Galaxy idea - maping (was capturing planets)

From: bampton@cs.utk.edu (Howard J. Bampton)

Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1992 02:40:15 +0000

In article <1992Jul13.234541.26705@uwm.edu> bruno@cerberus.csd.uwm.edu writes:
>Before considering things that will change the nature of the game, there are
>some things that could be done to make the game more playable as it is now.
>You should always get the planet reports for all planets not just the ones
>in your map area.

Personally, I wouldn't want all of this info. My turn reports towards
the end of Rob's game 1 were already pushing 200k. If you automaticaly
give me the names of all 400 planets, you are adding another 12k per
player to the amount of mail going out, plus those empires off in a
corner get info on 100's planets that they have no interest in.

>To go along with this it would be nice to ask for several maps in a turn,
>though this may cause problems for mail.

Multiple maps on the other hand, would be a nice addition. That way,
you can get a general overview of where your own empire is, as well
as a closeup of the one you are attacking (or being attacked by). A
map 100x100 LY is fine for getting a general layout, but is far to
crowded to go about labeling planets & distances on.

I suspect that the plot.c program that one can ftp from [whereever the
sorce code is, I forget] could be used if you go for a galaxy map, but
I've never bothered to try it.

>The production, speed and shield calculations should be simplified. I

The speed one is easy. Shields, I'll admit are a pain, especially when
you want a specifc strength shield...

The production one is the only one that I'd like clairified. In the
V2.7 rules, which were the only ones I could find to ftp (admittedly
2 months ago) don't cover production from population unsupported by
industry, which was in the V2.92 source code available (and which
Rob is/was using.

>At least you could allow an order that would switch production in the middle
>of a turn. Perhaps a modified production order that will finish what's in the
>works before starting the new thing.

This is why one either tunes ship designs to the planet (and ends up
with hordes of ship types) or bites the bullet, and allows some
roundoff error into the budget.

After all, how does one deal with the player who goofs, and tells
planet x to finish off a ship and then start on the next variety, when
the one currently under production won't be finished this turn? Either way
you do it, someone is going to be unhappy.

[Russell, if noone liked the game, we wouldn't be trying to pick it
apart (:-) please take my comments in that light.]

Howard Bampton
bampton@cs.utk.edu

References

Galaxy idea - capturing planets
jerry@uni-paderborn.de (Gerald Siek)
Sat, 11 Jul 1992 09:26:59 +0000
Re: Galaxy idea - capturing planets
bruno@cerberus.csd.uwm.edu (Bruno Wolff III)
Mon, 13 Jul 1992 23:45:41 +0000

Referenced By

Galaxy idea - capturing planets
jerry@uni-paderborn.de (Gerald Siek)
Sat, 11 Jul 1992 09:26:59 +0000
Re: Galaxy idea - capturing planets
bruno@cerberus.csd.uwm.edu (Bruno Wolff III)
Mon, 13 Jul 1992 23:45:41 +0000