing will combat remain as it is or will you be able to target specific ship systems, any chance of seeing a "z" axis for the space combat or some other factors in the strategic mode that would influence combat like asteroid fields etc?

Re: tech tree/combat
 

A Z axis would be hard to do now I would think. Also that would confuse.

Im going to see about that tech tree map.

Re: tech tree/combat
 

They did in SE3 so I expect they will now.

Re: tech tree/combat
 

After playing the demo for way too many hours again tonight... I thought of something else, when you create your "race" in the begining you can cycle through the pre-created portraits/ships/flags is it possible to mix and match these items? In other words use one portrait and another ship style? Also I noticed somewhere in these forums someone was asking about creating your own from scratch, don't think I would have the time or talent for that but how about just inserting user made flags?

Re: tech tree/combat
 

Opps, http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif there is a tech tree... in the game. It is an option you have to turn on, it is a little confusing however. Would still like to see some sort of actual printed "tree" in the full game documentation though.

Re: tech tree/combat
 

Mines... Can mines only be used during "combat" or can mines be layed on the "map" say at a warp point so that any ships passing though it have the chance to be damaged?

Re: tech tree/combat
 

Mines are laid on the strategic map and frankly I am not 100% sure how they work because I won't enter a mine square and the AI seems to avoid them also...but if you mine 'your side' of a warp point they won't know they are there until it is too late! http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

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The Grumbling Grognard

Re: tech tree/combat
 

Yes, that is what I was trying to figure out as well. On the strategic map the computer AI will shoot at and destroy the mines but will not run into them. When I try to run into them myself just to see what happens the option to move into the space where the mine is does not exist as the cursor automatically turn into the target pointer and then fires on the mine. Now as far as placing them on the galaxy map at planets, worm holes, etc. when ever I try to drop the cargo it just says that the space is full? So I am not certain how there are suppose to work, at least work well anyway.

Re: tech tree/combat
 

Jars:

Are your ships equipped with the "Mine Layer"? You must have one of these to lay mines. I generally just equip a ship with one mine layer component and a lot of cargo space and it does the trick on the strategic map.



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The Grumbling Grognard

Re: tech tree/combat
 

One thing that does rather jar about the tech tree is that while you can build Frigates from the very start, to build Fighters, Mines, Satellites or Weapons Platforms requires 150-200,000 research points! (100,000 for Construction level 1 to open up all the relevant Tech Areas and then 50-100,000 to pick up 1 level in each area).

Surely given the complexities of ship design versus satellites, weapons platforms and the like it would make more sense to start with the small stuff (eg fighters capable of in-system movement only) and requiring research for anything bigger?

What would seem a better use for Construction in this case would be for increased levels to provide minaturisation, allowing you to build components that take up less space (as in MOO2 where increasing a tech level causes all older items to shrink in size). As well as increasing ship capability, this could also be extended indefinitely (looking forward to a game with an infinite research model).