Topic: Semi-SFB Strategy Game? (Now looking for Programmers) (Read 18814 times)

FoaS_XC · « **on:** March 29, 2009, 01:03:26 am »

I am now looking for programmers that are more talented than I am (which may not be very hard). I have found a viable, open source, engine (freeciv), but it needs some tweaking to get a more Trek feel. A post later in this tread outlines my ideas. Email me if you are interested :-)

Original Post

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Hey guys,

I've been beating this idea around in my head for a few years now, and I thought I'd share it - now that ideas for my little trek universe are coming together nicely.
How excited would you folks be to see a new strategy game based off of Star Trek? Now, I'll be the first to admit that I am no programmer, but I'd love to see one done right (oh yeah, I'm a snob, too :-P).

Now we all know about Armada and BotF, but what I'm talking about is something a bit bigger. I'm talking about a galactic-sized game - take control of the whole federation, or klingon empire. As I said, I'd love to make it Semi-SFB - let's add the SFB races to the mix, too: Lyrans, Hydrans and so on; Think Sid Meier's Civ in the Trek universe. (though, I imagine battles ought to be done a bit more detailed than they do in civ, lol). Complex research trees, and empire building - trade and economics.

Now, again, I'm no programmer and I hardly know any, that being said, I'm wondering what sort of reaction the community would have should something like this be put together. Please, share your thoughts.

~Rob

Tulwar · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2009, 08:13:56 am »

I've always liked the idea of an SFB Universe game based on Harpoon. The players would be allowed to edit formations, equip units, and that sort of thing. The default settings would be sensible. I wouldn't get involved with a technology tree, but the player should have some control over the order of battle. A lot of tactics would have to be programed into the AI's, and weapon effects would have to be altered to balance the game.

The main emphasis would be on over-all strategy. Players would have to position pickits, command scouts, position defencive fleets, and direct offensives. Economies would be handled automaticly. The player would merely be informed of what resources were needed.

FoaS_XC · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2009, 11:12:56 am »

Well, hows about we combine the two aspects? Let's make it a 4x game with a very well thought out combat system.

Nemesis · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2009, 11:30:47 am »

Quote from: Furyofaseraph on March 29, 2009, 11:12:56 am

Well, hows about we combine the two aspects? Let's make it a 4x game with a very well thought out combat system.

There is a mod (I have not tired it) for Galactic Civilizations II for a Star Trek theme. I would suspect that you could mod it to be more SFB like.

Link to Wiki on how to mod GalCiv II

FoaS_XC · « **Reply #4 on:** March 29, 2009, 11:38:57 am »

Quote from: Nemesis on March 29, 2009, 11:30:47 am

Quote from: Furyofaseraph on March 29, 2009, 11:12:56 am
Well, hows about we combine the two aspects? Let's make it a 4x game with a very well thought out combat system.

There is a mod (I have not tired it) for Galactic Civilizations II for a Star Trek theme. I would suspect that you could mod it to be more SFB like.

Link to Wiki on how to mod GalCiv II

I saw that. I've heard very mixed things about GalCiv II. The thing that I fear from GalCiv is its limited weapons systems. Its either Missiles or Lasers (which would do fine for a few SFB races, but kind of hangs the others).

I actually just found an open-source engine: Thousand Parsec. http://www.thousandparsec.net/tp/ They seem pretty serious.

Nemesis · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2009, 12:15:51 pm »

Quote from: Furyofaseraph on March 29, 2009, 11:38:57 am

I saw that. I've heard very mixed things about GalCiv II. The thing that I fear from GalCiv is its limited weapons systems. Its either Missiles or Lasers (which would do fine for a few SFB races, but kind of hangs the others).

Actually it has Energy Beam weapons, Particle Beam Weapons and Missiles.

Energy Beams (unmodded)
Lasers - Plasma - Phasors - Disruptors - Subspace blasters - Subspace Annihilators - Doom Ray

All 3 weapons types have similar progression through types. A difference though is how your defenses work. Shields are only half effective vs Particle weapons and missiles for example. All defenses are "leakey" in that some damage may get through even with inferior weapons attacking.

Obviously it isn't a perfect match. Barring writing a game from scratch I doubt that it can be. The current version does however allow for custom tech trees so you might be able to put in a tree for "Plasma Races", "Photon Races" and "Disruptor Races".

Tulwar · « **Reply #6 on:** March 29, 2009, 01:27:00 pm »

I actually have a copy of Galactic Civ II, but eats up too much time. I dare not load it on another computer. The Thousand Parsec looks much more promising for a ST mod. I would want to limit the scope, to make a game that would last a few hours. I'm not into long technology development scemes.

Nemesis · « **Reply #7 on:** March 29, 2009, 05:30:26 pm »

I just picked up the current version myself and am playing my 1st game on this edition. They seem to have adjusted the economy as well as the tech trees.

Lepton · « **Reply #8 on:** March 29, 2009, 06:37:27 pm »

There is also a Star Trek mod for Sins of a Solar Empire which is a 4x game.

FPF-Paladin · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2009, 11:50:21 pm »

I have both Sins of a Solar Empire and Gal Civ II (made by same people basically)

Gal Civ II is more a strategic game. The combat system is far simpler than Sins but that was to make the AI better able to play... and honestly I don't think I've seen a better AI, hands down. Sins is more tactical with a strategic layer, real time combat and empire building as opposed to GCII's turn based setup. However it's a little like comparing apples to oranges. I love them both, play whichever one I'm in the mood for most. I do find GCII is more epic feeling and has more depth in the long haul, but man Sins is quite an experience combat model wise.

Both have conversions, but keep in mind GCII is single player only... well there is a way around that to make it hot seat capable but that's another topic altogether.

A SFB based game similar to Harpoon would cause me to probably end up being listed VSA from lack of sleep.

Tulwar · « **Reply #10 on:** April 04, 2009, 09:41:41 pm »

Quote from: FPF-Paladin on April 01, 2009, 11:50:21 pm

A SFB based game similar to Harpoon would cause me to probably end up being listed VSA from lack of sleep.

I suddenly remember a couple of lost weekends.... May it's better that nobody does this.

FPF-DieHard · « **Reply #11 on:** April 06, 2009, 08:12:52 am »

The game that I could totally see myself loosing my life in would be F&E online.

marstone · « **Reply #12 on:** April 06, 2009, 09:14:59 am »

Quote from: FPF-DieHard on April 06, 2009, 08:12:52 am

The game that I could totally see myself loosing my life in would be F&E online.

I would agree with that. I have enjoyed F&E on a board, but a wind storm and an open window ended the general war quickly. Oh, if only it was online.

MrBad151 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 06, 2009, 11:44:20 pm »

Several friends and I spent most of a summer playing F&E. We would then play out any battle using SFB. I would love to see an online version of F&E myself.

marstone · « **Reply #14 on:** April 07, 2009, 12:26:56 am »

Quote from: MrBad151 on April 06, 2009, 11:44:20 pm

Several friends and I spent most of a summer playing F&E. We would then play out any battle using SFB. I would love to see an online version of F&E myself.

That was what I wanted to work towards (but friends moved away so no more SFB players here). An online version, with the option to dump the battles out would be good.

There is a few changes you would have to make to play online. What we were working on was to break the half year turns into one month turns, so movement wasnt tough to do with the possibility of reaction and reserve movement. Would have used movement orders and a status so you could track and follow enemy who enter your reaction zone.

Basicly have both sides plot movement and the computer runs it, if new enemy show up do a break so a reaction can be plotted. (didn't have all the details worked out yet). Our plan still had a human watching over to run movement as ordered.

Dash Jones · « **Reply #15 on:** April 08, 2009, 09:01:22 pm »

Quote from: Lepton on March 29, 2009, 06:37:27 pm

There is also a Star Trek mod for Sins of a Solar Empire which is a 4x game.

Could you give me a link to that?

Please?

FPF-Paladin · « **Reply #16 on:** April 08, 2009, 11:59:56 pm »

I'll try to dig up a current link for it... do you have the Sins expansion pack Entrenchment? I don't yet... I think they're updating the mod for it.

Dash Jones · « **Reply #17 on:** April 09, 2009, 04:56:17 am »

I didn't know they had an expansion. I have the original however. If it used Star Trek I think it would be even cooler!

FPF-Paladin · « **Reply #18 on:** April 09, 2009, 12:23:28 pm »

The expansion is online only... it fleshs out the ability to lay defenses (starbases, mine fields) basically.

Wouldn't worry about it, I'm pretty sure they have a mod for the current version of Sins without the expansion, just waiting to get some kind of confirmation where it is (there are several links, so rather than lead you somewhere randomly...

) and any special instructions on how it's used. I kind of want to try this myself, saw screenshots... looked awesome. Called Sins of the Angels, based on the DS9/TNG era episode battle.

FoaS_XC · « **Reply #19 on:** April 16, 2009, 04:14:19 pm »

I would absolutely adore to see an F&E 4x game combined with SFB for tactical uses....

God I wish I could program

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Topic: Semi-SFB Strategy Game? (Now looking for Programmers) (Read 18814 times) var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};

Topic: Semi-SFB Strategy Game? (Now looking for Programmers) (Read 18814 times)