Topic: SFC Wishlist for Expansion Pack (Read 10590 times)

korus · « **on:** June 12, 2003, 09:53:01 am »

I know there's isn't a chance of one being done so maybe this could be a patch or something? Here is my own wishlist for the game mind you here goes:
To the Feds

1. Any chance of the Miranda Class being brought back ? Or the promethus? These are cool designs and I'd like to see them back someday.

2. Runabouts. They could replace shuttles and give them some firepower. Would be nice to send them to attack and actually do that for a change... Suicide mines? I'd like to see them be the new suicide runabout.

3. Weapons: This will be the hard part but here goes... Port over the Feds Heavy phasers and Heavy Photon torpedoes. Or create a new class of them. Since the Feds don't have a special weapon, it would give the feds some punch. These would cost a bit much, but there would be two flavors of phasers.

For the Klingons

1. Ship wise the BK-11 or something to act as a BB. Cost half as much as a Cube. The klinks and most races needs their own BB to compete with the Borg.

2. Shuttles Ditto. All shuttles need to be beefed up a bit.

3. Weapons: Can we make the Polorons set to proxy? It seems to be a 50-50 hit or miss. And why can't they volley? Heavy Dizzys for them too. Take away the Klingon Torp and replace it with a special weapon.

4. Cloak For both the roms and klinks should beefed up.

Annnd Romulans

1. The Valdore.... Sweet ship design. Shuttles Ditto

2. The beta patch fixes most of what needs to be done.

3, Weapons Bring back X- plasma or S plasma to boot. They should be seeking weapons with a limited range and punch. Add holding cost. Is the WarBird a DN or BB? Would the scimitar constitute as a BB? Again cost that of half a cube.

Borg

1. Two types of Cubes First how about a "Light" version of the cube half its size and firepower. Maybe cost 100k? And its savage twin the tactical cube. It could be a Sphere prime replacement. That should cost 250k. Shuttles? Ditto...

2. Weapons: Up the gravametiic torps to something better. It seems they never hit or do much damage. Now the next everyone will balk at, but hear me out: Borg powerup or call it heavy weaponry. Give the borg Adaptive technology. The energy cost is high, and can be fired a maximum of twice that makes all enemy weapons ineffective for about 15 seconds. That's been a cornerstone of Borg Technology. Again to balance this against all races they should have heavy weapons. Again there would be degrees of this weapons Light, Medium and Heavy. How about a slider for armor regen? more you up it the faster armor would regen? At the cost of your cutting beams? Just an idea.

Cardassian Union

Taldren didn't have time to make them a playable race so let them finish the job. Gathering from "TNG" sources The Cardassians were pretty much equals in tech and weaponry.

Hydran Hegemony
Port over one race from SFC 2 giving them TNG weapons. C'mon... Hellbores and fusion beams....

This is my own little wishlist... Thoughts?

Korus

Praxis · « **Reply #1 on:** June 12, 2003, 11:21:50 am »

I think that the Hydrans probably eventually joined the Federation...they were too friendly with each other. However, Taldren should port over at least one SFC2 race...
Also, how about adding the Dominion?

Most importantly:

The #1 biggest problem in SFC3 is the utter lack of variety. You have one FF, one CL, one CA, one BC, one DN, and one BB for each race. We need more ships! We've seen the Miranda class in DS9 during several battles, why not add her? And each race should have one ultra expensive ship to match the Borg Cube- its unfair that the Borg can get such big ships. It takes three players with Sovs to kill one player with a cube, and if TWO players with cubes team together...uh oh. Excalibur class for the Feds, I'd say, and Scimitar for Roms...not sure for Klingons.

Also, I agree Adaptation for Borg should be implemented- heres my ideas for that.

Firstly, if the Borg get adaptation, they should have weaker hulls- they're too uber as it is.

For adaptation, make it a special weapon with a high energy cost, and when activated, the NEXT WEAPON to hit the Borg Ship will be adapted to for ten seconds or so. But only one weapon type at a time may be adapted to, so ships with multiple weapons systems will whoop the Borg's rear. For example, phaser boats, the Borg adapt to the first phaser impact in a volley and whammo, the rest of the volley is ineffective. Same for torpedo boats. But if a ship has torpedoes, phasers, and pulse phasers, the Borg will adapt to the first one to hit- probably the phaser- and the rest will impact. But the borg should have much weaker hulls to compensate for the advantage of this.

MarianoDT · « **Reply #2 on:** June 12, 2003, 01:20:39 pm »

I agree whit this.

NOW seems the perfect time for an ADD-ON as the game it´s becoming a little boring....(it is just my opinion)

As far as the more ships is concerned, we already can add more ships manually or with mods. But the main thing is the lack of what was asked since the first time: Flavor. I mean more races, more weapons, more options and more systems.

Anythig of this is wellcome.

Taldren, please!!!
Taldren, please!!!
Taldren, please!!!
Taldren, please!!!
Taldren, please!!!

Mariano

Sorok · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2003, 02:14:34 pm »

Great ideas, but you weren't kidding when you called it a wish list. If the *couch cough* *ahem* BETA PATCH *ahem* *cough cough* was any indication of the turnaround time for SFC3 tweaks, then by the time you get your wish, you'll most likely be able to go for a ride on a REAL Prometheus-class ship.

Alexander1701 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 12, 2003, 02:57:02 pm »

Go download a Mod. TNZ has all of this stuff, and DW has a new, revamped refit system, plus a lot of this stuff.

www.battleclinic.com
TNZ mod

www.pwfe.com/domwars
DW Mod

Mr. Hypergol · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2003, 02:58:32 pm »

Quote:

The #1 biggest problem in SFC3 is the utter lack of variety. You have one FF, one CL, one CA, one BC, one DN, and one BB for each race.

Hummm.....I find the above statement to be quite ironic since, according to Taldren and Activision, SFC3 style ship customization was supposed to provide more variety than ever. Are you saying this is not true?

For the record: I hated the idea of ship customization the way it was implemented. I think a modest refit system like the one we had in SFC1 and 2 was the way to go. The old refit system was reasonable in that it only allowed minor refits and upgrades which I consider more realistic. The SFC3 system is totally unrealistic (starships changing major systems on the fly....come on!!!!) and impossible to balance.

I hope that "full" customization is dead for any future SFC game. It ruined SFC3.

Alexander1701 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 12, 2003, 03:02:41 pm »

What??

The refit system is the best! It allows for actually STRATEGY as well as tactics! You can try new things, and make innovative ship designs!

Here's an example

Take an intrepid.

Load every phaser arc you can with ph9+, and get thrusters at the highest level you can. Nice mizra striker.
Fill up with quantums, and put in ph11 in a few slots front and back.
Ph 10 left and right, 1 tachyon fore, 1 aft. 2 quantums. High power impulse. Hang back at range 40, prevent them from warping, and wittle them down with proxies.

3 VERY different ships in the same hull class.

Alexander

Alidar Jarok · « **Reply #7 on:** June 12, 2003, 03:12:15 pm »

Here is my thoughts

First off, add the Cardassians, Dominion, and Ferengi as playable races

Give the Breen ship to the Dominion

Give them Polaron Torps, Myo Beams, and Polaron Beams (Primary weapon with the damage of Phasers, rate of RomDisruptors, and 15% chance of shield penetration

Give the Cardassians KlingonDizzies, Probably Plasma, and a Plasma Wave (ESG, Voyager episode "Dreadnought')
They should also have slow speed, poor turning, bbut good hull

The Ferengi should have KDisruptors and KPhotons. In addition they should have missiles (Drones

)
They will be a lot more balanced. 6 damage (less when there is more AV), seeking, speeds 20, 40, and 60. Requires a heavy hard-point for a missile launcher. The faster load launchers require more mass. No scatterpack, but one missile per hard-point (Marauder should have 4 hard-points)

Add: Valdore, miranda, and some Klink and Borg ships.

Add: Fighters and PFs. Each level has a higher mass hold (shuttles have a mass of 1, Fighter Squadrens have 4, PFs have 8) Basic: 2 Medium: 4 Large: 8 Advanced: 12 Station: 20

Runabouts would be the Fed PF, Perrigrine would be their fighter
Roms have Scorpians and an advanced "Cloaking" Shuttle
Borg will be different
Shuttles take up lots of mass and more than a basic will slow down your ship considerably

I could think of more, but this will do

Mr. Hypergol · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2003, 03:27:52 pm »

I understand the arguments FOR full customization, but they make sense to me only when we are willing to ignore realism for fun. I think it also makes game balance impossible.

I don't have anything against customization in games in general as long as it's a strictly controlled process. As a matter of fact it's one of my favorite features in another of the games I play a lot.....Mechwarrior. But, SFC3's system of full customization is "out of control" in my opinion.

For Star Trek I don't like "full" customization because it just doesn't fit the genre (except for the pirate races where I can except "full" customization)....i.e. a military starfleet governed by regulations and standardization. A refit schedule is a very controlled system and something decided at a much higher level than captain. It takes months to refit massive starships....these aren't small vehicles like Mechs are. You just would not be able to make major overhauls of ship systems between missions like you do in SFC3......I'm sorry but this just makes no sense to me as an engineer in real life. I can see this happening for small vehicles like Mechs in Mechwarrior where supplies are based on SALVAGE and the mechs were designed with omni-mounts where various systems can be mounted quickly.........but it's an entirely different story with massive starships in fleetdock located in the vacuum of space.IMHO

I know many people disagree with me on this, but I find that their arguments only make sense if you are willing to ignore realism in favor of fun. For me though, my gaming fun is enhanced by a sense of realism in the games I play. SFC3 fell short in this area for me. SFC2's system was "right on" with this aspect to me.

Tulmahk · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2003, 05:20:16 pm »

I'd like to read your post, but due to the fact it's written in bright yellow, I can't see it. Any chance of a more retina friendly color?

DONOTDELETE · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2003, 06:54:49 pm »

Damn...I thought this was a Galaxies at War thread.....

Bummer

Magnum357 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2003, 07:02:08 pm »

I agree with Mr. Hypergol about the ship customization in SFC3. Although the system is fun to play around with and is great going head to head with friends in skirmish mode, its very unrealistic. Like Hypergol said, refiting ships takes months. Even if the vessels where made Modular (like the Pirate ships in SFC: OP) it would still take weeks and an expensive process to contantly interchange components all the time. SFC2 was more realistic where minor refits of ships was small. Also, the ship customization in SFC2 was much less complicated then in SFC3. You could add a lot of ships to SFC2 and easily edit things in one file.

On the other hand, SFC2 is based on SFB where ship designs and history where much more organized then in Star Trek. Heck, some of the crap that SFC3 is based on is some Web stuff that isn't even Cannon. I'll give Taldren credit that they did as best as they could with the inconstant world of Star Trek Universe. One feature that was neat in SFC3 was the customization of Weapon systesms in outside files. I think the next version of SFC (if their is one) needs to expand this part a bit. Like for example, more weapons to customize would be neat and choosing more abilities of those weapons would be a plus.

NannerSlug · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2003, 07:46:46 pm »

i will make a longer list later.. but to summerize a few important points. these could be done in a patch or patch(es) or even an expansion pack.

*change BACK to how the old tractors used to work.. or at very least - make it determined on the power available - not so much the transporter type.
*armor indicator.
*new arcs were given to starbases - UI art for this would be great and give modders a hay-day.
*repair-hull option. one of the main differences in sfc2/3 is that when you repair somthing, your hull goes back up. this does not happen in sfc3 - and needs to be done.
*t-bombs. no explanation needed.
**ships to be released by stardate. this feature would revolutionize sfc as its known. you could have a multiera campaign with TOS connies and TNG sovies.. more importantly, though, it adds a HUGE strategic factor for the on line campaigns.
**the ability for a server admin to turn OFF the customization function. okay, i love the ability to customize.. but not everyone does.. if this was done - in combination with the ability to release ships on a certain date - you have a very strategic campaign with an operating OOB (yes, in sfc3 if you kill an AI, it gets removed from the map).
**the ability to add/customize weapons in some way.. this would allow some of the sfb folk who want to have their range breaks and sfb type weapons the ability to do just that.
**sfb arcs. again, this is for the modding community who would want to use these things.

in a nut shell, after thinking things through for a while, i simple would like to see this place come together under a single game again. the only way this is going to happen is by taking the best engine (graphic and stability wise sfc3 is the clear winner) and add in ability to mod the game into what some want. of course the best role model for this is the counter-strike mod for half-life. there are others though.

i have other thoughts, but for now this is a starting place.. i personally believe that even if we could only have 1 or two things - i would ask for more arcs and the ability to release ships on a certain date.. those two items would revolutionize the game and modding for it - giving everyone SOMTHING.. in fact, if taldren couldnt give us the option to mod in weapons - why couldnt they just "reactivate" some of the older weapons code.. modders could use them at their descretion. i might be wrong, but it seems that much of the older artwork is still in the sfc3 game.. so i suspect some of the code is there as well.

just my thoughts.

Alexander1701 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 12, 2003, 11:19:10 pm »

k, two things.

1 - the DW refit system has every system in the game set up at various levels, so as f-armor 1 has something like 50 points, 2 has 100, ect, but the feds have access to other races armor, and everyone starts with midrange armor, so there are essentially 20 armors. It's like this for every system. It's sweet beyond all reason in customization.

2 - you can't expect temporal realism in a game. A campaign to rule the galaxy takes 2 weeks on the TNZ. By then, most players have gotten destroyed a few times, promoted from ensign to at least captain, and most are in CAs and higher. This is not true of any military.

MAYBE these events could occur in 40 years, so multiply all times by 100. It's still not a long time in terms of refits for 10 hours (6 minutes gametime), but its less bizzare for certain.

Also, you're talking about a game where you buy things with fame. I'd like a shuttle please! Sorry, you're not famous enough, go out and blow up a farengi.

A game would SUCK if they focused on realism. Refits can mean the difference in a game like SFC3, so its strategically important.

New playable races might be nice, but it would be very hard not to just copy sfc2, and to make the races unique.

Every race in SFC has different primaries and heavies from the other races. The dominion they could do with Polaron Beams for primaries and Some sort of 2.5 round 17 damage torpedo, but remember, you NEED to maintain a difference between races.

I found that on SFC2 many races were too similar in the way they flew. This is not so in SFC. Each race is VERY different. Veteran federation players come to try romulan, and they suck at first. Same the other way. The last thing I'd want to see is more races added that are just slightly-different feds, or romulans, or klingons. The gorn flew like romulans who chose not to cloak. They had all the same weapons, and they felt the same. The last thing I want to see is a hasty addition of a fifth race exactly like the other 4.

Alexander

BOTAKnightsCO · « **Reply #17 on:** June 13, 2003, 02:02:57 am »

Anyone seen the Mirak? LOL

BKI

Sorok · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2003, 07:22:51 am »

To follow up on the customization issue...... If SFC3 doesn't allow you to perform these "drastic refits", then what you have is a more strategic version of online Bridge Commander, where nobody resepects the small ships. Hell, nobody even respects the big ships(AKA Neb and Galaxy). Now, I'm not gonna try to fool anybody into thinking that I've been playing SFC since its first release. The truth is, that I was new to the SFC series when I first picked up my copy last November. But, as a BC veteran, THE SINGLE FEATURE WHICH I MOST APPRECIATED ABOUT THIS GAME WAS THE SHIP CUSTOMIZATION. The ship customization really helped me develop an appreciation for all of the vessels in the game including an appreciation for some of the smaller ships. I mean, for example, if BC had included an Intrepid in the game, it would have been cool for what....about 10 minutes. Then, after getting pounded online by every sov and Heavy in the game, people would dump that Intrepid faster than you could say Seven has nice nockers. But thats not the case in SFC3. In SFC3 Sure, we ALL agree that SFC3 has some balance issues yet to be resolved. These balance debates will continue endlessly as long as people are partial to a certain race. But the ship customization factor allows you to have more prolongued fun with all the ship models, and as Alexander intelligently noted, it also adds a strategic depth to this game that kicks butt on any other non-SFC Star Trek title.

Realism? Well, IMO realism and believeability are two seperate things. I mean Star Trek by nature is not realistic. It's science fiction. The possibility of warp speed may be just as unrealistic as 5 minute refits. But issues such as various trek technology that will most likely never happen are typically pushed out of mind for the sake of theatrics. And, in general, we the viewers are willing to forget about some unrealistic things because we love the special effects, focus on the story, or whatever other reason you may have. Having said that, games are the same. If SFC3 was "realistic" then I'd be dead from the first time Sun crushed my puny little sabre with his sphere prime. My officers would have mutinized my ship a thousand times over for taking them on reckless missions into the neutral zone, and I would be kicked out of the federation for repeatedly disobeying the Starfleet charter and the prime directive. In other words you can have total realism, or you can have some fun. SFC3 is a strategy game, not a sim. If you want realism, then I'd wait for "The Sims Online: 2372".

korus · « **Reply #20 on:** June 13, 2003, 09:42:28 am »

The other thing I'd still like to see is the Doomsday Machine... C'mon Taldren.... Monsters... I miss the boulder chucking plasma.... Or the bird of Bethke... Man that thing would give a Borg Cube trouble... Now a variety of Missions would do the D3 a world of good. How about the Diplomat delivery mission on the D3? One side delivering the diplomat, the other trying to take him out... The shipyard assault where ships in drydock become active when enemy ships show up.. But this time have CA's and DN's in the shipyard... And finally for those people who love to Alt... Since they don't want to leave the map, how about a worm hole to escape from? Which sends them across the map... Anyway some more random ideas.... Ciao..

Korus

Captain KoraH · « **Reply #21 on:** June 13, 2003, 12:30:46 pm »

As the administrator of the most popular SFC3 Dynaverse server on the planet, here are my opinions:

Stuff that needs to be implimented:

1. New weapons. If we can't add new weapons, then we could essentially do the same thing if we could just change the NAME of the weapons already in the game...

2. New races. Again, Even if we couldn't add more new playable races to the game, which WOULD be possible with some help from Taldren, if we could at least change the NAMES of the current races, we could achieve something almost as good.

The more minor things start here:

3. Gimme graphics for the starbase weapon arcs! If you don't want to take the time, then at least make them use one of the current similar arc graphics so people could use them in mods and players would see what direction their weapons shoot...

4. T-Bombs

5. Armor indicator

6. Make the Eras work again.

If Taldren would just allow me access to the right parts of the game code to accomplish these things, I would do this all for them, and I'd do it for free just because I love the game. I'd be releasing mods to the public that would make SFC3 like Counterstrike was for Half-Life. People would be reading about SFC3 mods in game magazines and they would be going out and buying more copies of the game. If they would only let me...

NannerSlug · « **Reply #22 on:** June 13, 2003, 03:09:53 pm »

well said korah! i agree with you 100%!

Mr. Hypergol · « **Reply #23 on:** June 13, 2003, 03:46:50 pm »

It's funny how different opinions can be. Alexander thinks realism would make SFC3 suck....I think it sucks for the exact opposite reason.

Let me explain what I mean by realism. One of the differences between the genres of science fiction and fantasy IS the element of realism. Science fiction is about the world of the future. A science fiction world usually is created by looking at the world as it is today and then extropolating the future over a given amount of time from a known starting state. The new sci-fi world is still governed by the same physical laws that we are but advances in knowledge have created more ways to use these laws for the greater good (or bad). So even sci-fi should have an element of realism and limits to it. That's not the case in a fantasy world where nothing is governed by the rules of nature and magic rules the day.

As an space systems engineer in real life I don't see Star Trek as total fantasy, but more of a goal for mankind to work toward. For me, Star Trek is literally a possible vision of our distant future. It's something we can achieve given enough time and science advances. I don't see genres like Tolkien or even Star Wars the same way, although a Mechwarrior or Blade Runner type future is also possible. Yes there are some aspects of Star Trek that are probably unlikely...like humanoid aliens for example, but the technology of starships and faster-than-light space travel in particular are things that we should definately work hard to achieve.

This is how I see Star Trek and why the full customization thing had me rolling my eyes. Even 200 years from now it's going to take a while to build or refit ships. Ignoring this fact just detracts from the game for me. I much prefer the SFC1 and 2 refit systems where you have many more ship classes and many defined varients. Full customization also make it hopeless to expect SFC3 to ever be balanced.

NannerSlug · « **Reply #24 on:** June 13, 2003, 04:02:47 pm »

hence, hyper, my suggestion of giving the server admin control over whether things can be purchased or refitted. in my book, it is always best to develop somthing that gives people options rather than limiting it.

also hyper, balance is purely subjective to those who are judging it - and need to be taken with a grain of salt.

Mr. Hypergol · « **Reply #25 on:** June 13, 2003, 05:30:29 pm »

Nanner, I liked your ideas along with Korah's. Especially the T-bomb suggestion.

I also liked your OOB suggestion. This is probably the area SFC is suffering the most. The game needs a system to control the numbers of each ship class available and the numbers of varients. It would be nice if production capacities and an economic system could be added.

I would welcome the option to turn off full customization or just give the server admin the ability to tailor the level of customization allowed.

I'm not totally against customization, I just want it to have tighter limits than we currently see in SFC3.

Good suggestions though.

NannerSlug · « **Reply #26 on:** June 13, 2003, 06:13:22 pm »

ive been doing some serious thinking. this (sfc3) is closer to delievering some people's promised land than they think. there simply need to be a few options made available to the modding community.. while probably not going to happen in a "patch" because of the work/money required to do some of the more, shall we say, time intensive coding and art - it could all be done in an expansion pack which resembles the TNZ/DW mod (that expansion pack would pay for the release of an SDK which would give the community tools to develop the GaW they want - while allow others to create completely new mods.. much like Counter-strike did for half life).

in a nut shell.. the sfc3 expansion pack would pay for what is needed to bring everyone under 1 big tent again. some of the ideas, though, which are expressed here i think could be done in a patch (like the shipyard/first year release date, limiting customization server option and arc artwork).

and yes, i want t-bombs back.

MarianoDT · « **Reply #27 on:** June 13, 2003, 07:09:49 pm »

I hope TALDREN is still taking a look at the Forums.
I´d be nice just to know they are aware of ours thoughts....
And I vote for more weapons, a lot more.

Mariano

Mr. Hypergol · « **Reply #28 on:** June 13, 2003, 09:19:58 pm »

I still have hope that someday Taldren will make the source code for SFC2 and 3 available (I see there is a pettition for this that just got posted) and a team of talented volunteers can upgrade SFC into "Galaxies at War". As an example, look at what is being done with the Myth series of games: www.mythdev.com. Those folks are as dedicated as it gets, and SFC fans are just the same sort of rabid.

There are actually several things I would like to see:

1) A Star Fleet Battles total conversion. And I don't mean a half ass conversion either.....we're talking detail, detail, detail. I'd like to see other SFB features that would translate well to realtime added to the game like plasma bolts for example. This version of the game would strive for the SFB accuracy we zeolots want so bad....down to the ship classes, models, weapons, and systems. We'd have Tholians and Andros too. I guess this is what I think of when I say the words "Galaxies at War".

2) An all eras game. A game that encompasses everything from the Earth Romulan War to Nemesis. Race, ship, and tech availability and the map configuration would be determined by specific year of play (not just broad eras) selected. We could play out the great wars in Trek history in dynaverse camapigns or just fight famous individual battles in skirmish. The online dyna could also be used to simulate great wars. We would use Trek canon maps that were modified to add in the races like Hydrans and Lyrans in earlier Pre-TOS and TOS eras. The theme of this game would be: Experience the history and grandure of Trek. Call it Star Fleet Command: Total War.

Well there are 2 of my pipe dreams....I can't believe I still write these long posts on this stuff.

Alexander1701 · « **Reply #29 on:** June 14, 2003, 12:45:50 am »

Why stop there?

With our modding community, we can go straight to the 29th centure and the USS Premonition.

Alexander

NannerSlug · « **Reply #30 on:** June 14, 2003, 01:11:59 am »

hyper.. in a nut shell it sounds like to me what needs to happen is that there needs to be some sort of SDK developed either post patch or in an expansion pack which would pay for it - to allow those who want to make an sfb conversion for sfc3. if that were the case - would you buy it? (the expansion pack)

my feelings and thoughts have brought me to this conclusion: GaW does not have the market base to support 5-10 million investment in game production. an sfc3 domion war expansion MIGHT - and included in that expansion is somthing like bungie did with marathon in marathon infinity.. they basically gave the community all the tools they needed to convert the game into many, many mods out there.. in this case, taldren could release tools and what not which would allow those who are wanting Galaxies at war badly the opportunity to do just that.

of course the nice thing on top of that is that everyone would win.. (i am hoping that we see some options patched into sfc3 like releasing ships during certain years, restriction of refitting and user interfact art for new arcs)

did i forget t-bombs?

FireSoul · « **Reply #31 on:** June 14, 2003, 01:19:34 am »

I'm actually in for a more-complete SFB conversion myself..
.. and the wishlist of things I'd like to see in it is so extensive, I could write a full blown manual. Let's not get TOO much into asking me what i mean. There are many many good ideas.

..
.. but for things you guys might not have thought about? Let me seed this following idea:

Make *2* APIs. 1 for missions, and 1 for the AI behaviour. The AI scripts could then be placed in a directory of its own, and be selected from the shiplist. To change the AI behaviour, a player would select from within the game which behaviour to use.
.. in other words.. Think of the AI Behavior selection ability in Baldur's gate.

For example, possible DEFAULT behaviours that would come with the game..
- Saber Dancer
- knife fighter
- Carrier, defensive
- carrier, offensive
- escort, defensive
- escort, offensive
- heavy hitter (Overloads?)
- Plasma ballet
- etc

What do you think? This is probably one of my better ideas that is *NOT* SFB, but could be used within SFC. Please remember that I am very pro-SFB, but I enjoy the real-time aspect of SFC itself.

VelvetAcidChrist · « **Reply #33 on:** June 15, 2003, 10:46:13 am »

eaw races similar playin style and u compare rom with gorn and call it "similar way"........gorns have about 30% more ph1 s,3 or 4 shuttle bays and a very decent hull.as gorn u can do MUCH more offensive than a rom could - since most run of plasma and as always....ph1 s win the game not plasma 8)
@ writinit......MiRaK in sfc3 d been awsome just imagine -straight anf clean......swift death 8)
to fly mirak reqires most skill since its a mixture of plasma/drone tactic due the reliability of drones.
fed is just boring like hell,no good fed will loose vs a plasmachucker - but possibly vs a "ppd" cheezer,then the proxy and 15.99 tactic will not work 8)

NannerSlug · « **Reply #35 on:** June 16, 2003, 07:18:22 pm »

exactly korah.. they just need the right tools.

Alexander1701 · « **Reply #37 on:** June 16, 2003, 08:07:37 pm »

Har Har, toasty0. Campaigns spanning generations was TALDREN'S idea, why not run into the future? What with Enterprise having the Temporal Cold War, it might be cool to run from 2100-2900.

If you're having trouble controlling your bladder, I'm sure its not humour, but amazement. It'd be like Empire Earth, but with the SFC engine!

Alexander

IKV K'Boom · « **Reply #38 on:** June 17, 2003, 10:06:04 am »

Well, then. Let's see what I'd lke (as if anyone cared...)

The Dominion!
The Cardassians!
The Ferengi playable
MONSTERS!!!

Miranda, Constellation, Valdores and STEAMRUNNER classes, as well as the romulan Scout nd Science ships from TNG. Oberth class. Soyuz.
I know i can get all those as mods or sumthn, but anyway.

MONSTERS!!!

A better version of phaser rings (yes, that's difficult, but this is what I WANT, not what I EXPECT)

Oh, and plasma torps more like seen in TNG (basically green photon torpedoes) and ... that would be cute: a switch to toggle between pulse and beam disruptors resulting in slightly different characteristics of the weapon.

did i mention monsters?

korus · « **Reply #39 on:** June 18, 2003, 12:46:09 pm »

Bumping one last time... Taldren folks? Any ideas if this is in the works or are we just smoking corbomite? Good ideas? Nay?

Korus

NannerSlug · « **Reply #41 on:** June 18, 2003, 03:02:05 pm »

therein lies the issue DM - especially regarding a patch.. this is solely my opinion - but i think that a lack of a demo hurt as well.. i mean, would you pay for a game you didnt get to try? just my opinion.

on a more postitive note.. i think it would be great to see mass restriction on each hard point.. his would add a lot more flavor for each ship.. as a pose to just lumping the mass into 1 large area -if each hard point had a restriction of mass (at very least to the engines) - it would allow things to be balanced more.. and for each ship's flavor to come out more.

LordDred · « **Reply #42 on:** June 18, 2003, 03:30:03 pm »

Korus,
Excellent ideas, keep the heat on!!!

Lord Dred
aka caveman

korus · « **Reply #43 on:** June 12, 2003, 09:53:01 am »

I know there's isn't a chance of one being done so maybe this could be a patch or something? Here is my own wishlist for the game mind you here goes:
To the Feds

1. Any chance of the Miranda Class being brought back ? Or the promethus? These are cool designs and I'd like to see them back someday.

2. Runabouts. They could replace shuttles and give them some firepower. Would be nice to send them to attack and actually do that for a change... Suicide mines? I'd like to see them be the new suicide runabout.

3. Weapons: This will be the hard part but here goes... Port over the Feds Heavy phasers and Heavy Photon torpedoes. Or create a new class of them. Since the Feds don't have a special weapon, it would give the feds some punch. These would cost a bit much, but there would be two flavors of phasers.

For the Klingons

1. Ship wise the BK-11 or something to act as a BB. Cost half as much as a Cube. The klinks and most races needs their own BB to compete with the Borg.

2. Shuttles Ditto. All shuttles need to be beefed up a bit.

3. Weapons: Can we make the Polorons set to proxy? It seems to be a 50-50 hit or miss. And why can't they volley? Heavy Dizzys for them too. Take away the Klingon Torp and replace it with a special weapon.

4. Cloak For both the roms and klinks should beefed up.

Annnd Romulans

1. The Valdore.... Sweet ship design. Shuttles Ditto

2. The beta patch fixes most of what needs to be done.

3, Weapons Bring back X- plasma or S plasma to boot. They should be seeking weapons with a limited range and punch. Add holding cost. Is the WarBird a DN or BB? Would the scimitar constitute as a BB? Again cost that of half a cube.

Borg

1. Two types of Cubes First how about a "Light" version of the cube half its size and firepower. Maybe cost 100k? And its savage twin the tactical cube. It could be a Sphere prime replacement. That should cost 250k. Shuttles? Ditto...

2. Weapons: Up the gravametiic torps to something better. It seems they never hit or do much damage. Now the next everyone will balk at, but hear me out: Borg powerup or call it heavy weaponry. Give the borg Adaptive technology. The energy cost is high, and can be fired a maximum of twice that makes all enemy weapons ineffective for about 15 seconds. That's been a cornerstone of Borg Technology. Again to balance this against all races they should have heavy weapons. Again there would be degrees of this weapons Light, Medium and Heavy. How about a slider for armor regen? more you up it the faster armor would regen? At the cost of your cutting beams? Just an idea.

Cardassian Union

Taldren didn't have time to make them a playable race so let them finish the job. Gathering from "TNG" sources The Cardassians were pretty much equals in tech and weaponry.

Hydran Hegemony
Port over one race from SFC 2 giving them TNG weapons. C'mon... Hellbores and fusion beams....

This is my own little wishlist... Thoughts?

Korus

Praxis · « **Reply #44 on:** June 12, 2003, 11:21:50 am »

I think that the Hydrans probably eventually joined the Federation...they were too friendly with each other. However, Taldren should port over at least one SFC2 race...
Also, how about adding the Dominion?

Most importantly:

The #1 biggest problem in SFC3 is the utter lack of variety. You have one FF, one CL, one CA, one BC, one DN, and one BB for each race. We need more ships! We've seen the Miranda class in DS9 during several battles, why not add her? And each race should have one ultra expensive ship to match the Borg Cube- its unfair that the Borg can get such big ships. It takes three players with Sovs to kill one player with a cube, and if TWO players with cubes team together...uh oh. Excalibur class for the Feds, I'd say, and Scimitar for Roms...not sure for Klingons.

Also, I agree Adaptation for Borg should be implemented- heres my ideas for that.

Firstly, if the Borg get adaptation, they should have weaker hulls- they're too uber as it is.

For adaptation, make it a special weapon with a high energy cost, and when activated, the NEXT WEAPON to hit the Borg Ship will be adapted to for ten seconds or so. But only one weapon type at a time may be adapted to, so ships with multiple weapons systems will whoop the Borg's rear. For example, phaser boats, the Borg adapt to the first phaser impact in a volley and whammo, the rest of the volley is ineffective. Same for torpedo boats. But if a ship has torpedoes, phasers, and pulse phasers, the Borg will adapt to the first one to hit- probably the phaser- and the rest will impact. But the borg should have much weaker hulls to compensate for the advantage of this.

MarianoDT · « **Reply #45 on:** June 12, 2003, 01:20:39 pm »

I agree whit this.

NOW seems the perfect time for an ADD-ON as the game it´s becoming a little boring....(it is just my opinion)

As far as the more ships is concerned, we already can add more ships manually or with mods. But the main thing is the lack of what was asked since the first time: Flavor. I mean more races, more weapons, more options and more systems.

Anythig of this is wellcome.

Taldren, please!!!
Taldren, please!!!
Taldren, please!!!
Taldren, please!!!
Taldren, please!!!

Mariano

Sorok · « **Reply #46 on:** June 12, 2003, 02:14:34 pm »

Great ideas, but you weren't kidding when you called it a wish list. If the *couch cough* *ahem* BETA PATCH *ahem* *cough cough* was any indication of the turnaround time for SFC3 tweaks, then by the time you get your wish, you'll most likely be able to go for a ride on a REAL Prometheus-class ship.

Alexander1701 · « **Reply #47 on:** June 12, 2003, 02:57:02 pm »

Go download a Mod. TNZ has all of this stuff, and DW has a new, revamped refit system, plus a lot of this stuff.

www.battleclinic.com
TNZ mod

www.pwfe.com/domwars
DW Mod

Alexander1701 · « **Reply #49 on:** June 12, 2003, 03:02:41 pm »

What??

The refit system is the best! It allows for actually STRATEGY as well as tactics! You can try new things, and make innovative ship designs!

Here's an example

Take an intrepid.

Load every phaser arc you can with ph9+, and get thrusters at the highest level you can. Nice mizra striker.
Fill up with quantums, and put in ph11 in a few slots front and back.
Ph 10 left and right, 1 tachyon fore, 1 aft. 2 quantums. High power impulse. Hang back at range 40, prevent them from warping, and wittle them down with proxies.

3 VERY different ships in the same hull class.

Alexander

Alidar Jarok · « **Reply #50 on:** June 12, 2003, 03:12:15 pm »

Here is my thoughts

First off, add the Cardassians, Dominion, and Ferengi as playable races

Give the Breen ship to the Dominion

Give them Polaron Torps, Myo Beams, and Polaron Beams (Primary weapon with the damage of Phasers, rate of RomDisruptors, and 15% chance of shield penetration

Give the Cardassians KlingonDizzies, Probably Plasma, and a Plasma Wave (ESG, Voyager episode "Dreadnought')
They should also have slow speed, poor turning, bbut good hull

The Ferengi should have KDisruptors and KPhotons. In addition they should have missiles (Drones

)
They will be a lot more balanced. 6 damage (less when there is more AV), seeking, speeds 20, 40, and 60. Requires a heavy hard-point for a missile launcher. The faster load launchers require more mass. No scatterpack, but one missile per hard-point (Marauder should have 4 hard-points)

Add: Valdore, miranda, and some Klink and Borg ships.

Add: Fighters and PFs. Each level has a higher mass hold (shuttles have a mass of 1, Fighter Squadrens have 4, PFs have 8) Basic: 2 Medium: 4 Large: 8 Advanced: 12 Station: 20

Runabouts would be the Fed PF, Perrigrine would be their fighter
Roms have Scorpians and an advanced "Cloaking" Shuttle
Borg will be different
Shuttles take up lots of mass and more than a basic will slow down your ship considerably

I could think of more, but this will do

Mr. Hypergol · « **Reply #52 on:** June 12, 2003, 03:27:52 pm »

I understand the arguments FOR full customization, but they make sense to me only when we are willing to ignore realism for fun. I think it also makes game balance impossible.

I don't have anything against customization in games in general as long as it's a strictly controlled process. As a matter of fact it's one of my favorite features in another of the games I play a lot.....Mechwarrior. But, SFC3's system of full customization is "out of control" in my opinion.

For Star Trek I don't like "full" customization because it just doesn't fit the genre (except for the pirate races where I can except "full" customization)....i.e. a military starfleet governed by regulations and standardization. A refit schedule is a very controlled system and something decided at a much higher level than captain. It takes months to refit massive starships....these aren't small vehicles like Mechs are. You just would not be able to make major overhauls of ship systems between missions like you do in SFC3......I'm sorry but this just makes no sense to me as an engineer in real life. I can see this happening for small vehicles like Mechs in Mechwarrior where supplies are based on SALVAGE and the mechs were designed with omni-mounts where various systems can be mounted quickly.........but it's an entirely different story with massive starships in fleetdock located in the vacuum of space.IMHO

I know many people disagree with me on this, but I find that their arguments only make sense if you are willing to ignore realism in favor of fun. For me though, my gaming fun is enhanced by a sense of realism in the games I play. SFC3 fell short in this area for me. SFC2's system was "right on" with this aspect to me.

Tulmahk · « **Reply #54 on:** June 12, 2003, 05:20:16 pm »

I'd like to read your post, but due to the fact it's written in bright yellow, I can't see it. Any chance of a more retina friendly color?

DONOTDELETE · « **Reply #56 on:** June 12, 2003, 06:54:49 pm »

Damn...I thought this was a Galaxies at War thread.....

Bummer

Magnum357 · « **Reply #57 on:** June 12, 2003, 07:02:08 pm »

I agree with Mr. Hypergol about the ship customization in SFC3. Although the system is fun to play around with and is great going head to head with friends in skirmish mode, its very unrealistic. Like Hypergol said, refiting ships takes months. Even if the vessels where made Modular (like the Pirate ships in SFC: OP) it would still take weeks and an expensive process to contantly interchange components all the time. SFC2 was more realistic where minor refits of ships was small. Also, the ship customization in SFC2 was much less complicated then in SFC3. You could add a lot of ships to SFC2 and easily edit things in one file.

On the other hand, SFC2 is based on SFB where ship designs and history where much more organized then in Star Trek. Heck, some of the crap that SFC3 is based on is some Web stuff that isn't even Cannon. I'll give Taldren credit that they did as best as they could with the inconstant world of Star Trek Universe. One feature that was neat in SFC3 was the customization of Weapon systesms in outside files. I think the next version of SFC (if their is one) needs to expand this part a bit. Like for example, more weapons to customize would be neat and choosing more abilities of those weapons would be a plus.

NannerSlug · « **Reply #58 on:** June 12, 2003, 07:46:46 pm »

i will make a longer list later.. but to summerize a few important points. these could be done in a patch or patch(es) or even an expansion pack.

*change BACK to how the old tractors used to work.. or at very least - make it determined on the power available - not so much the transporter type.
*armor indicator.
*new arcs were given to starbases - UI art for this would be great and give modders a hay-day.
*repair-hull option. one of the main differences in sfc2/3 is that when you repair somthing, your hull goes back up. this does not happen in sfc3 - and needs to be done.
*t-bombs. no explanation needed.
**ships to be released by stardate. this feature would revolutionize sfc as its known. you could have a multiera campaign with TOS connies and TNG sovies.. more importantly, though, it adds a HUGE strategic factor for the on line campaigns.
**the ability for a server admin to turn OFF the customization function. okay, i love the ability to customize.. but not everyone does.. if this was done - in combination with the ability to release ships on a certain date - you have a very strategic campaign with an operating OOB (yes, in sfc3 if you kill an AI, it gets removed from the map).
**the ability to add/customize weapons in some way.. this would allow some of the sfb folk who want to have their range breaks and sfb type weapons the ability to do just that.
**sfb arcs. again, this is for the modding community who would want to use these things.

in a nut shell, after thinking things through for a while, i simple would like to see this place come together under a single game again. the only way this is going to happen is by taking the best engine (graphic and stability wise sfc3 is the clear winner) and add in ability to mod the game into what some want. of course the best role model for this is the counter-strike mod for half-life. there are others though.

i have other thoughts, but for now this is a starting place.. i personally believe that even if we could only have 1 or two things - i would ask for more arcs and the ability to release ships on a certain date.. those two items would revolutionize the game and modding for it - giving everyone SOMTHING.. in fact, if taldren couldnt give us the option to mod in weapons - why couldnt they just "reactivate" some of the older weapons code.. modders could use them at their descretion. i might be wrong, but it seems that much of the older artwork is still in the sfc3 game.. so i suspect some of the code is there as well.

just my thoughts.

Alexander1701 · « **Reply #59 on:** June 12, 2003, 11:19:10 pm »

k, two things.

1 - the DW refit system has every system in the game set up at various levels, so as f-armor 1 has something like 50 points, 2 has 100, ect, but the feds have access to other races armor, and everyone starts with midrange armor, so there are essentially 20 armors. It's like this for every system. It's sweet beyond all reason in customization.

2 - you can't expect temporal realism in a game. A campaign to rule the galaxy takes 2 weeks on the TNZ. By then, most players have gotten destroyed a few times, promoted from ensign to at least captain, and most are in CAs and higher. This is not true of any military.

MAYBE these events could occur in 40 years, so multiply all times by 100. It's still not a long time in terms of refits for 10 hours (6 minutes gametime), but its less bizzare for certain.

Also, you're talking about a game where you buy things with fame. I'd like a shuttle please! Sorry, you're not famous enough, go out and blow up a farengi.

A game would SUCK if they focused on realism. Refits can mean the difference in a game like SFC3, so its strategically important.

New playable races might be nice, but it would be very hard not to just copy sfc2, and to make the races unique.

Every race in SFC has different primaries and heavies from the other races. The dominion they could do with Polaron Beams for primaries and Some sort of 2.5 round 17 damage torpedo, but remember, you NEED to maintain a difference between races.

I found that on SFC2 many races were too similar in the way they flew. This is not so in SFC. Each race is VERY different. Veteran federation players come to try romulan, and they suck at first. Same the other way. The last thing I'd want to see is more races added that are just slightly-different feds, or romulans, or klingons. The gorn flew like romulans who chose not to cloak. They had all the same weapons, and they felt the same. The last thing I want to see is a hasty addition of a fifth race exactly like the other 4.

Alexander

BOTAKnightsCO · « **Reply #60 on:** June 13, 2003, 02:02:57 am »

Anyone seen the Mirak? LOL

BKI

Sorok · « **Reply #62 on:** June 13, 2003, 07:22:51 am »

To follow up on the customization issue...... If SFC3 doesn't allow you to perform these "drastic refits", then what you have is a more strategic version of online Bridge Commander, where nobody resepects the small ships. Hell, nobody even respects the big ships(AKA Neb and Galaxy). Now, I'm not gonna try to fool anybody into thinking that I've been playing SFC since its first release. The truth is, that I was new to the SFC series when I first picked up my copy last November. But, as a BC veteran, THE SINGLE FEATURE WHICH I MOST APPRECIATED ABOUT THIS GAME WAS THE SHIP CUSTOMIZATION. The ship customization really helped me develop an appreciation for all of the vessels in the game including an appreciation for some of the smaller ships. I mean, for example, if BC had included an Intrepid in the game, it would have been cool for what....about 10 minutes. Then, after getting pounded online by every sov and Heavy in the game, people would dump that Intrepid faster than you could say Seven has nice nockers. But thats not the case in SFC3. In SFC3 Sure, we ALL agree that SFC3 has some balance issues yet to be resolved. These balance debates will continue endlessly as long as people are partial to a certain race. But the ship customization factor allows you to have more prolongued fun with all the ship models, and as Alexander intelligently noted, it also adds a strategic depth to this game that kicks butt on any other non-SFC Star Trek title.

Realism? Well, IMO realism and believeability are two seperate things. I mean Star Trek by nature is not realistic. It's science fiction. The possibility of warp speed may be just as unrealistic as 5 minute refits. But issues such as various trek technology that will most likely never happen are typically pushed out of mind for the sake of theatrics. And, in general, we the viewers are willing to forget about some unrealistic things because we love the special effects, focus on the story, or whatever other reason you may have. Having said that, games are the same. If SFC3 was "realistic" then I'd be dead from the first time Sun crushed my puny little sabre with his sphere prime. My officers would have mutinized my ship a thousand times over for taking them on reckless missions into the neutral zone, and I would be kicked out of the federation for repeatedly disobeying the Starfleet charter and the prime directive. In other words you can have total realism, or you can have some fun. SFC3 is a strategy game, not a sim. If you want realism, then I'd wait for "The Sims Online: 2372".

korus · « **Reply #63 on:** June 13, 2003, 09:42:28 am »

The other thing I'd still like to see is the Doomsday Machine... C'mon Taldren.... Monsters... I miss the boulder chucking plasma.... Or the bird of Bethke... Man that thing would give a Borg Cube trouble... Now a variety of Missions would do the D3 a world of good. How about the Diplomat delivery mission on the D3? One side delivering the diplomat, the other trying to take him out... The shipyard assault where ships in drydock become active when enemy ships show up.. But this time have CA's and DN's in the shipyard... And finally for those people who love to Alt... Since they don't want to leave the map, how about a worm hole to escape from? Which sends them across the map... Anyway some more random ideas.... Ciao..

Korus

Captain KoraH · « **Reply #64 on:** June 13, 2003, 12:30:46 pm »

As the administrator of the most popular SFC3 Dynaverse server on the planet, here are my opinions:

Stuff that needs to be implimented:

1. New weapons. If we can't add new weapons, then we could essentially do the same thing if we could just change the NAME of the weapons already in the game...

2. New races. Again, Even if we couldn't add more new playable races to the game, which WOULD be possible with some help from Taldren, if we could at least change the NAMES of the current races, we could achieve something almost as good.

The more minor things start here:

3. Gimme graphics for the starbase weapon arcs! If you don't want to take the time, then at least make them use one of the current similar arc graphics so people could use them in mods and players would see what direction their weapons shoot...

4. T-Bombs

5. Armor indicator

6. Make the Eras work again.

If Taldren would just allow me access to the right parts of the game code to accomplish these things, I would do this all for them, and I'd do it for free just because I love the game. I'd be releasing mods to the public that would make SFC3 like Counterstrike was for Half-Life. People would be reading about SFC3 mods in game magazines and they would be going out and buying more copies of the game. If they would only let me...

NannerSlug · « **Reply #65 on:** June 13, 2003, 03:09:53 pm »

well said korah! i agree with you 100%!

Mr. Hypergol · « **Reply #66 on:** June 13, 2003, 03:46:50 pm »

It's funny how different opinions can be. Alexander thinks realism would make SFC3 suck....I think it sucks for the exact opposite reason.

Let me explain what I mean by realism. One of the differences between the genres of science fiction and fantasy IS the element of realism. Science fiction is about the world of the future. A science fiction world usually is created by looking at the world as it is today and then extropolating the future over a given amount of time from a known starting state. The new sci-fi world is still governed by the same physical laws that we are but advances in knowledge have created more ways to use these laws for the greater good (or bad). So even sci-fi should have an element of realism and limits to it. That's not the case in a fantasy world where nothing is governed by the rules of nature and magic rules the day.

As an space systems engineer in real life I don't see Star Trek as total fantasy, but more of a goal for mankind to work toward. For me, Star Trek is literally a possible vision of our distant future. It's something we can achieve given enough time and science advances. I don't see genres like Tolkien or even Star Wars the same way, although a Mechwarrior or Blade Runner type future is also possible. Yes there are some aspects of Star Trek that are probably unlikely...like humanoid aliens for example, but the technology of starships and faster-than-light space travel in particular are things that we should definately work hard to achieve.

This is how I see Star Trek and why the full customization thing had me rolling my eyes. Even 200 years from now it's going to take a while to build or refit ships. Ignoring this fact just detracts from the game for me. I much prefer the SFC1 and 2 refit systems where you have many more ship classes and many defined varients. Full customization also make it hopeless to expect SFC3 to ever be balanced.

NannerSlug · « **Reply #67 on:** June 13, 2003, 04:02:47 pm »

hence, hyper, my suggestion of giving the server admin control over whether things can be purchased or refitted. in my book, it is always best to develop somthing that gives people options rather than limiting it.

also hyper, balance is purely subjective to those who are judging it - and need to be taken with a grain of salt.

Mr. Hypergol · « **Reply #68 on:** June 13, 2003, 05:30:29 pm »

Nanner, I liked your ideas along with Korah's. Especially the T-bomb suggestion.

I also liked your OOB suggestion. This is probably the area SFC is suffering the most. The game needs a system to control the numbers of each ship class available and the numbers of varients. It would be nice if production capacities and an economic system could be added.

I would welcome the option to turn off full customization or just give the server admin the ability to tailor the level of customization allowed.

I'm not totally against customization, I just want it to have tighter limits than we currently see in SFC3.

Good suggestions though.

NannerSlug · « **Reply #69 on:** June 13, 2003, 06:13:22 pm »

ive been doing some serious thinking. this (sfc3) is closer to delievering some people's promised land than they think. there simply need to be a few options made available to the modding community.. while probably not going to happen in a "patch" because of the work/money required to do some of the more, shall we say, time intensive coding and art - it could all be done in an expansion pack which resembles the TNZ/DW mod (that expansion pack would pay for the release of an SDK which would give the community tools to develop the GaW they want - while allow others to create completely new mods.. much like Counter-strike did for half life).

in a nut shell.. the sfc3 expansion pack would pay for what is needed to bring everyone under 1 big tent again. some of the ideas, though, which are expressed here i think could be done in a patch (like the shipyard/first year release date, limiting customization server option and arc artwork).

and yes, i want t-bombs back.

MarianoDT · « **Reply #70 on:** June 13, 2003, 07:09:49 pm »

I hope TALDREN is still taking a look at the Forums.
I´d be nice just to know they are aware of ours thoughts....
And I vote for more weapons, a lot more.

Mariano

Mr. Hypergol · « **Reply #71 on:** June 13, 2003, 09:19:58 pm »

I still have hope that someday Taldren will make the source code for SFC2 and 3 available (I see there is a pettition for this that just got posted) and a team of talented volunteers can upgrade SFC into "Galaxies at War". As an example, look at what is being done with the Myth series of games: www.mythdev.com. Those folks are as dedicated as it gets, and SFC fans are just the same sort of rabid.

There are actually several things I would like to see:

1) A Star Fleet Battles total conversion. And I don't mean a half ass conversion either.....we're talking detail, detail, detail. I'd like to see other SFB features that would translate well to realtime added to the game like plasma bolts for example. This version of the game would strive for the SFB accuracy we zeolots want so bad....down to the ship classes, models, weapons, and systems. We'd have Tholians and Andros too. I guess this is what I think of when I say the words "Galaxies at War".

2) An all eras game. A game that encompasses everything from the Earth Romulan War to Nemesis. Race, ship, and tech availability and the map configuration would be determined by specific year of play (not just broad eras) selected. We could play out the great wars in Trek history in dynaverse camapigns or just fight famous individual battles in skirmish. The online dyna could also be used to simulate great wars. We would use Trek canon maps that were modified to add in the races like Hydrans and Lyrans in earlier Pre-TOS and TOS eras. The theme of this game would be: Experience the history and grandure of Trek. Call it Star Fleet Command: Total War.

Well there are 2 of my pipe dreams....I can't believe I still write these long posts on this stuff.

Alexander1701 · « **Reply #72 on:** June 14, 2003, 12:45:50 am »

Why stop there?

With our modding community, we can go straight to the 29th centure and the USS Premonition.

Alexander

NannerSlug · « **Reply #73 on:** June 14, 2003, 01:11:59 am »

hyper.. in a nut shell it sounds like to me what needs to happen is that there needs to be some sort of SDK developed either post patch or in an expansion pack which would pay for it - to allow those who want to make an sfb conversion for sfc3. if that were the case - would you buy it? (the expansion pack)

my feelings and thoughts have brought me to this conclusion: GaW does not have the market base to support 5-10 million investment in game production. an sfc3 domion war expansion MIGHT - and included in that expansion is somthing like bungie did with marathon in marathon infinity.. they basically gave the community all the tools they needed to convert the game into many, many mods out there.. in this case, taldren could release tools and what not which would allow those who are wanting Galaxies at war badly the opportunity to do just that.

of course the nice thing on top of that is that everyone would win.. (i am hoping that we see some options patched into sfc3 like releasing ships during certain years, restriction of refitting and user interfact art for new arcs)

did i forget t-bombs?

FireSoul · « **Reply #74 on:** June 14, 2003, 01:19:34 am »

I'm actually in for a more-complete SFB conversion myself..
.. and the wishlist of things I'd like to see in it is so extensive, I could write a full blown manual. Let's not get TOO much into asking me what i mean. There are many many good ideas.

..
.. but for things you guys might not have thought about? Let me seed this following idea:

Make *2* APIs. 1 for missions, and 1 for the AI behaviour. The AI scripts could then be placed in a directory of its own, and be selected from the shiplist. To change the AI behaviour, a player would select from within the game which behaviour to use.
.. in other words.. Think of the AI Behavior selection ability in Baldur's gate.

For example, possible DEFAULT behaviours that would come with the game..
- Saber Dancer
- knife fighter
- Carrier, defensive
- carrier, offensive
- escort, defensive
- escort, offensive
- heavy hitter (Overloads?)
- Plasma ballet
- etc

What do you think? This is probably one of my better ideas that is *NOT* SFB, but could be used within SFC. Please remember that I am very pro-SFB, but I enjoy the real-time aspect of SFC itself.

VelvetAcidChrist · « **Reply #76 on:** June 15, 2003, 10:46:13 am »

eaw races similar playin style and u compare rom with gorn and call it "similar way"........gorns have about 30% more ph1 s,3 or 4 shuttle bays and a very decent hull.as gorn u can do MUCH more offensive than a rom could - since most run of plasma and as always....ph1 s win the game not plasma 8)
@ writinit......MiRaK in sfc3 d been awsome just imagine -straight anf clean......swift death 8)
to fly mirak reqires most skill since its a mixture of plasma/drone tactic due the reliability of drones.
fed is just boring like hell,no good fed will loose vs a plasmachucker - but possibly vs a "ppd" cheezer,then the proxy and 15.99 tactic will not work 8)

NannerSlug · « **Reply #78 on:** June 16, 2003, 07:18:22 pm »

exactly korah.. they just need the right tools.

Alexander1701 · « **Reply #80 on:** June 16, 2003, 08:07:37 pm »

Har Har, toasty0. Campaigns spanning generations was TALDREN'S idea, why not run into the future? What with Enterprise having the Temporal Cold War, it might be cool to run from 2100-2900.

If you're having trouble controlling your bladder, I'm sure its not humour, but amazement. It'd be like Empire Earth, but with the SFC engine!

Alexander

IKV K'Boom · « **Reply #81 on:** June 17, 2003, 10:06:04 am »

Well, then. Let's see what I'd lke (as if anyone cared...)

The Dominion!
The Cardassians!
The Ferengi playable
MONSTERS!!!

Miranda, Constellation, Valdores and STEAMRUNNER classes, as well as the romulan Scout nd Science ships from TNG. Oberth class. Soyuz.
I know i can get all those as mods or sumthn, but anyway.

MONSTERS!!!

A better version of phaser rings (yes, that's difficult, but this is what I WANT, not what I EXPECT)

Oh, and plasma torps more like seen in TNG (basically green photon torpedoes) and ... that would be cute: a switch to toggle between pulse and beam disruptors resulting in slightly different characteristics of the weapon.

did i mention monsters?

korus · « **Reply #82 on:** June 18, 2003, 12:46:09 pm »

Bumping one last time... Taldren folks? Any ideas if this is in the works or are we just smoking corbomite? Good ideas? Nay?

Korus

NannerSlug · « **Reply #84 on:** June 18, 2003, 03:02:05 pm »

therein lies the issue DM - especially regarding a patch.. this is solely my opinion - but i think that a lack of a demo hurt as well.. i mean, would you pay for a game you didnt get to try? just my opinion.

on a more postitive note.. i think it would be great to see mass restriction on each hard point.. his would add a lot more flavor for each ship.. as a pose to just lumping the mass into 1 large area -if each hard point had a restriction of mass (at very least to the engines) - it would allow things to be balanced more.. and for each ship's flavor to come out more.

LordDred · « **Reply #85 on:** June 18, 2003, 03:30:03 pm »

Korus,
Excellent ideas, keep the heat on!!!

Lord Dred
aka caveman

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