Re: Galaxy Variants

From: Tim Hughes <ac804@dial.pipex.com>

Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000

My thoughts on possible rule changes:-

1.  Starting at tech level 4.

Apart from the pace of technology development, which is SLOWED down, this only affects
DRIVE and CARGO doesn't it?  The increased WEAPON and SHIELDS just cancel each other
out.  If your aim is to slowdown technology dvelopment then you should just adjust the
cost of technology.  However, I like the tension introduce by the initial phase of
technology development, the variety in technology differentials adds spice to the
power struggle.

CARGO tech 4 sounds attractive as this would benefit those who want to build up
infrastructure, without directly affecting combat.  I think that this is a VERY
attractive idea.

DRIVE tech 4, ugh! :-(.  Won't this just make the "lightning  strike" opening more
attractive?  You could build 4 or 5 fairly good Raiders in turn 1 with speed 40+ly and
attack 1 or 2 neighbours on turn 2 with no warning whilst retaining something for
defence.  I think that the current Galaxy already favours this too much.  I have
pulled this tactic off in several games that I have played.  DRIVE tech 4 would ruin
the tempo of the early game.

My suggestion would be to increase the distance between homeworlds as Franz has
suggested his Galaxy Generating tool can do (I like the sound of this tool).  This
would give players an interesting build up phase before the serious fighting begins.
Without the threat of immediate attack the player would be able to trade
infrastructure development against militray build up.  With a well separated border
region you could get interesting skirmishing and jockeying for position.  You could
add in Franz's idea of having more than one well developed world (close to home) per
player to speed things up.  Also the Blind Galaxy concept of size 0 or very small
worlds would add uncertainty.

2.  Allocating 10 predefined designs

I like the idea of providing some "default designs" for beginners.  I'm not sure that
you could restrict the number of designs throughout the whole game without losing
something.  Also the ability to trade off the proportion of drives, weapons and
shields adds variety to the game and is the key to effective strategy.

What 10 design to use?  I think that as a bare minimum you would need:

1 Large Cargo,
1 Small Cargo,
1 Scout (1 0 0 0 0),
1 Shielded Flak (1 0 0 1 0),
1 Armed Flak (1 1 1 0 0),
1 Heavy Gun (1 x 30),
1 Medium Gun (2 x 20),
1 Light Flak gun (50 x 1),
1 Medium Flak gun (20 x 3),
1 Heavy Machine Gun (10 x 5).

This doesn't include any of the plethora of middle sized (mass 20 - 80) or "oversized"
(mass 99+) ships that are used when colonies of varying sizes build warships.

Much better would be a proper "library" of ship designs.  I have a Galaxy web page:-

http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/t.hughes

which I could add another page for example "orders of battle".  Send me mail with your
favorite designs.  Format them something like "Name, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5" and a description
of the role played by the ship in the fleet.

Alternatively we could arrange a Galaxy Fleet competition to see some interesting
"combined arms" units.  See my posting "Galaxy Fleet Challenge" on this for
suggested rules.

References

Galaxy Variants
cebra@ids2.idsonline.com (Jonathan Cebra)
Fri, 07 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Galaxy Variants
slothoub@cs.utwente.nl (Frans Slothouber)
Mon, 10 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Galaxy Variants
bampton@cs.utk.edu (Howard the Energizer)
Mon, 10 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Galaxy Variants
Frans Slothouber <slothoub@cs.utwente.nl>
Tue, 11 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Galaxy Variants
lindahl@deshaw.com (Greg Lindahl)
Wed, 12 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Galaxy Variants
terkans@euronet.nl (Maarten M Hazewinkel)
Wed, 12 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Galaxy Variants
cebra@ids2.idsonline.com (Jonathan Cebra)
Fri, 07 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Galaxy Variants
slothoub@cs.utwente.nl (Frans Slothouber)
Mon, 10 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Galaxy Variants
bampton@cs.utk.edu (Howard the Energizer)
Mon, 10 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Galaxy Variants
Frans Slothouber <slothoub@cs.utwente.nl>
Tue, 11 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Galaxy Variants
lindahl@deshaw.com (Greg Lindahl)
Wed, 12 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Galaxy Variants
terkans@euronet.nl (Maarten M Hazewinkel)
Wed, 12 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000