Interest in SE5 Expansion?

[Captain Kwok]

Here\'s some items that I would recommend be included in such a project:

UI
- Allow custom layouts to be saved
- Allow treaties to be saved
- Allow ship designs to be saved
- Allow for editing/deletion of queue lists
- Switch between decks with component selected
- Consolidated cargo lists
- Text box functionality
- Consistent window behaviour
- Allow group selection for combat simulator placement
- Make it easier to add multiple vehicles to combat simulator
- Auto-placement option for sector placement

Gameplay
- Implement some form of warp point sizes
- Implement warp point retreats
- Improvements to Alliance functionality
- Implement damage allocation as per ShieldAndArmorLevels.txt data file
- Implement rare hit types in Settings.txt
- Some new strategy settings (such as retreat setting - ram, etc)

In addition to some bug fixes, some AI improvements, and perhaps inclusion of some custom shipsets or other work etc.

[Suicide Junkie]

I'd add to that gameplay list:
- Damage pattern option in damagetypes.txt (directional vs radial vs slices vs hitpoint-lottery vs slot-lottery vs size-lottery)
- Formula to choose the ship experience type in vehiclesizes.txt (Normal vs berzerkers->all attack bonuses vs monster digestion->eating ships generates resources)
- Recalculate component/design abilities on game load option in settings.txt
- Number of decks option in settings.txt

The first one would allow me to work up an interesting combat system to rival SE4.

The second two would allow for awesome monsters that grow over time and need to eat enemy ships in order to spread. Larvae would be completely invisible without weapons, and creep around to infest player systems, then slowly lose their cloak over time as they grow weapon damage as adolescents 15 turns later. They would then attack ships to fill up their bellies and pay maintenance on the next generation of monsters.
Adult monsters at age 30 turns would have their weapons atrophy, but grow SY ability in order to spawn more larvae using the resources generated by their XP.