Ship differentiation
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Stardock Forums
Stardock Forums
This is really kind of a suggestion, but the 'suggestion' thread is so bloated I'd rather post it out here and try to get some comments on it. Sue me. 
There's been some debate about 'enhancing' ship design and combat; with many saying it's merely a rock, bigger rock, biggest rock system. I however, tend to side with those who say that there is still a point to building the smaller ships, freighter raiding, ability to be in two places at once etc. I do feel though that the there could be a bit more differentiation in ship design.
What about reducing the speed of capital ships somewhat? You'd have big bangers that can't catch up with anything but if they do—look out. More incentive to build lighter ships(cruiser class?) that can zip around much faster; but not stand up to the big boys. Would the A.I. know what to do with this, does it evaulate a ships stats? Or does it just have the big ships just tagged as 'better', and if their speed was nerfed they'd keep building them without realizing they weren't as effective.
What about reducing ship speed based on percent damaged? How cool would it be to try and bring a damaged Overlord limping home while fighter after fighter try to bring it down?(Sink the Bismarck?) I have my doubts about this one. I've never seen an A.I. try to pull back a ship for repairs, they seem to just push forward until they're destroyed.
What about more single-dimensional ships at higher tech levels? BattleAxe is cool for defense, Phoenix is cool for attack. But they're both obsoleted fairly quickly after their arrival. How about a GalCiv analog to the CivIII Mech Infantry? Would the A.I. know how to use a late-game defence or offense only ship? CivIII has attack,defend,explore etc. flags to tell the A.I. how to use a unit, is GalCiv similar?
Just a few thoughts, anyone have comments on their feasibility or desirability?
There's been some debate about 'enhancing' ship design and combat; with many saying it's merely a rock, bigger rock, biggest rock system. I however, tend to side with those who say that there is still a point to building the smaller ships, freighter raiding, ability to be in two places at once etc. I do feel though that the there could be a bit more differentiation in ship design.
What about reducing the speed of capital ships somewhat? You'd have big bangers that can't catch up with anything but if they do—look out. More incentive to build lighter ships(cruiser class?) that can zip around much faster; but not stand up to the big boys. Would the A.I. know what to do with this, does it evaulate a ships stats? Or does it just have the big ships just tagged as 'better', and if their speed was nerfed they'd keep building them without realizing they weren't as effective.
What about reducing ship speed based on percent damaged? How cool would it be to try and bring a damaged Overlord limping home while fighter after fighter try to bring it down?(Sink the Bismarck?) I have my doubts about this one. I've never seen an A.I. try to pull back a ship for repairs, they seem to just push forward until they're destroyed.
What about more single-dimensional ships at higher tech levels? BattleAxe is cool for defense, Phoenix is cool for attack. But they're both obsoleted fairly quickly after their arrival. How about a GalCiv analog to the CivIII Mech Infantry? Would the A.I. know how to use a late-game defence or offense only ship? CivIII has attack,defend,explore etc. flags to tell the A.I. how to use a unit, is GalCiv similar?
Just a few thoughts, anyone have comments on their feasibility or desirability?